FINALLY. A series of workshops dedicated to the coaches of kids NOT competing.
Tumbl Trak’s 1-day clinics celebrating their 25th Anniversary are now registering. Focus will be on best practice for precompetitive and advanced recreation girls coaches.
Click through for details on the one closest to you.
At the recent Alberta Gymnastics Congress I got my first chance to see this document. It’s a coach training program for ages 13-14.
Gymnastics Canada has updated their (old) Development Leader (Dev’L) program, rebranding it the “Pre-CIT program”.
In the first year of the Pre-CIT program, candidates will complete 5 hours of tutorials, covering 10 topic areas, and assist in the gym for 10 hours.
In the second year, candidates will complete an additional 10 hours of tasks related to coaching, officiating and administration. Over the course of the two years, it is also expected that the Pre- CIT will remain an active gymnastic participant, completing a minimum of 15 hours of “gymming” time.
13 year old Pre-CITs MUST complete the program over two full training years. 14 and 15 year old Pre-CITs have the option of completing the program in one or two training years.
At age-15, they can enter into the adult National Coaching Certification Program.
Resources from many clubs across the country were compiled, edited and produced by Cathy Haines with assistance from Elisabeth Bureaud.
This program is voluntary.
Nice work.
But it’s only available to Gymnastics Canada clubs, so far as I know.
At Gymtastics, we know that nothing is more important than developing a child’s self-esteem. That’s why our GymTools program offers a unique and creative coaching philosophy that concentrates on individual growth; emotionally, mentally and physically. We believe that gymnastics can enhance the all-around health of almost everybody on the planet, providing an excellent base for all sports and life in general. (A back flip comes in handy more often than you’d think in life.)
Gymtastics GymTools is a resource that delivers fun, fitness and fundamentals for parents, teacher and coaches. We provide pre-school, recreational and competitive lesson plans and visual aids developed by qualified and experienced coaches.
You’ll also find specialty programs like Sports & Games, Summer Camps, the best Birthday Parties on the world wide web and more inspiration than you’ll know what to do with. You’ll be surprised how quickly our website will help you enhance your teaching skills. …
Successful programs have good leadership: Yearly Plan, Session Plan and individual Class Plans. In this workshop we will analyze the Class Plan and goals in great detail, the objective to optimize every precious minute we have with the kids.
Our goal is to MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN the moment the kids arrive until the moment you deliver them to the parents.
Gymnastics should be the best 90min of their week.
Coaches requested information links to the best lesson plans for Rec classes. My personal favourites are for SCHOOLS, but they can be adapted to the club situation:
This post includes a VIDEO of my presentation and a some course notes. Leave a comment if you have anything to add.
Making a Career Out of Coaching
I’ve been a full-time gymnastics coach since 1980. And have made just about every career mistake possible.
In 2011, what are the best career strategies? What should a coach look for in a gymnastics job: Salary, Benefits, Security, Quality of Life, Professional Development?
Business guru Frank Sahlein attended. Thanks Frank! … My advice to any coach is to bring on a consultant like Frank to help you build a plan for your gymnastics business and personal career.
• Frank and I were super impressed that two young female coaches, age-14 and age-16, opted to attend a session on “Coaching Careers”. I urged them to get organized, then take over the world, relegating men to second tier. 🙂
• gymnastics promotes “physical literacy”
• PlayGymnastics.com, the Gymnastics BC Rec website, recommended
• Rick invited Frank as the USA is so much better evolved in the “business of gymnastics”
• Rick asked coaches to “follow your bliss”
• look for role models. Coaches you admire.
• consider coaching in other acrobatic sports: circus, Gymnaestrada, cheer, etc.
• Rick recommended all coaches in Canada have a “contract” on paper. Frank noted that at his gym (2500 athletes / week) they dispensed with contracts, instead using “job descriptions”
• in Canada most coaches are “employed” not “self-employed”
• recommended was no more than 28hrs / week contact time with athletes
• be careful to calculate the hours required / year for competitions, camps, meetings, etc.
