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Coaching

Masters come from many different levels of ability and experience – from ex-national competitors to non-club fitness swimmers - and have different desires from their training regime together with very different short- and long-term aims. Some just want to have a keep-fit session or a reasonably challenging one–hour training session, whilst others want a session that will be clearly focused on preparing them for forthcoming competitions.

The abilities of our Masters range from those with medical, sporting and age-related pre- and post-operative surgical conditions right up to those in tip-top condition for National competitive level, and from those just eighteen years-of age to those collecting their Old Age Pension … and everything else in between.

To cater for this demographic the dedicated Masters session on a Wednesday evening is split into three groups: three lanes of strong competitive swimmers and water polo players, one/two lanes of competitive swimmers of a lower level and one/two lanes of therapy/novice masters. Fundamentally they follow the same schedule which is adapted in relation to distance and rest to suit the individual abilities.

The annual programme is focused around three main competition periods: The SE Region Long Course Competition in the spring, the County Competition in the summer and the SE Region Short Course Competition in the early autumn. Immediately after each of these periods training tends to be focused around aerobic conditioning and technique, with speed work gradually being developed in the run-up to these major competitions.

The focus is very much on the four strokes with Fly featuring quite strongly, and with sessions that are varied and interesting. Feedback has indicated that Sevenoaks Masters – even those who have previously trained and competed at a high level - do not want tedious sessions focused on a massive number of repeats of long distances but variety.

Schedules specifically focused on Masters are prepared by the Masters Coach and diligently followed by everyone - including the Coach herself and the four or so other swimming teachers who regularly train in the session and who are only too happy to give advice and guidance as necessary. On the first Wednesday of each month (excluding January and August) we are always pleased to see our guest coach on the poolside – currently Nick Cockran, Ojays Masters coach – whose remit is stroke development rather than conditioning. A couple of lanes may be set aside for those who would prefer a pure conditioning session but for the rest it will include stroke, start and turn technique.

The final area of the Sevenoaks Masters Coaching Programme is land training - not the usual land training, but a post-swim trip to a local restaurant three or four times a year. Not only is this a bit of fun after a hard training session, but it also means that everyone get to know each other – in sports psychology terms: team-building!

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