58 Container Drive, Terryville, CT 06786
Fit. Fun. Flips!
MEET THE COACHES
Miss Erin
Executive Director
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I just have a passion for it. I love seeing young gymnast's excitement for gymnastics grow and I always love when I see the next generation enjoying the sport as much as I do. "
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Handstands are my favorite thing to teach, I hope to be able to still do one when I'm 90."
Why did you open Flips? "After being the director of another facility, for many years, I took the step to fulfill my dream of owning my own gymnastics facility, where I can pass on my passion and love for the sport to many generations of gymnasts to come."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: Gymnast for 14 years/ Coach for 29 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Dominique Moceanu & Shawn Johnson
Miss Kate
Recreational Program Coordinator/ Lead Recreational Class Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love the sport of gymnastics and I love the lessons/ experiences I had growing up as a gymnast. Now, I love teaching gymnastics because I want to help the next generation of gymnasts fall in love with the sport like I did."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Handstands! The handstand is the most foundational skill in gymnastics. Almost every other skill in gymnastics has a handstand somewhere in it. I love helping gymnasts perfect the basics of the sport."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love working at Flips because it is such a happy and fun environment. I especially love that Flips has a recital at the end of every year that includes every gymnast in the program. It is the best day of the year and a great way for all gymnasts to show off what they learned that year!"
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 20 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Balance Beam
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Carly Patterson
Miss Kim
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "The joy of having coached for so many years is getting to see little girls I've coached turn into incredibly accomplished strong women, set off on their own careers and raising families of their own. As a coach I enjoy breaking down skills to their foundational elements, trouble shooting on an individual level where a skill needs a shift in execution or understanding, and then watching as they put those puzzle pieces of a skill together to own that new skill. Ultimately, gaining far beyond just the new skills and abilities they've learned. Gymnastics builds self-esteem, character, mental strength, emotional fortitude, drive, perseverance, and a hard work ethic that is invaluable through life."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Any skill a gymnast is excited and passionate about learning and determined to put in the work to obtain makes it a favorite of mine."
Why do you love working at Flips? "Flips encourages gymnasts to strive for their own personal best and to support their teammates in doing the same, which builds a positive and uplifting atmosphere. This gives gymnasts good memories and a lifelong love of the sport. "
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 49 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars... (really anything that isn't balance beam)
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Mary Lou Retton, Oksana Chusovitina, Shawn Johnson (There are just too many greats to name!)
Miss Kristin
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I love watching the kid's skills grow over the years."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "My favorite skill to teach is a front handspring vault"
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love working at Flips because the kids are so much fun to work with. Also, Miss Erin is my best friend and watching her build her dream is amazing!"
Years of Gymnastics Experience: Gymnast for 13 years/ Coach for 11 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Vault
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Shannon Miller ( I was lucky enough to meet her and do a training camp with her in the past!)
Miss Chelsie
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "Gymnastics is a challenging sport. It takes flexibility, strength, mental/body awareness and much more. Most of all, you have to "want it". So, when I teach, I know the kids want to improve and want to get better...that makes the job so much fun!"
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "I have 2 favorite skills to teach. For younger kids, I like to teach cartwheels. When you start gymnasts, cartwheels are the first big skill kids want to get. It is also a fundamental skill to have. Cartwheels seem easy, but there is so much more to it (correct hand/ foot placement, straight legs, strong arms, etc.). I love watching kids practice this skill over and over and then see the joy in their face when they finally get it!
The second skill I love to teach is aerials. Aerials are a hard skill that take a lot of work and dedication to achieve. All through gymnastics you learn to put your hands down for a cartwheel, then all of a sudden...BAM...now you can no longer put them down for an aerial. This skill takes a lot of power and strength as well as focus and consistency. Watching someone put in this work and then finally get the skill brings me, and the gymnast so much joy!"
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love working at Flips because it's a family. The teachers all want the kids to get better and to learn and grow as gymnasts. Also, the purple floor makes Flips extra special!"
