I Want To Coach Gymnastics

Gymnastics is considered a ‘foundation sport’ – a fantastic base for discovery and development in young people. Coaching gymnastics gives you an opportunity to help participants overcome barriers and build skills for life, supporting cognitive development, strength and conditioning, coordination, and flexibility. The list of secondary benefits is just as long, from mental well-being and improved self-esteem to resilience and leadership skills.

Where do I start?

Gymnastics Activity Instructor (18+) or Helper Award (13+). More information in: How do I obtain my coaching qualifications?

• Good communication skills
• To be fun, motivational and engaging
• Good organisational skills
• Supportive and patient
• Creative
• Good time management.

• To provide positive, fun sessions.
• To plan, prepare and deliver the recreational programme.
• To work with other coaches in the preparation, running and evaluation of each session.
• To act as a positive role model and lead by example. Demonstrate good coaching practice and provide motivation to all coaches and gymnasts.
• Abide by the Code of Conduct and adhere to all venue policies; child protection, fair play and equal opportunities to all members.
• To fulfil the duty of care towards all participants.
• To notify the Management or Welfare Officers immediately of any incidents, referrals or disclosures or, if this is not possible, follow the Child Protection Policy guidelines.
• Be aware of the site's Health & Safety policy and Emergency Procedures.

• DBS (16+)
• Safeguarding training (18+, however we do have a course available for 16/17 year-olds that this age group is encouraged to complete).

Gymnastics Activity Instructor

This course starts with a classroom-based day where you will explore your responsibilities as a Gymnastics Activity Instructor, the structure of a gymnastics session and key instructing skills.

The rest of the course is practical where you will learn how to deliver key aspects of a session such as the warm-up and cool-down. There will also be significant time given to understanding gymnastics skills from the syllabus and how to safely develop these with participants.

If physically able you will be expected to join in during the practical days and act as a demonstrator for your peers on-course.

Helper Award

The course is made up of various online learning resources and a practical day:

Practical day: You will learn what makes a great Helper; including the key skills of a Helper and how to safely develop the gymnastics skills on your syllabus. There will be group-based activities, discussions and reflections, and lots of time dedicated to getting hands-on experience, to help you feel confident in your role.

Throughout the day you will work with your peers developing your participant-centred approach to helping and practising manual supporting techniques with each other.

eLearning: You will have access to eLearning modules that explore the role of a Helper, how you may be used within a session, the key people you may work with as a Helper and Duty of Care. Completion of this eLearning is not compulsory, but we highly recommend you engage with this, as you will be expected to demonstrate the skills and responsibilities covered when working at your club or facility.

Please note: This course covers elements of Duty of Care, safeguarding and welfare, bullying and poor practice, relevant to the role of a Helper. For some of our younger learners this may be the first time they have encountered these topics, therefore an adult may want to supervise and support the completion of this module.

Discipline specific resources: To support the safe development of gymnastics skills from your syllabus, you will be provided with a Syllabus Pack on course, and access to apparatus videos via BG Academy.

This is a one-day training course and therefore it is expected that learners will continue to engage in developmental activities once they return to their club or facility.

British Gymnastics offer qualifications and accreditations in many different gymnastics disciplines: Acrobatic, Aerobic, Double Mini Tramp (DMT), General/Recreational, Men’s, Preschool, Rhythmic, TeamGym, Trampoline, Tumbling, Women’s. The Gymnastics and Trampoline Helper courses or the Gymnastics Activity Instructor, if you are over 18, are a great place to start – covering the breadth of recreational gymnastics and giving a great introduction to delivering the sport.

Gymnastics Activity Instructor 

Member price: £399

Non-member price:  £519

Helper Award

Member price: £85

Non-member price: £110

Gymnastics Activity Instructor

This is a 4-day course, typically running from 9-5pm each day with a total of 32 hours contact time. You will be assessed by your tutor through an on-course continual assessment. If you are found competent at the end of the course, you are then accredited as a Gymnastics Activity Instructor and can start delivering independently straight away.

Helper Award

Practical day 8 hours + eLearning approximately 2 hours. There is no formal assessment, however you must attend the whole practical day and are then accredited to support a gymnastics or trampoline session.

You do not need a specific qualification to coach disabled participants on top of your gymnastics qualification, however coaches are encouraged to access the British Gymnastics Inclusive Coaching eLearning and Disability Awareness Module should they wish to upskill themselves in this area.

With such a wide range of disciplines, this sport offers something for everyone. Coaches can work full or part-time, delivering in a School, Leisure Centre or Club (or a combination of those), depending on the opportunities in their local area. Some coaches go on to become club owners, running their own businesses while others prefer to stay more hands-on delivering great experiences for participants. Coaching recreational gymnastics or competitive gymnastics doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive either. Many coaches coach a wide range of groups within a week offering them a varied and exciting career.