My Vision for Coach support in Swim Ireland Water Polo - Final

• Sport
• Foundation Degree

My vision for Coach support in Swim Ireland Water Polo

Michael Bradley

9/3/25

Intended Learning Outcome

By the end of this session, you will be able to list three benefits of structured resources for coaches aligned with LTAD for coach development within Swim Ireland water polo.

What is LTAD?

Long Term Athlete Development or LTAD refers to the ‘habitual development of athleticism over time to improve health and fitness, enhance physical performance, reduce the relative risk of injury and develop the confidence and competence of all youth’, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) position statement 

https://www.nsca.com/about-us/position-statements/youth-training-and-long-term-athletic-development/long-term-athletic-development-position-statement/

Why it matters in water polo coaching?

Key principles

(e.g., age-appropriate development, skill progression)

Why Structured Resources matter

Overview of structured resources (e.g., session plans, drills, athlete tracking tools)

Importance of consistency and progression in coaching

Supporting coach development and athlete performance

Benefit 1 - Enhance Coach Confidence

- Clear guidelines reduce uncertainty

- Helps standardise coaching approaches

- Supports professional development

Benefit 2 - Improved Athlete Development

- Ensures alignment with LTAD principles

- Provides a framework for gradual skill progression

- Encourages long-term participation and performance

- Saves time in planning sessions

- Enables better focus on athlete interaction

- Promotes consistency across different coaching levels

Benefit 3 - Greater Efficiency in Coaching

How would better resources help you in your coaching now?

Intended Learning Outcome

By the end of this session, you will be able to list three benefits of structured resources for coaches aligned with LTAD for coach development within Swim Ireland water polo.

What are 3 benefits of structured resources aligned with LTAD for coach development?

Summary & Key Takeaways

Recap the three benefits:

1. Enhanced coach confidence

2. Improved athlete development

3. Greater efficiency in coaching

QUESTIONS?