Coaches Program Concerns

[girlgymmom978675]

Our current gym is hiring a new women’s program coach and I have concerns with her lack of experience not only as a coach but as the head of the entire developmental program. As I debate staying with this gym or looking for a more established gym, I want to know… who comes up with each practice, what skills to work on to continue growing as an gymnast and overall planning of the program. Is it the women’s program lead? individual coaches? Overall gym owners?

 

[coach j]

At my gym, as far as each practice goes we make our own plans for each practice for our kids depending on what they’re working on and what they need for the next level. For overall planning of the program, we usually all get together with our boss and figure out how we want to run things the next season and decide whether or not we need to change/add any criteria for them to move up to the next level. Every gym will probably do things a bit differently though.

 

[Dahlialover]

At our gym, individual coaches have a lot of autonomy when it comes to day-to-day activities. Staff retention is important and coaches like the be supported not micromanaged. I’ve watched our boys and girls programs each get new head coaches. Our gym owner hired head coaches who fit in with the gyms existing culture and everything has stayed very consistent.

But, if an owner wanted to make a big change, they could bring in a new head coach and direct them to make a bunch of changes. That would be chaotic.

 

[pt coach]

For us the owner/director sets warm ups, conditioning, floor shaping drills and line drills each week to be used by all levels. The compulsory head coach does event plans every week for levels 3-5. For levels 6-10 and Diamond, there are head event coaches who set the plans for their assigned events which are then followed by all optional coaches with modifications as necessary based on level.

 

[Dahlialover]

If you need to move for your child’s wellbeing, then do it. Avoid bad-mouthing your current gym before or after your departure. The gymnastics world is small and people have friends and colleagues all over. Be gracious and discrete.