Results Statement: While training is a process, Twister jump-starts this process by hosting a junior coaches’ training clinic for all athletes who meet the requirements and are interested in becoming junior coaches.
The clinic is $15. Athletes must be 10 years old to enroll. They must be on a competitive team and currently enrolled at Twisters for at least 12 months.
Athletes are not guaranteed a junior coaching position, but must have this training to be considered. If accepted and scheduled, the $15 covers the cost of their uniform.
Training clinics are hosted 1-2 times per year based on staffing needs. Clinic lesson plan and training requirements are as follows:
Athletes Complete Coaching Applications
Angie discusses coaching with all participants– Types of coaches we are looking for:
- Types of coaches we do not hire
- Experience required to become a coach, lead coach, junior coach, etc.
- Requirements for a Junior Coach:
1) Currently enrolled in competitive program for the last 12 months
2) At least 10 years old
3) Excellent attitude during practices & work (recommended by team coaches)
4) Responsible & able to be professional
5) Does well in school
6) Hard worker & good role model
7) Friendly to everyone – never gets involved in drama or negative discussion
8) Excellent at communicating with children
9) Focused
10) Desire to be Twisters coach
11) Can commit the time to the position
Shift responsibilities of a junior coach:
1) Must clock in
2) Must wear JR Coaches’ Shirt & Stretch Pants (no spanx – no sports bras during coaching)
3) May not tumble when not directed to do so
4) May not coach outside of Twisters
5) Must discuss any and all issues with lead coach
6) Must be able to ask for help
7) May only teach skills appropriate to station
8) May only teach skills allowed
Duties of a junior coach:
1) Set up for classes
2) Help with or take attendance
3) Set up for classes
4) Help with warm ups (run warm ups if necessary)
5) Run a station or assist with a station
6) Clean up & sanitize
7) Stamps, stickers, encouragement
8) Helping kids focus
9) Inspect equipment
10) Notifying lead coaches of potential problems
11) Assist with cleaning or administrative tasks at front desk
Demonstrate how to set up for a class
Demonstrate how to inspect equipment
Demonstrate how to take attendance
Demonstrate how to lead warm ups (including wrists, ankles, bridges, etc.)
Demonstrate how to:
– Run the obstacle course
– Spot on the floor beam
– Low bar drills
– Trampoline
– Table tops & Bridges
– Cartwheels
– Handstands
– Forward rolls
– Back rolls
– Straddle Rolls
– Show drills for:
– Cartwheels
– Handstands
– Front & Back Rolls
– Demonstrate how to stretch:
– Straddles (knees, toes, etc.)
– Pike
– Butterfly
– Splits
– Ideas for games at the end of practice
– Preschool v. Beginner (Age appropriate)
Demonstrate how to get stamps & stickers
Discuss the following troubleshooting scenarios:
- A preschooler is crying uncontrollably because she wants to be with her mom. What do you do?
- Bring her to her mom
- Ignore it. She will get over it soon
- Try to distract her with high 5’s, obstacle course, etc.
2. A preschooler just had an accident while working on her tumbling. What do you do?
- Tell her mom so she can come get her
- Tell the lead coach
- Take the preschooler to her mom and clean it up
3. A 6-year-old tumbler is picking on a 5-year-old during warm ups. What do you do?
- Tell her to stop or you’ll tell th lead coach
- Kindly tell the 6-year-old that that’s not acceptable behavior and keep a close eye on the situation
- Say something rude to the 6-year-old to get her to stop 4. Two preschoolers are being rowdy during a game and one hits the other. They were “playing” but how do you handle it?
- Sit down both students and tell them that we have to be more careful
- Put the preschooler who hit in time out
- Ignore it. It was an accident anyway 5. A preschooler is testing you by not doing what you’re telling him to do. What do you do?
- Raise your voice and tell him you are the coach and he is not
- Take him to his mom and tell her he’s not listening and can’t participate
- Remind him he needs to be a good listener, and tell the lead coach if it continues 6. You are working the obstacle course station and a preschooler keeps running away from you. What do you do?
- Chase after him and carry him back to his spot
- Remind him he can only get a stamp if he is doing what he’s supposed to be doing
- Don’t leave your station – just yell to him to get his attention
7. You are the air track. One student is already on the air track. Another student stands up and starts jumping on the air track at the same time. What do you do?
- Tell both students to stop jumping and clear the second student off the air track
- Go get the lead instructor to handle the situation
- Get on the air track and help both students off
8)
A preschooler keeps taking off his pants. What do you do? - Find a mat or jacket to cover him up
- Ask if he needs to go potty
- Tell him to put them back on now
9)
You are teaching a beginner class and an athlete starts turning red and breathing heavy. It’s hot in the gym and humid outside. Warm ups just began. What do you do?
- Tell her she needs to exercise more as she’s not in very good shape
- Ask if she’s OK and tell her to get a drink while you notify the lead coach
- Tell her to keep going. She will get a break soon 10) Your class is chatting and has stopped paying attention to you. What do you do?
- Yell to the class that they need to listen
- Walk away to get a lead coach
- Say, “Clap once if you hear my voice” 11)A preschooler is saying an inappropriate word to the other students. What do you do?
- Put him in time out for using bad language
- Tell her that’s not a nice word and ask her to please not use it again.
- Ignore it. You are not her mom. 12) A beginner student and her mom ask you if you can do a private lesson later at her house. What do you do?
- Ask Miss Melanie what you should charge since you’re a junior coach
- Tell the parent you’re only allowed to teach certain skills, but if that’s OK with her, you can teach the lesson.
- Tell her you can’t do the lesson, but that she should talk to Miss Melanie about scheduling a private with a lead coach. 13) You are helping with a preschool cheer class. During the jumps portion, a preschooler begins pulling the hair of the student next to her and won’t stop when you tell her the first time. What should you do?
- Pull her aside and tell her she is not allowed to pull hair. When she returns to her spot, move her a little ways away from the other kids
- Tell her she’s done cheering for the day
- Pull her hair so she knows what it feels like – then she will probably stop
Junior coaches who complete the clinic then have their records updated by the staffing director. Those who are deemed prepared to coach at the time may be put on the schedule. Those who may not be ready yet will be notified that they will be contacted when there is an open position available. Junior coaches’ parents are notified if a child is not quite ready for a position based on maturity or lack of knowledge. A shadowing plan may be put in place if the staffing director believes this to be the best plan.