Massimo’s Coaching Commandments

That’s Dr. Joe Massimo to you. 🙂

• Firmly establish your authority.
• Maturely relate to your gymnasts, but not as a peer.
• Minimize verbiage.
• Have a sense of humor.
• Never utilize sarcasm or negativity.
• Be enthusiastic and encourage the same in the gym.
• Be fair in your treatment of each gymnast.
• Pay complete attention when working one on one.
• Don’t tell a gymnast that their work is “good” when it isn’t.
• Say “No” without guilt and “Yes” with out resentment.
• Pay attention to safety factors and be a consistent spotter.
• Don’t be afraid to say “I’m sorry” and “I don’t know”.
• Allot time for gymnasts to socialize.
• Provide a forum for listening to your gymnasts.
• Continually educate yourself.
• Delegate responsibility to your gymnasts.
• Be personally and emotionally predictable.
• Be a positive role model at all times.
• Be careful not to sexualize the interaction with your gymnasts.
• Motivate and manage team cohesiveness.
• Direct your gymnasts’ spirits’; do not break them!
• Have an overall positive attitude toward gymnastics and life.

(via Tony Retrosi)