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. …
I volunteered last week at Renmore, an up-and-coming club. They’ve doubled (or tripled) their membership since moving into a full time facility about 18 months ago.
I tried to work with as many kids as possible,( … though I wasn’t much help with the Rhythmic girls). Renmore offers Tumbling, Rhythmic, WAG and MAG Artistic. And a bit of Acro.
Here’s a brief glimpse of what happened that week, culminating in the Year End Show.
… Sally has been involved in gymnastics for many years, having coached and tutored in many disciplines at all levels within the British Gymnastics system.
A former gymnast herself reaching national level, once Sally had retired she embarked on a career path in coaching and coach education/development which started with an extended educational trip to Stravpol in Russia to further her gymnastics knowledge and expertise.
It was during this trip that Sally elected to focus her coaching efforts on the Tumbling discipline – efforts that led to a successful partnership between herself & GB’s top female tumbler Samantha Palmer. Under the guidance of Sally, Samantha has achieved some remarkable results – the most striking achievements being crowned the 2006 European Senior Champion & World Cup Champion. …
Irish Gymnastics is struggling with how to move forward despite the economic slowdown. Sally would like to improve the Irish coach education scheme, updating their resource materials.
Sally is also involved with “performance” high end competitive teams. Ireland has a number of strong MAG athletes, but all currently train outside the country.
In 2010 Hardy Fink, Director of FIG Education & Academy Programmes, organized 30 courses worldwide. Yet it seems there’s no slowing down.
During the remainder of 2011 there are four confirmed Level 3/Brevet Academies:
For Acrobatic Gymnastics (Lisbon, Portugal, June 22-29),
Rhythmic Gymnastics (Tokyo, Japan, December 5-12)
Artistic Gymnastics (Cancun, Mexico, November 14-21 and Tokyo, Japan, December 13-20).
FIG is looking for host nations for these courses to be held in early 2012:
MAG-WAG French/English proposed for Europe;
AER in Europe and Spanish in Central/South America;
RG February 18-25 in Portugal and Spanish in Central/South America;
TRA proposed January 15-22 in Europe and Spanish in Central/South America;
ACRO English/Spanish proposed for Europe.
After Canadian Championships in PEI, as usual, Keith Russell scheduled a week of Level 4 National Coaching Certification workshops.
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.
Again USAG is making a push for requiring more of ‘coaches‘ than only safety certification.
The inaugural Junior Olympic Coaching Certification and Training Camp took place at the U. S. Olympic Training Center at the Karolyi’s Ranch on May 26 – 30, 2011. Thirty three coaches and forty-five gymnasts took part in this new educational program offered by USA Gymnastics.
The coaches certifications included both practical and classroom instruction under the direction of USA Gymnastics National Coaching Staff Tammy Biggs and Steve Rybacki.
This new educational opportunity emphasized on skills and progressions to train Junior Olympic athletes Levels 5 – 7. Training included hands on spotting techniques, proper body shaping, lesson plans and lectures on strength, conditioning, flexibility, periodization, sports medicine and psychology. …
I bounce back and forth between Canada and the USA. The Canucks (mandatory coach certification) are better coaches, on average, than Americans. … I hear all sorts of crazy theories, based on no science whatsoever, in the States.
USA GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CONGRESS and TRADE SHOW
Held in conjunction with 2011 VISA Championships August 17-20, 2011
Saint Paul River Centre, Saint Paul, Minn.
Something for Everyone!
… Club Owners, Recreational Instructors/Teachers, Offices Managers, Program Managers, and more!
This year’s event will feature 3 days of education with more than 175 sessions.
Sessions are provided on coaching, judging, business, preschool, school age, fitness and cheerleading. Attendees will also have the ability to learn from leading experts from all 6 disciplines Women’s, Men’s, Rhythmic, Acrobatics, and Gymnastics for All.
In addition, USA Gymnastics is excited to announce 2 NEW offerings to the educational line up! Hands on Spotting sessions and Certification sessions will be offered and included in the price of registration. …
Prices vary. Check the Registration page to find out the cost to you.
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If your main interest is how to MAKE MONEY at Gymnastics, sign up for the WednesdayNational Business Conference. ($150 current Member Club, $250 Non Member Clubs)
Separate registration via the link above.
Congress already has a Business Stream, so the extra Wednesday is BONUS.
You may recall the interview with American coach Ariel Edesses on Couch Gymnast last year.
Our camps are independent of the National Coach Education program mentioned below …
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Katie has been keeping us updated on the state of Artistic Gymnastics in Ireland:
… Those who are familiar with Irish Gymnastics will agree that the governing body has undergone a huge amount of developmental change in the last few years. Notably that the long awaited newly developed coaching courses have been rolled out over the last three years thus increasing the coaches knowledge significantly which in turn has a major impact on the gymnasts talent.
… full time gymnastics facilities has increased … in the last few years, something that most clubs could only dream of for years.
With approximately 2,000 newly qualified coaches within the last two years and the talent is gradually rising to meet other European standards. …
Here’s a sweet deal for a coach who wants to upgrade their skills and experience.
The Professional Coaching Diploma (PCD) program is held at International Gymnastics Camp (IGC) in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and offers an intensive instructional coaching curriculum for gymnastics professionals.
As one of the premier training facilities in the world, IGC has offered gymnasts and coaches the best training facilities and educational opportunities for over 39 years. This collective knowledge is the foundation of the PCD program designed to teach a full range of technical skill development, coaching methods, and spotting techniques in a safe and applied manner.
The time and effort commitment at the entry-level is 260 teaching and classroom hours spanning a four-week period.
Daily lecture demonstrations, written and practical tests, as well as observational and critical coaching reviews build throughout the second, third and fourth years.
This challenging program is designed for the career-minded individual intent on becoming a top-tier gymnastics coach.
You will graduate from the PCD program with a gymnastics portfolio documenting your personal progress and comprehensive understanding of beginner through elite gymnastics.
Whether you have just started your coaching career or have been coaching for years, it is our mission to help you build on your knowledge and continue your professional growth.
The coach of Jordyn Wieber and literally hundreds of high level gymnasts, over the years, took the time to post his current training program for 4 girls in the elite stream.
I drafted quick visual summary of a ‘typical’ training week so you can see it at a glance:
Vault – as much as 75% of the allotted time is spent vaulting uphill …
… Too much time in the gym almost assuredly will result in overuse injuries, acute injuries, stagnant training, and motivational issues. Not enough time means not being able to produce the kind of results necessary to be successful at the elite level.
With this being said I often go back to a quote I once heard Dr. Bill Sands use in a lecture on periodization years ago and that is “undertrained athletes have a better chance of success than OVERTRAINED”. …
Those hours are pretty standard, I feel, for kids attending somewhat normal school.
I was surprised how much time is spent on Floor choreography and dance. (More than most.) Yet John feels there’s still not not have enough Dance and or flexibility improvement training in their current system.
Certainly he’d agree that the best solution is an hour of ballet at ages 7-11. (And that much time on Tramp.) … But that’s not going to happen at most gyms in North America.
