It does feel like the pandemic is over as FIG coach education courses resume.
The move towards eLearning continued with the creation of online theory courses for all Level 2 academies – another step forward after the same task had been undertaken for Foundation and Level 1 courses in 2022.
In addition, a safeguarding course was implemented and made obligatory from 1 December for all coaches who attend FIG-sanctioned events.
… Overall there were 18 FIG academies in 2023 and Africa was the focus for the first eight months of the year …
Gymnastics and acrobatic sports are difficult to modify for the Paralympics.
However, 12 nations have Para-Gymnastics programs running already.
Special Olympics Gymnastics is much more available.
The inclusion of gymnastics in the programme of the Paralympic Games has always been part of FIG President Morinari Watanabe’s vision. In this sense, the FIG has created the Paralympics and Special Olympics Working Group that is actively working towards the inclusion of the discipline in the programme of the Paralympic Games. To help achieve this goal, a roadmap has been developed.
We are happy to invite you to watch the first para-gymnastics webinar on the FIG Education YouTube channel.
Uche is from Maryland, competed for Michigan. But he traveled to Nigeria twice a year from a young age and took part in domestic competitions.
Now retired, Nigeria is looking for the next Uche Eke. And the next Simone Biles. 😀
Following Worlds Antwerp I flew to Benin City, Nigeria to lead an FIG WAG / MAG Artistic Age Group Camp.
I’ve led many of these camps in developing nations around the world. Nigeria was the best organized, so far.
This is a group of coaches with mixed resources. Training from 6 – 24 hours / week maximum.
I wanted to challenge the top coaches while not intimidating those with few hours, limited set-up, take-down equipment.
The 3-year-old Gym at Ogbemudia stadium is the best in the nation.
Click PLAY or watch get a glimpse on YouTube. Indoor drone footage. Very cool.
In fact, the main factor holding back Nigeria is lack of training facilities.
Entrepreneurs have not yet opened many private gyms in Nigeria the way they have in Egypt and other developing nations.
Course Content
As many of the top coaches had done the Age Group Camp with me previously, I reviewed all sections having them practice on samples of the Physical, Technical, and Competition Routines.
A HUGE improvement from before the pandemic is having the Age Group PDF documents linked to YouTube. All coaches were quickly comfortable finding and working with the FIG videos from the PDF.
Next we looked at best practice introducing BASICS to beginners. The Age Group program offers everything you need from pre-competitive up to FIG Junior.
Fast Forward
Nigeria plans to compete at World Cup competitions in 2024.
Their top male gymnasts are world class on Floor and Vault.
My thanks to Hardy Fink, the mastermind behind the FIG Age Group program in all disciplines.
This content is a terrific resource and FREE to every coach online.
Check out the FIG Age Group program. Download the PDFs in English, Français, or Español.
As one of the authors of the Canadian WAG & MAG coach education online platform materials, I am impressed with what FIG has done with theirs.
It’s inevitable that eventually all our resources will be digital. Only a few of those printed.
Every organization is struggling with how BEST to move online.
FIG has challenges: 8 disciplines x 3 languages.
NEW is a requirement that all coaches in an FIG competition must get their Safeguarding Certificate by December 1, 2023.
The FIG is happy to announce that the Safeguarding Online Course is now available on the eLearning Platform. As approved by the Executive Committee in March 2023, the purpose of this course is to provide all coaches with a Safeguarding Certificate and therefore give them the tools they need to ensure a safe environment in Gymnastics.
This course is mandatory for all coaches registered in the FIG Coach – Sport Database, and the deadline to comply with this requirement is 1 December 2023. After this date, coaches who did not comply will see their registration pending until they obtain a Safeguarding Certificate.
Step #2 is to have your national Federation create a “Coach – Sport” profile in the FIG database for you.
Only those coaches who are planning to compete in an FIG sanctioned meet need their Federation to create a “Coach – Sport” profile in the FIG database, however.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 