I've often wondered at the extraordinary amounts of time gymnasts spend doing this sport and of the very special almost "family" type bond that grows between a coach and his/her gymnasts,

The parents of my gymnasts often comment about how much I've touched the lives of their kids in such positive and nurturing ways which of course fills me with huge pride and a fantastic sense of acheivement.

Do any coaches out there feel the same way?

Although I had to move away from my gym club I still have a very strong bond with one of my former gymnasts and her mother. For some reason we really connected and she started coming out of her shell with me(she can be a bit shy). I still talk to her mother and go back and teach her skills and routines. I love the fact that she has someone to look up to.

I would definatly agree, especially with team kids, squad kids and elite kids. You do spend an incredible amount of time with each other and it is time spent close. One may argue that a school teacher spends more hours with their kids but they dont. in team you normally have 6-12 kids and you are with them many hours a week working 1 on 1. It is like a family.

i know you basically wanted coaches comments on your post but i am a gymnast and i am pretty close with my coach. I mean i spend so much time around her and we (my teammates and coach) are definitely a family. I look up to my coach and respect her so much. I feel like I can tell her anything, gym related or not. I hope i can be as good of a person as her someday.
-Bethany

ok I dont even do gymnastics but I'm a dancer and me and my teachers have an amazing relation ship. I could go to him for anything and he would at least pretend like he cares:P I spend christmas with my other dance teacher and her family every year. her little girl is like my sister. I guess I'm so close to my teacher because I spend about 6 hours a day with them. any way I hope it's ok that I posted.
Randi