Entries from December 2011 ↓

Jerome Simpson, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, does a front flip into the end zone to score a touchdown, Dec. 24, 2011.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (slow motion at 50sec)

Thank George Thomas for the link.

Bekah’s Christmas poem:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the gym,
All the gymnasts were gone even little Ashton Kim.
As I sat by the beam and composed a new post,
I heard a loud sound I thought must be a ghost. …

There’s a bit of a mystery to solve. A surprise ending.

… As the man walked away, I exclaimed “Holy Moly!
That man isn’t Santa, he’s …

Find out on Bekah’s “Get a Grip” Gymblog

I’m surprised how many coaches defended the current Code and FIG rules on Floor in the comments of this provocatively titled post – FIG ruined Men’s Floor.

I disagree.

In 2011 the FIG Floor Exercise rules are not working. (Report Card). Routines are rushed, ugly and repetitive.

… But there is one point on which we agree. Today there are too many combination passes, not enough BIG TRICKS.

Future rule changes should encourage at least one “BIG TRICK”. Winning routines should include a triple back, triple twisting double back or something equally uniquely impressive. The best BIG TRICK tumblers should win.

Which of these BIG tricks do you like best?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

RedNasvw has more MAG Code edits like this on his Code of Points YouTube playlist.

related – MostepanovaFan has many WAG Code related videos.

Oh judge, dear judge
Hello, it’s me
I’m way down here
only 4 foot 3.

My knees are knocking
I hope you don’t see.
I look up at you
you smile at me.

It’s my turn on beam
now there’s no escaping.
A “9” would be nice
see, my grandma is taping.

I know I’m wobbly
but here’s a quiz –
Do you know how thin
this darn thing is???

Oh judge, dear judge
can you cut me some slack?
I wiped out in warm-ups
and hurt my back.

You signal you’re ready
for me to begin.
I face you, salute you
and flash my best grin.

These bars feel good
I must keep my grip.
Did I happen to mention
I have a big rip?

It’s over, I did it
that wasn’t so bad.
But I have to admit
I really am glad.

Oh judge, dear judge
it’s my turn on floor.
And I know you’ve heard
my music before.

But you only smile
as I flip and I leap.
How is it that your
composure you keep?

Out of bounds, you say
on two of my passes?
Well, I think that line judge
needs some new glasses.

Okay, yes, okay
I’m sure you are right.
But the floor is springy
it messed up my flight.

Oh judge, dear judge
did you see that vault?
You need to know
it wasn’t my fault.

The board was too close
the horse set too high.
But you just smiled
when I walked by.

You sit there for hours
and watch us compete.
You nod and encourage
you don’t miss a beat.

You look so regal
in your navy blue.
Oh judge, dear judge
we appreciate you!!!

USA National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges

(via Judge Laura Vincent on Facebook)

From Coaching Association of Canada on Facebook.

If you don’t follow American professional football (I don’t) the hubbub over this story will seem surprising.

There’s a viral craze online making fun of a football player named Tim Tebow.

“Tebowing” is a neologism derived from Tebow’s propensity for kneeling and praying. …

… they mimic a pose by Tebow that was caught on camera following the Broncos’ improbable overtime victory over the Dolphins on October 23, 2011 …

Funny? Maybe.

But I don’t like seeing people — even millionaire celebrities — mocked for their religion.

Criticize him for being a bad football player, if you like. That’s OK with me. But religious intolerance is going too far.

I’m going to ignore tebowers from here on in. But if you want to know more, read the WSJ.

(via Gymnast Crossing)

Andy Thornton has a good one. He asks that you compare this routine at Worlds …

Click PLAY or watch Jessica Lopez on YouTube. (E score = 7.866)

… vs Aly Raisman.(E score = 8.2)

Watch Aly’s Bars on American Gymnast – And the award for the most outrageous judging moment of 2011 goes to…

Aly’s a great gymnast. But should not be competing Bars for team USA at Worlds.

Who was the Head Judge for Bars prelims, by the way?

We need to name names.

Home for Christmas, Vanessa Zamarippa leads warm-ups for the competitive team at her old club, Midwest Twisters Gymnastics in O’Fallon, Illinois.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Watch more video of Vanessa Zamarripa on gymnastike.org

Vanessa’s comeback starts Jan. 8th, the UCLA vs Utah promo video just posted.

