- Dec 14, 2009
- 997
- 1,775
I have a question. Does anyone know how gymnastics coaches become certified or credentialed? For instance, do they have to go sit through a course, take a test, and BAM they're certified? Or do they have to have so many hours teaching so many skills before they can move up? Do they have to have X amount of kids compete the skill successfully at a USAG event? I'm really not sure, so any insight would be appreciated! Reading posts on here (not only in this thread) it is clear that people feel that gymnastics has a better progression system, a better conditioning system, etc. I agree with that, but how did they get that way? My cousin is a coach at a small mom-and-pop gymnastics center in the middle of NH, and I know she hasn't gone through any rigorous training through USAG or anything like that. Granted she teaches the wee little kids, so there are certainly no bounding skills, but still. She was a high school gymnast and knew the owner, so walked in one day and they hired her. Don't get me wrong, I love that my cousin is able to continue her passion for gymnastics, but when she told me she was coaching, I was honestly surprised that she didn't need to take any sort of test. I feel like a lot of smaller cheer gyms are the same way, in the sense that former athletes become coaches, and then work on getting credentialed if they so choose. In a way, I feel like you should be credentialed before being allowed to coach, but that's just me. I really agree with @Mclovin 's post in regards to this, and I feel like I'm going on and on, but I guess my point is this: how are the gymnastics coaches trained and credentialed, and if it seems to be working, is it possible for all-stars to follow suit? Sorry for rambling!