This Sunday we were delighted to welcome 3 new Skills Coaches (Colin (Wincanton), Daisy (Burnham-on-Sea and Bridgwater) and Ellen (Wincanton)) and 5 new swimmers to our programme. We were also supported by 4 Team Managers (Jack, Irene, Liz and Paul) and by Kelly Podbury, the SASA Competitions Secretary, who stepped in to run the programme for the first time – thank you to one and all!
Swimmer Progression:
This session saw the groups receiving personal set prescription along with an opportunity to practice their dive skills within the Long Course format, ready for the County Championships.
“It was great to see so many swimmers making the right choices today to focus on how they can be their best version of themselves. The energy and commitment to skills made for an enjoyable session” Head Coach Pat



“Following the dive homework over Christmas, swimmers had many opportunities to improve and refine their dive starts and underwater phases. Embedded within this the swimmers were able to acclimatise to a long course pool with emphasis on swimming efficiently (ie low stroke counts, constraints on breathing patterns) ahead of [the Championships] next weekend” Assistant Coach Maria


At the beginning of the programme in September 2024, one of our swimmers set himself a Process Goal to improve his dive.
After Sunday’s session we were absolutely delighted to see this feedback:
Congratulations Wilfred!
At CDP, swimmers consistently practice their underwater phase as it is important to maximise the fastest part of each race. Each session the swimmers undertake a Test Set, completing a set number of lengths ‘marked’ on how many turns they can complete with the prescribed underwater distance achieved – a distance which gets more challenging for the older groups of swimmers.
Overall the percentage success rate for our youngest group has improved from just over 82% getting their feet past the flags underwater after each turn, to nearly 90% – an impressive achievement in its own right but even more so as this was achieved in the harder Long Course format!


“Swimmers had a fantastic opportunity to refine their skills in a long course pool…by taking on board valuable feedback and focussing on technique, they’ve made great strides and we’re excited to see all their hard work pay off at counties!” Assistant Coach Eva
Staff Progression:
At CDP we are keen to support the development of coaches throughout Somerset. Any coach or potential coach can come to CDP to observe or for a taster session and we have already welcomed 5 coach observers and 3 young volunteers poolside.

“I volunteered to be Team Manager at CDP this year with a keen eye on possibly picking up new knowledge and ideas from the coaches as I am a new Level 1 Coach. Somerset CDP have created a safe culture where I feel confident to be able to ask questions to coaches knowing that I would be supported in developing my knowledge. Maria explained to me how she adapted the drill being delivered on underwater phases to progressively coach it to slightly younger swimmers. Ellen talked me through which aspects she put emphasis on in her coaching of one drill linked to streamlining. I feel this supportive approach is so important in terms of developing the confidence and future motivation of new coaches and volunteers – thank you.” Paul Team Manager
Our next session is on the 16th February so just let us know if you’d like to come along.
14th January 2025