Gymnastics Job Description

Gymnastics refers to a host of physical movements that require the integration of strength, flexibility, balance, grace, and agility. As a gymnastics instructor/coach, you teach these movements, or skills, usually to children ranging in age from two to twelve. However, more experienced coaches usually work with teens through young adults, assisting them in perfecting more advanced skills.

  1. Types

    • As a competitive sport, gymnastics includes four sub-categories that focus on skills associated with particular movements: artistic gymnastics (men and women), rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and power tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. However, many individuals include gymnastics movements or skills in other sports such as cheerleading, and skating.

      With artistic gymnastics, men and women perform a series of physical skills on various apparatus. Women compete on uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Men compete on the floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bars.

      Rhythmic gymnastics include a presentation of skills focusing on flexibility and coordination. Rhythmic gymnastics uses five apparatuses: rope, hoop, ball, club, and ribbon.

      With trampoline and tumbling, an individual performs acrobatic skills while bouncing on a trampoline and a double mini-trampoline. In addition, individuals link a series of acrobatic skills on a specialized 85-foot tumbling surfaces, ending the routine on a dismount mat.

      Acrobatics gymnastics focuses on performed choreographed acrobatic moves either in pairs or in a group routine.

    Considerations

    • All gymnastics movements need to be taught sequentially so as to provide a safe progression of skill learning. As a gymnastics instructor, you assume a tremendous responsibility in following this progression. In addition, due to the increased risk associated with advanced skill learning, you need to also monitor the emotional maturity of the child as she progresses.

    Qualifications

    • To start, a beginning gymnastics instructor does not need to hold a special degree or certification. Most gymnastics school will train you according to specific needs. Instead, many schools first seek individuals possessing certain qualities according to specific requirements associated with that particular program. For example, one school might seek a fun-oriented person while another wants a goa-oriented individual.

    Certification

    • USA Gymnastics is the ruling body of gymnastics in the United States. This organization is an excellent resource for learning how to teach gymnastics. In addition, USA Gymnastics oversees a certification program to maintain high standards associated with the profession. To become a USA gymnastics certified professional coach, you need to fulfill two requirements: 1) Pass a background check every two years, and, 2) Complete a safety certification course every four years.

    Benefits

    • Most gymnastics instructors receive hourly wages, however, a few receive full time wages and benefits. As beginner instructor, you can generally expect to earn between minimum wage and ten dollars an hour. An experienced instructor/coach usually earns between twenty and thirty dollars an hour.

    Warning

    • As a gymnastics instructor, you accept the responsibility to keep your students safe. Even with the proper equipment and supervision, a participant can get hurt. So you need to remain vigilant on the job.