Coaches High School Practices

[aileenmaryf]

So this is my second year as an assistant high school gymnastics coach. Last year we used space in a gym but because we were not getting enough practice time (which was causing poor performance and many injuries) and the gym owner would not budge on times, we are now stuck setting up and tearing down the gym each night. Currently, I am in charge of the JV team which half of them have little to no gymnastics experience. The girls who do not have much experience hate bars (some also dislike other events but bars is most common). This year I am try to enforce the rule that everyone has to at least PRACTICE all of the events. However, between the lack of equipment (we have one set of bars, one high beam, a few lower ones, a vault, and we don't set up spring floor everyday--usually just the foam & carpet) and girls' motivation, I am finding myself wanting to give up this rule. The problem is that sometimes it is necessary for them to be ON bars because other people are using the other equipment. Also, I am finding it very hard to teach the girls with very little experience because they do lack such basic skills and they all vary in how much they have. I am very frustrated because even when I give them very specific instructions for what to work on while I help others, I look over and find them standing around. They tell me they did it all, but I know they haven't (or didn't do it well).

Basically, what I am looking for is anyone who has had experience with similar situations and if they have any things that worked well for this range of skill level in conjunction with lack of equipment. These are my main problems:
-Lack of knowledge/ability of gymnastics
-Lack of motivation
-Lack of productive practices (not a lot of equipment=a lot of standing around)

Thanks in Advance!

 

[coachmolly]

I am in almost the exact position as you with a HS team made up of girls with little to no gymnastics experience. The first year I worked in this setting was a disaster as another coach and I attempted to reform the lax ways they had grown accustomed to under the former coach. It took a lot of time, but eventually they came around to the idea that gymnastics required effort, a good work ethic, and some degree of unpleasant stuff like flexibility and conditioning.
Are you coaching solo? Or do you have a helper? It makes it slightly easier that we have 2 coaches, we can split into 2 smaller groups and each take an event. Or if we have an open practice, we can float around to where we are most needed to give direction. Typically we will each take an event and require all the girls to at least give an honest effort, adapting assignments for individual skill levels. Sometimes we will allow a specialist to do a double rotation on their respective event as opposed to training an event they really struggle with, but we strive to at least give exposure to each event.
If you do not have access to a 2nd coach, I would suggest finding a few more responsible girls on the team (maybe if you have captains?) who can be entrusted with a training plan on a respective event. They can help you make sure girls are actively engaged freeing you up to actually coach rather than attempt to just get them moving. Also make sure you make expectations VERY clear, with clear consequences for those who do not live up to expectations (If you're not working, you will be asked to leave; if you aren't working consistently at practice you don't compete; etc). But also let them know there are benefits for their hard work- increased strength & flexibility which makes learning skills easier, improved scores, looking less silly at meets. And praise those who make an effort to work, take initiative, show leadership qualities, and go above and beyond.
I have found that more organized practices work better. With limited equipment, this often means lots of side stations on bars and beam with specific instructions. Conditioning, flexibility, low beam assignments, all in places that you can see them and offer verbal correction if needed.
That's all that comes to mind at the moment, hopefully it was of some help. Working with a high school team is very different from coaching in the club environment and can be incredibly challenging, but also has the potential to be a lot of fun and a way to introduce gymnastics to a group of kids who might not otherwise experience it. Best wishes!

 

[raenndrops]

Our local HS team is brand new this year... The girls on team range from old L4/5 to a single current L10, In our state, HS gymnastics basically follows L8 rules with specific modifications (like using the L9 vault chart). The girls have the gym for 2 hours a night 4 nights a week (but they share with our team 3 of those nights for their last half hour).
There is one HS coach (aka our HC). She gives the event specialists extra time on their chosen events, but has the all around (or potential all around) girls work each event every day. They are also given workout sheets that they are required to complete every week.
When I come in, I do see a lot of standing around... but they do put in the work too. Some of them stay later so they can do their conditioning, etc.
Maybe some sort of workout sheet would help your team... idk... we have sections for strength, flexibility, "club" work (working to get a certain skill - they have to have 25 honest attempts a day), and routine work (so many routines a week per event).

Good luck.