Earlier this month our coach Luiza Lisnic was featured in a Gymnastics Australia article for heading the Special Needs class. To read the full article, click here
We had the pleasure of chatting to coach Luiza about all things gymnastics. Here is what she had to say:
How and why did you start gymnastics?
My gymnastics journey started when I was 4 years old. I was always upside down and my parents decided to take me to try gymnastics. I was very active, and gymnastics was one of the few things we could do in my town. My flexibility was very good and was quite strong. I loved every minute of my classes.
What did learning gymnastics look like for you?
I was born and raised in a small town in Romania. We didn’t have a lot of equipment… it was close to no equipment, but there were a lot of people that were very dedicated with very big hearts. In the late 70s, early 80s lots of people were mesmerised by this young incredible Romanian athlete – Nadia Comaneci. The whole country was watching this young gymnast rolling, twisting, flying and she became a role model for a lot of girls in my generation. We had to be dedicated or we would lose our spot – lots of other girls were just waiting for the opportunity.
Why do you choose to coach Early Learning gymnastics?
I’ve coached different age groups, recreational and competitive. Preschool kids are at the age when they would try everything. It is amazing to see their big smiles doing something for the first time. Sometimes they look like they’ve done the most amazing magic trick and they are still trying to understand what that was. It’s very special to witness their progress.
How did you start the Special Needs class?
My belief is that every child deserves to have a safe and supportive environment to discover the joy of gymnastics. I wanted to develop a program where we can support kids with disabilities and teach them skills that will improve their quality of life. From fine motor skills to social skills, every little improvement is a win. It’s a beautiful thing to see your students progress each week. I am so proud of each and every one of my students.
What would you say to a beginner gymnastics coach?
Try to watch other coaches, especially more experienced ones. There is more than one way to coach a class and I think we can learn a lot from each other. Also, ask questions, try to spot children in different skills, try to learn more about the type of gymnastics you are having fun teaching.
As a coach, you need to find a slightly different language for each child – some are very visual and you must show them what they need to do. Some want a little bit more encouragement, some just want to watch a few more kids before they have a go. Sometimes it takes a bit of time to build up confidence, so patience is key.
To book a trial in our Early Learning Program or our Special Needs class, click here