Amanda

Competitive Gymnastics Coach – 12 Years

Why She Became Interested in This Job: She was a gymnast herself when she was younger and has “always been involved in sports-related jobs from coaching to soccer official for FIFA.”

Favorite Part of the Job: She loves “getting to see the kids grow up and develop into competitive athletes,”as well as the “team and camaraderie we have.” Plus, who doesn’t want a job where you get to “play and flip every time [you] go to work”?  

Least Favorite Part of the Job: "Working evenings," which can be required for practices. 

Skills Needed for Job:

💻 Technology skills, as coaches analyze videos to review player performance and may also promote their services and classes via social media. 

📚 Reading and writing skills, as coaching involves communication with the team, parents, and others. 

💼 Business skills, if you are interested in owning and managing a studio or gym, and for financial stability.

🧪 Science, as you need to understand physics, body mechanics, and other sciences to understand the whys behind certain movements and coaching recommendations. During each practice, Amanda reminds her team that "gymnastics is science."

*Pictured: A gymnastics coach helping a student on the balance beam.

Her Advice for Future Competitive Sports Coaches:  “Don’t just assume that because you know the sport that you will make a good coach. Coaching is teaching. You need to know the science of Brady mechanics, but you also need to know how to communicate the information.”