Answer – Gymnastics coaches can only be as effective as the skill models they happen to hold in their heads at that particular time. This is why it’s so important for them to have as accurate a conceptual model as possible for skill execution. For the model concept of the skill held in the coach’s mind determines his/her ultimate effectiveness when teaching gymnasts what to and, more importantly, how to do it.

Each coach holds a specific model concept for every skill which inevitably serves as the “ideal model concept” for the aspiring gymnast. And more often than not, the gymnast responds and trains only to within the limits of these models.

Consequently it becomes important for coaches to continually refine their skill models, particularly as they relate to the core movement patterns in gymnastics. It is far more important to continually refine basic skill models than to gain some cursory understanding of how to do complex, elite level maneuvers.

My recent book, Championship Gymnastics, provides aspiring coaches with a simple, step-by-step approach on how to develop truly ideal skill models. Taking time to conceptualize basic movement patterns may seem tedious at first, but it’s the fastest and surest way to ultimate success in gymnastics.

“Never forget the story of the tortoise and the hare!”

$10 off Championship Gymnastics by Dr. Gerald S. George.

Use the promo code< GYMCOACH when you purchase online from this link or by phone.

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Use the promo code< GYMCOACH when you purchase online from this link or by phone.

Championship Gymnastics is now being used in 36 countries worldwide.

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Whether you like it or not, this is the year of the iPad. It’s soon going to be everywhere.

Grace Chiu snapped this pic of judges using them for analysis during Gymnix podium training.

See more of Grace’s Gymnix photos on Examiner.

UPDATE from Grace:

Haha… that was a posed shot… We don’t judge using iPads. We keep our documents, like the Code, Help Desk, Models, clarifications there so they’re at our fingertips and we don’t have to print loads of paper and lug around 4-inch binders. Plus, it holds up my ProScore keypad.

related – The iPad Is Unbeatable

Why Apple’s tablet competitors don’t stand a chance—and maybe never will.

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see more MAG and WAG World Champions on Facebook. Komova’s Bars are up now.

This was the biggest new skill at the meet. An incredible 7.4 start score! Watch it again on YouTube.

Note that he uses a traditional preflight technique, not the flyspring style used by Alicia Sacramone. (Both work.)

Watch Alicia’s Vault on YouTube.

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Click PLAY or watch it on ShaunWhite.com.

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The new device is composed of a processor unit with LCD display and is connected to accelerometer sensors that are placed under the top desk of the springboard.

… accelerations velocities are calculated … and several parameters such as time to maximal springboard compression and maximal velocity at take-off are determined and displayed. The data is directly transferred to a PC for further analysis ….

Matlab software was used to record, filter and analyze the measured data.

Results are in good agreement with simultaneously obtained results from the force plate and laser displacement sensor measurements (similar time and vertical velocity).

With developed equipment it will be possible to determine typical springboard action parameters for individual gymnast, optimal springboard parameters for a required jump, to analyze repeatability of springboard jumps, to analyze transverse movements and to optimize training and its efficiency. The developed device has good potential for use as a fast information system as well as a device for suitable science/research projects in vaulting.

Details in this PDF – TOWARDS A SMART SPRINGBOARD (CASE STUDY)

I saw that posted in the latest issue of the Science of Gymnastics Journal.

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… From the data it can be concluded, that the double Jaeger is possible in either tucked or piked body posture …

Despite its feasibility, there may be … arguments why the Jaeger Salto on the high bar is not performed that often in international competitions, and potentially, why the double Jaeger may not be attractive for gymnasts to learn as compared to other release-regrasp skills.

… the Jaeger salto is a forward salto during which the athlete “sees” the high bar relatively late prior to regrasp, and therefore has less time to adjust the regrasp based on visual information, as compared to other flight elements, like the Tkatschev (Gervais & Tally, 1993; Raab, de Oliveira & Heinen, 2009).

… the athlete has to reverse the direction of his rotation when regrasping the bar, as compared to other flight elements, like the Kovacs Salto if he intends to perform a subsequent giant swing. …

Download the full research article – WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THE DOUBLE JAEGER ON THE HIGH BAR (PDF)

by Thomas Heinen, Damian Jeraj, Pia M. Vinken, Katharina Knieps,
Konstantinos Velentzas & Hedi Richter

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click for larger image

Slow Motion video at 240 and 420 frames / second work well, too.

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Lifehacker recommends …

Most fitness apps for iOS will teach you to stretch and exercise through specific demonstrations, but iMuscle takes it a step further by actually showing you the muscles in action.

It works by providing a ton of animated diagrams that are accessible with just a touch. When you launch the app, you just grope the part of the muscular body you want to work on and it’ll stick a few pins in it. Each pin corresponds to a muscle (or muscle group) and its associated exercises and stretches. Touching any of the exercises or stretches will provide you with an animated demonstration, written instructions, and pictures of the affected muscles. …

iMuscle Teaches You to Stretch and Exercise by Literally Showing You the Muscles in Action

If you like that, check out similar apps for the Skeletal System and Muscular System.

Thanks for the link, Warren.

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To represent Canada at major international meets, you must be fully certified Level 4. (4 weeks over 2yrs)

This time round, Keith invited Kelly Manjak who’s coached both Men and Women to World Championships.

For a glimpse of what happened at the clinic, Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Kelly is very specific on basics, but not nearly so exacting on high level skills. He’ll spend years working handstand, then expect kids to add Tkachev to their routines within a few weeks.

The course was not videotaped, but I do have some highlights to post over the next couple of weeks.

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