An effective gymnastics coach inspires gymnasts of all ages to aim for athletic excellence while emphasizing a positive attitude in a supportive and safe environment. While gyms follow different coaching philosophies, successful coaches share the same basic characteristics.
Professional Training
USA Gymnastics offers a national accreditation program for coaches, but not every gymnastics facilities requires its coaches to obtain such certification. USA Gymnastics University trains coaches in proven gymnastics coaching techniques, as well as safety and risk management. If a coach does not have a USA Gymnastics certificate, she should have some kind of certification from her employer, stating the levels and ages she is qualified to train. An effective gymnastics coach continually seeks to improve her skills by attending yearly seminars or additional classes.
Cautious Safety
An effective gymnastics coach makes the safety of his gymnasts a top priority. The coach must properly warm up his gymnasts at the start of class, spot the gymnasts during class and lead a cool-down period after training. He will teach gymnasts how to fall properly with arms hugging tucked knees. When teaching new skills, the coach should use safety equipment, such as harnesses on the trampoline, stacked mats behind the vault and a foam pit under the horizontal or uneven bars. He will encourage gymnasts to listen to their bodies and rest when injured.
Clear Communication
Effective communication is essential to gymnastics coaching. The coach must break down the skills to individual movements from start to finish. In a back handspring, for example, she must explain how to "sit" in the invisible chair, jump back into the arch position, spring off the hands and snap the legs over her head. The coach must quickly point out what a gymnast does wrong, while offering praise for what the gymnast does right. She should create shorthand correction words, that when shouted, indicate what to correct, from pointing toes to straightening a leg or landing with the correct foot kicked out.
Individualized Motivation
A successful coach motivates his gymnasts to set small and large goals, and to achieve those goals one step at a time. Instead of checking off the skills on the skill chart, the coach might give a young gymnast a sticker in place of a check for each completed skill, for example. The coach can take a cue from Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Dawes, and work with each gymnast to create a personal motto that helps the gymnast stay focused. Whatever the technique, an effective coach tailors the motivation to the gymnast.
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