MSU To Hold Disability Swimming Coaches Clinic
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Sept. 27, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming program will be conducting a camp for coaches, which will discuss techniques related to coaching swimmers with cognitive, physical, and sensory disabilities on Saturday, Oct. 15.
The Michigan State coaching staff, as well as Oakland University assistant and 2004 USA Paralympic Games head coach Shawn Kornoelje will conduct the clinic. Dr. Gail M. Dummer, director of MSU's Sports Skills Program and assistant coach at the 1994 and 1998 World Paralympic Swimming Championships will also help instruct the camp.
"With the names involved, we have the ability and the expertise to put on a great clinic and all parties involved want the state of Michigan to be the leader in disability sports," commented Dr. Gail Dummer.
The clinic provides coaches an opportunity to learn more about Paralympic and Special Olympic swimming competitions and obtain a Special Olympic swimming coaching certification. Stroke techniques will be covered and the clinic will breakdown rules, classification and divisioning in the sport, training equipment use, workouts and safety education.
"We will focus on a problem-solving approach, where we use principles on how to improve the strokes, rather than an idealistic perfect form," Dummer remarked. "One thing we hope coaches get out of the clinic is to use the principles of swimming to make refinements to help those with disabilities improve their stroke."
"We expect coaches that haven't worked with those with disabilities to learn about the competition opportunities that are out there, and learn how to apply existing knowledge to different types of athletes. "We are excited about the clinic and want to encourage participants, especially student-athletes."
Participating partners helping sponsor the event include, Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame, Michigan Swimming, Inc., Special Olympics-Michigan, MSU Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, MSU Department of Intramural Sports, MSU Swimming and Diving Team.
Those interested can complete and submit a registration form, along with a $10 non-refundable registration fee by Oct. 7, to reserve their spot at the clinic. Questions about the session can be directed to Dr. Gail M. Dummer at dummer@msu.edu.
