Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.

coach feedback in Gymnastics

Ideally, work on ONE correction at a time.

As gymnasts become more skilled, some can process trying to change two or more things on the next attempt.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

NCAA 16 teams Vegas Jan 6-7, ’23

The 2023 NCAA season will open with the Super 16 invitational at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on January 6 and 7. The largest college invitational in memory will feature about 300 gymnasts from teams in the Big Ten, Big 12, EAGL, MRGC, Pac-12 and SEC. Fisk will also open its inaugural season at the event.

Presented in four sessions over two days …

Super 16 Brings Olympians, National Champions to Las Vegas for NCAA Opening Weekend

“Flashing the U” at Utah

It all started with gymnast Melissa Vituj. And one of the team’s loyal fans, John Bircumshaw.

Wolf Turn WORLD RECORD 😀

Daniel Ribeiro 5-year-contract at Illinois

Congratulations to the new permanent Head Coach, Daniel Ribeiro.

Ribeiro was named interim head coach this past summer after serving four seasons as assistant coach and seven years as the associate head coach for the Illini, and in November, he promptly signed one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. …

Fighting Illini

new Gymnastics Canada complaints program

I just sent in my consent form to participate in Gymnastics Canada’s new system for lodging complaints.

The goal is to make the process more independent. Hopefully better — though there are always unintended consequences of any change.

As of December 19, 2022, Gymnastics Canada is a Program Signatory of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

This means that, from the date, any allegation of maltreatment or other prohibited behavior, as defined in the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), against a UCCMS participant of Gymnastics Canada must be filed directly with the OSIC. …

To validate whether a complaint may be admissible to this service, or for assistance in filing a complaint, anyone can contact the Canadian Sport Helpline at 1 888 837-7678 or by email at info(a)abuse-free-sport.ca

Canadians should check their email to see if they have been asked to fill out this form as the deadline is December 19, 2022.

Anyone choosing not to sign on might have to terminate their affiliation with Gymnastics Canada.

reporting abuse while protecting privacy

One of the MANY problems parents have with reporting suspected abuse is protecting the privacy of their children.

It’s more common than not that they decide to stay quiet, rather than risk later consequences for their child.

ProPublica is one of the best news organizations in the world.

Abigail Kramer from that site reflects on her experience:

The Balancing Act of Reporting on Vulnerable Kids While Protecting Their Privacy

Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics

Returning to Canada from Europe, I was finally able to watch the full documentary on Crave TV, a Canadian subscription service.

And it was even more damning that I expected from seeing the trailer.

The documentary is well produced. Shared the experience of a number of gymnast victims from a number of different clubs. We should consider this a small sample, not any kind of comprehensive review of all Canadian clubs.

My first takeaway is to admire the courage of the gymnasts, their parents and one coach willing to tell their stories to try to improve things for kids in the future.

Next, was to get more insight into just how difficult it was for families to lodge a complaint about a coach with Club, Provincial Federation and Gymnastics Canada.

Certainly document anything you see right from the beginning. Email or letter. Months or years later you may need to present specific incidents, times and dates.

If a coach or anyone else breaks the law, call the police. Simple.

The dilemma for a family is when misbehaviour at Gymnastics falls short of a crime: bullying, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, etc.

None of the coaches called out in this documentary were willing to be interviewed. Included were:

  • Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin, Omega Gymnastics, B.C. — neither are currently on the GymCan Suspended/Expelled Members list. But neither are coaching in Canada, I believe. And Omega shut down during the pandemic.
  • Dave Brubaker, Bluewater Gymnastics, Ontario. Former WAG National Coach. Expelled from GymCan membership. His wife, coach Liz Brubaker, is currently suspended.
  • Jamie Atkin, Airdrie Edge Gymnastics, Alberta. Jamie was under some sanctions from the Provincial Federation at one point, but is currently coaching and managing the club.
  • Rima Nikishin, Calgary Gymnastics Centre, Alberta. Indefinite suspension.

Have things changed for the better in Canada? Or is the system still protecting abusers?

The McLaren Global Sport Solutions Report should arrive January 2023 — a review of Ethics, Safety & Culture. 

Critics are suspicious that McLaren might not be critical nor strong enough as it was commissioned by Gymnastics Canada. Having been interviewed myself, I’m optimistic that it will deliver a good list of recommendations.

We were hoping that Sports Canada would additionally launch a multi-sport investigation into Ethics and Safety. It seemed the Prime Minister and Minister of Sport were onboard for that — but it hasn’t happened yet.

I do recommend you watch the 90 minute documentary for yourself. If you can find a way to do so.