Coaches New Rec Coach - How do I learn to spot and in general gain more confidence?

[Rookie Gym Coach]

I want to make sure I don't let a kid fall on their head! That's like my worst nightmare. Besides the basic spotting they're teaching me, I feel like I'm not truly LEARNING HOW to spot.

 

[coachsades]

Hey there!!

The best thing to do is to practice!! Use pillows at home!

Second, if you don’t feel you are getting adequate training, ask to shadow a higher level coach. Ask questions & ask for practice! Sometimes gym owners just assume because it’s “rec” you only need forward roll spotting, but that’s so not true.

Good luck coach <3

 

[Rookie Gym Coach]

Hey there!!

The best thing to do is to practice!! Use pillows at home!

Second, if you don’t feel you are getting adequate training, ask to shadow a higher level coach. Ask questions & ask for practice! Sometimes gym owners just assume because it’s “rec” you only need forward roll spotting, but that’s so not true.

Good luck coach <3

Okay, not even joking, I've been spotting pillows for YEARS. Like probably 5 or 6 now lol.

 

[TravelingCoach]

I’ve got a couple questions to see if I can help you.

1. How much training have you gotten and were you a gymnast before becoming a coach?

2. Does you gym follow a set curriculum for classes? (Eg. Beginner, intermediate, advanced)

3. What skills are you the most worried about?

4. Are you in a gym with high level gymnasts and (if you are alright with saying) what country are you in? I ask the second part of that question because some countries require coaches to go through courses to be given a level and those courses aren’t always relevant, useful, or adequate. Also, some countries do not require courses at all and everything is left to in house training.

 

[34gymcoach]

Talk to your supervisor. I’m sure they would let you come in and shadow and double spot things to learn more. Be willing to spend your own money to attend things like Congress (they have hands in spotting lectures), etc. I love it when my staff asks to learn and improve. You can also use the many, many resources online to just watch gymnastics. That will help your “eye” for sure!

 

[Rookie Gym Coach]

Talk to your supervisor. I’m sure they would let you come in and shadow and double spot things to learn more. Be willing to spend your own money to attend things like Congress (they have hands in spotting lectures), etc. I love it when my staff asks to learn and improve. You can also use the many, many resources online to just watch gymnastics. That will help your “eye” for sure!

OH! I would absolutely love to go to next year's regional or national congress and don't mind spending my own money. How can I qualify though? My manager and another upper-level coach from my gym went this year to regional.

 

[Rookie Gym Coach]

I’ve got a couple questions to see if I can help you.

1. How much training have you gotten and were you a gymnast before becoming a coach?

2. Does you gym follow a set curriculum for classes? (Eg. Beginner, intermediate, advanced)

3. What skills are you the most worried about?

4. Are you in a gym with high level gymnasts and (if you are alright with saying) what country are you in? I ask the second part of that question because some countries require coaches to go through courses to be given a level and those courses aren’t always relevant, useful, or adequate. Also, some countries do not require courses at all and everything is left to in house training.

1. I was a gymnast for years and was kind of on and off. Highest level I did was Xcel Gold but throughout my career I probably trained a mix of platinum and diamond skills. For training, they do it in phases. So, phase 1 is just floating. Phase 2 is leading warm up. Phase 3 is leading warm up and one event, phase four is leading warm up and two events, and phase 5 is leading whole classes as well as coming in on a Saturday to float/train for open gym/birthday parties. I'm currently on phase 3, about to be moved into phase 4.

2. Somewhat. The classes we have are Parent-tot (not allowed for me bc of age), pre-k, mini gymnastics (for kids who age out of pre-k), beginner girls, adv beginner girls, intermediate girls, tramp and tumbling 1/2/3, mini ninja, and ninja gym. For each class they make lesson plans just to give us ideas but we are not required to follow them.

3. Tbh, all of them. Mostly fast-moving ones or just spotting kids who weigh a little heavier (my back has been hurting after spotting kids who weigh more and also don't have the skill at all so I have to do it completely for them).

4. Yes, we have optional team girls, and I think at least one or two lvl 8+. I'm in the US.

 

[TravelingCoach]

Great, so I’ll give you the best advice that I can but take it all with a grain of salt as every situation is different and, although I have been doing this for a long time, I don’t know everything (or anything if you catch me on a bad day).

1. Since you have been a gymnast then you should have a decent understanding of the basics and fundamentals. Remember the basics and fundamentals. This will be important later.

2. Take your time and follow the curriculum. Make sure you are confident with each recreational level that you coach and , if it can be avoided, don’t force yourself into coaching things that you aren’t confident in.

3. For fast moving skills, break them down to learn to spot them. Round off - back handspring can be done from standing start on a panel mat instead of a run, as an example. Tsuk spotting is best learned using a mat setup instead of the table. Most skills can be broken down and it’s easier to learn the correct spotting in a more controlled setting. Also, ask a more experienced coach to double spot or help you learn if they are available. Any coach that doesn’t want to help another coach learn is a dick.

3.5. If it takes more effort to spot a skill than it would take for you to do it yourself then you shouldn’t be spotting it. Spot for safety, shaping, moral support, whatever, but never spot to do the skill for the gymnasts. There are lots of preps and drills that can be done that will help the gymnasts build the strength/confidence they need to do the skill themselves. Always revert to basics and fundamentals if you find yourself working harder than the gymnasts!

4. Watch the higher level coaches spot and ask them for advice or help. Like I said before, any coach that doesn’t want to help another coach learn is a dick. My job as a head coach becomes much easier when all of my coaches are trained and knowledgeable. If they do not want to help you then you need to find another gym.

 

[TravelingCoach]

I forgot to add another point.

5. It’s the gymnasts safety first. I will always put myself in harms way to ensure a gymnasts safety. Obviously the ideal is that everyone walks away unscathed because of proper planning, drilling, prepping, whatever, but ,if something goes wrong, the coach should take the worst of it.