VGA’s Online Leadership Programme!
Aged between 12 and 18, our Young Leaders have been very busy over recent weeks and months! Working with lead coaches and mentors to create and deliver fun and exciting online sessions, this programme has brought together Young Leaders form across 5 of the club's satellite venues to work collaboratively, share new ideas and support one another through a tough lockdown period.
Focusing on the teaching of basic gymnastics skills, conditioning and flexibility activities, some of the sessions delivered by our Young Leaders have included:-
A Red Nose Day session
Bring your teddy bear to gym day
An Easter themed dance session
Springtime sessions
Gymnastics specific workshops (vaulting drills, handstand, flexibility, and walkover development)
Continuously working hard to develop their gymnastics specific knowledge, each of the Young Leaders has participated in a range of Welsh Gymnastics workshops, laying the foundations for them to achieve official leadership and coaching qualifications in the future!
"I enjoy leading classes at VGA because I get to pass on my gymnastics experience and knowledge to younger gymnasts, and make the sessions fun and encouraging to help them learn new skills. Through leading, I have learned how to give more specific verbal feedback that will help gymnasts improve their skills and technique. I have also developed my organisational skills as well as my understanding of the effort and detail that goes into planning a session.
I am most proud of working with new people and making new friends, as well as learning that it's okay to be nervous before a session; it is these 'excited' nerves that help me want to deliver the best session I can."
Charlie Williams (Age 13)
The next stage of this programme will be to bring even more leaders from across VGA to work together in the planning and delivery of more skill specific workshops, fun and exciting recreational classes, as well exploring the leadership and coaching skills required for competitive gymnastics - both online and within our facilities as we return to indoor training.
"It has been wonderful to involve the Young Leaders in the delivery of online sessions! I have seen the Leaders grow in confidence and develop their skills during the time they have been involved - this is important as young people need opportunities to develop their interpersonal, organisational and leadership skills. Our gymnasts have also really benefitted from the Young Leaders planning and leading the sessions - they have some brilliant ideas and help to bring variety to the sessions with new games, dances, and activities. The feedback from the gymnasts has been excellent!"
Melissa Anderson (Managing Director of VGA)
All of the lead coaches, mentors and management staff at VGA would like to say a big thank you to all the Young Leaders who have demonstrated great commitment, dedication and hard work over recent times!
