STA has announced a new partnership with The National Open Water Coaching Association (NOWCA) and together they are working to create the UK’s first accredited open water training courses for aquatic teaching professionals and triathlon coaches.

David Candler, STA President and keen open water swimmer, said: “With open water swimming being the second fastest growing mass sport in the UK, it is the ideal time to combine the experience and skills of STA and NOWCA, to bring the industry accredited qualifications that will professionalise and set the bar for open water swimming coaching.”

Rick Kiddle, a former British triathlon champion who founded NOWCA with Martin Allen in 2010, said: “NOWCA is delighted to be working with the STA!”

“STA is fully supporting NOWCA and helping to develop what NOWCA see as a way of changing the way coaches, teachers, swimmers and leisure operators look at not only swimming pools, but also how to move effectively and safely into open water.

This will allow new classes, competitions and training methodologies to be developed for both the indoor and outdoor swimming environments. We expect teachers and coaches both national and internationally to engage with these programs and take open water swimming to the next level. The only limit is the imagination!”