Shout out to Kyle Shewfelt, inspirational headliner at camp. He made a lot of kids very happy.

From the Facebook album: Wall Photos by Amber

… Many of the girls had attended the UCLA camp with Nastia earlier in the summer. They told me they didn’t see any Olympic medals there. (Likely Nastia has hers locked up in a vault.)

more photos from Go For It

Whilst all great coaches are unique and very special individuals, there are some common factors – some common championship coaching characteristics that they all share:

A commitment to continuous improvement.
A belief that anything is possible.
An understanding of where your sport has been (history of the sport), where it is now and most importantly a vision for where it is going.
The confidence to be yourself – to be unique.
The energy to work hard consistently.
The strength and courage to not compromise.
Outstanding communication abilities.
An understanding of who you are, what you value and what motivates you.
A passion for winning – a desire to be the best.
The capacity to persevere and persist and continue to fight hard no matter what obstacles you face.

each point expanded – Sport Coaching Brain – Great Coaches: How to Be the Best of the Best.

Thanks Brett.

National Novice - Canadian Gymnastics Championships

From the Facebook album: CC10-Fri AM-Nat’l Novice Women Finals by Stu Cram

That’s coach Jessica Fritshaw from Regina.

That’s a required skill for a coach. As important as a handstand for a gymnast.

Here’s an excellent post from a gym Mom on Chalk Bucket forum:

… I just had the BEST parent-coach meeting that I ever went to, and I thought I’d share some of the things that this coach did. This was a coach talking to parents of L5/L6 girls fast-tracked (I use the term lightly – really it’s just girls identified to have the potential to go to Optionals in the next couple of years) who are 7-10 years old. We are all new to her team although not new to the gym.

She talked about her background. Now, I’ve had other coaches do this, but it always came off sort of braggy (e.g., “I was almost an elite gymnast”). This coach was very straight forward about her years of experience but also talked about why she coaches the levels she does and what she brings to it.

She complimented every single girl on the team during her talk. I don’t know if she planned this out, but she just worked it into the conversation. For example, she’d say something like “A is extremely flexible which is going to be great for her when we work on ….”

She made her expectations to the parents clear and gave specific examples from her experience. Most importantly she talked about what 8-10 year olds will not always share with their coach, even when they should. For example, she told a story of a girl who was normally a really hard worker who was just not doing her best. Finally she snapped “what is wrong with you today?” and the girl explained that her dog had died the night before. She said how girls will sometimes not talk about this because they don’t want their coach to think they are shirking, but the parent should email to help the conversation.

She talked about her own kids and family. Not too much, but enough so that I could related to her as a mother.
She talked about her goals for the team. She made it clear that if they give it their all, their scores should be in a certain range and showed a general roadmap of when they should be acquiring skills.

She talked about the need for balance in their lives and gave some specific examples of what will over tax a child vs. what will give a child a good time outside of the gym.

She talked at length about injuries and injury prevention. Even saying things like “if your child is limping at home, email me so that I watch them at the next practice.”

She talked about what we should expect as our children get older, both the good and the more difficult. She gave actual statistics about how many graduating seniors go on to 4-year colleges (not for gymnastics –just to study) and how girls who stay in the program stay out of trouble.

Most importantly, she actually asked us (as parents) what our goals were. That is, what do we hope our kids gets out of the hundreds of dollars a month we shell out. I just about fell out of my chair with shock.

I hope this is useful to coaches who plan talks with their new teams.

My personal tip #1 for all coaches = always escort your gymnasts to their parents at end of practice. Be available to chat and answer any questions at the end of each workout.

Here’s another interesting, perhaps even haunting, edit.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The first few links are specific to gym, the next are all about periods.

Sports and Menstrual Periods: The Female Athlete Triad

http://www2.usa-gymnastics.org/publications/technique/2004/5/hip.pdf

All About Menstruation

Menstrual Problems

Teaching Your Daughter about Menstruation | Puberty vs Adolescence | Parents | sexualityandu.ca – Your Link to Sexual Well-Being

______
original post:

Coaches can easily measure Peak Height Velocity (PDF), a very accurate indicator of maturity events.

Thanks ….try this.

______

original post

Menarche is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding.

… Girls experience menarche at different ages. The timing of menarche is influenced by female biology, as well as genetic and environmental factors, especially nutritional factors. The average age of menarche has declined over the last century but the magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible remain subjects of contention.

The average age of menarche is 11.75 years. It is about 12.5 years in the United States …

Of course with gymnasts menarche is often later. Intense training can delay it. And coaches tend to select late maturing girls as gymnasts.

There’s an interesting post on this topic on the Chalk Bucket forum.

menstrual calendar

As a male, I’m oblivious. The female coaches council the girls on menarche, one of life’s turning points.

Leave a comment if you have advice on best practice when the time comes.

She’s quoting Nadia.

If you follow Brittany on twitter @brittyrogers, you know she’s been frustrated.

The interview is much more upbeat. After the most National Team Training Camp:

… I think Canada has a great chance of making the Olympic team. We are so determined and so ready, and are all working towards it. Every little bit counts, and no matter who is chosen to represent Canada in London, everyone’s effort helped. 2012 is still one of my biggest goals. I haven’t lost sight of it, …

World Gymnastics – Catching Up With: Brittany Rogers

I’m surprised there’s no discussion regarding her coach Vladimir Lashin, resigning as National Coach, and returning to her gym full-time.

related page – Newfoundland MAG Winter Games Camp

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cygnus Gymnastics in St. John’s.

related post – Mountain Shadows – Have more FUN in the Gym

The 17-year-old Grandville High School graduate was born with a right arm that extends to about elbow length, although she has no elbow, and one finger.

Growing up, she participated in soccer (her favorite), volleyball, basketball, and track.

But it was Dohring’s participation on the varsity gymnastics team that recently earned her a spot as one of four finalists for the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability. …

read more – The Detroit News

Good luck Linnea.

(via Gymnastics Examiner)

related post – Carol Johnston – Lefty