We are proud to announce that our very own head coach, Leanne Speechley, has just been awarded her Gold Licence in coaching from the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA).
In order to achieve this elite coaching standard you must first coach a swimmer or swimmers to an international level. Leanne coached an athlete to the World Championships LC in 2011, World Championships SC 2010, Junior Commonwealth Games in 2011 and Junior Pan Pacific Championships 2010 &2012. As well as 4 athletes to the Youth Olympics in 2012.
Following this you must apply to Swimming Australia and ASCTA to undertake the process of earning your Gold Licence. Australia only take on 8 coaches per year and often only ½ graduate.
The gruelling process includes completing the following 6 units:
- Personal and Professional welfare and management
- Race modelling and preparation
- Scientific principles of elite swimming performance
- The swimming Australia sports model
- Assessors and presenters course
- Individual project based task. To be presented at the Australia swim coaches conference and submitted as a paper in a publishable manner. (Leanne completed a project on Kick training regimes)
It is interesting to note that there are only 36 swimming coaches across Australia that have their Gold Licence. Leanne makes number 11 female coach at this level in the country.
Congratulations Leanne – it is great to know the Abbotsleigh Swim Team is in your very capable coaching hands!