Our Aim
VDS Swim Clinics was set up based on our own experience as competitive swimmers and coaches, and what we have consistently seen through delivering clinics with young athletes. In many club environments, the structure of squad training means that important areas such as race skills, technical detail, land-based preparation, warm-ups, mobility and recovery can be difficult to prioritise on a regular basis.
Our aim is not to replace club training, but to support it. By giving swimmers focused time to work on these areas, build understanding, and develop confidence in the skills that aid performance in training and competition.
The Coaches
Isis Van Der Stroom
Isis has grown up in competitive swimming and is currently training within a Swim England Performance Centre. She has experience competing at both national and international level, which has shaped her understanding of what it takes to progress in the sport.
Alongside her own training, Isis is a Swim England Level 2 qualified coach. She has worked across swim school programmes and as a development squad coach, giving her practical experience with swimmers at different stages. Being both an athlete and a coach helps her understand the pathway from learning the basics through to performance swimming, and she brings this experience into everything she does.
Swim Coach
Sam Van Der Stroom
Sam is a qualified Level 2 swimming teacher who currently works with swimmers of all ages and abilities, with a particular focus on one-to-one coaching and individual feedback.
Sam previously trained as part of the University of Stirling High Performance swimming programme and progressed through both the English and Dutch junior national pathways.
Through VDS Swim Clinics, Sam aims to create focused but supportive sessions where swimmers can learn, ask questions and work on the details that often get missed in busy club environments.
Swim Coach
Swim CoachHarper Whitehead
Harper is a Level 2 Swim Coach with experience as a Lead Squad Coach at the University of Stirling, Lead Age Group Coach, and Scottish Swimming National Pathway Coach. With a BSc in Sport & Exercise Science, he combines technical detail with a strong understanding of physiology and performance.
Harper used to train with the University of Stirling High Performance programme and holds multiple English National titles in the Individual Medley Events.
Harper delivers focused, tailored sessions where swimmers build confidence, refine the details, and most importantly... enjoy the sport!
How We Work
We focus on creating a supportive, relaxed environment where swimmers feel comfortable learning, asking questions and working on the details that are often hard to prioritise in busy club sessions.
Our sessions are structured but flexible, with a strong emphasis on clear explanation and individual feedback. Rather than replacing club training, we aim to complement it by reinforcing key skills, building understanding, and helping swimmers take more confidence and clarity back into their club programmes
All VDS Swim Clinics sessions are delivered in line with our safeguarding policy, privacy policy, and terms and conditions, with swimmer welfare and safety as our priority.