Old-school Geraldton swimming coach Angela Scott learnt the hard way

There was no “sugar-coating” swimming when Angela Scott was a star of the sport.

Nothing covered the demands, the dedication, or the drabness of training.

“It was a tough sport — a very tough sport. The sessions then were longer and harder,” Scott, a nigh-on 10-year competitive swimmer, said.

“You trained as hard as you could all the time.

“Now it’s a ‘don’t push too far, too hard or too soon’ approach.”

Swimming in Perth as a child and a teenager, Scott learnt plenty.

Selection in four straight nationals suggests she was pretty talented in the pool — much the same as she is out of the water.

Just ask any of the many kids and teenagers at the Geraldton Amateur Swimming Club who know exactly why she was chosen as coach of the year in the recent Geraldton Guardian/Mid West Sports Federation annual awards.

Scott, 37, admits her three children, Sarah, 10, Alex, seven, and Elise, three, “miss out a bit and don’t get my full attention” because of coaching assignments.

There’s 5.30am-7am coaching three days a week, Saturday morning sessions, and 3.45pm-6pm bookings Monday-Friday.

“I have to juggle things with my kids, and at times it’s tough on them,” Scott said.

“But they know it is my job and my passion — and they will get to learn how to swim.

“I love my swimming and it’s great for fitness, regardless of what sport you’re into. I try to maintain three sessions a week for my endurance and stamina.

“We live in Australia. Everybody should know how to swim.”

Hundreds of young people under Scott’s care are doing just that — and there are glowing testimonies to her influence.

“The results of our swimmers over the past few years, and particularly over the last 12 months, are testament to Angela’s leadership,” a submission in her coach of the year nomination said.

“She has been with our swimming club (GASC) for five years and has displayed all the attributes of an extremely dedicated coach.

“She spends many hours away from the pool researching and writing programs, most of the time tailored to individual swimmers.

“She is effective in setting defined goals for them and teams — and expresses these goals and ideas clearly.”