Andy Buckley has coached competitive gymnasts in countries all over the world, but Canada has always been on the top of his list of favourite places to share his knowledge.
So, it made perfect sense for the 33-year-old gymnastics coach to seize an opportunity to return when he found himself seeking gainful employment in his craft as he faced limited competitive coaching opportunities at home in Manchester, England.
With 20 years of coaching experience grooming athletes from the recreational to the elite level, Buckley is bringing his expertise to the local competitive gymnastics community as the new head coach of the Saltos Gymnastics Club in Corner Brook. He just finished up a two-year term as coach of a women’s gymnastics program in Suffolk when he went looking for a fresh start.
He came across a Saltos advertisement for the open head coaching job in his search for a new gig.
He was sold on coming because he had a great experience the first time he experienced what Canada had to offer — back in 2005 when he brought a Manchester women’s team to Burlington, Ont. for some top-notch competition.
He loved the atmosphere and the friendly people. It was his best coaching experience ever at a competition so he never forgot it.
Only five weeks in his new job he’s about to embrace what he knows awaits him and his family. His fiance Fiona and son Matthew — who turned three Friday — are still in Manchester, but will be joining him in February.
“It’s nice and quiet from the hustle and bustle of Manchester,” Buckley said, noting a slower pace of life is certainly up his alley at this point in life.
Make his mark
Saltos has a new home at the Pepsi Studio and it’s a place where Buckley expects to slowly make his mark on the club.
He is implementing a number of new programs, purely based on his experiences, in an effort to build on what he feels is already a solid base for grooming those who want to punch the time to be among the elite.
“We’ve got some good potential coming up and hopefully with the new program that we install we’re going to have a better base to grow more competitive gymnasts,” he said.
Being able to focus on teaching and guiding his athletes in his new role has been going great for him.
The support system of executive members, parents and other volunteers lending a helping hand behind the scenes provides a structure that makes it much easier for him to do his job so that’s been a pleasant revelation.
The support apparently goes beyond the confines of the Saltos gym.
He doesn’t have a valid driver’s licence.
His mode of transportation in Manchester was scooting around on a motorcycle.
No wheels means he either walks or somebody gives him a drive. He’s all smiles really because people have gone out of their way to make life easier for him by offering him drives to take care of his daily business and coaching duties.
What about the motorcycle?
“I was going to buy one over here, but with the snow coming it’s probably not going to be a good idea,” he said with a hearty chuckle.