SWIMMING: Kerslake chosen for prestigious coaching programme
6:00am Saturday 18th February 2012 in Latest Sport News
SWINDON Dolphin swimmer Joe Kerslake has become one of just 20 coaches to be selected for the 2012 Young Coaches Academy Programme.
The programme is a joint venture between the ASA and the Youth Sport Trust to develop and provide mentoring for young and aspiring aquatics coaches.
The 17-year-old Kerslake, who is still a competitive swimmer himself, had his first experience of coaching in 2008 when he spent a week working with the then Dolphin and now Team GB coach Andi Manley during his school work experience.
Apart from a brief period away from the club, Kerslake has been involved in teaching and coaching ever since, working with experienced club coaches such as Tessa Farr, Tony Stratford, Glenys Lock and Andy Alexander.
“From the time I worked with Joe as his coach, he showed the motivation and work ethic necessary to progress from county to regional to national level swimmer,” said Manley.
“He now demonstrates great enthusiasm and drive to develop as a coach and is very pro-active in furthering his skills, knowledge and experiences through visiting established performance programmes around the country and working with GB coaches.”
The performance programmes Manley refers to are his own and that at Swansea. Last year Kerslake spent a week shadowing Swansea ITC coaches Bud McAllister and Graham Bassi as they put Olympic hopefuls such as Jazz Carlin and Jemma Lowe through their paces, and a visit to work again with Manley is being planned for later this spring.
Dolphin chief coach Louise Clayton added: “Joe is an up and coming coach with great potential, he has a great rapport with his swimmers and is constantly willing to learn.”
The programme begins on February 17 when Kerslake and the other young aquatics coaches join with their counterparts from badminton, basketball, boccia, football, rugby, table tennis and volleyball at the Inaugural Young Coaches Academy, to be held at Loughborough University.
In the following 12 months, Kerslake will participate in ASA regional talent camps and the ASA Beacon Programme, be assigned a mentor and receive support towards the next level of his coaching qualification.
