Karen O.

I participate as a coach every summer since 2008 in a summer camp my high school coach runs. I have also taught private lessons on the side at the Gym Spot in Mundelein Illinois for over a year. I have coached groups of up to six children, ages ranging from 4-15. I am Vurtis trained along with CPR. I prefer working with children around levels 5 and above. I can spot light tumbling (due to my size) ranging from running tumbling flip-flops and layouts.

During the two week summer camp I have been coaching at since 2008, I mainly work on basics such as tumbling and spotting. I work specifically with flip flop drill over barrels, gradually moving onto the floor with an 8 incher, teaching various tricks like jumping back with their arms up and not rolling their knees forward. These basic are important because they become the foundation for all of their tumbling. I work a lot with connections such as connecting roundoff flip flops into backtucks and layouts. I also have tips and tricks to beam skills such as hand placement and various dismounts. For bars, I can spot kips, cast handstands, fly aways and I also have worked with levels 2-8 critiquing routines, tumbling techniques and jumps. I have always thought leading by example is important, so if needed, I can demonstrate various examples such as jumps, flip flops, flexibility techniques and other basic skills.

*Please include specific information regarding your experience coaching***

I started gymnastics when I was two and competed at a competitive level until my senior year of high school were I was the captain. I was on the Carmel Catholic Gymnastics Team for four years and we won the ISHA Girls State title 3 consecutive years for Illinois (2009-2012). I had to stop training because my university doesn't have a team.

Depending on what type of skills the client needs, I would like to work with training in the basics, such as technique, form and details. I have had extensive experience with back handspring drills and tumbling training. Depending on the length of the session, I would walk the client through a warmup/stretch, focusing mainly on floor tumbling and techniques, then moving to beam where routines were to be perfected then back for a cool down conditioning. (Just an example if we were working on floor and beam).