By Ronanne DeRosa, Owner, Barnstormers Gymnastics Club; Former Red Bank Catholic Varsity Head Coach; Former NCAA Division I Gymnast
I returned to gymnastics after spending my 20s in the financial industry because I wanted to change the culture of the sport. Growing up, I was part of an extreme environment that many of us found overwhelming. However, in college, I was fortunate to be surrounded by teammates who had been through similar experiences. Under the guidance of my coach, Bob Nelligan, at the University of Maryland, I learned that mental tenacity isn’t about blindly following orders. It’s about realizing what you’re capable of and pushing those boundaries with the support of coaches who’ve walked that path before you.
Too often, we see adults, parents, or coaches trying to live through their athletes. They lose sight of what the athlete is experiencing and focus solely on the outcome. It becomes about winning, not the journey. However, true mental strength resides in the athlete, regardless of whether they’re 5, 15, 25, or 45.
As a coach, my role is to empower my athletes, just as I was empowered by those who believed in me. We need to shift from a culture of “do it because I said so” to “do it because you can.”
My greatest responsibility is to nurture the raw passion and dreams within each athlete. I look for that spark every day, and when I find it, I do everything I can to help it grow. That’s what coaching is all about—guiding athletes toward their dreams, no matter how big or small.
As coaches, we must support those dreams and inspire our athletes to believe in themselves and in whatever they choose to compete in. We are here to uplift and encourage them to reach their full potential. That’s our mission.
“WEforum’s Coaches Corner will feature stories, insights, and life lessons from top coaches within our community. It requires collective effort to influence, develop, and make a positive impact on the lives of our youth. Coaches Corner will provide valuable resources and support to guide and empower other coaches, parents, teachers, community members, youth athletes, and non-athletes. The lessons learned on the field are applicable off the field as well.”
