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. 

what keeps kids in Gymnastics?

Gymnastics Ireland interviewed some young ladies.

Everyone has ups and downs. The coach needs to step in when one of their gymnasts is in a down phase.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Video by Georgianna Scurfield (Women in Sport UK).

Teenage dropout amongst girls is a widespread issue in sport and in gymnastics, which if tackled, can support lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity to improve the lives of women & girls.

As a predominantly youth sport, Gymnastics presents a unique and powerful opportunity to help girls develop a strong love of sport and physical activity from a young age to nurture continued participation through adolescence and beyond to support their health, happiness and wellbeing into later life.

Through our research and beyond, we asked girls and women involved in our sport “What keeps you here?” – because what keeps you here matters to us.

Kaede Maeda – 15.633 H Bar !

Pegan piked (Maras). Cassina to Kolman.

Joscelyn Roberson to Georgia

As we expected, after getting a LOT of social media attention for visits to other schools, Joscelyn eventually chose to be reunited with her former club coaches at Georgia.

She should do well with NIL in Athens.

specific conditioning for Gymnastics coaches 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

hollow cast handstand?

Most would consider cast handstand in a hollow / stretched position throughout as ideal. Coach Nick Blanton referenced this illustration from Championship Gymnastics.

It’s possible to do that technique. (In fact it’s fairly easy on Parallel Bars as a swing handstand.)

But rare on WAG Bars.

I’m personally a very happy coach if the gymnast can lead with the heels (arch) to horizontal, then change the body position to hollow / stretched.