TeamGym | Development Pathway Coaches Appointed
Scottish Gymnastics has announced the four development coaches who will deliver the new TeamGym Performance Pathway Programme with technical input from the National Technical Advisor, Chris Bennett.
Erin Thomson (Saltire), Heidi Bavnhøj (Fyrish), Jack Gibson (Irvine Bay) and Jordan Dewar (Jump) will join National Technical Advisor, Chris Bennett as part of the coaching team for the Scottish Gymnastics performance activity in the programme’s first year.
The coaches will be responsible for the delivery of programme activity for selected gymnasts, as well as coordinating the planning and content for five performance camps throughout the year. The roles are also a great opportunity for the coaches to learn from mentors from across the UK and develop their own coaching practices.
The new TeamGym Performance Pathway Programme will focus on developing fundamental skills in Primary and Youth aged gymnasts, with the development coaches working to improve both technical and non-technical skills.
Our programmes are based on a culture of providing a supportive environment for gymnasts to thrive, to embrace challenges and overcome setbacks as well as taking ownership of their training and their development. Our approach is an athlete centred, coach led and performance driven with athlete wellbeing and coach development at the centre.
The work carried out at these camps will help to develop the PPP gymnasts and to challenge the gymnasts and help increase their skill level.
Jordan, who formerly competed as part of the Forth Valley team, started his journey in coaching in 2017 and last year took on the role of team coach at the 2021 European TeamGym Championships in Guimares, Portugal for the GB2 Junior Men’s team.
He hopes that this new role will help him expand his technical knowledge, and provide an opportunity to return to a European Championships as a coach in the future.
Jordan said: “I have been involved in TeamGym since I was 13 and competed both nationally and internationally. I’m most looking forward to working with the other development coaches, and learning from the expertise of the national technical advisor.”
We also spoke to Danish born, Heidi Bavnhøj, who is now part of the coaching team at Fyrish Gymnastics Club. Having been involved in the sport since the age of two, she introduced the TeamGym discipline to the club back in 2017, along with her experience with the culture that goes with it.
She said: “I applied for the role so that I can inspire, create team spirit and good leadership which will help coaches to always want to better themselves.”
I’m most looking forward meeting all the great coaches and lovely gymnasts. It will be great to motivate coaches to continue developing making sure the gymnasts are inspired to learn new skills, new drills and have fun.
Gymnasts hoping to gain a place on the programme recently attended a profiling day, with selections being made by the performance team, along with input from the new development coaches technical advisor.
You can find more information about our performance programmes at: