The Coaches Lane

In this episode, Jol Finck shares his extensive journey in coaching, highlighting the cultural differences between Australian and British swimming systems, the importance of managing change effectively, and crucially how to take people with you. He emphasises the significance of building a positive coaching culture and adapting training methods to suit individual athlete backgrounds. We delve into various aspects of coaching, including navigating career changes, the importance of collaboration and culture in coaching, addressing training intensity, and the balance between work and personal life. They also discuss the role of AI in coaching and provide valuable advice for young coaches, emphasising the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks.You can connect with Jol on Linked-in here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jol-finck-a370a1275/Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our free wellbeing check in there too.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-communityFor coaches looking to explore AP Race Plus, our club support platform that offers digital access to world class information for swimmers, parents and coaches, please email the team via ⁠⁠and we will be able to help support club, big or small, wherever you are located. You can also get a feel for the platform via our website here: ⁠⁠https://plus.aprace.club/Contact us directly via [email protected]

This is our 2025-26 season round up episode. Ash and Kev reflect on the past year of coaching discussions, highlighting key insights from various guests. They explore themes of empathy, adaptability in coaching, the importance of consistent messaging for young athletes, and the role of leadership and communication in fostering a positive coaching environment. The conversation expands upon the need for coaches to connect with their athletes on a personal level and to be open to evolving their methods based on experience and feedback. There was so much packed into the more-than-20 episodes that were released this season and we hope this round up gives you a good insight into the different conversations we had.Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our free wellbeing check in there too.  ⁠⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-community⁠⁠For coaches looking to explore AP Race Plus, our club support platform that offers digital access to world class information for swimmers, parents and coaches, please email the team via ⁠⁠and we will be able to help support club, big or small, wherever you are located. You can also get a feel for the platform via our website here: ⁠⁠https://plus.aprace.club/Contact us directly via [email protected]

In this episode of The Coaches Lane, Paul Greaves shares his unique journey from a young trampoline coach in Sheffield to coaching an athlete to multiple Olympic Medals. He discusses the evolution of his coaching philosophy, emphasising the importance of creating a positive and individualised coaching environment. Highlights include the significance of education in coaching, the concept of chameleon coaching, and the challenges faced in modern coaching. He advocates for a balance between professionalism and enjoyment in sports, and the need for coaches to adapt to the individual needs of their athletes. You can connect with Paul via his instagram and linked in below:https://www.instagram.com/paulgreaves01/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-greaves-8b074720/Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our free wellbeing check in there too.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-communityFor coaches looking to explore AP Race Plus, our club support platform that offers digital access to world class information for swimmers, parents and coaches, please email the team via ⁠⁠and we will be able to help support club, big or small, wherever you are located. You can also get a feel for the platform via our website here: ⁠⁠https://plus.aprace.club/Contact us directly via [email protected]

In this episode of The Coaches Lane, we explore the swimming journey through the lens of the swimming parent. Simon Richards shares his journey as a swimming dad, detailing the highs and lows of supporting his son, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Richards, on his path to becoming an Olympic champion. Simon emphasises the importance of enjoyment, hard work, and listening to coaches in youth sports. He reflects on the relationships with various coaches throughout Matt's career and discusses the challenges of managing transitions between clubs and programmes. Additionally, Simon offers insights on parental support and the significance of intrinsic motivation in young athletes. We delve into the complexities of swimming as a sport, focusing on the roles of motivation, parental support, and the long-term development of young athletes. We discuss the emotional challenges faced by parents, the importance of communication between coaches and parents, and the impact of coaching on the personal growth of athletes. Simon emphasises the need for a balanced approach to athlete development, highlighting that the journey is as important if not more so than the outcomes.Connect with Simon here: https://www.instagram.com/s1monrichards/Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our free wellbeing check in there too.  ⁠⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-community⁠⁠For coaches looking to explore AP Race Plus, our club support platform that offers digital access to world class information for swimmers, parents and coaches, please email the team via ⁠⁠and we will be able to help support club, big or small, wherever you are located. You can also get a feel for the platform via our website here: ⁠⁠https://plus.aprace.club/Contact us directly via [email protected]

In this episode, we are joined by Katie Baxa, from Nations Capital Swim Club in the USA, one of the biggest and most prolific programmes in America. She shares with her inspiring journey from summer league swimming in the US to coaching at the highest levels internationally at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She discusses her coaching philosophy, the importance of athlete development, and insights into coaching across different cultures. It is a wonderful conversation and Katie is so honest and humble in her reflections. You can connect with Katie via her instagram:https://www.instagram.com/coach_kdbaxa/Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our free wellbeing check in there too.  ⁠⁠https://aprace.club/pages/coaches-community⁠⁠For coaches looking to explore AP Race Plus, our club support platform that offers digital access to world class information for swimmers, parents and coaches, please email the team via ⁠⁠and we will be able to help support club, big or small, wherever you are located. You can also get a feel for the platform via our website here: ⁠⁠https://plus.aprace.club/Contact us directly via [email protected]