Teaching/Coaching Background
Andy began training as an official in 2019 which provided him with a great knowledge of the laws of swimming and procedures at competitions. This inspired Andy to assist as a poolside volunteer during training sessions, where his experience as an official gave him a great base of knowledge to begin coaching. Having completed his Level 1 coaching qualification in May 2022, Andy began to take on more sessions as he continued to learn from the more experienced coaches. In November 2022, Andy completed his Level 1 and Level 2 teaching qualifications which helped him to learn how to build great technique and correct faults. Becoming a lead coach has provided Andy with lots of poolside experience and opportunities to develop his skills.
Favourite Set
Being a mainly front crawl swimmer, I love a simple but challenging threshold freestyle set. 21 x 100 anaerobic threshold does the trick!
Coaches the inspire me
Having not completed competitively as a child, my main inspiration has come from the other coaches at Bluefins who have really helped shape my development.
They really are a great team!
Best advice
Having loved sport from a very young age, and having competed in various sports over the years, I think it’s so important to only compare yourself with you. It’s so easy, especially in a sport like swimming, where the scoreboard provides immediate and uncensored feedback on how you have performed, to compare yourself to other athletes. But comparison is a recipe for unhappiness. Try to become a better person in every area of your life, day by day. Celebrate the good days; learn from the bad days, and always be pleased for your fellow swimmers when they succeed, even if you don’t feel like you have. Your character is much more important than any time on the scoreboard and remember - sometimes success is just showing up.
Favourite quotes
''Don't compare yourself with other people; compare yourself with who you were yesterday.'' Jordan Peterson
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage.” Brene Brown
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
‘’The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means’’ Bryce Courtenay