Why is it so hard to find Gymnastics Coaches and what do we need to do to change this?

As someone who has entered the gymnastics industry from outside, I have observed a disheartening trend in the lack of people wanting to continue or enter the profession. It is concerning to witness the challenges and obstacles faced by coaches, as well as the lack of support and recognition they often receive from some clubs.

One of the reasons why the job of a gymnastics coach can be potentially unattractive is the unique level of scrutiny coaches face. There are few professions where one can be constantly watched and scrutinised for hours on end, with every action and decision analysed. This intense scrutiny can create immense pressure and make the job emotionally demanding. It requires a remarkable level of resilience to maintain composure and deliver exceptional coaching in the face of such scrutiny.

Additionally, the administrative work and communication required to effectively engage with parents can be overwhelming. Coaches are not only responsible for coaching and training the gymnasts but also for maintaining open lines of communication with parents, addressing concerns, and keeping them informed about their child's progress. This administrative burden can take a significant toll on coaches' time and energy, detracting from their primary focus on coaching and mentorship.

Gymnastics coaching often involves working unsociable hours, including evenings and weekends. While these hours may be inconvenient for some, they are an integral part of the job that cannot be overlooked. Coaches must be prepared to dedicate their time and energy outside traditional working hours to accommodate training sessions, competitions, and events. The commitment to these unsociable hours demonstrates the dedication and passion coaches have for their craft. It requires a special kind of individual who is willing to sacrifice personal time and make themselves available to support the growth and development of young gymnasts.

One of the significant challenges faced by gymnastics coaches is the limited availability of training courses and workshops. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue, resulting in a backlog of postponed or canceled courses. Coaches often find it difficult to access the necessary training and professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest coaching techniques. This lack of availability not only hinders personal growth but also limits the ability to provide the best possible coaching experience to gymnasts.

Lack of accuracy and fairness in competitions can be very demoralising for coaches and it’s not being addressed. The lack of technical development with regards to competition scoring at grass roots (it’s all done on excel spread sheets and every one of them is different), combined with a lack of regulation and regional historical entrenchment, has also lead to blatant breaches in rules and often inaccurate results. It staggers me that in this day and age gymnasts are travelling 3 hrs, staying the night, competing but not placing, only to be told on their journey home that they should have been on the podium, or that it’s thought that other clubs had been less than truthful on the training hours. The latter only applies to certain competitions but as a non-gymnastics person I see it like a golf competition where both golfers say they’re a 24 but one of them is actually a 10…it’s just not fair and renders the competition utterly pointless.

Furthermore, there has been a historical undervaluation and underpayment of gymnastics coaches. Despite their critical role in shaping young athletes' lives, coaches have often struggled to receive the compensation and recognition they deserve. This lack of appreciation for their expertise and dedication can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction, making it difficult to attract and retain talented individuals in the profession.

It is essential for the industry to recognise the challenges faced by coaches and take steps to address them. A comprehensive recruitment campaign that highlights the rewards, opportunities, and support available to gymnastics coaches can help attract individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young athletes. By emphasizing the value and importance of coaches and providing them with a supportive and empowering environment, we can cultivate a thriving community of coaches who are motivated, fulfilled, and dedicated to their craft. Coaching courses also need to be more accessible with red tape/barriers that prevent clubs from hosting courses being relaxed/removed. More emphasis should be placed on ‘on the job’ mentoring with clubs having access to consultancy/mentors that can continue or even run qualifications on a club by club basis. We should be encouraging clubs to form partnerships that facilitate the sharing of best practice and job swapping.

At SAADI, we are trying to understand the unique challenges that gymnastics coaches face, and we have worked hard to create a supportive and empowering environment for our coaching team. Our vision for coaches is to create a culture where they can thrive, overcome challenges, and reach their full potential, and if we can help the industry change at the same time then great.

We acknowledge the difficulties coaches encounter, such as unsociable hours, administrative work, and the demanding nature of dealing with parents. In response, we have implemented strategies to address these challenges head-on. We value work-life balance and offer flexibility in scheduling, including opportunities for time off and even mini sabbaticals to support personal growth and exploration.

