Isabelle Zarb, who will shortly join the Aquatic Sport Association (ASA) ranks as a full-time administrative secretary, has just completed a four-week swimming coaching course which was held in the United States.

Zarb spent two weeks at Delaware University and another fortnight at North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC), recently chosen as one of three Centres of Excellence in the country.

During her stay in the US, Zarb had the chance to garner more experience in coaching and administration and she also had a an opportunity to meet some distinguished personalities in the sport including world and Olympic champion Michael Phelps, his coach Bob Bowman and FINA vice-president Dale Neuburger.

The NBAC has been running for the past 40 years and coaches there work as a team headed by Bowman. He led Phelps to his astounding success in last year's Olympics.

"The NBAC is very well structured and covers all stages of the long-term Athlete Development Strategy working at one time," Zarb was quoted as saying.

"There is continuity as swimmers progress from one stage to the next and, most important of all, there's consistency in their coaching.

"At present, Phelps is conducting his training in a 25-metre pool along with the other top squad swimmers since he is not preparing for any major events as yet."

Zarb has been seconded by the Ministry of Education after a request by ASA president Austin Sammut.

Following the course she undertook in the US, she will now work on a National Swimming Coaching Education Programme. Her works will be presented at Lausanne next May during a FINA meeting.

Thanks to the initiative of the Ministry of Education, and, particularly, Parliamentary Sec-retary for Sport Clyde Puli, this will be the first time that the ASA will have a full-time staff member on its board, enabling the organisation to expand its activities and improve on previous successes.