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gymnastics coaching


NEW on this site


new GymnasticsCoaching.com, blog for gymnastics coaches but including content for coaches of all acrobatic and artistic sports.


new strength training - hanging V-sit and variations, Rick McCharles. Article by Christopher Sommer, conditioning guru. GymnasticsCoaching.com

new strength training - rings - training Cross, Rick McCharles. Article by Christopher Sommer. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new spotting the “Pak” on bars - part 2, video posted by Rick McCharles. Coach Patrick Carmichael introduces the skill to beginners. GymnasticsCoaching.com

new spotting the “Pak” on bars - part 1, video posted by Rick McCharles. Coaches Dennis Swenson and Charlie Tamayo demonstrate. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video trampoline - Adam Menzies, Rick McCharles. Amazing work by trampolinist turned circus performer. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video Cirque du Soleil audition, Rick McCharles. Article and video gives a glimpse into the process. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new Howard Schatz photos, Rick McCharles. More works of art than photography. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new cool animations - gymnastics, Wushu & martial arts, Rick McCharles. Martin Vidic put this together. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new hand care - shaving calluses, Rick McCharles. Use water and a bread knife says James Bathurst. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new boys in gymnastics, Rick McCharles. Great blog post from a gym Mom. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new Al Fong - using the Tumbl Trak, Rick McCharles. Use a tumbling trampoline for warm-up says one of the top coaches. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video air flare - the best floor exercise, Rick McCharles. Video tutorial by Bboy Ducky from Drifters/Expressions. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video training balance - Indo board, Rick McCharles. The most challenging wobble board I've seen. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video “Stick It” will be a cult classic, Rick McCharles. The most successful gymnastics movie will live long. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new closing the gym to spectators?, Rick McCharles. A bad idea. Instead install one way mirrored windows or use video cameras. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new book Rhythmic Gymnastics, Rick McCharles. Excellent manual by Nadejda Jastrjembskaia and Juri Titov. Useful for gymnastics coaches. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new overhead spotting belt for handsprings, Rick McCharles. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new AcrobaticSport.com, great site! Includes trampoline and tumbling content, as well as Sport Acrobatics. Rick McCharles. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video Gymnast TV, Rick McCharles. Mihai Bagiu & Brett Brown interview gymnasts and coaches. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new avoiding arched giants, Rick McCharles. This is only one of the excellent articles posted by Brian Bakalar on Gymnastics Revolution. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video Xiao Tingting 6 releases on bars!, Rick McCharles. The Chinese gymnast took gold in a 2006 World Cup competition in Shanghai. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new gymnast “statue” - body preserved in plastic, Rick McCharles. Human specimens, including entire bodies, preserved through the process of Plastination, a technique that replaces bodily fluids and fat with plastic. A bit gruesome. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video bars - Shantessa Pama, Rick McCharles. The most original routine in the world? GymnasticsCoaching.com

Check also Shantessa Pama - skills 2005


new a successful conditioning program, Rick McCharles. Used at Christchurch School of Gymnastics, New Zealand. Detailed examples. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new straight body cast handstand on bars, Rick McCharles. Actually, why girls should compete straddle-up cast instead. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new books - Roland Carrasco, Rick McCharles. Recommending the wonderful books published long ago in French by Vigot Editions, Paris. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new I could write a “handstand” book, Rick McCharles. Recommending the books of Karen Goeller. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new why so few good gymnastics books?, Rick McCharles. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new pommel mushroom - Gym Trix, Rick McCharles. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new TumblTrak tumbling “Air Floor”, Rick McCharles. One of the best innovations in equipment in years. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video Paul Hunt comedy bars 1981, Rick McCharles. The best gymnastics comedian ever. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new GymSmarts.com articles for coaches, Rick McCharles. Steve Butcher, Dan Connelly, Michael Taylor, Yoishi Tomita, Mas Watanabe and more. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new “spring” beam, Rick McCharles. Safer beam approved for Jr. Olympic age group competition in the USA. GymnasticsCoaching.com

new self-spotting beam belt, Rick McCharles. Controversial beam belt. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new professional NCAA recruiting videos, Rick McCharles. Springboard Video will put together your tape. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new TumblTrak vaulting “Porta Table”, Rick McCharles. My favourite training device, especially for Yurchenko. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video DVD - Balance Beam - It’s About Stability, Rick McCharles. Debbie Rodriguez, Byers, California. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new video - Ri Jong Song - Floor Exercise, Rick McCharles. Triple-twisting double back mount, though he failed to make finals in Athens 2004. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new “form foam”, Rick McCharles, post on GymnasticsCoaching.com. Using a sponge between the feet as an incentive to keep form.


