Site editor Rick McCharles will be mostly offline well into June 2026. He’s section hiking part of the Pacific Crest Trail in California.
Kip progressions
I’d say the most frustrating skill to learn in women’s Gymnastics is Kip on Bars.
Here’s an excellent and comprehensive overview of progressions and conditioning for both Glide and Kip.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
introducing Rope climb
Inexperienced coaches ask young kids to climb too high, too soon.
Instead, challenge them with these drills. And others close to the ground.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. No audio.
Those are precomp kids from Taiso, Saskatoon and Altadore, Calgary. But the drills are the same for everyone. Even non-gymnasts.
Bars – Double Layout dismount, 1/2 out
In TRAINING.
It would be easy to under-rotate this in competition.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
introducing Cartwheels
Yurchenko timer – for height
“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.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 