The Latest Gymnastics Examiner Discussion: Modifying the balance beam:
At the World Championships in Rottedam, legendary Russian coach Leonid Arkayev did an interview with GymMedia where he examined a balance beam prototype whose ends were slightly wider than four inches …
Click PLAY or see the demo Beam on YouTube.
Gymnastics bloggers from around the world were asked how they felt about the idea …
On that Discussion, I was harshest. A flat NO to the idea of using that Beam in competition. It’s not the direction I’d like to see the apparatus go.
But I should clarify that I’d love to have one of those beam for training.
I’m a fan of low ‘freeway’ beams in training, especially for our youngest kids.
freeway beam – flickr
Gymtastics Gymnastics, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
I’m less fond of high wide beams, though they could be useful for older kids in certain circumstances.
Janssen-Fritsen – Training Balance Beam ‘Wide top’
Soft top ‘club ‘ balance beam 20 cm wide. This beam has been developed especially for training halls where very young girls start their beam training. This beam has the same features as the regular soft top beam, with height adjustable legs and a very soft top but it is 20 cm wide.
The downside, of course, are those kids who develop a psychological dependency on the width. They can’t stay on the freeway too long.
What do you think?
Are you one of the coaches who doesn’t need wider Beams? … Or would you use one of these, if you had it?
Gymnastics Coaching.com 