| Coaching Girls' Gymnastics
Pay Attention to Them
A large factor in the successful coaching of female gymnasts is to
pay careful attention to them, their training and their reaction to the
training. Positive, constructive feedback and praise is extremely
important for the development of female athletes. You need to catch them
doing something right, point it out and praise it. They will be much
more likely to repeat the praised behavior and you now have a platform
on which to continue to build for the future. Paying sufficient attention
means constantly watching and providing continuing feedback and encouragement
to build for future success.
Knowledge and the Ability to Transmit It
There are two things coaches must have. One is a thorough knowledge
of the sport and a consistent training system by which to teach it.
The other is the ability transmit that knowledge and information successfully
to the gymnast. To teach and motivate female athletes is by
far the most difficult part of the success formula. It is far easier for
some coaches to get their gymnasts to train as needed than others.
Democracy with Direction
A good coach will be democratic in allowing for considerable individual
input into the everyday management of their training while at the same
time successfully (maybe even intensely and forcefully) directing gymnasts
in the path they need to follow. Coaches must set goals (with input from
the gymnasts themselves) to help motivate their female gymnasts to strive
for the level of excellence necessary to be successful at the highest levels
of the sport.
Maintain Control and Goals
Coaches need to be extremely cognizant of any attempts by their female
gymnasts to attempt to control the training process. Gymnasts should
not be running the program or team and certainly not using the open
and democratic process to play control games (and any of those other girl
games) on other girls on the team or the coach. When such misbehavior
occurs, the coach must become a firm disciplinarian and maintain control
of the gymnasts and the program.
Mutual Movement Toward Positive Goals
Coaches will find themselves very successful if they create a positive
training environment for their female gymnasts. Involving girls in
their own training decisions and being aware and attentive to their reactions
to the training process will only speed progress and build the confidence
that is necessary to compete at the highest levels of the sport successfully.
 Previous
Page
GymnasticsZone.com
321 West 13th Street
Suite 4
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(480) 264-1885
webmaster@GymnasticsZone.com
|
|
Copyright © GymnasticsZone,
Inc. 2003
|
|
