NEW YEAR – NEW SKILLS
As we step into a new year, it’s a natural time to pause and reflect: What goals have you set for 2026?
What skills do you want to develop, strengthen, or revisit?
This past week, I’ve been thinking about the power of “breaking things down” - choosing one skill or focus each month and allowing time to explore it properly, apply it in practice, and genuinely make a difference. Small, intentional steps can lead to meaningful change.This idea doesn’t just apply to personal goals - it’s equally powerful when we think about staff development.
Keeping teams motivated and connected
As leaders, one of our biggest challenges is keeping our teams motivated, confident, and feeling part of something bigger. Staff development shouldn’t feel overwhelming or disconnected from the poolside - it should feel relevant, supportive, and empowering.
So, what goals have you set for your team this year?
How can you help new and experienced teachers grow, while building a strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose?
January focus: explore and reflect
January is the perfect month to explore resources that support both teachers and learners—
and a great place to start is our book Break it Down.
LEARN WITH SWIMPIX BREAK IT DOWN
Break it Down shares Alison Bell’s many years of experience and offers practical guidance and top tips around planning, inclusion, and adaptation.
Written to be used alongside SwimPix (available separately), the illustrations are brought to life in the pool, supporting visual learning and communication. This would be an effective away to support teachers integrating SwimPix into the lessons enhancing communication.
The book:
Shows how to use SwimPix with displays
Provides ideas for using the Learn with SwimPix Communication and Water Safety Sets
Includes a pathway to prepare swimmers for their first lesson using a social story
Offers further ideas to build confidence in new swimmers – for both teachers and parents
At its heart, Break it Down does exactly what the title says. Aquatic Skills, Water Safety, and the four competitive strokes are broken down using BLABT: Body position, Leg action,
Arm action, breathing, and timing – and supported by teaching practices, key teaching points, and engaging game-based activities.
Supporting your teaching team
This makes Break it Down a particularly valuable resource for new teachers, helping them pitch practices and teaching points that are appropriate for the stages and levels they are teaching – while also supporting consistency across your programme.
To bring learning to life, consider running short 20-30 minute training sessions focused on practical, poolside-relevant topics. These sessions can be recorded for later access, but face-to-face discussion, brainstorming, and shared reflection remain incredibly powerful tools for development.
Most importantly, effective learning happens when teachers have a voice. Involving your team in shaping lessons, sharing ideas, and reflecting on practice helps create ownership, confidence, and more meaningful learning experiences – for teachers and swimmers alike.