Jen Posten

Head Coach

Girls Varsity Gymnastics

THS Head Varsity Coach 2002-Present

My coaching philosophy is guided by the belief that children can learn the discipline of gymnastics in a fun, safe, and protective environment. The idea that success is different for every individual and it is my mission to guide each child to their own personal level of success and that athletes will achieve their full gymnastics potential with individualized development.

It is my belief that the sport of Gymnastics is a teaching tool for young gymnasts to learn the value of hard work, dedication, personal discipline, competition, teamwork, and character. We learn through experience. This provides the opportunity to learn through sport the qualities that carry over into real life. It gives them the chance to build bonds and form lifelong relationships that come from being a part of something bigger. It is my hope that I have helped prepare them to travel on to bigger and better things when they leave the gym.

As a coach it is my job to be a leader; both in the gym and out, but also to guide my athletes to be strong leaders themselves by involving them in their training plans, skill goals, and team bonding. I strive to find balance between empowering athletes with ownership over their goals and plans, while maintaining structure and discipline to ensure productivity in their gymnastics career.

The expectations I have for my athletes are the same as the expectations I have for myself; 
•Commitment & Dedication - Promising to to give the best of yourself, even on the days that are hard. Being dedicated to always giving the best of yourself today.
•Effort - If you show up nothing less than 100% is expected, don’t waste anyone’s time with less than everything you have.
•Balance - Maintaining the perfect recipe of hard work, social interaction, and rest, both physically and mentally. Knowing if any of these are out of balance it will affect our goals and level of success.
•Strength - Being strong enough to endure the hours, the physical commitment and the mental preparation required of us, but also being strong enough to know when we need a break. Stress hinders productivity.
•Poise - Interacting with grace and elegance with respect of our team, gym, coaches, parents, officials, and opponents.

Gymnastics is a subjective sport and in general perfection “wins”. I believe in not just doing the skills, but doing the skills right. Taking the time to correct the skills with drills, shaping, and strengthening to maintain and build for the long term. I teach Gymnasts the difference between practice skills and competition skills; we will practice it until it’s ready to compete it. Perfection.