advice needed from those who work with children

[stressyBessy22]

I have just started coaching children gymnastics.Although I am fine with the gymnastics part of it.Please could you give me some tips/golden rules for controlling children.I work with a group , usually no more than 8 with 3 different age groups 5-7 7-10 and 11-12.
The worst problems I have are with 2 8 or 9 yr old boys who are totally hyper -won't stop wrestling, don't listen. One girl about 9 who is well behaved but very needy and wants attention all the time to the detriment of the others in the group. and thirdly the 11 and 12 year old group one or 2 seem bored and hard to motivate.

Do you have any support from young coaches? At DD's gym club, the girls start coaching from 14 with the adult coaches supervising. It works really well.

As a Primary teacher, I have taught whole classes PE. It is very difficult to teach individuals any specific moves as once you concentrate on one particular child, you can't keep a close eye on the safety of the rest.

You need to develop an assertive tone, have activities which keep them busy all the time - no waiting around and perhaps have a reward system (they also do this at DD's gym)

DDs gymnastics class also has some young coaches...they're girls of about 17 or so. They take some DC to work on apparatus whilst the coach works with another small group.

When any DC misbehaves, the coach speaks very sternly...she's quite "Bossy" in a good way. "NO talking!" she'll say...and dart a cross look at the offenders.

The DC have to stand in a line until it's their turn to vault or walk the beam....they DO fidget but they certainly don't chat...never mind wrestle!

In DD's gymnastics class they have a little certificate for the one who has tried hardest that week, you could do that?

Otherwise, set behaviour expectations and follow through- eg tell the wrestling boys they will be sent out/made to stand to the side if they don't stop. And if it's just the two of them misbehaving I would separate them and tell them they are not allowed to stand next to each other.

I have learned through childminding over a few years that you do need to be firm and sometimes stern. Joking with the kids too much or being friends rather than their coach / childminder is NOT a good idea - as I have found out!

As others are saying it is all about expectations. If you expect them to behave and you act accordingly, by and large they will. If they sense that you are feeling uneasy they will take advantage of the situation.

Make sure they have plenty to do in a controlled way - never give them time to take advantage. Give the most badly behaved ones some responsibility such as putting out the equipment and let them know that this is a privilege for good behaviour and it can be taken away if necessary.

Quite often it is better to let them feel they have let you down rather than tell them off (although telling off is sometimes necessary). Say things like, 'You were doing so well, James, I was hoping for great things from you, but I feel disappointed you have done that (whatever it was today). Can we please get back to the old you a.s.a.p.?