Kathy Johnstone is a former GB swimmer, a 2x Commonwealth Games swimmer for Scotland and a seasoned strength and conditioning coach. She shares her journey from being a competitive swimmer to becoming a strength and conditioning coach, emphasising the importance of simplicity in training, the role of other sports in athlete development, and the challenges faced as a female coach in a male-dominated environment.

Kathy also discusses effective engagement strategies for young athletes, the significance of movement patterns, and the necessity of balancing commitments to swimming and other sports. She also highlights the importance of gamification in training, especially during plateaus, the transfer of skills from land to water, and the future of strength and conditioning in swimming.

You can connect with Kathryn including her incredible blog via the links below:

https://www.instagram.com/coachkathy_swim/

https://hamiltonaquatics.ae/blogdetail/71/sacrifice

Don’t forget we have lots of free CPDs coming up. You can find out more, check out our new website and see our other coaches resources here:

⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-community

This we are joined by Craig Robertson, PhD. He is a Sport Scientist specialising in physiology and performance analysis at Swim England. With over 15 years’ experience as a coach and SSSM practitioner, he has supported athletes across the entire Swim England pathway — from the county and regional programmes through to the Olympic Games.

In addition to his role at Swim England, Craig lectures part-time at Leeds Beckett University on physiology and aquatics modules and contributes to the development of future coaches through the Institute of Swimming’s Senior Coach Programme.

In this conversation, Craig discusses the importance of curiosity in coaching and physiology, emphasising the need for continuous learning and adaptation in training methods. He explores the implementation of energy systems in coaching, the significance of understanding female athlete development, and the balance between capacity and intensity in training. Craig also highlights the importance of building a strong foundation for young athletes and the role of research in informing coaching practices.

You can connect with Craig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-robertson-2a80ba137/

This week we are joined by Ben Negus, Head Coach at City of Peterborough Swimming Club, a.k.a. COPS!

In this conversation, Ben shares his extensive coaching journey, emphasising the importance of resourcefulness, communication, and the development of both technical skills and personal behaviours in swimmers.

We explore the challenges faced at COPS, the significance of intention in coaching, and the need for continuous learning and reflection. Ben highlights the balance between achieving competitive success and fostering personal growth in athletes, offering valuable insights for aspiring coaches.

You can connect with Ben via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bennegus1978/

Check out our new website and coaches resources below, as well as sign up for any of our NINE free coach CPD’s across England and Scotland this summer: https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-community