Competive Coaches

Coaches within the competitive programme are often retired gymnasts or gymnasts who are still competing but at a senior level. HVGC supports coaches by helping them to achieve recognised coaching qualifications e.g. Coach Education Programme (CEP) level 0. Coaches are encouraged to have achieved or be working to achieve Coaching New Zealand level 1 and beyond.

These qualifications cover both theory and practice. Coaches are taught about areas such as anatomy, sports psychology, and nutrition as well as how to coach gymnastics and catch (spot) gymnasts through the learning phase of new skills.

Coaches taking gymnasts to competitions must have valid first aid certificate we insist on all of our coaches attaining these.

Hutt Valley Gym Competitive Coaching Team

Michelle Woolf

Michelle was a foundation member of Hutt Valley GymSports in 2003 and is a life member of the club. She previously competed and coached with 5 Star Gymnastics, a Hutt Valley GymSports heritage club.

In her competitive career, Michelle represented Wellington for 7 years and reached Womens Artistic Gymnastics Level 9. As her many gymnasts will tell you, her favourite apparatus is bar.

Michelle is also a highly active member of the Wellington GymSports community, where she heads the Womens Technical Committee and is Head Judge at many regional competitions.

Michelle was the Head Coach for Hutt Valley GymSports from 2005-2010. She gets the most enjoyment from watching her gymnast’s progress from SportGym to the competitive programme and from there from Junior to Senior levels.
Michelle has built up the club and coaching staff such that Hutt Valley GymSports has been the largest represented Wellington club for Womens Artistic Gymnastics since 2005!

Michelle is Head of Wellington Women’s Tech. Michelle has coached 4 National champions including Alice Barnett who went on to represent New Zealand at World Championships and Commonwealth games.

Natalie Gunn - Intermediate WAG

Natalie was a competitive gymnast for around 10 years in which time she was L10 National Champion (2005), and represented NZ (2002-2005). She has been coaching for 3 years. Natalie is qualified CNZ L1, and CEP L1 and 2.

Natalie’s favourite thing about coaching is when gymnasts get new skills for the first time.

Ashleigh Lacey - IDP1&2

Ashleigh was a competitive gymnast for around 6 years and has been to Christchurch to represent Wellington for L4.
Ashleigh has been coaching for a year and a half and is currently attending C.I.T courses.

She says her favourite part of coaching is the look on the girl’s faces when they have mastered a skill they have been working hard to get. Ashleigh loves coaching and being able to help young gymnasts achieve their full potential.

Danielle Jellicoe - Assistant Comp Coach

Danielle has done competitive for 6 years and is currently doing her 7th year as a L8. She has represented Wellington 3 times and also New Zealand once in 2008 in Perth. Danielle favourite apparatus is bar as she says she loves to flip around.

She has also been coaching for a year and a half and says she loves it and little children have so much talent. She likes to watch them move up a level.

Anthony Jellicoe Junior MAG

Anthony was voted top coach in 2008 and works well with his competitive boys. He really enjoys coaching as he is able to share what he knows with the younger boys and is like a friend to them. His favourite activity to coach is conditioning because he likes to see his boys get stronger.
Anthony is competing Level 6 this year and has been to nationals 3 years in a row. He says he loves gymnastics because it is fun and very addictive. His favourite apparatus is floor and vault.

Anthony was awarded 'Coach of the Term' for term 1 2011. This was because of his initiative and forward thinking towards his MAG squad. CONGRATULATIONS

Natalie Depczynski - Step 3 WAG

Natalie is 16 years old and is currently completing a coaches in training course to become a gymnastics coach under GymSports New Zealand.

She says “I really like to pass on my passion for gymnastics to all the kids I coach and I love to see them work and achieveoals. I am level 7 artistic gymnastics this year and I have been doing gym for 6 years now”.

Jodene Hogwood - Junior Development Assistant

Jodene has been doing gym for 4 years and is competing Level 6 this year. This is her second year coaching and she is currently doing CIT which she finds very interesting. Jodene loves working with the junior development and says her favourite part of coaching is helping the girls get new skills and having fun while doing so.

Her favourite apparatus is floor because there are so many different skills to be taught.