The British Swimming Coaches Association (BSCA) commissioned Nottingham Trent University to conduct research examining the mental health and well-being of swimming coaches in the United Kingdom. This was driven by an observation that increasing numbers of BSCA members were seeking greater support for their mental health and well-being.
As a result of this piece of work, Swim Wales will be working collaboratively with the BSCA, Aquatics GB, Swim England, and Scottish Swimming to improve coach welfare and help clubs and programmes to create environments where every coach can thrive.
All parties are united in their commitment to the welfare and development of coaches, believing that coaches and coaching are essential to improving the sport and enhancing the experiences of those involved. They would like to extend sincere thanks to Nottingham Trent University for their valuable work, which has highlighted some of the challenges faced by swimming coaches today.
Ross Nicholas, Swim Wales National Performance Director, commented:
“High quality coaching is essential to developing thriving environments and enhancing the experiences for all involved in the sport. The welfare and development of coaches is a top priority, and we are excited to collaborate with the BSCA, Aquatics GB, Swim England and Scottish Swimming on this highly important area.”
The research identifies that coaches often feel overburdened, underappreciated, and lacking essential resources. These findings suggest that employers of coaches and organisations responsible for coaching should review and possibly reform how coaches are supported in the future. This may include establishing a better understanding of the stresses and expectations coaches come up against.
All aquatic governing bodies in the UK are committed to making coach welfare and coach development an important priority. This joint statement and the recommendations coming from it, are a crucial step in positively evolving the coaching landscape. With coach welfare and coach development central to our work, we aim to foster more coaching environments and cultures that genuinely value, support, and empower aquatics coaches to flourish.
Glenn Smith, the Chair of the BSCA stated, “The BSCA Ltd are grateful that all UK Aquatic governing bodies are jointly committed to ensure this research and the outcomes from it, will be crucial to help coaches to be better supported.”
“As we know the coaching profession is one of the corner stones of our sport and it’s vital that coaches feel that their concerns are being heard and responded to.”
I would also personally like to thank Nottingham Trent University for their expertise and their analysis of the findings.”
