DScore MAG software FREE

Mike’s nifty Men’s Gymnastics software formerly $15 is now available free. Since the last time I reviewed it, he’s added the ability to make team lineups which is useful for NCAA meets and other such competitions.

When changes to the rules are available, the software prompts asking you if you want the rules updated. Nice.

DScore is a program designed for Gymnastics coaches, athletes, and enthusiasts that assists in the creation of Men’s Gymnastics routines and calculates start value.

Various rule sets are supported, including USA Gymnastics J.O. program levels 10, 9, and 8, the NCAA, and International Senior Elite (F.I.G.).

DScore is available for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, and also supports live updates to the Code of Points.

Download that from MLW Software.

THANKS MIke.

safer Bar floor plates

In response to the post criticizing single point of failure gymnastics chain attachments:

Ian Buttar sends photos of a home made gymnastics bar anchoring rig installed at Phoenix, Edmonton, Canada.

They have 2 concrete anchor bolts on each attachment, not one.

As for the plates. They are made from 3/8″ x 2″ hot roll steel. Two holes for the floor anchor bolts and one for the clevis.

… I think the anchors are for 3/4″ bolts. We used grade 8 bolts as you can see.

A bend close to the end to approximately matches the angle of the cables.

Two anchors means you have to be accurate drilling the holes in the concrete, an impossible task without a jig.

The jig has two different holes. One is the diameter of the bolts (3/4″) the other is the diameter of the anchor drill bit.

The spacing is the same as the floor plate bolt holes.
The hole for the anchor drill bit is raised up as you can see. This helps you to keep your drill perpendicular to the floor. It’s called a drill bushing.

In use, you drill your first hole using the drill bushing. (Someone heavy can stand on it to keep it flat on the floor)

Clean out the hole and install the anchor.

Bolt the jig to the anchor in the floor using the jig bolt hole, and line up with the angle of your cables.

Drill the second hole using the drill bushing.

Remove the jig, clean out the hole, and install the second anchor. Make sure you don’t get concrete dust in the first hole anchor ( or any anchor) this will ruin them.

If you do get dust in an anchor, you must clean them out very thoroughly.

Install the floor plate. Visually inspect regularly.

One of your readers posted a note about the spacing of holes in concrete. He is right. Check the specifications on the anchors that you are using, the minimum spacing will be listed.

THANKS Ian. Thanks George Novak, too.

That’s a much safer alternative to the industry standard single bolt anchor, in my opinion.

Of course there are liability considerations with every piece of home made equipment in your gym.

coach in Toronto

Gymnastics Mississauga is currently looking for a full-time Women’s Artistic Program Provincial Stream Coach.

They have a state-of-the-art 24,000 square foot facility. Gorgeous.

Contact Women’s Head Coach Craig Smith for details on the position craig |AT| gymmississauga.org

competition Vault warm-up port-a-pit

I want port-a-pits to be available for vault ‘timers’ at competition. I’ve even phoned meet organizers ahead of time to request that they provide that kind of matting.

One day at the Canadian Championships I was pleased to see this mat out in the competition gym.

Click PLAY or watch some vault podium training on YouTube.

But why is it so short?

Dangerously short.

I assume the idea is that this mat is easy to move quickly. But I’d just as soon not have one in my gym, afraid that sooner of later one of the kids would fly over it.

Stjarnan Gymnastics, Iceland

Is your gym this fine?

Click PLAY or see the facility on YouTube.

Stjarnan Gymnastics House is in Garðabær, a suburb of Reykjavík.

Thanks Niclaes Jerkeholt for posting that video.

I also stopped by the new Akureyri Gymnastics facility in the north of the island.

They were just installing all new Gymnova equipment.

more photos of the Akureyri facility

There are a number of world class gyms in Iceland.

an inspiring story of sportsmanship

This is the story of Sara Tucholsky, a College baseball player, who tore her ACL while rounding the bases after hitting the first Home Run of her career.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

ESPN – Central Washington offers the ultimate act of sportsmanship