The Okotoks Mavericks Swim Club is losing one of their coaches later this year.

Todd Melton has been coaching in Okotoks for over a dozen years but has decided to start his own online swim coaching business under the name Global Swim Coach.

"When I coach, it's pretty hard to get away because a lot of your weekends are taken up and you're coaching about 11 months a year. So with coaching online, it'll just give me some more freedom to do the things that I want to do with my family."

With the help of Mavericks alumnus and Olympic qualifier Finlay Knox, he wants to make a video series that goes into multiple aspects of swimming including common mistakes and how to do certain strokes.

Individual coaching will also be available.

"It's basically offering a service to people who don't have access to good coaching."

He's already had some experience in the world of virtual coaching as it was the only way to continue working with some of his swimmers during the pandemic.

Melton will officially be retired at the end of the summer and hopes to have things running smoothly in his new business by the end of the year.

He's excited about the independence of it all and the fact that he will have more time to spend with his two boys Jaden (14) and Jude (12).

"And I love the fact that the harder I work, the more I'll be rewarded. I'm pretty driven, so I like the fact that my motivation will determine my success."

The Mavericks' new head coach will be Emma Hesterman, with her twin sister Abby Knox, Finlay's mother, as her assistant head coach.

 

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email news@okotoksonline.com