lane4
09-01-2001, 12:14 PM
Just returned from the BSCTA Annual Conference in Coventry. Thought it was great. Some excellent presentations by main speaker Dave Salo, NPD Bill Sweetenham, coaches such as Chris Nesbit, Fred Kirby and Paddy Garratt and Aquapacer inventor Patrick Miley. Salo challenged many people's thinking with his coaching and training philosophy based on 'training the physiology' through specific high intensity highly varied work. And although many would consider his programme to be low volume (he never thinks of yardage when planning), many of his sessions still exceeded 7000. Sweetenham gave two rousing talks to lay the challenge of moving British swimming forward firmly at the feet of the coaches. He stressed that coach education and development was the key (especially of the younger coaches) as we will never beat the world by facilities or financial investment. In training he emphasised the need for more work throughout the year but was very adamant that great technique and skill levels were the crucial factors. Was anyone else at the conference? What did you think?