Swim with a smile

So it is fair to say that Chris McKean is something of a fanatic when it comes to swimmer.

In fact, Chris McKean could quite easily be Chris McVeryKean!

Four days a week he can be found coaching members of his beloved Accrington Swimming Club at Hyndburn Sports Centre.

And the hours he puts in at poolside are more than matched by those he spends at his computer, drawing up training programmed and keying in personal best times.

So it is fitting that, in his tenth year at the club, he has been named Lancashire Sport's coach of the year.

Chris picked up the accolade at a glitzy ceremony at Ewood Park last month and, typical of a man whose modest to extremes, no-one was more shocked than he was!

"When they announced the winner, I just sat back in the seat, looked at the screen and thought it must have been someone else."

To a certain extent, he could have been right because they named displayed was Christopher McKean not the usual Chris he is known by fellow coaches and swimmers.

"That's my Sunday name and nobody ever calls me that. It took a few seconds to sink in!"

It probably wasn't until the next day that it really sunk in because the rest of the night was a bit of a blur.

"I think I was in a bit of shock," added the 37-year-old from Oswaldtwistle. "I never drink on a Friday night as I am coaching the next morning but I had a few just to calm my nerves."

Chris's modesty was perfected highlighted a few months earlier at the Hyndburn sporting awards.

He was invited to the ceremony but he only thought he was there to support fellow club coach, Ted Watson, who had been nominated for the special recognition to sport category.

"I only went along to support Ted and, again, I was completely stunned to win the coach award."

It's fitting that the pair won the borough awards in the same year as Ted has been a major influence on Chris's swimming coaching.

For while Chris had been a swimmer as a child, it was football that was his preferred sport.

But after a number of years playing football, a nasty groin injury ended his playing days at the age of 27.

"I've always been quite a sporty person so when the injury stopped me from playing I didn't know what to do.

"It was then Ted said to me that I should come along to the club and do a bit of coaching. I did and I've been there ever since."

Thanks to Ted and also club president, Walter Stubbs, Chris wasn't thrown in at the deep end and was allowed to work his way through his coaching badges and perfecting his own unique coaching style.

Now 10 years on, Chris's approach to coaching is rubbing off on his swimmers.

"I have a lot to thank Ted and Walter for. They gave me a lot of help when I first started out."

He added: "I always tell the younger swimmers to swim with a smile on their face because it is something to be enjoyed."

Chris also believes coaching with a smile on the face is also the secret to getting the best out of swimmers.

"I don't shout and bawl at swimmers when they are doing things wrong because that doesn't help anyone. I get down their level and explained things."

But when it comes to enthusiasm, then Chris has it in abundance -- and that's whether a swimmer does his first length, breaks a personal best or reaches a national qualifying time.

"I've been known to jump fully dressed in to the pool to cheer one of the kids on when they are trying to complete the first length.

"But it's not just me, other coaches do it as well."

Chris is eager to point out that the award is not for him but for everyone at the club.

"It's the proudest moment in my time as a swimming coach but if it wasn't for the coaches, parents and swimmers then it would not have happened." He thanked Lancashire Sport, his fellow coaches, Hyndburn Leisure Centre staff and the council's sports development team for their help.

But he reserved a special thank you to his girlfriend, Caroline Webster.

"She is the one who has to listen to me correcting swimmers strokes while on holiday, disqualifying Olympic finalists or having to disappear on a Saturday afternoon while out shopping.

"Caroline has been a huge support to me."

Away from the poolside, Chris plays an active role in Swimming Development Group of Hyndburn, a body that works to improve facilities and funding in the borough.

But it is at poolside that he is happiest.

"This club is very family orientated. A lot of the children have parents and grandparents who are members. We try to get everyone involved, so if they are not actually swimming they can do other things like time keep.

To emphasise the fun side of things, Chris has introduced the Chris McKean Pyramid Challenge. The winner is not the person who finished the relay-style event, it is the person who finishes closest to their original time.

"It's great fun. Swimmers have different methods how to clock a similar time. So go flat out and try to get as close to their PBs while others actually sing songs while swimming!"

Chris's other major highlight was guiding the Hyndburn team to gold in the Lancashire Youth Games in 2003.

"It was team made up of disabled and abled bodied swimmers and the way they worked together was very rewarded."

But somehow you get the feeling it's not about winning gold medals or coach of the year awards.

Because if the swimmers are happy then Chris is happy.