WHEN the City of Chester Swimming Club employed a new head coach with international experience, none of the members could have predicted it would mean reduced pool sessions.

But that was the first thing Barry Healey changed when he arrived – and he has big plans for the club.

“When I came here the elite swimmers were going seven days a week,” he said. “That was not helping them improve and was killing their enjoyment of the sport.”

Barry, originally from Manchester, has been in swimming long enough to know his stuff.

Between 1976 and 1998 he worked with the Canadian and American national teams, proving instrumental in preparing them for Olympic and (in Canada’s case) Commonwealth competitions.

He has been back in Britain for almost 10 years and has worked with local councils and the Government on the idea of using sport as a weapon against anti-social behaviour.

But what attracted him to City of Chester?

“I saw potential here,” said Barry. “We were living nearby in Macclesfield and I thought I could bring out some of the talent the city has. I needed to make big changes.

“One of the first things which was easy to change was the number of pool sessions they did.

“Since we started training less, the results have improved rapidly. There is more attention to the nutrition and psychology, but there is also time off so the swimmers don’t get sick of the sport.”

Barry stresses the importance of enjoying swimming.

“We have people here who could be gaining some attention come the 2012 London Olympics, but we need to make sure they stick with swimming and enjoy it,” he said. “Swimming has a 75% drop-out rate in this country and we need to address that.

“I have got the parents on board in a serious way and we are getting 20 or 30 turning up to help now. We also try to offer positive motivation, rather than just telling people how to improve.”

Barry believes that swimmers like Sarah Eaglesham, Leo McCormack and Will Slater are already proving his methods are working.

“They are all getting noticed for their performances,” he said. “Leo has been the one to surprise most people because he has improved a lot.”

The two pools Chester swimmers use at the historic City Baths are shorter than the standard 50m Olympic-size pool, but weekly excursions to the Aquatics Centre in Manchester give them regular experience of a larger arena.

Barry added: “That this club is capable of producing top swimmers is even more impressive as they only swim in a 50m pool once a week.

“People say you can’t make a good swimmer in a short pool but you can if you train right. Nevertheless, it is a disadvantage to not have a 50m pool within easy reach and I will be talking to the council to see if there is any prospect of this changing soon.”

That is a big ask but for Barry, a man used to making big changes, it is just the next logical step.

“Too often countries get an Olympic Games and fail to capitalise on it,” he said. “We will be running taster sessions for young swimmers during the Beijing Games this year so if children see swimming on TV they can try it there and then.

“The nation needs to invest in facilities if we are to win medals in four years and I am always willing to talk to councillors or ministers about that.”

For further information on the City of Chester Swimming Club, contact Barry Healey on 07984 078694, 01625 869981 (home) or 01244 317300 (club office). Alternatively, e-mail him at: barrysportingchance@ hotmail.co.uk