Young lifesavers in action at the 2022 Pool Lifesaving Season Opener event
Lifesaving athletes brought together for weekend of intensive training
Lifesaving athletes and coaches recently enjoyed a weekend of training and advancing their lifesaving skill set, participating in our High-Performance Coaching Clinic, Development Coaching Course and Pool Life Saving Season Opener at HBF Stadium in Mt Claremont.
Sponsored by Royal Life Saving Australia and Royal Life Saving WA with support from West Life Saving Club members and funding from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the events were held over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd April. There were 129 participations recorded across all three events, with 87 athletes registered to participate in two sessions for the Season Opener. Australian Life Saving Team Coach Andrew Bowden (pictured) was on site to coach the High-Performance Coaching Clinic, as well as co-delivering the Coaching Course alongside WA State Coach Andrew Ridley.
These events were an opportunity for lifesavers across WA to complete the next level in their training, with coaches sharing the latest training sets and techniques with participants. Athletes from a variety of organisations were brought together, with the events providing a forum for coaches, athletes, team managers and committees to network within the various clinics and functions.
“Our athletes are so isolated from other states, and especially with COVID, that the opportunity to have not only an Australian Life Saving Team Coach, but an exceptional athlete himself, come across to develop further coaches in the sport and take our athletes’ skills to the next level was fantastic,” said Jonnine Rowe, Royal Life Saving WA Sport Coordinator. “The coaching clinic has lifted the profile of the sport of lifesaving and has encouraged our Swim and Survive Junior Lifeguard Club coaches to further their skills and knowledge in lifesaving.”
As Royal Life Saving WA is committed to training a lifesaver and first responder in every community, coaching courses such as these provide an opportunity for athletes and lifesavers to increase their skill set and training intensity, going on to be coaches that train other future first responders. “It is exciting to see the response from athletes and coaches to learn and participate in pool lifesaving in the west,” said Andrew Bowden.
The course coincided with the Pool Life Saving Season Opener so coaches could practise their new skills with the participants. The 87 athletes ranged in age groups of Under 13’s through to Masters and were rotated through various skills stations. Stations included obstacles, tow, carry, and rope throw, which are the main components within the sport of pool lifesaving.
For some, it was an introduction into pool lifesaving, while others – including seasoned pool lifesavers – have been attending Royal Life Saving development sessions throughout the month at HBF Stadium. All this hard work will culminate in the WA State Team selection for this year’s Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships, taking place from the 11th – 13th of June in NSW.
For more information on pool lifesaving and the complete sport calendar, visit the link below.
