Preparing to find her successor, Yorkshire coach Carrie Pillow extols the virtues of the role. Interview by Kristina Pedder
VOLUNTEERLIFE
FACTFILE
Name: Carrie Pillow
Job titles: Yorkshire Regional Coach, Branch Diving Officer, Branch Training Officer
First dive: 1986
Yorkshire born and bred, Carrie Pillow is the Yorkshire Regional Coach, a national volunteering role that she does alongside her work in two active BSAC clubs. The retired nurse lives north of the city of York, where she keeps busy on the farm and audits local councils in her spare time.
An Advanced Diver, Advanced Instructor and Instructor Trainer, Carrie is Diving Officer at YR Divers in York. She is also the Training Officer of Pontefract BSAC. Both clubs do a lot or training and diving around the UK and abroad.
“ I am in my third year of being Yorkshire Regional Coach,” Carrie says.“ In the role, I have had the pleasure of meeting members not only from the Yorkshire region but from across the country and I have been able to help in their quest to develop their diving. This has been a wonderfully rewarding opportunity.”
I ask Carrie how she got into diving. A try dive in Corsica was all it took, she replies.“ I was hooked from there.” Now she likes nothing better than to help divers progress through their training grades.
I wanted to know what had been so compelling about her early experiences.“ The freedom,” she explains.“ It feels like you are flying. Every dive is a new adventure.
The rewards of being a Regional Coach
Preparing to find her successor, Yorkshire coach Carrie Pillow extols the virtues of the role. Interview by Kristina Pedder
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With BSAC University coordinator Joe Westnedge( left)
SKILLSTIP
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As a diver and instructor, it’ s important to keep your skills sharp, use every dive as an opportunity to practice a different skill. Stay up to date with the instructor manual, to ensure you are teaching skills and performing skills to the latest standards.
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