Alison Cowan recently joined the Island Swimming Association as the Lead Coach at SEAPARC. Certified as an Age Group Coach (previously known as Level 2) with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), Cowan brings over 15 years experience as a swim coach. She comes to us from snowy Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Besides being a highly qualified coach with extensive background, Cowan’s expertise is further augmented by her work as an elementary teacher. Her areas of specialization in completing her Bachelor of Education were English and Native Studies.
As a swimming coach since Grade 9, it becomes very apparent that Cowan also has a keen interest in kinesthesiology (the study of the movement of muscles and joints).
Her approach to learning is engaging and effective: begin with the basics, master them, then move on to the next set of building blocks.
Cowan says she likes to infuse fun into her classes, and brings energy, enthusiasm and experience. She relates well to all age groups.
Alison Cowan is at SEAPARC most days, coaching kids between 2½ to 15 years old in both recreational and competitive classes. Cowan is also experienced in coaching Masters swimming (for people 25 and older interested in competitive swimming), and adults training for triathlons.
If you see some red-faced coach bellowing at her kids in swim class at SEAPARC, it’s probably not her. In fact, you’re probably not even at SEAPARC.
But if you see someone the swim students look up to and love to learn from, and that someone looks far too young to have 15 years of experience under her swim cap, it might be her.
Go ahead, say hello, and welcome Alison Cowan to our community. And if it’s not her, you may still have met a lovely person.