Coaches New Squad

[SXS524]

So after almost 5 years of coaching I'm about to start coaching my own squad . A mini squad for girls aged 6-8 years.

To give a bit of background info, the club is very rec based at the moment with a small rec squad who train 3 times a week. The club now is looking to start artistic gymnastics and the aim with of competing regional club grade 14 and perhaps 13. For those outside of the UK who are interested, this video shows the requirements . Once the squad has been selected they will be training for 3 hours (with a half an hour lunch break) once a week to begin with.

Since this is the first time I'll have my own squad and will be the main coach I thought I'd see if any of you coaches on CB had any advice

?

 

[SXS524]

*continued

Testing- I will be talent scouting in rec classes with the help of the head coach. I was planning on testing girls by seeing how many chin ups, leg lifts, perhaps how many mountain climber they can do in a minute. as well as looking at focus, ability to take on corrections, flexibility.


The thing that worries me the most is keeping the girls motivated and focused. I plan focussing on shapes, conditioning and perfecting basic skills All the girls will be coming straight from rec where form etc is more relaxed and very little conditioning so I think it's going to take a bit of adjustment for the girls. So I was wondering if you guys had any advice on keeping them focussed and motivated? Or any good drills for keeping tight for beginners (I know of a couple but always looking for more!) One idea I had was to have a "gymnast of the session" teddy which the girl who worked hardest/was a good team player that session could keep until the next session.

 

[Gymsanity]

*continued

Testing- I will be talent scouting in rec classes with the help of the head coach. I was planning on testing girls by seeing how many chin ups, leg lifts, perhaps how many mountain climber they can do in a minute. as well as looking at focus, ability to take on corrections, flexibility.


The thing that worries me the most is keeping the girls motivated and focused. I plan focussing on shapes, conditioning and perfecting basic skills All the girls will be coming straight from rec where form etc is more relaxed and very little conditioning so I think it's going to take a bit of adjustment for the girls. So I was wondering if you guys had any advice on keeping them focussed and motivated? Or any good drills for keeping tight for beginners (I know of a couple but always looking for more!) One idea I had was to have a "gymnast of the session" teddy which the girl who worked hardest/was a good team player that session could keep until the next session.

First, I'd like to say congratulations and I wish you and your girls great success! Having said that, you will face some challenges. The first being 2 1/2 hours of training per week. Yikes, that's pretty tough to get much done in that short amount of time. You definitely have the right idea of not culture shocking them when they come from a predominately rec program. It needs to be fun at all levels, but even more for the new and the young. Physical testing is only one criteria as I think you know. Give me that kid that wants it and has the heart for it, over one that can do a million push ups, but could take gym or leave it! I also let the kids and parents know that it is really on a trial basis. That way if for some reason it doesn't work out (on your part, or theirs) there are no hard feelings, and they hopefully won't feel bad or like they failed if they go back to rec classes, or worse yet, quit. As for being motivated, they will feed off of you. If you have lots of energy, excitement, and motivation, so will they. It's tough with your first group as I'm sure you want to do good and probably will feel pressure from the HC, parents, and worst of all yourself! Be careful of that pressure so that you don't become the coach you would never want to be because of it. Sadly, I've seen that too many times. Enjoy the kids, and enjoy the opportunity! Good luck to you all.
PS. Where can I buy a pair of feet like the girl in the video, I need about 2 dozen?

 

[Aussie_coach]

I agree with Gymsanity, you will struggle to make them competitive at this standard on three hours a week.

The problems is, that if you have only 3 hours you will have to spend the entire time on strength, flexibility, body tension and routines. For the age you are looking at, they will be bored with that.

Generally the key to motivating gymnasts to work so hard on their strength and tension is to balance it out with excitement of learning the tricky fun skills. All these routines had very, very few skills in them. Obviously it is a body development program to steer the kids towards international development gymnastics. But you have to keep the kids interested long enough for alL the strength work to actually lead somewhere!

This program puts a lot of emphasis on flexibility, strength, tension and control, which will attract strong perfectionist type gymnasts. But to make it at the higher internationals levels they also need muscle speed and a sense of daring. I can't see those kids being attracted to this program. This is of course not your fault, but to have some more time to do the fun skills will help them develop in a balanced way.

 

[gymdog]

It's not possible to do two 1.5 hour sessions? I don't think that is a bad place to start for a beginner team of 4-7 year olds, but the more often they come the more they will retain.

 

[SXS524]

Thanks for the great posts! Especially agree with the bit about pressure! Definitely feeling under a bit of pressure, mostly from myself haha! And yes I've spoken to HC and we said all girls would be told that the squad would be continually assessed.

Yup, we don't have many training hours :/ HC did originally suggest doing a 4 hour session (2 hours, half an hour lunch followed by another 2 hours) but I thought that was a very long session for little ones to start with! So now its 3 hours (the lunch break isn't included in the 3 hours) We are limited on time and space although it's also partly my fault as I'm limited on time myself being a student. I graduate in July though so will have more time to coach, so as long the gym has the space I'm hoping I can increase their hours a bit in future.

And yup, the routines are very strength/flexibility based especially bar where there isn't really any skills. So I'll have to do some up-training like upwards/backward hip circles on bars to keep them interested.

In the UK many elite clubs use grade 14 as a first competition for gymnasts aiming to become elite. They then move onto do a different competition stream where they do compulsory and voluntary "levels". We don't have the time, space or expertise as a club to take the girls down this route so the hope is that they will continue down the clubs grade route which is a non elite path. Possibly comparable to doing Xcel in the US?