Coaches lesson plans

[BarCoach]

Do you have a lesson plan that you follow? Do you write it on your own or does the gym give it to you? I've worked at gyms that do it both ways. While I understand why gyms might want to make you follow their lesson plans to keep all classes the same, I hated it.

 

[gymdog]

I like it for classes. For team you need some flexibility BUT I do like some basic planning and structure, not just come in every day.

 

[marie83]

We do session plans for our rec classes and the coaches are supposed to follow them, for competitive classes the individual coaches do their own plans which have to be approved by the head coaches.

 

[peace.love.gymnast]

I have lesson plans to follow for my rec program. I find it easier to run a successful class when I go by the plans.

 

[coachinkal]

I always do a lesson plan for every lesson. I have the plan sheet stored on my computer and change for each lesson.

When we have lots of different levels in the one class or girls and boys in one session then we try to have a term planner with the apparatus we can use on each day. Each coach then plans their lessons around the term planner.

I like to be able to plan lessons as I go so I can adresss each gymnasts needs. This is particularly necessary heading toward competitions.

 

[fuzi]

FOr my rec classes, I have a list of skills that the level is supposed to be working on, but beyond that, it is up to me. Likewise, for competitive, I know the skills for each level, but daily lesson plans are my decision.

When I first started coaching, I'd write out a plan for the day. Now I just make a general idea in my head, but change it according to the kids attitudes and effort that day, the equipment available, if I have an assistant coach, ext.

 

[CreateMagic]

We have set lesson plans for our rec classes that change every two weeks. All rec teachers can suggest skills they'd like included, and seeing as there's only 6 of us, its not that difficult to make everyone happy most of the time. It is also understood (and encouraged) that some adjustments to the plan can be made on an individual basis, increasing or decreasing the level of skills being taught.

We are a very small gym though, and we are definitely organized differently that most gyms out there. Our classes are not separated by ability, only by age. We staff at an 8:1 ratio (this is normal), but each teacher doesn't get a set group of 8 kids. If we had a full class of 24, there would be 3 lead teachers in the gym. We all warm-up and stretch together, with one teacher leading and the other two assisting during that portion. Then we break the kids up into three groups and go to our first 15-minute rotation. We group the kids based on age as well as ability and these groups sometimes change week-to-week. When its time to switch areas, only the kids switch. So, for example, this week I'm teaching beam--and I will teach three rotations of beam, and get to work with all 24 children. While I have a set lesson plan, I also differentiate what and how I teach based on the group I have. One station this week was various ways of getting across the high beam. My less-experienced group might have a focus of walking across the high beam with no help and good posture going forward, backwards, and learning the difference between coupe and passe; my more-experienced/higher level kids might be working on perfecting their form while walking on releve, straight leg kicks forward and backward, tuck and split jumps, and teeter-tottering (or handstands) starting and finishing in a lunge. Basically, we work our way through typical progressions.

This way works really well for our gym because of how much we work together and the way our classes are organized.

Off topic a bit, but I really enjoy how we do things. I know the staff very well, because we have to constantly interact, and I know all the kids--not just 8 I am responsible for that hour. We are also able to separate kids who have difficulty working with each other (or who work together too well--but only to cause mischief, lol) and pair up kids who complement each other well. Just something to think about as you start to plan your gym, BarCoach