'We are very fortunate to have a teaching/coaching team that is made up of experienced qualified coaches. Their expertise covers all disciplines of swimming from stroke teaching and correction, starts and turns through all aspects of athlete development both land based and water based. They have been consistently producing successful competitive swimmers for many years."
All the coaching team are required to have a thorough understanding of the Trafford Leisure Trust Normal Operating Procedure (NOP) and Emergency Action Plan (EAP). These documents shown at the bottom of this page as downloads are designed to ensure our coaches are fully conversant with safety procedures for the leisure centre and that they understand what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Jakub Malaj - Head Coach & AG1 Coach
My adventure with swimming started in my early years as my parents are swimming coaches so it was a natural thing to spend a lot of time in the pool first swimming and then teaching in their swimming school. When I was 16 years old I became a lifeguard and have completed a swimming teaching course. Since gaining my first lifeguarding qualification I took part in many lifeguard competitions, and I have won many of them. I have been a member of a polish lifeguard team that won the second place on the international lifeguard competitions in Germany. I have done all the required qualification and went a long way to become a Lifeguard Instructor. I have always been interested in water sports and I have Diver’s Qualification, Inland Skipper’s Qualifications and Motor Boat Helmsman’s Qualification. In 2003 I took a Swimming Instructor Qualification at the University of Physical Education and Sport and then continued being a part time swimming instructor in my parents’ swimming school. I am a Civil Engineer for my full time job. Swimming lets me have a break from usual day to day activities, and puts variety in my life. It is skill that will give you plenty of pleasure and let you meet many interesting people. I am the best example of that as I moved to the UK in 2005 and swimming helped me get to know many interesting people here.
Jo Bolton - Youth Squad Coach
I first joined Trafford Metro’ as a swimmer in 1976 when it used to be known as Sale Swimming Club. I swam competitively until age 20 and gained several national times as a breastroke swimmer. In 1985 I became qualified as a swimming teacher and have taught all ages from toddlers to adults over many years. I hold a powerboat level 1 and sub-aqua open water diving certificate as well as a level 2 in sport and recreation and level 1 athletics coach. I work as a teaching assistant looking after nursery age children and have completed a number of CPD courses including first aid. I swim in our Masters section and have enjoyed training and competing once again although it is increasingly difficult to fit in alongside my coaching duties. However I was able to win national titles for 100m and 200m breastroke in the 40-45 age group in 2009. I was also fortunate to be a part of the world record breaking 4x100IM ladies relay team swimming the breastroke leg in the 2010 Masters National Championships. I am about to complete my level 3 coaching qualification and have benefited greatly from 15 months of mentoring by our former head coach Emma Swanwick. I also hold a full national pool lifeguard certificate. I stood down from the role of Club Head Coach in November 2010 but currently coach the Youth Squad.
Niki Williams - Masters Coach
I swam competitively at national and international level for Marple Swimming club, Stockport Metro and the University of Bath swimming teams. I was selected to represent the England and GB team from 1994 – 1999 at many national and international competitions before embarking in a short career in open water swimming becoming national champion in 1999. I now enjoy scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking and many other outdoor activities. I hold a pool plant operators certificate and a NPLQ lifeguard qualification. I was head coach of Marple swimming club for a year and a development coach at Stockport Metro. I currently teach young swimmers at Davenport swimming club and have been the Masters coach of Trafford Metro since 2007. I have also been helping out with coaching of the AG1 squad.
Sara Barlow - Mini Mets & D1 Squad Coach
I have always had a passion for swimming which started at the early age of 3. I went on to join Trafford Metro and did my first competition aged 9. I specialized in Backstroke and qualified for the Nationals at 15.I went on to compete at 3 National Championships countless Grand Prix then finally The Olympic Trials in 2000. After that I went on to do Triathlons winning the Sprint at Tatton Park in 2009. My career in Swimming started with Swim Link (now called Trafford Mini Mets) helping my mother Moira Hampson on a Saturday. When I left school I went on to study a BTEC in Sports Science, which gave me a huge understanding of how the human body works. I put a lot of what I learnt into my own training and soon started winning lots of medals. I then went on to do a Sports Therapy and Sport Injuries Diploma as well as gaining my L2 Swimming Teachers certificate and Fitness Instructors qualification. In 2004 I did my Padi Open water then Advanced open water and have spent the last 6 years scuba diving around the world. I love being in the water especially the sea and am fascinated with sharks and marine life. I have taught swimming for 12 years and in 2006 bought a Swim Time franchise teaching all ages and abilities.
Richard Cleugh - D2 Squad Coach & Adult Improvers
Richard joined the club as a volunteer in 2011. He has helped out poolside and at land training since then and has completed his Level 1 & 2 swimming teaching awards. Richard coaches football and other sports outside of the club so he has a really rounded understanding of working with young athletes.
Danielle Chandler - Blue Squad Coach
I joined the club as an 8 year old and have swum in every squad. I currently swim with Masters and also compete to a high level in synchronised swimming. I completed my level 2 Teaching course at the end of 2011. My experience having moved through the club squads as a competitive swimmer has been really useful now that I am working with the Blue squad.
Lisa Speight - Red Squad Coach
Having qualified as a Level 2 Swimming Teacher in September 2005, under the close mentorship of Moira Hampson, I became involved with both Swimlink and Swimtime, teaching all ages of children from Beginners to pre-club. I have been a swimmer all my life, competing for Durham City A.S.C. at North Eastern Counties level as a Youth and continuing with competitive swimming and water polo throughout my French Studies degree at Lancaster University. Nowadays I swim to relax and keep fit whilst helping my nine year old son develop and enjoy his swimming. I currently teach adults for the Trust and am embracing the challenge of schools swimming which is an essential component of the National Curriculum particularly from a Life Saving point of view. I am now thrilled to be a regular teacher for Mini Mets and coach to Red Squad under the expert guidance of Head Coach Jakub Malaj.
Moira Hampson - Trafford Mini Mets teacher
I have been involved with TMBSC since my daughter Sara joined the club in 1990. I am very proud now to support Sara as a Trafford coach and enjoy her Saturday am training sessions. I attend with the hope to make a come back into competitive swimming soon when I join a new age group. I competed as a Trafford Masters swimmer with the Club when my greatest achievement was 13th in the 100 metres backstroke at the World Masters in 1996. Most recently I have managed Swimtime Manchester and successfully taught 100s of local children and adults to swim. I am always delighted when my young protégées join our Club. As well as coaching a young squad and the Masters I have organised the Clubs Swim Scheme of lessons for many years. I am now leading the Mini Mets group where I encourage our younger swimmers to acquire good techniques and progress to the Club.
Bethan Dixon - Assistant coach Red squad and Mini Mets
I joined the club as an 8 year old working my way up through the squads as well as spending 2 years with the Swim Trafford Squad. I completed my level 2 at the end of 2011. Having swum to a good standard and been taught good technique as a young swimmer myself I understand the need to teach our younger swimmers the correct stroke techniques from an early age.
In addition to our regular squad coaches we are fortunate to be able to depend on support coaching from Bob Bolton who covers all squads from Red to Masters as well as land training.
| Preview | Attachment | Size |
|---|---|---|
 | Jakub.jpg | 366.13 KB |
| NOP Sale July 2011.pdf | 70.82 KB | |
| Emergency Action Plan April 2010.pdf | 99.34 KB |
