This year, the Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club (EVDSC) welcomed two new coaches to assist with the training and development of 56 local swimmers. In 2015, the club has plans to expand even further, as they hope to welcome new coaches and more swimming enthusiasts.
“We’re just really working on trying to make it a positive experience for all of our swimmers,” Emma Dressler, President of the EVDSC said. “We’re really happy about how it’s going right now.”
Dressler noted that this year they have more competitive swimmers than they did in the previous years, with just under half of the eight to 16-year-old club members taking part in out of town swim meets.
“In the competitive stream, we’re really working on their technique and we’re really working on racing skills,” Dressler said, noting that this includes flip turns, stream lines, dives and starting off on the racing blocks.
She added that the increase in swimming coaches has assisted in the development of the competitive swimmers.
K. Dingman
“We’re increasing our coach to swimmer ration,” Dressler said. “We’ve got all certified coaches.”
Currently all the coaches, including Fernie senior swimming coach Hailey Wright, Patty Vadnais and Ilisa Ogura and Elkford coach Jera Kipnik, are certified with Swimming Canada.
Dressler said that having three coaches in Fernie makes a huge difference for the swimmers.
“I think that’s really making a difference because, especially when children are younger and they’re first learning, it’s really hard for coaches to work on their technique when they have so many swimmers..,” she emphasized.
For the children that are not involved in the competitive side of swimming, the EVDSC offers swimming lessons that are focused on fitness. Non-competitive swimmers make their way to the Fernie and Elkford Aquatic Centers once or twice a week to develop their swimming skills through fun, interactive lessons.
“Every week has some sort of fun component built into the training sessions,” Dressler noted, adding that the fun activities are built into the drills so that children can enjoy their swimming lessons with little pressure.
EVDSC is hosting tryouts for interested swimmers this January. The tryouts will be held on the week of January 5. For more information, contact Emma Dressler at emmadressler@gmail.com