Navigating a young athlete’s career is a task that can be daunting for parents, regardless of their own experience in competitive sports.
That process is also a task that author Julie Fabsik-Swarts has comprehensively undertaken in Parenting a Gymnast, her recently published book.
With over 40 years of experience as a gymnast, coach, judge, official and executive, Fabsik- Swarts explores the various aspects of competitive gymnastics, offering tips, insights and analyses on topics ranging from choosing the right club to injury maintenance to misperceptions about judging to collegiate recruitment. …
I’ve not yet read the NEW book — but I’m certain it’s terrific.
The Emotional Rollercoaster – The emotional highs and lows of gymnastics can be tough on both you and your child. One day they’re flying high, the next they’re down in the dumps. It’s a wild ride…that can be fun!
The Time Commitment – Juggling gymnastics with school, other activities, and family time can be done but it takes a conscious effort so that hours in the gym don’t put a strain on family life.
Safety Concerns & Injuries – Watching your child perform high-risk skills can be nerve-wracking. Ensuring they’re safe while encouraging their passion is a balancing act we can all perform.
Communication with Coaches – Building a good relationship with coaches is crucial so that we can avoid as much misunderstanding as possible while working together as a team toward a common goal.
Artistry and Performance – Helping your child shine artistically while meeting technical requirements is key. It’s all about finding that balance and there are ways to do it.
Progressing Through Levels – Understanding the competitive gymnastics landscape, from scoring to expectations so that we can keep our child motivated and happy.
Mental Health Considerations – The pressures of gymnastics, like anything else, can affect our child’s mental health. Proactively recognizing signs of burnout and stress is important for their well-being.
"Gymnastics isn’t just a sport for me–it’s been my life’s journey, shaping me through challenges and triumphs. As you’ll see through the stories in the book, this is a common theme for each athlete.” Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie on Beyond the Chalk Boxhttps://t.co/UXVsqW3vaQ
It’s very good. I recommend it for coaches, parents, and serious older gymnasts.
It’s science based, but easy enough to read for every teenager.
Coaches can read this book to remind of important principles for being successful in Gymnastics and Life.
Gymnasts can treat it as a fill-in-the-blank workbook, if they prefer.
Honest and up-to-date. I found nothing with which I could disagree. 😀
I liked the section titled Handling the Hardships of Gymnastics.
The chapter on Quitting, best of all. This should be recommended to any older gymnast contemplating hanging up the grips.
Gymnastics is a master teacher of how to fail. More important, it is a master teacher of how to overcome failure. As a gymnast, you deal with so much failure that after a while it doesn’t seem so scary. Many people avoid challenges because they are so afraid to fail—but not you. You know that when you fail you are one step closer to success. You also know that failure is a normal (and helpful) part of life.
Julia Konner, MPH, CHES, is a former collegiate Division 1 student-athlete and coach with over 16 years of competing as an artistic gymnast. Through her many years as a club athlete, collegiate athlete, and team captain, she has faced her own adversities through injuries, body image issues, and impact that training 30+ hours/week has had on her social life.
Over the years she has helped countless young and college-aged athletes navigate the ups and downs of the complicated, arduous, and time-consuming sport of gymnastics.
Through her personal experience and intricate knowledge of the sport, Konner provides evidence-based advice for young gymnasts at every level. She holds a master’s in public health (MPH) from the University of California, Davis.
During and after finishing her graduate work, she worked in research and program management related to prevention and mitigation of chronic diseases through healthier lifestyle habits.
She remains active as a competitive CrossFit athlete, focused on both the physical side of strength as well as the mental. She currently lives in Washington, DC, and works in public health.
Interviews with Akash Modi, Justin Spring, John McReady, Kim Zmeskal, Betty Okino, Tracee Talavera, and more.
… unfiltered and heartfelt interviews presented in Beyond the Chalk Box. …
… the challenges and triumphs of former elite gymnasts …
Beyond the Chalk Box is not just a chronicle of athletic accomplishments. It’s a valuable resource for athletes, shedding light on the often-neglected aspects of athlete well-being.
It underscores the significance of a comprehensive approach to health, longevity, and joy in sports.
The book explores tools such as mindfulness, spirituality, self-compassion, visualization, and introspection, providing practical insights on how athletes can navigate the intricacies of their sport and cultivate resilience in the face of challenges.
Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie is a holistic wellness and performance coach, physician assistant (PA), certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Army veteran …
A former 1996 Olympic Team Alternate and NCAA Champion, she now lives at West Point, NY, with her family and goldendoodle, Ollie.
"Gymnastics isn’t just a sport for me–it’s been my life’s journey, shaping me through challenges and triumphs. As you’ll see through the stories in the book, this is a common theme for each athlete.” Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie on Beyond the Chalk Boxhttps://t.co/UXVsqW3vaQ
I'm so incredibly proud and honored to have helped one of the greatest coaches of all time to share her story. @Salto_Coach thank you for entrusting me with helping craft your story. You are so real & raw, resulting in an incredible book!🫶🏼
Legends of Women’s Gymnastics profiles twenty-eight champions―from the Eastern Bloc gymnasts, like Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci, who brought a new athleticism to the sport; to Shannon Miller and her Magnificent Seven teammates, who dominated the 1996 Olympics; to today’s stars, like Simone Biles and Suni Lee, who are bringing gymnastics to new heights.
Illustrated with dynamic color photos, this book will be sure to wow passionate fans and aspiring gymnasts alike.
Nobody – nobody! – has had a better up-close-and-personal (+ BTS) view of Olympic gymnastics than Andrea Joyce.
Her book, Legends of Women's Gymnastics, is out now. This bad boy would have been right there with my cherished Mag 7 book!!
“What you feel is real”: @Aly_Raisman, one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time, hopes that her new children’s book, “From My Head to My Toes,” encourages children to trust their instincts and ask questions. pic.twitter.com/Ny9oRD5fdx
Aly Raisman is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com. …
She’s the third most decorated American gymnast in history, winning six Olympic medals as captain of the legendary 2012 “Fierce Five” and 2016 “Final Five” teams.
She empowered millions of girls and women across the globe when she shared her story as a sexual abuse survivor at the hands of a former USA gymnastics doctor, who, with the testimony of Raisman and more than 100 other athletes, will never be able to abuse another person again. …
Gymnastics Coaching.com 