BSAC is pleased to announce that Linda Lawcock has been appointed Regional Coach for Yorkshire. Linda is a long-standing member of Doncaster SAC and an experienced instructor, and she will lead the region's coaching team as it supports clubs, instructors and divers across "God's Own County".
Linda takes over from Carrie Pillow, who is stepping down from the role after three years as Yorkshire Regional Coach. The BSAC team would like to thank Carrie for all her hard work to support training in the Yorkshire region. Carrie looks forward to maintaining a strong relationship with divers in the region and passing on expertise learned during her time as coach.
About Linda
Linda learned to dive later in life. After a try dive in 2001 she was hooked, and she has been with Doncaster SAC ever since. She worked her way up to Dive Leader and qualified as a Theory Instructor in 2005, which let her help her club's instructors. She quickly found that she loved training new divers and watching them develop.
She finished most of her Advanced Diver training by 2009. Several serious injuries then set her back, but she qualified as an Open Water Instructor in 2023 and has only three dives left to complete her Advanced Diver qualification. She has dived around much of the UK coastline and abroad, including in Norway, South Africa and Borneo. Since 2020 she has also been the Local Organiser for Instructor Training Scheme (ITS) courses in the region.
"I very much look forward to taking on the role of Yorkshire's Regional Coach," said Linda. "I'll be working with many experienced and talented instructors and fellow divers to help clubs and their members flourish, and to build a vibrant, enthusiastic diving community in Yorkshire."
A region built for great divers
Yorkshire has a striking coastline with a wide range of wrecks and scenery to suit every kind of diver. It's often said that divers who learn with BSAC in a drysuit in the North Sea are some of the best in the world, and Yorkshire is proud to offer that training.
Inland sites in the region help divers build the confidence and skills they need for that challenging sea. From there, divers can take their skills in whatever direction suits them: technical diving, wrecks, underwater photography, or helping to protect the biodiversity of Yorkshire's coastal waters.
Linda's coaching philosophy
"I have a passion for diving," said Linda. "Everyone learns differently, and I believe our role as instructors is to help divers find their own pace. I get great enjoyment from seeing their confidence grow and the excitement on their faces as they experience the wonders under the sea."
She is also a firm believer in BSAC's commitment to diving for all. "Regardless of age or disability, diving can provide physical and mental respite. To quote Forrest Gump, 'life is like a box of chocolates', and so are divers. We come from all walks of life with one passion: diving."
Supporting Yorkshire's clubs
The Regional Coaching Team supports every club in the region. It also connects clubs that need extra help, for example because they are short of instructors or need more training. That support helps divers and instructors develop, so they can give more back to their own clubs.
"I want to build on the foundations that are already in place," said Linda. "I want to bring the Yorkshire diving community together, with branches supporting each other and sharing resources and experience at every level."
Training and courses
Yorkshire has always offered a wide range of Skill Development Courses (SDCs) and ITS events, and that will continue. There will be some changes to how these events are run, and Linda will make sure every club understands the new process. She will also work with clubs to identify training needs at all levels and help deliver the courses.
The region will keep running instructor courses twice a year, including the Instructor Foundation Course (IFC), Open Water Instructor Course (OWIC) and Practical Instructor Exam (PIE), to help clubs build up their instructor numbers. SDCs will include Accelerated Decompression Procedures (ADP), Snorkel Instructor Training Course & Assessment (SITCA), Boat Handling, Chartwork and Position Fixing, and Compressor Operation and mixed gas blending, among others.
Join the team
The Regional Coaching Team is always looking for people to help the region's clubs grow. Are you a qualified instructor looking for development opportunities, or would you like to help other divers develop their skills? If so, Linda or any member of the Yorkshire Regional Team would love to hear from you.
Have you completed your IFC and want more experience on your instructor journey? Come along and assist the regional team.
Contact Linda: yorkshire.coach@bsac.com
For more information on the Regional Coaching Scheme in your area or to contact your Regional Coach, go to bsac.com/coaching.
