GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia - A wave of coaching innovation swept Saint Lucia’s swimming, when the Saint Lucia Amateur Swimming Association hosted the Total Immersion (TI) coaching clinic from 14th to 20th November 2009 under the guidance of TI specialist Coach Kimberly Bade from the USA..
The clinic was held at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre and sponsored by the International Swimming Federation (FINA).
The 22 participants were all Swim coaches; 18 from Saint Lucia and 4 from overseas. They benefitted from the comprehensive program and hands on training from Coach Bade.
Coach Kimberly Bade originates from New York and is a Total Immersion certified coach, who has conducted such clinics all over the USA with this being her first foray into the Caribbean..
The Saint Lucia coaches were Jamie Peterkin, Diane Worrell, David Peterkin, Andy Edward, Filomena Day, Sebastien Day, Vanessa Eugene, Amarae Arthur, Brian Charles, Yasmin Tyson, Andre Castang, Tom Spiegelburg, Dian Williams, Lauren Perineau, Iyahode Bukinolo, Lily Bergasse, Karen Beaubrun and Shervan Benjamin.
From overseas were Zoe Swatton (Antigua), Roosevelt Romain and Rachel Modeste (Grenada), and Rickydene Alexander (St Vincent).
Total Immersion was originated by Terry Laughlin, and is a revolutionary approach to teaching swimming, which brings results far faster than conventional methods, and helps any student master a fluent, efficient and beautiful technique.
The style of swimming it stresses can be beneficial to entry-level swimmers and also for distance swimmers, as the goal is to make swimming more natural.
The instruction focuses on four essential skills, which are non-instinctive and counter-intuitive to most swimmers.
