Ask Taupo Swimming Club head coach Peter McCallum what he likes about coaching and he hardly knows where to start.
"I love my job, I go to work every morning with a smile," he said. "It's such a varied role - there are emotions, nutrition, the physical aspect. It's a good place to work, and I work with good people."
The head coach at the AC Baths has just been announced coach of the year at the Taupo Sports Awards and received the award last week.
He has worked at the AC Baths for the past 16 years after previously working as an alpine ski coach and a school teacher.
"I do like the competitive aspect," he said. "It's about helping kids grow to fulfil their potential."
However he is quick to forward praise to the others in his team and beyond.
"It's a whole team effort at the pool - I'm not the only coach, I'm just the head coach. You've also got the AC Baths Swim School raising our young swimmers, staff, parents, the kids themselves and the whole swimming community."
The team has had regional and national success and there were several young swimmers on the New Zealand team this year, he said.
"We start at 6am and then go again after school, and are away a lot of weekends for swim meets, but it's all worth it."
The Taupo Sports Awards were held last Friday at the Great Lake Centre and recognised the district's top athletes, coaches, support staff and teams for 2016.