Years of Gymnastics Experience: Gymnast for 17 years/ Coach for 12 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars & Floor Exercise
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Chellsie Memmel
Miss Maia
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I love bonds and trust you build with each gymnast. I also have a passion for the sport, and love getting to share that passion with others."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "I love teaching all gymnastics skills. The best feeling is seeing the excitement on a gymnast's face when they can finally perform the skill by themselves."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love Flips because the other coaches and gymnasts are amazing to work with. The gym is always a positive environment."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 16 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Shawn Johnson
Miss Maia
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I love bonds and trust you build with each gymnast. I also have a passion for the sport, and love getting to share that passion with others."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "I love teaching all gymnastics skills. The best feeling is seeing the excitement on a gymnast's face when they can finally perform the skill by themselves."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love Flips because the other coaches and gymnasts are amazing to work with. The gym is always a positive environment."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 16 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Shawn Johnson
Miss Amanda
Assistant Recreational Class Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because it is a sport that I have always really enjoyed. Teaching allows me to continue doing something I love while passing the passion and excitement for gymnastics on to the next generation."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "I like to teach cartwheels because they are the foundation of many other gymnastics skills. Gymnasts also often really enjoy doing cartwheels, which makes teaching them even more fun for both myself as the teacher and for the gymnast themselves."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I work at Flips because of their strong sense of community. Flips also works very hard to make their program fun for all gymnasts, which makes my job even more exciting."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 15 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Balance Beam
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Simone Biles
Miss Amber
Assistant Recreational Class Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love to teach gymnastics because I remember the feeling of getting your first skill and looking forward to trying new things every practice. Now, I want to make sure all the girls I coach feel the same excitement. Contributing to a gymnast's love for the sport and watching them grow is a feeling like no other. Also, building a connection with each and every gymnast makes the whole of teaching gymnastics worthwhile and fun!"
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Back-handsprings. I love teaching this skill because it's such a monumental skill in a gymnast's career. Back-handsprings open the door to learning so many new skills after it and I love getting to see the excitement that comes with completing their first back-handspring."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love teaching at Flips because it was (and still is) my home gym. I love the environment that has been created here over the years. Flips is different than other gyms because the relationships that are built there last a lifetime."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 11 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Floor Exercise
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Sunisa Lee
Miss Rachel
Team Coach
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because it's an individual sport that helps kids build confidence in themselves to accomplish anything they put their mind to, inside the gym, and out."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Front tucks! Because I love teaching gymnasts to fly."
Why do you love working at Flips? "Gymnastics is about discipline AND fun. Flips balances that out perfectly! Flips really cares about their programs and how to make gymnastics as fun as possible, while also teaching the discipline to control your body so everyone stays safe."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 15 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Floor Exercise
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Kerri Strug
Miss Tugce
Birthday Party Host and Summer Class Instructor
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I love working with kids and getting to teach my favorite sport at the same time. I love to see the sparkle gymnasts get when I help them understand a new skill. It's the absolute best feeling to see students grow as gymnasts and build strong bonds with each other and their coaches."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Handstands. They are a very important base skill to build off of. Handstands are easy once you get the hang of them, an lead to many more skills."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I was on the Flips competitive team many years ago and I loved the relationships and memories I built here. Flips is a family, and I am so happy to be a part of it."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 9 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Floor Exercise
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Gabby Douglas
Mr. Jay
Team Coach
Coming Soon...
Miss Morgan
Recreational Class Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because of the bond you build with the students. Some are shy at first, but slowly open up over the course of the gymnastics season. I love when students come in to class excited to show you the skills they have practices/ learned. Each student is unique and I love seeing them succeed in the sport."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Front walkovers. Some gymnasts find front walkovers to be very intimidating, but after practicing many drills, the gymnasts are impressed with their ability to complete the skill."
Why do you love working at Flips? "At Flips, all the coaches want what's best for the gymnasts, therefore, they always go above and beyond to help make the gymnast's happy and safe. All the coaches and gymnasts have a positive attitude and great energy that makes the gym such a fun place to be."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 5 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Balance Beam
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Shawn Johnson
Miss Allison
Assistant Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I love to see a gymnast's faces light up when they get a new skill or accomplish something they found challenging/ nerve-wracking. Knowing I was part of their learning process makes me feel great as well."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "My favorite skill to teach is a backbend kickover. I enjoy teaching this skill because it takes a lot of repetitions to master, but the feeling of doing the skill for the first time is amazing. It was also my favorite skill to do when I was a younger gymnast."
Why do you love working at Flips? "I love working at Flips because of the environment. Whenever I step into the gym, it gives me a sense of happiness to see everyone doing a sport they enjoy so much. I also love that all the coaches at Flips have the same philosophy of working on the basic skills before moving on to more difficult ones, which is very important for the safety of the gymnast. The more you work on the basics, the easier the more difficult skills will be when you attempt them."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 10 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Uneven Bars
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Katelyn Ohashi and Simone Biles
Miss Kaleah
Assistant Teacher
Why do you love teaching gymnastics? "I love teaching gymnastics because I get to learn so much from the kids. In addition, I love getting to teach the gymnasts so much more than just gymnastics skills, such as leaderships skills and helping to build their confidence within themselves. Seeing the smiles on kids' faces when they come to gymnastics class is a highlight of my week."
What is your favorite gymnastics skill to teach? "Back-tucks are so fun to teach to our competitive gymnasts because the gymnasts get to feel like they're flying while being safe."
Why do you love working at Flips? "Flips is special to me because it is where I learned gymnastics and I treasure all these connections and friendships I have made while learning a sport I love."
Years of Gymnastics Experience: 15 years
Favorite Gymnastics Event: Floor Exercise
Favorite Famous Gymnast: Chellsie Memmel