• the contract should spell out what’s paid with regard to travel days
• can the employee count hours working from home? … The trend is to work 24hrs/7 days a week.
• Frank pointed out that every week is different for a full-time gymnastics person
• Frank talked about “peak-end research”
the peak of any activity is memorable
the end of any activity is memorable
Rick suggested that the very LAST activity in a class should be very FUN
• make the “magic” happen in your class
• Rick suggested that every child in Canada should do at least 18 months of recreation gymnastics to be “physically educated” for life
• Frank pointed out that at least 30% of families in most demographics cannot afford our classes
• you need an expert like Frank to calculate how many kids you will have in your gym in your market, assuming you do a good job as compared with your competitors • LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
• Rick suggested that a top end husband / wife coaching team could expect $100,000 combined in salary in 2011
• a new Head Coach (fully L3 certified) at a small club, likely rural, could ask for $25,000 – $38,000
• job security and personal happiness limited when working for a non-profit Society
• considerations mentioned:
This post includes a VIDEO of my presentation and some course notes. Leave a comment if you have anything to add.
Building and Maximizing Adult Rec Gymnastics Programs
Does your club offer programs for adults? If not, why not? Rick McCharles sets out the benefits, risks and offers advice on how best to plan programs for big kids age-16 and older. In this important and growing opportunity for our gyms, Rick will discuss various ways to market your club’s adult programs to the “converted” gymnast enthusiasts as well as to the untapped group of individuals who always wanted to do gymnastics but never did and don’t know how to begin.
• Adult Rec is HOT in 2011
• Altadore in Calgary has offered Adult for at least 30yrs. Over that time, every other program in the city has OFFERED and CANCELED adult recreation programs. It’s considered a troublesome program to run safely.
• the tragic death of Michelle Maitland in Australia must caution everyone involved in adult recreational gymnastics
• we’ve had at least one law suit in Calgary from an adult against an adult rec program
• Rick recommends age-16 and up. Some clubs start at age-18 or age-19.
• provide cross training for Parkour, Snowboard, Capoiera, CrossFit, etc.
• offer both “open gym” (drop-in) and “instruction” (classes) if you have the demand and coaches to do so
• overconfident young men are the main risk in offering drop-in
Why?
• gym income during off-hours ($10 / 90min) and/or monthly and/or punch cards
• potential Rec coaching recruits
• keep former gymnasts, coaches involved / “detraining” phase for retiring competitors
• great social motivator for your staff, coaches and friends
• source of volunteers for special events
• clean-up / set-up gym for next day
• Rick recommended offering the program as late as possible in the evening, Mon – Thurs
• most gyms have enough demand only to offer 1 or 2 classes / week
• super competent and authoritative coach needed
• super experienced coach
• well paid coach (“danger pay”)
• specialty adult programs are gaining popularity: “Parkour / Free Running”, “Flip/Twist”, Cheer tumbling, etc.
• all adults should be required to attend a group warm-up (15min)
• all adults should be requested to condition at the end of class (30min)
• steer adults away from backward handspring, towards backward salto
Adult “Masters” Competitions
• gaining popularity
• two of the best are hosted in B.C.
• beware adult gymnasts doing multiple forward somersaults. More catastrophic injuries are from this family of skills than any other:
• no exposed concrete anywhere near trampoline devices or pits
• if backyard tramps were illegal, we’d have many more adults in our clubs, doing better and safer trampoline
• we can teach “how to fall” — trying to prevent future injuries falling from mountain bikes, snowboards, etc.
• best practice is to have no overlap between the training times of children and adults
If you had to pick either the Alberta Rec Retreat or the BC congress, which one would you go to (there both the same weekend)? Without looking at travel costs ect.. Which is the most educational and worth while?
Tumbl Trak’s 1-day clinics celebrating their 25th Anniversary are now registering. Focus will be on best practice for precompetitive and advanced recreation girls coaches. 
Tracy, and 
coachicu, and 
Recreational Gymnastics 
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