Teacher, Coach, Trainer, Mentor
About Adrienne Bell Swimming Specialist
My Story
After spending two summers as a Pool Attendant at Lisburn Swimming Pool, I stayed on full time, which is when I started to study the Teaching of Swimming. Studying the basic ASA Teachers Certificate here at home, I had to travel to the mainland to access the Advanced Teacher Certificate. This took place in Aberdeen, with Prof John Hogg Phd, Director of Swimming in Scotland and an Olympic Coach
(see note below) .
A few months after that I was privileged to be accepted on the Amateur Swimming Association’s Long Course 3 month Residential at Crystal Palace, London. We were placed with Beckenham Swimming Club, London working along side the Head Coach and our mentor, Hamilton Smith; an Olympic and Commonwealth Team Coach, who gave success to 10 Olympians and 30 International Swimmers. Part of this course included working with Helen Elkington, Synchronised Swimming Coach and Head Coach to Team GB in Mexico Olympics 1968.
I feel blessed to have been mentored by these incredible Coaches so early in my career.
When Terry Laughlin - Total Immersion, USA visited Dublin for a training course, I took on board some of his method which has added significant success overall for my pupils.
Bios
Prof John Hogg Phd. Olympic and Commonwealth Swim Coach
After achieving my basic Teachers Certificate and I had to travel to the mainland to study for the Advanced Level Teachers Certificate. That was in Aberdeen with Professor John Hogg Phd, Director of Scottish Swimming at that time.
Team Coach for the Scottish National Swim Team 1968-71
British Women’s Team Coach 1971-74.
Director of Swimming in Canada from 1975-83
Consultant Swim Coach for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
He was the first to write several books (6 in total) dealing with the mental approach to the health of competitive Swimmers.
Hamilton Smith, Olympic and Commonwealth Games Team Coach
Senior Club Coach at Beckenham ASA London;
British Team Coach 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Scottish Team Coach for Commonwealth Games 1970
Coach of the Year 1975
Scottish Director of Swimming for 10 years achieving 10 Olympians, 30 International Athletes and a Bronze Medal with David Wilkie in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Hamilton Smith then took up the position of Director of Swimming in Canada, 1993 and was honoured in 2002 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Swimming Coaches Association (BSCA).
Qualifications
My Qualifications are all through the Amateur Swimming Association of the UK and Swim Ireland
ASA Long Course, Crystal Palace, London
Fellow of the Institute of Swimming Teachers
Associate of the Institute of Swimming Coaches
Associate of the Institute of Swimming Teachers (Teacher of the Disabled)
Fitness Northern Ireland - Aqua-fit
I also have qualifications in Water Babies, Synchronised Swimming, Diving, Lifesaving and as an ASA Tutor
Updates:
Safeguarding Children & Young People in Sport (14 June 2013)
CPD: Health & Safety (21 June 2013)
CPD: Mini Polo (21 June 2013)
CPD: Maglischo Seminar (22 August 2013)
Covid 19 Updates (June-September 2020)
Previous Experience
Swimming Teacher and in charge of Swim Programme for Lisburn, Antrim and Castlereagh Councils.
Club Coach to Lisburn ASC and Olympia ASC
Brookfield Special School, Lisburn
Girls Brigade National Swimming Competition - Hillsborough Company - Runner-up in UK Final (1984)
Asssistant Club Coach to Queens Tri-Athlon Club (2009-10)
Aqua-fit in Lisburn Pool (14yrs) and Belfast Education Authority (3yrs)
Provided Private Swim Classes in Lisburn & Belfast areas for several years, ie, Lisburn Pool/Finaghy Pool/Friends School/ Brownlow LC/Olympia LC/ Private Pool
Memberships:
Federation of Small Businesses
NI Chamber of Commerce - Council Member (2007-2011)
Lisburn Chamber of Commerce 2000 - Executive Council (2006-2013)
President of Friends'School Old Scholars Association (2011-2012)
International Association of Female Professionals (2020)
Women in Business