We recognise that coaches have often been undervalued and underpaid in the past. At SAADI, we have taken a different approach. We pay our coaches a higher-than-average salary and have a policy that ensures fair compensation for all their work. We believe that if you work, you deserve to be compensated accordingly.

Furthermore, we have established the SAADI Academy that includes an internal training program that focuses on accelerating coach capability. We invest in external consultants like Matt Jackson, to provide additional knowledge and skills development, ensuring that our coaches have the resources and support they need to excel in their roles.

We have fostered a culture of engagement and empowerment, where our coaches play a vital role in shaping the future of our club. We believe in the value of their expertise and encourage their input in key decisions. Our goal is to create an environment where coaches have the freedom to innovate and be creative, maximizing their enjoyment and sense of value in their work. Our empowerment means that we back them, and the decisions they make in often challenging and sensitive situations, through our clear policies and our actions.

We are one of the first clubs Nationally to forge a relationship with an organisation called Working With Parents in Sport who specialise in the interaction between Parents, Clubs and Athletes. By working with them we are helping to educate our coaches and parents on the challenges faced by all parties and through workshops and journals are starting to create a tool kit to improve the understanding of this relationship. Understanding and communicating the demands parents can put on our coaches, and the negative impact this has, is critical to this.

We recognise that being a gymnastics coach is not just a job; it is an incredible skill and trade that opens doors to various opportunities. It can lead to worldwide travel, career paths in consultancy, other sports, or even business leadership. Most importantly, coaches have the chance to make a profound difference in the lives of the children they coach. While not all gymnasts will become elite athletes, the impact a coach can have on their lives is immeasurable.

With regards to technological development SAADI have held dialogue with British Gymnastics, but have also been consulting with companies in Australia and New Zealand about scoring platforms. In October we will be trialling a brand new scoring system that has the potential to revolutionise the way gymnastics scoring is done in the UK. Our aim is not only to improve the reliability of scores in the UK but also to reduce the ability for clubs to cheat the system. It’s our view that technology and innovation can ensure that coaches, gymnasts and clubs are rewarded fairly for their achievements

It’s not always possible but we encourage a ‘side hustle’ or side job! I set up my first business whilst in full time employment and I remember the feeling when I got my first sale. Interestingly, it wasn’t so much that the business idea worked, it was a sense of escape from 100% dependence on one thing. As discussed, being a coach can be all consuming and having a side hustle or maybe a side job can alleviate some of this pressure and actually improve your productivity. Some coaches may coach at other clubs or holiday camps abroad, I would love to see more becoming consultants. Others are budding entrepreneurs something that I am enormously passionate about. You may see apparent random posts on our social media from time to time! For example, a couple of staff members are operating business on the side that include https://gymnastips.co.uk/ and https://www.instagram.com/lilys_parties/ please support them!

Our vision for coaches aligns with our club's broader vision of helping every gymnast reach their full potential and enjoy the journey along the way. We believe that by valuing, empowering and supporting our coaches, we can create a positive and transformative experience for both the coaches themselves and the gymnasts they guide.

I think it is fair to say that whilst we have put in place some strong foundations to achieve this vision, there is also a lot we need to do. One of the areas that I am acutely aware of is when people first walk into our gym as a coach. Quite often this is a ‘baptism of fire’ due to the immediate demands of the job and the requirement for people to ‘hit the floor running’. This is made all the more difficult for us as a club because we are so ‘new’ as a permanent facility and don’t have the benefit of 20 years of gymnasts feeding into our coaching programme. We are looking at ways to bridge this gap between showing a passion to become a coach and becoming a paid employee and engaging with the Coach Training Programme.

It is our hope that the industry recognises the need for change and begins to value coaches more. Gymnastics coaching is an extraordinary endeavor, and we invite amazing individuals to join us in shaping the future of this remarkable profession. Together, we can elevate the status of gymnastics coaching and create an environment where coaches truly thrive and are recognised for their exceptional contributions.