Christchurch School of Gymnastics


new “Vertimax” conditioning device, Rick McCharles. Used mainly for lower body conditioning, an excellent though expensive piece of equipment. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new videos shoulder stretching device, Rick McCharles. Designed by Peter Soul of Integrity Gymnastics in Ohio, this simple U-shaped rod keeps the shoulders stretched while doing handstands and pirouettes. Works instantly.

Peter also built a device for introducing forward hipcircles on a bar. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new “Spring Free” backyard trampolines, Rick McCharles, post on GymnasticsCoaching.com. A "safer" tramp for your yard.


new gymnasts cliff jumping, video posted by Rick McCharles. Coach Dave Adlard, Funtastics, Idaho asks all his gymnasts to jump off a cliff. Also wall climbing and the 26ft high balance "beam" on the high ropes course. All excellent activities for learning how to overcome mental barriers. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new introducing “flyaway”, video posted by Rick McCharles. Coach Rachael Tart, Funtastics, Idaho demonstrates a fun activity for small kids. She throws them into the pit like flyaway. One 6-year-old does double layout. GymnasticsCoaching.com


new padded pommel horse, Rick McCharles. You can buy pommel pads, but coach Miguel Costante, at Altadore made his own. The padding decreases the distance from the top of the horse to the pommels making skills, especially long travels, easier. GymnasticsCoaching.com


Altadore Gymnastics


new mushroom with tire tube, video posted by Rick McCharles. Coach Miguel Costante, at Altadore uses an inflated tire tube around the mushroom for the advanced boys.


new Flic Flak as an accelerator, John Pirrie. Browse John's other articles.


new Flyspring as an accelerator, John Pirrie. Browse John's other articles.


new Developing Vaulting from A to Z, John Pirrie. Browse John's other articles.


new Markelov (Khorkina) made easy, John Pirrie. Browse John's other articles.


new Tkatchev made simple, John Pirrie. Browse John's other articles. (A very tricky spot, actually. - editor)

new College Gymnastics: University of Utah, by Kristen Riffanacht, a college athlete.
10-year-old Lizzie Morton, Level 6 gymnast, went to check out the program and posted her report on Utah Gymnastics.


new Gymnastics at Home?, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com.


new Press Handstand, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com.


new The Front Handspring Vault, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. The BEST use of the internet for an instructional article we have yet seen. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com. And don't miss his photo database of basic skills on the Gymnastics Interactive page.


new The Giant, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com and his photo database of basic skills on the Gymnastics Interactive page.

new How To Parent a Champion, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com

new The Split, Brian Bakalar, Gymnastics Revolution. Browse Brian's other articles on GymnasticsRevolution.com

new about.com: Gymnastics experts. Your questions personally answered. Hundreds of FAQs are already posted.


new Nutritional Needs for Female Athletes, Dawn Weatherax, R.D. USolympicteam.com


new Coaching Women, Anson Dorrance. USolympicteam.com
Reflections on the differences coaching women vs men.


new Team Building ... for Coaches, Rick McCharles. How to make the gym a happier, more magical place for gymnasts and coaches.


new Video and photo conditioning sequences on CrossFit.com. CrossFit is an advanced strength and conditioning program used by police and military. They use many gymnastics exercises in which body weight provides the resistance.


new American-Gymnast.com. The BEST competitive coaching tips website on the internet. Jay Thornton & Stephen McCain. Free membership (for now) required.


new American-Gymnast.com Free-Hip with Mohini Bhardwaj. Excellent video examples. Free membership (for now) required.


new American-Gymnast.com pommel horse circles. Excellent video examples. Free membership (for now) required.


new American-Gymnast.com round-off on floor. Excellent video examples. Free membership (for now) required.


new Triple and Quadruple Twist, Sands, Smith, Piacentini, Stone, McNeal. A biomechanical comparison with video examples.


