- May 31, 2014
- 443
- 382
I've recently started coaching a group of team gymnasts with ages ranging from 6-16 years old. The other coaches barely use drills. They're more the type to say "Well of course her roundoff is still crooked but let's just let her try to connect a back handspring to it" or "Why do you need to have a plan before coming to the gym? We've done just fine without it or do you think our girls suck?"
Drives me crazy.
My question is: How do I introduce drills to these gymnasts who only ever do them "for fun" four times a year? I am likely going to take over the group in February when the head coach moves away so I want to start implementing them as soon as possible.
The younger gymnasts have transitioned okay but I'm having trouble getting the 11-16 age range to understand the purpose of drills and continuing to work basic skills. In their heads, I'm punishing them by drilling roundoffs instead of immediately letting them work on their tumbling passes at the beginning of a floor rotation. They are also used to not having a coach (group was pretty understaffed earlier in the year) so on top of grumbling that I want them to practice "boring baby skills" they will also sometimes just ignore what I say and do their thing and see how I react.
What do I do to win them over? Or it it just too late?
Current head coach lets me do what I want but thinks there's nothing wrong with how they've been running practices.
Drives me crazy.
My question is: How do I introduce drills to these gymnasts who only ever do them "for fun" four times a year? I am likely going to take over the group in February when the head coach moves away so I want to start implementing them as soon as possible.
The younger gymnasts have transitioned okay but I'm having trouble getting the 11-16 age range to understand the purpose of drills and continuing to work basic skills. In their heads, I'm punishing them by drilling roundoffs instead of immediately letting them work on their tumbling passes at the beginning of a floor rotation. They are also used to not having a coach (group was pretty understaffed earlier in the year) so on top of grumbling that I want them to practice "boring baby skills" they will also sometimes just ignore what I say and do their thing and see how I react.
What do I do to win them over? Or it it just too late?
Current head coach lets me do what I want but thinks there's nothing wrong with how they've been running practices.