Ian Freeman

Visiting Teaching Fellow

Health, Science and Wellbeing

HE Lead in Sport and Exercise Science (Coaching) at Grantham College, Ian has delivered success to coaches and athletes from talent development through to high performance level, including Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists, professional footballers, Ironman triathletes, cyclists, rowers, skiers, short-track speed skaters, racing drivers and rugby league players amongst many others, through high quality coaching, support, and mentoring.

Key strengths include an extensive NGB background, knowledge of technical skill development and physical literacy, and an innovative scientific background combined with 20 years’ experience of planning, leading, and developing athlete and coach education programmes that includes hands on implementation of these initiatives.

With a wide experience of working with, and educating elite and youth development level athletes in a multi-disciplinary range of sporting outcomes, excellence has always been the key and he has developed a worldwide network of partnerships and global recognition in the ability to capitalise upon every element of performance.

Professional memberships and activities

  • FINA Accredited – Coach Educator
  • Institute of Swimming – Senior Coach - Accredited Educator
  • International Physical Literacy Society (Canada)

Academic qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Sport Science: St Mary’s University
  • D.Prof (Year 3): Leeds Beckett University

Expertise

Sport coaching/pedagogy, athlete/athletic development and talent development.

Research interests

Athlete/athletic/talent development.

Grants

  • Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ): £35k from Gov.uk
  • Additional training funding: £10k from Gov.uk

Teaching

Lead for HE and lecturer at Grantham College. Visiting Teaching Fellow to Staffordshire University and visiting lecturer for the University of Lincoln and Anglia Ruskin University.

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Swim England Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) (2016) – Author (Chapter 3 - The Athlete Development Support Pathway and Chapter 4 – Fundamental Movement Skills).
  • Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher (2016) – Author (Chapter 3 - The Athlete Development Support Pathway).

Collaborative works include:

For www.swimming.org and Swimming Times

National Press and Magazines

  • The Daily Telegraph – ‘Swimming for Fat Loss’
  • Boots Health and Beauty Magazine - ‘Feel Fitter with a Swim’
  • POS’ability Magazine - ‘Come in the Water’s Lovely’ - http://www.swimming.org/assets/uploads/library/Posability_Magazine.pdf
  • Living with Disability Magazine – ‘In the Swim’ Autumn 2014 edition
  • Running and Fitness - ‘Swim Your Way to a Running PB’ and Be Swim Science Savvy!’
  • Triathlon Plus – ‘Swim Technique and Training’
  • Men’s Health – ‘Muscle Building Swim Workouts’
  • Top Santé – ‘Swim for your Health’
  • Swimming Times – ‘Articles from 1998 - 2015’
  • Healthy Magazine - ‘Eight Workouts for an Ageless Body’
  • Sainsbury’s Magazine – ‘Make a Splash’
  • Slimming World Magazine – ‘Come in the Water’s Lovely’
  • Waitrose Magazine – ‘Ten ways to improve your health, fitness and live longer’
  • https://www.coachwise.ltd.uk/uncategorized/appeal-of-swimming-is-not-taking-a-plunge/

Research Papers Articles and University Archives

  • The Athlete Development Support Pathway (ADSP) – Peer-reviewed paper is due for publication in 2021 as part of my Professional Doctorate

TV/Video work includes:

  • For BBC TV – ‘The Big Splash – Swimming Does It All!
  • For Swim England /IoS YouTube Channel:
  • Senior Coach: Introduction to Learning Units
  • The Components of Fitness
  • Introduction to Nutrition
  • Physical Literacy and Skill Development
  • Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD)
  • High Performing Coaching
  • The Four Step Warm Up
  • 7 x 200m Step Test Protocol
  • The Glycaemic Index
  • 10 Tips for Family Swims
  • 10 Tips for Families of Children with a Disability

CBBC – Nina and the Neurons (Researcher for swimming-based episode).

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021