new book Carly Patterson: Be Strong, Carly Paterson and Clint Kelly. Olympic Champion's story.


new Giant Swings on the Parallel Bars, Spiros Prassas. A biomechanical comparison with video examples.


new Minimising Injuries in Gymnastics Activities, Patria Hume. Includes tips for coaches.


new Vaulting Mechanics, Spiros Prassas. A detailed biomechanical analysis.


new FlipFest Gymnastics Camp, John Roethlisberger and John Macready are two of the best names in gymnastics. They are guys everyone wants to be associated with! Here's your chance — they are co-directors of their own summer gym camp in Tennessee.


new The Gymnastics Book, Elfi Schlegel and Claire Ross Dunn, 2001. Good overview for young girls in gymnastics.


new GymnasticsZone.com website. A big site chalk full of articles & products for every gymnastics enthusiast. Coaches will likely be most interested in post on Safety, Psychology, Technique, Cheer, and more.

new GymnasticsZone.com Winning Open Warm-ups. Women's competitive coaches should design a choreographed warm-up routine. Win the warm-ups to set up for a good meet.

new GymnasticsZone.com Delivering a Quality Gymnastics Program.

new GymnasticsZone.com Friendships in the Gym

new GymnasticsZone.com Gymnastics Hand Signal Communication. Coaches should use sign language in the gym & at the meet.

new GymnasticsZone.com Meet Etiquette for Gymnasts. Checklist for competition.

new GymnasticsZone.com Gymnastics Coaching System. What separates the best competitive gyms from the rest?

new GymnasticsZone.com How to Be a Positive Coach.

new GymnasticsZone.com Let's Talk Tap. A good starting point for discussing technique of long hang swings.

new GymnasticsZone.com Reducing Gymnastics Class Dropout Rates. Good advice for every gym.

new GymnasticsZone.com What Gymnast's Parents Expect. A clean gym, for starters.

new GymnasticsZone.com Issues in the Training of Young Gymnasts.

new GymnasticsZone.com Gymnastics Safety Pits. Using a pit correctly.

new GymnasticsZone.com Strap Bar Training. Essential for every competitive gym.


new Up Down All Around recreational lesson plans. The best available school gymnastics lesson plans can be adapted for use in gym clubs.


new book Moving to Learn is a resource for teaching children up to age 3. Excellent informative website, as well.


new PlaySport.net provides a wealth of advice on how to teach children age 6-12 by playing games. Excellent interactive website.


new Gym-Style.com, impressive website design company for gymnasts. These sites compare well with the established leader in the field WebsitesByMorgan.com


new International Gymnast Magazine LEGENDS: Comanici, Bilozerchev, McNamara, Li Ning and more including Yurchenko.


new Gymnastics Games Compendium, Ken Daley, 1981, is one of the few good books of gymnastics games. Unfortunately it is out of print & difficult to find.


new Gymnastics lesson plans for schools.
Saskatchewan, Canada posted some details of their physical education curriculum based on the Up Down All Around lesson plans published by Ruschkin.


Carly Patterson, Olympic Champion, a sample from Sing Lo’s photo collections.


new Inside Gymnastics Television (IGTV) is cool. Video clips from training and competition downloaded (not streamed) to your computer. This has great potential for gymnastics coaches.


new Men's Gymnastics Study Guide CD-ROM 2002 for Windows 98 or higher, Doug Hills, 2002. 425+ video illustrations, 1200+ skill displays, 1000+ rule descriptions, Screen Saver, and more.

new Women’s Gymnastics Study Guide CD-ROM 2004 for Windows 98 or higher, Doug Hills, 2002. 400+ video illustrations, 1500+ skill displays, 2500+ rule descriptions, Screen Saver, and more.


new Vault (US$30) & Bars (US$50) DVDs, by John Geddert, 2005. The best advanced gymnastics instructional videos we have seen by one of the best coaches in the USA.


new RING STRENGTH DVD featuring Jordan Jovtchev (US$34.95), by Jovtchev & Alexov. The best ring strength video we have seen demonstrated by a World Champion.


