Author: Rick Mc

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

History of the Ball Pit

Gymnastics foam pits were first. Ball pits soon after.

The invention of the ball pit (or “ball crawl,” as it was first dubbed) is widely attributed to Eric McMillan.

… In 1971, he was appointed chief designer of Ontario Place, an ambitious project that included a park, theme park, and the world’s first IMAX theater on newly built artificial islands just off the Toronto waterfront. Ontario Place was a visionary project, but it was missing something.

Striving for a more kid-friendly environment, the designer created The Children’s Village, a massive playground unlike any other, where youngsters could climb huge rope nets and soft pyramids, crawl through hanging tunnels, and jump on an enormous air mattress. “The Children’s Village opened in July 1972 …

McMillan did not install a ball pit in Toronto, however.

According to McMillan, that honor belongs to the ball crawl he installed in 1976 at SeaWorld Captain Kids World in San Diego, another of a handful of theme parks McMillan designed …

A brief history of the ball pit

How the indoor playground became a staple in our safety-obsessed culture

Lindenwood wins USAG championships

What a season!

1. Lindenwood – 196.375
2. UIC – 196.025
3. Bridgeport – 195.925
4. Air Force – 194.575

In a nail-biting championship, it all came down to the final rotation. Lindenwood, Bridgeport and UIC were separated by less than two tenths; whoever could take the fourth and final rotation would be crowned national champions. …

The three remaining teams continued neck-and-neck until Lindenwood put up a record-shattering 49.500 on the balance beam to clinch the USAG title. It’s one of only 10 teams in the entire NCAA to score over a 49.500-plus on this event in 2019.

‘Beam brought us to tears because we were so happy for each other,’ said Brianna Franklin, a junior who competed on beam and floor. “I said, ‘Pinch me, this isn’t real, this can’t be happening.’ …

College Gym News

Be a Great Teammate

A letter from father to daughter. A universal message.

But this father is Boston Celtics Head Coach, Brad Stevens:

… I realized that writing a “life advice” letter to a 9-year old is quite a task. Therefore, I tried to boil my advice down to one of the most important choices anyone can make:

Be a Great Teammate.

You’ll be on many teams throughout your life. Your family is a team. Your theatre group is a team. Your choir is a team. You’ll compete with your soccer teammates, and try to play a harmonious tune with your orchestra. …

To My Daughter

Precision Camps Warm-Up

Precision Choreography Camps include a musical warm-up.

Goals include: Musicality, Dynamic Flexibility, Conditioning, Shaping, Pliometrics, Prehab., Balance, Core, and ARTISTRY.

Demonstrators from Regal Gymnastics in Vermont.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sarah Deegan – Floor

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Sarah was 24th AA at Worlds 1997. She trained with July Gershcovich and Elena Davydova at Gemini before going on to UCLA.

Kyla Ross – Bars

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv5JFsEnKGN/

She obviously had a terrific start at GymMax.

Click PLAY or watch 2010 Bars training on YouTube.

straddle-on JUMP to handstand

For me this drill is essential. Kids are excited when they make their first one unspotted.

Within about 20 repetitions they make handstand without touching the feet — usually by accident.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Once straddle cast handstand is consistent we still need this drill to ensure they continue to use as much hip flexion as possible. That’s easier. And cleaner.

UGLY is cast handstand somewhere in-between straight body & straddle.

keep FORM like Lexy Ramler

Please!