High School Teacher Hosts USA Weightlifting Course

Over the weekend of January 19 and January 20, Tinley Park High School Physical Education Teacher Cassie Gaines opened the school to 23 participants from across four states for a 15 hour, Level 1, USA Weightlifting Course.

The course was taught by seven-time Olympics gold medalist and Team USA weightlifting coach, Matt Gattone. Participants gained practical information about weightlifting technique, assessing movement, motor learning, biomechanics, effective coaching, and programming training. In addition to covering scientifically based concepts to optimize training and skill learning, a large portion of the course implemented hands-on teaching of snatch, clean and jerk, and assistance lifts.

“I heard a lot of amazing things about Mike Gattone,” says Gaines. “I wanted to expose our area to his expertise and this was the perfect way to do it.”

The course not only saw participants from the Illinois Southland, but also Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and all over Illinois. Pierre Ngo, assistant strength coach of the Chicago Bears even attended.

All 23 participants, including Gaines and Hillcrest High School Physical Education Teacher Stacey Lane ,completed the course and are now certified USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coaches. With this certification, participants can now teach snatch, clean, and jerk and are recognized in the weightlifting industry as a USA Weightlifting Coaches.

“The course provided hands on technique to help us perfect form and recognize mistakes being made to eliminate injury,” says Gaines. “With effective progressions of each lift, beginning lifters in my classes can now learn safe and easy transitions to powerful, effective lifts.”