new The Muscle-Up on Rings, Tyler Hass, Power Athletes Magazine

new The Front Lever on Rings, Brad Johnson, Power Athletes Magazine

new The Power Ring Stretching Program, Tyler Hass, Power Athletes Magazine
Improve flexibility using rings. A unique article

new Adult Gymnastics: Why We Should All Do It, Roger Harrell, Power Athletes Magazine


new The Handstand is the Most Important Skill , Goeller, Technique


new book Developing A Successful Cheerleading Program, Headridge & Garr, 2004.


new Great Trampoline & Floor equipment, by Rick McCharles (PowerPoint presentation)

new Landing and Falling, by Rick McCharles (PowerPoint presentation)

new Rec Boys Gymnastics, by Rick McCharles (PowerPoint presentation)

new Why Coach Gymnastics?, by Rick McCharles


new F.I.G. Age Group Development Program
sample illustration

new F.I.G. coach education CD-ROM includes good information on training theory, physical preparation, ethics, etc. Superb computer generated illustrations. It seems to cost US$164 or so — though they offer a free demonstration version. Check it out on the buggy, frames-hindered F.I.G. website ... or email order@fig-gymnastics.org


new Monitoring the Elite Athlete, by Sands & Michael H. Stone (part 1)


new Paul and Morgan Hamm, book, 2004, Amanda Bader


new Gymnastics Rips on the Hands, Rick McCharles

new Get a Grip on your Rip, Rik Feeney



new Homework and the Gym, Rik Feeney


new Carly Patterson, book, 2004, Susan Valentine

new Carly Patterson (Amazing Athletes), book, 2005, Jeff Savage


new Should Female Gymnasts Lift Weights?, Sands, McNeal, Jemni, Delong Conclusion: Weight training based on high-intensity low-repetition sets is likely to improve the performance of most gymnasts by increasing strength with minimal muscle hypertrophy.


new Biomechanical Principles Behind Training the Giant Swing , Pidcoe, Technique


new Tips for creating a college recruiting video, , Hampy & Meyer, Technique


new Ankle Injuries - Prevention & Rehabilitation, , Norris, Technique


new Coaches Certification manuals, Rita Brown
Check details on Brown's website.


new GymSmart.com DVDs, by Mas Watanabe, Dan Connelly, Steve Butcher & more. Some excellent content!

GymSmarts.com

DVD - Mastering Men's Gymnastics: BEGINNING Skills & Progressions, by Olympic Coach Mark Williams

DVD - Mastering Men's Gymnastics: INTERMEDIATE Skills & Progressions, Mark Williams


Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Gymnastics, by Price, Price & Haselow-Dulin (Editor)


A Sport Defined by the 10.0 , Russell Fystrom, Technique, Mar 2005
Keep the “perfect 10” — it brands our sport

Getting to the Core , Chris Colba, Technique, Mar 2005
Medicine ball drills for the core body

Coaches are raving about the TumblTrak Air Floor, an inflated tumbling mat. The video at the bottom of the TumblTrak web page may convince you.

There are other new training aids to consider.


116_2971.JPG
inflatable mat at Woodward West Gym Camp 2005


FIG Proposed Changes
dropping the perfect 10, penalties to Olympic judges, new athletes oath, new Athlete’s Commission. More ...

response American Coaches’ take on the proposed code, Inside Gymnastics


Seneca College, Canada two year program to learn to coach


Birthday Party risk management , Technique, Feb 2005


Canadian Professional Coaches Association (multi-sport)
Excellent site for full-time coaches.

AdultGymnastics.com
The best resource for adult recreational gymnasts. Articles, links, etc.


cute animations of competition
Athens2004.com explains our sport.

BBC Sports gymnastics videos
Explaining our sport to the general public. Good for kids.


Massage & Stretching of Athletes , New Zealand Gymnastics
Guidelines for correct practice.


Recreational Gymnastics Games (MS Word documents) on the Gymnastics Saskatchewan website

Colour blank gymnastics pictures for kids, Elisabeth Bureaud, Gymnastics Canada
on the Gymnastics Saskatchewan website


Tulsa World of Gymnastics Tips for Gymnasts & Coaches
Impressive site! Dozens of mini-articles, some with animated gymnast stick figures.


Shaping Skills with Drills: Bars — introducing “cast to handstand”, McCharles
tips & photo sequence

Shaping Skills with Drills: introducing the “flyaway”, McCharles
tips & photo sequence



using (extra long) safety straps on rings


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gymnastics coaching

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This page last modified Monday, November 13, 2006