GONE HIKING …

Site editor Rick McCharles will be mostly offline well into June 2026.  He’s section hiking part of the Pacific Crest Trail in California. 

“It’s the Hard Knock Life”

Nobody knows better than gymnasts how to fall safely. And get back up. 

It’s not the falls that stop girls from training sport.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hardy Fink – Be Gymnast Centered

Gymnastics is under review worldwide. We hear much about the problems.

Hardy Fink offers solutions.

Hardy has attended more World Championships & Olympics than anyone else. He’s the principle author of the FIG Age Group Programmes for all disciplines. And he’s led more FIG coach education courses worldwide than anyone else.

We should listen and learn.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (49min)

Gymnastics Challenge – Chariot Carry

I’ve always preferred Chariot over Piggy Back. Chariot takes longer to learn (rider must stand tall and stay tight) but it’s easier when successful.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

See MORE Games on the Tumbl Trak Fitness Games YouTube channel.

on SAFER Landings

Click through for the longer post.

Emily Bischoff:

… Teaching our athletes to land correctly is one thing coaches can control in terms of injury prevention, whether it be to lessen the load on tendons and ligaments to prevent overuse injuries, or to minimize the risk of fluke injuries …

… the force upon landing be dissipated throughout as much of the body as much as possible …

… feet around shoulder width apart, which widens the base of support over which force is exerted. Knees should be in flexion (bent), tracking over the toes …

Promoting Safety in Gymnastics: Landings

SAVING handstand on Bars

I admire gymnasts who have the physical preparation and mental quickness to SAVE a handstand that ends up in reverse planche position.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Round-off drills

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My preference is to teach beginners a straight leg hurdle, with late lunge. Tammy Biggs talks about the pros and cons of straight leg vs bent leg hurdle here.

Straight leg is cleaner, for sure.

My two favourite round-off drills could be added to Jason’s list.

“cartoff” (cartwheel to run backwards)

fly round-off on trampoline (feet together round-off)

Both are easy for beginners. Neither allows the kids to pike down.

Rachael Denhollander – What Is a Girl Worth?

Available in hardcover, Kindle and audio.

Recommended children’s book – How Much Is a Little Girl Worth?

Click PLAY or watch Rachael on YouTube.

gymnasts are incredible

This is from the private Cognition Coaching – Conscious Growth Facebook page.

The benefits of training acrobatic sports are incredible. These are super humans.

Super Humans