Monday, November 7, 2011

Welcome back...

Well, today was the day.  This was the first day of true gymnastics practice.  I had some of "my" girls.  It's funny.  I've never been the best gymnastics coach.  That's not to say I wasn't good at what I did, but I was certainly never the best.  My biggest asset to the kids I coached (I think) was that I loved them.  Yes, I have a gymnastics background, albeit a poor one.  I have years and years of dance.  I have a passion for this sport and I love kids.


Being in the gym today was a bit of an eye opener for me.  High school is definitely different than club.  Then again, most clubs are completely different from the last one I was in.  I knew there would be adjustments for me, but I actually felt out of place today.  


I've been out for so long.  It doesn't seem like it's been that long.  In fact, there are days that it feels like I just left.  The reality is though, it's been a while.  I have to basically re-learn how to coach.  I have to remember everything that I learned while coaching and I have to figure out how to relay what I want to these girls.  It's different coaching high school girls in a high school gym atmosphere.  These girls, while dedicated to their high school sport, are entirely different than the girls I have coached in the past.


I have to learn how to speak to them.  I cannot bark at them like I did the girls in the gym.  I have to make sure they are comfortable enough with me that it is ok for me to touch them.  As a gymnastics coach, there's a lot of touching going on.  I do not want the girls to be uncomfortable with me putting their bodies in the appropriate shape.  I have to learn how to function with far less equipment than what I am used to and I have to figure out how to teach them the skills they need without treating them like babies.


Yep, definitely an adjustment period.  I actually questioned my abilities today.  There are only two other times that I felt so unqualified for this.  The first time was the first day I ever coached at Great Lakes and the second time was the first time I coached my own class at Twistars.  I know that it will get better and I know that I will find my niche again, it's just hard to not be the coach I was at Twistars but still offer the girls the same level of instruction.  

4 comments:

  1. You will find a way and they will love you.

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  2. all of what u r feeling probably makes u a fantastic coach in my book!

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  3. Thanks, both of you =) Love you!

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  4. I think you are a good coach - The fact that you are looking internally and trying to make yourself better is what makes you a good coach..Good luck

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