Meet Bridgend County Swim Squad Coaching Team
Our coaching team is a happy blend of professional and volunteer coaches. Our Head Coach, Billy Pye, has coached at the very top level and is one of the original coaches when BCSS formed as a club. He returns after many years with as much excitement and enthusiasm as he had at the start of his journey. Our team of volunteer coaches is made up of ex-Squad swimmers and parents of current swimmers.
Vision – BCSS provides the opportunities for athletes, coaches and volunteers to believe in their ability and develop the skills to perform beyond their potential.
Billy Pye – Head Coach
Christopher “Billy” Pye is one of the original founders of Bridgend County Swim Squad, along with Mike Pett who we all knew and loved at the club. Billy left his Head Coach position with us to take up a position with British Swimming as the Head Coach of British Disability Swimming, most notably we would know him as the coach of Ellie Simmonds.
Billy has coached at countless Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, World Championships, British Championships and his athletes have been awarded a plethora of medals.
Steve Robinson – Assistant Coach
Steve is a level 1 coach and works with the competitive skills squads to progress to the performance squad.
Lisa Davies
Lisa is a level 1 coach and works with many different squads in each of the pools.
Gareth Gardener
Gareth is a level 1 coach and works with many different squads in each of the pools.
Ruth Jones
Ruth is a level 2 coach and works with the competitive skills squads.
Chloe Thomas
Chloe has previously been a swimming member of the BCSS and has progressing through the structure from swimming to become a level 1 coach.
Simon Hopkin
Simon is a level 1 coach and works with the competitive skills squads.
Karen Hopkin
Karen is a level 1 coach and works with the competitive skills squads.
Imogen Hunt
Imogen has previously been a swimming member of the BCSS and has progressing through the structure from swimming to become a Level 1 coach.
Genevieve Daly
Genevieve is a level 1 coach and works with the competitive skills squads.
Our aims:
- Develop Quality Environments
- Ensure a high quality governance structure is in place
- Ensure a structured development pathway that is open to all is in place.
- To provide an atmosphere that inspires swimmers to achieve their maximum potential through a strong work ethic, discipline, self-motivation and self-esteem;
- To develop team unity where everyone encourages and takes pride in each other at all levels of competition.
- To create an inclusive club with a culture that seeks to maximise the individual potential of each competitive swimmer.
- To build a team where everyone’s success is celebrated.
Athlete Development (Membership Growth & Retention)
- Increase number of members
- Ensure club membership is maintained at no less than 80% of the capacity
- Implement a retention strategy to improve retention rate within the club
- To encourage as many individuals to participate in the sport of swimming regardless of their age or level of swimming competence (within the constraints of its existing resources or available space).
- To provide a safe, structured environment in which swimmers can enjoy developing those skills essential for competitive and social swimming
Athlete Development (Performance)
- Increase in the number of athletes on National Programmes during 2023.
- Increase the number of athletes making Regional, National & British times.
- To teach all of our swimmers the core values of respect, self-confidence, discipline, hard work, sportsmanship and team spirit which will carry with them.
Coach & Volunteer Development
- Ensure all sections of the club have access to quality coaching
- Maintain and increase the number of Volunteers by 2023
- Maintain and increase the number of Coaches
- Develop and implement a Recruitment and Retention Strategy
- To provide excellence in professional coaching and programs to develop individuals to the best of their abilities to compete at the highest levels;