E34 Andy Hailey. Embracing curiosity and exploring learnings from the global swimming community

More from The Coaches Lane All episodes →

1. 

   S4 · E39 · 30 Sep 2026 · 50 min

   E39 Jol Finck. Culture is number one - a coaching journey from Australia round the world and back

   In this episode, Jol Finck shares his extensive journey in coaching, highlighting the cultural differences between Australian and British swimming systems, the importance of managing change effectively, and crucially how to take people with you. He emphasises the significance of building a positive coaching culture and adapting training methods to suit individual athlete backgrounds. We delve into various aspects of coaching, including navigating career changes, the importance of collaboration and culture in coaching, addressing training intensity, and the balance between work and personal…

2. 

   S4 · E38 · 17 Aug 2026 · 35 min

   E38 Kev and Ash's HIGHLIGHTS of the 2025-26 season!

   This is our 2025-26 season round up episode. Ash and Kev reflect on the past year of coaching discussions, highlighting key insights from various guests. They explore themes of empathy, adaptability in coaching, the importance of consistent messaging for young athletes, and the role of leadership and communication in fostering a positive coaching environment. The conversation expands upon the need for coaches to connect with their athletes on a personal level and to be open to evolving their methods based on experience and feedback. There was so much packed into the more-than-20 episodes…

3. 

   S4 · E37 · 11 Aug 2026 · 55 min

   E37 Paul Greaves. Chameleon Coaching and adapting to Individual Needs

   In this episode of The Coaches Lane, Paul Greaves shares his unique journey from a young trampoline coach in Sheffield to coaching an athlete to multiple Olympic Medals. He discusses the evolution of his coaching philosophy, emphasising the importance of creating a positive and individualised coaching environment. Highlights include the significance of education in coaching, the concept of chameleon coaching, and the challenges faced in modern coaching. He advocates for a balance between professionalism and enjoyment in sports, and the need for coaches to adapt to the individual needs of…

4. 

   S36 · E4 · 10 Jul 2026 · 48 min

   E36 Simon Richards. Enjoy it, work hard and listen to your coach - A swimming parent perspective!

   In this episode of The Coaches Lane, we explore the swimming journey through the lens of the swimming parent. Simon Richards shares his journey as a swimming dad, detailing the highs and lows of supporting his son, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Richards, on his path to becoming an Olympic champion. Simon emphasises the importance of enjoyment, hard work, and listening to coaches in youth sports. He reflects on the relationships with various coaches throughout Matt's career and discusses the challenges of managing transitions between clubs and programmes. Additionally, Simon offers insights…

5. 

   S4 · E35 · 26 Jun 2026 · 38 min

   E35 Katie Baxa. From Summer League to International Coaching

   In this episode, we are joined by Katie Baxa, from Nations Capital Swim Club in the USA, one of the biggest and most prolific programmes in America. She shares with her inspiring journey from summer league swimming in the US to coaching at the highest levels internationally at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She discusses her coaching philosophy, the importance of athlete development, and insights into coaching across different cultures. It is a wonderful conversation and Katie is so honest and humble in her reflections. You can connect with Katie via her instagram:…

6. 

   S4 · E33 · 22 May 2026 · 56 min

   E33 Ian Wright. Building a team and taking people on a journey

   In this fascinating interview, Scottish Swimming's National Coach Ian Wright shares his journey, coaching philosophy, and insights into developing successful swimmers regardless of resource constraints. Discover practical tips for coaches at all levels to improve technique, build resilience, and foster a strong team culture. Ian shared with us his mentors, lessons and reflections from a career spanning many roles. You can connect with Ian on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-wright-607a9920/ He also has a fantastic blog to check out on Substack: https://heat1lane1.substack.com/…

7. 

   S4 · E32 · 15 May 2026 · 56 min

   E32 Kevin Brooks. Exploring the coaching journey and the development of Wycombe District Swimming Club

   In this in-depth interview, Kevin Brooks, Head Coach of Wycombe District Swimming Club, shares his coaching journey, his philosophy on building a sustainable club, and strategies for long-term athlete development. Discover how he transformed Wycombe from a small club into a national powerhouse and the key principles behind his success. You can connect with Kevin via his instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/kevbrookscoach/ Don't forget we have a wide range of resources on our coaching website including recommend books, podcasts and links to our CPDs. You can also sign up for our…

8. 

   S4 · E31 · 8 May 2026 · 41 min

   E31 Alys Thomas, finding longevity and purpose through the eyes of an Olympian

   In this episode, Olympic swimmer and coach developer Alys Thomas shares her journey from early swimming days in Kingston to competing in four Commonwealth Games, transitioning into coaching, and her role in developing Wales' swimming talent. She discusses longevity in sport, athlete development, coaching strategies, and the importance of enjoyment and individual pathways. It is a fascinating insight into the rollercoaster of the athlete journey and how Alys has taken lessons from her own sporting journey to support the next generation of Welsh swimmers. You can connect with Alys via her…

9. 

   S3 · E30 · 1 May 2026 · 50 min

   E30 Ross Nicholas, from Swimmer to Coach to National Performance Director for Swim Wales

   In this in-depth interview we were joined by Ross Nicholas, the National Performance Director of Swim Wales. He discusses with us the importance of system-wide athlete development, innovative coaching principles, and the role of competitions like the Commonwealth Games in nurturing talent. This episode offers valuable insights for coaches, athletes, and sports administrators aiming to elevate their performance and support pathways. We explored a range of areas including key topics such as, System-wide athlete development in swimming Coaching principles for technical and physiological growth…

10. 

    S29 · E3 · 27 Mar 2026 · 57 min

    E29 - Milorad Čavić. Olympic Podium to Coaching and Parenthood - A life in swimming!

    Our guest for this episode is an Olympic medalist, World Champion and World Record Holder... but he is so much more than that! Milo shares with us his inspiring journey from being a 4x Olympic swimmer to transitioning into a coach, emphasising the importance of belief, creativity, and continuous learning in sports and life. Discover insights on resilience, coaching philosophy, and the power of sharing knowledge to elevate the sport. We discuss his view as a parent himself on how we support young people through their journey, and there are some profound insights Milo shares with us on this…