Coaches: I need to build a new set of wall bars (or stall bars, depending I guess on what region you’re in?). I want to know if anyone has ever seen a style of wall bar that they think is both effective AND visually appealing (and accessible to all heights/ages of kids)? In other words, what’s the best design you’ve ever seen?

Coaching Gymnastics in the New Millenium

Buy or build?

Don’t miss this excellent feature by Laura Misjak on Lansing State Journal.

Or watch the video interview here.

… The coach behind local Olympic hopeful Jordyn Wieber develops training plans a year in advance. He’s meticulous and exacting, pushing his gymnasts to do their best. It’s a passion fueled by Geddert’s own missteps as a competitor in high school and college.

Geddert’s overarching goal: To make sure his gymnasts reach their full potential.

“He doesn’t accept mediocrity,” said Jordyn’s mother, Rita Wieber. “He doesn’t accept that even in training. He has a very well-established conditioning program, he plans out the whole year of training. It’s not something that’s just pouring out of his back pocket. He has a plan.”

read more – Coaching the best: Mentor for Olympic hopeful brings out gymnasts’ talents

It’s great to see John’s wife in the spotlight, too.

… Kathryn Geddert also is referred to as “the quiet one behind the scenes” at Twistars. A former gymnast, she works with Wieber on floor exercise and balance beam. …

Most of the American National Team coaches are foreign born new immigrants. The Gedderts show there’s no magic. If you’re willing to the work, you too could coach a world champion. You don’t have to be Russian, Romanian or Chinese.

Thanks Kristin.

Frank Costanza:

“The tradition of Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you’re gonna hear about it. …”

Flavius Koczi was named Romanian male gymnast of the year for 2011.

He’s Mr. Twister on Floor.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

D-score: 6.6
E-score: 8.900
15.500 1st – European Champion

Not bad. Certainly one of the best routines in the world today. But watch what Flavius showed at the Gala in Belgium, without the constraints of FIG judges and rules.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Better, I’d say. Note he removed both roll-outs.

Compare Flavius with one of the many young guns out of Japan, Kenzo Shirai.

Click PLAY or watch Kenzo on YouTube.

To me that’s no longer a “Floor Exercise”. Kenzo is doing as many twists as he can and as little else as possible. If that’s what FIG wants, why not simply use the Power Tumbling Rod Floor and name whomever does the most twists in 8 skills the winner?

UPDATE: Gerard in the comments has seen rules for young guys in Japan that ban on Floor:

• any front salto into a roll out (including arabian)
• double front (including arabian)
• double back with a twist

… That helps explain why Kenzo’s routine so overuses twisting for difficulty.

This is a Floor Exercise demonstrating a variety of qualities, not only twisting.

Click PLAY or watch the 1979 World Champion on YouTube.

A routine from over 30yrs ago on a rock hard Floor is ‘better’ than what we are seeing today. The FIG rules are not working, in my opinion.

Thomas was the first to popularize those roll-outs, by the way.

(via Full Twist)

_____ Check the comments. There are a surprising number who prefer modern Floor over the traditional “Floor Exercises” of the past.

… Gymnastike takes you inside their training session in Tokyo, just 24 hours before the 2011 World Championships Team Final.

Team standout, Lauren Mitchell, placed 8th in the All Around and 5th on Floor Exercise even though she had injured both ankles about two weeks before the competition. Lauren won the very first World gold medal for Australia in 2010 on the Floor Exercise. Emily Little also qualified for the All Around final.

The Australian Team includes: Ashleigh Brennan, Georgia Rose Brown, Emily Little, Larissa Miller, Lauren Mitchell, Mary Anne Monckton, and alternate Nikola Chung. Head Coach is Peggy Liddick. … Music by Avicii

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike. (mostly Beam / Bars)

Mike (Canales) interviews Oscar Buitrago FIG Judge and chats candidly about cheating in judging, his 2004 Olympic suspension, and the perfect “10″.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I don’t know Oscar. But many of his fellow judges told me that he’s a stand up guy and a great judge. They were deeply disappointed to see him suspended.

Oscar takes personal responsibility for his “mistake”, but I feel the blame for the 2004 MAG Olympic judging disaster should be shared higher up.

(via International Gymnast Magazine on Facebook)