We always grow our own coaches. When your gymnasts know that as they get older, they may have an opportunity to earn good money coaching at the club, not only will prospective coaches come to you, you will also keep more of your gymnasts as they get older.
– Paul Vernon Kaye, Chairman, Saturn V Association of Gymnastics and Trampoline clubs
We have a leadership academy, which older gymnasts can join from the age of 12. They then have access to training opportunities and volunteering with qualified coaches.
They eventually become our qualified coaches and germany rcs data this year will be our first where at least one of these youngsters will join the team full time after leaving college, so we are now reaping the benefits!
– Carly Hawke, CEO, Wye Gymnastics & Galaxy Cheerleading
Not only do these programmes introduce loyal coaches to your team, they bring other benefits to your club, too:
Most of our team of coaches started out as gymnasts. a Young Leaders programme, which has increased the amount of regular volunteers within the 12-17 age sector, and we anticipate this will also increase the pool of young members wishing to develop their skills to include coaching. But it has also helped to recruit young members wishing to help with fundraising, events, admin, assisting the creation of a Youth Forum, and to enrol for judging courses.
– Ruth Griffin, Development Officer, City of Edinburgh Gymnastics Club
When implementing these programmes, it’s important to consider succession planning. What is stage one of the Young Leader scheme? What needs to be achieved to move onto stage two, which involves more responsibility?
Having this plan in place makes the programme even more attractive to potential applicants. And it helps to retain them too; they know how and when they’ll progress to the next stage in their career.