Category: ethics

Nanci Moore is back in the Gym

Nanci Moore, a gymnastics coach at Bay Valley Academy in Michigan, was suspended for allegations of mistreatment, being forced to compete through injuries, and not following concussion protocols.

Initially, she was suspended by SafeSport. But that 2 year suspension has been lifted. Nanci can coach under supervision.

It’s critical to take every accusation of misconduct seriously. And just as critical to welcome back those coaches found not guilty.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

talking to your young athletes about SPOTTING

Amanda Loudin:

“Talk to your kids about good touch and bad touch and make sure they feel comfortable coming to you if something doesn’t feel right,” she said. “Regularly check in with your kids: Ask them what was good and what was bad about practice and if anything made them feel uncomfortable.” …

… “The highest risk areas are those that allow for one-on-one adult-child interaction, often at the elite level. Those activities that involve body positioning, such as swimming or gymnastics, exacerbate the risk because touching is a part of the training.” …

espnW

A word I like to use with kids is creepy. If anything feels creepy to them, it could be a red flag.

The less spotting in your program, the better.

And be cautious HOW you spot skills. For example, spotting on the sides of the body is safer than a sandwich spot front and back.

Gymnastics sleepovers?

When I was a kid, we had Gym sleepovers at my club. Other clubs. And frequently billeted with the families of other gymnasts when away at training camps.

Not to mention the frequent sleepovers I hosted with my own friends.

But in 2023 there are not many unsupervised sleepovers. Good policy.

 In recent online and media debates about sleepovers, parents have cited big concerns about letting their children sleep at a friend’s house:

  • How much adult supervision will they have?
  • Are there guns in the home?
  • Is the family COVID vaccinated?
  • Are alcohol and drugs sufficiently secure?
  • Will other parents take my child’s allergies/health condition seriously?
  • Will the kids have access to the internet?
  • What other siblings, friends, and adults will be in the home, and do I know them?
  • How do I know my child will be safe from abuse?
  • Who even are these people?

… There are alternatives to the traditional sleepover where young kids can get some of the freedom and novelty without as much risk:

  • Allowing sleepovers with trusted family members or family friends.
  • A “sleep-under” (or half-over or late-over): Allowing your child to play late at a friend’s house but come home for bedtime.
  • Let them go on daytime outings with friends and their families where you can be present and get to know everyone better.
  • Go camping with other families, which gives the kids a sleepover experience but all parents are present for supervision.

source – Lifehacker – Are Sleepovers Finally Over?

Division I NCAA benefits 2024

The Division I Board of Directors on Wednesday unanimously adopted new rules for all Division I schools that will require increased support for college athletes. …

All Division I members who do not do so already will be required to:

  • Provide medical coverage for athletically related injuries for at least two years after graduation.
  • Cover out-of-pocket medical expenses (copayments, deductibles, etc.) during a student-athlete’s playing career.
  • Attest that they provide mental health services and support consistent with the NCAA’s mental health best practices.
  • Attest that they follow concussion management protocols in line with the NCAA Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist.
  • Offer degree completion funds for up to 10 years after a college athlete’s eligibility concludes, if that college athlete was previously on full scholarship or received financial aid in a head count sport.
  • Provide the same scholarship protections already required of autonomy conferences.
  • Attest that they provide academic support services in line with NCAA rules.
  • Attest that they provide career counseling for current and former college athletes and life skills development across a range of topics, including at minimum:
    • Mental health.
    • Strength and conditioning.
    • Nutrition.
    • Name, image and likeness opportunities.
    • Financial literacy.
    • Career preparation.
    • Transfer requirements.
    • Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
    • Sexual violence prevention. …

Read the full press release.

CAN Sports Minister confirms “Investigation”

Finally.

I’m amazed it’s taken so long to get this confirmation of an investigation, if not an Inquiry.

Elite sport is the best place to start. No doubt resulting regulations will be applied to all competitive sport.

NCAA Coaches Well-Being Study

In Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, being a full-time NCAA coach is just about the best job in the world.

KJ Kindler makes about $555,000+ / year, for example.

I doubt she’d leave NCAA coaching for any other job. 😀

A study published January 2023 looks at how NCAA coaches are supporting student-athletes … while also caring for their own mental health.

What impact do changes in recruiting and roster management during the pandemic have on their jobs?

What support is desired by coaches to help them navigate the challenges they and the athletes on their teams face?

Over 6,000 head and assistant coaches across all three NCAA divisions answered a short survey …

2023res_ncaa-coach-well-beingsurveyreportDownload

Oklahoma 2023 Champions

So close.

  1. Oklahoma 198.3875
  2. Florida 198.2375
  3. Utah 197. 9375
  4. LSU 197.5259

Many feel Florida could have taken the title with judging that better separated the best from the very best.

BUT we are stuck with the silly NCAA boxed high scores of 2023.

Is NCAA Gymnastics broken?

One article has been widely circulated recently ➙ College Gymnastics is broken: Virality, inflated scores and unwritten rules are the name of the game

I dismissed it instantly after reading one phrase:

“A sport which had remarkably consistent scoring for two decades and established norms, is being demolished by a younger cadre of judges assessing scores based on the new, unspoken rules of the sport. TikTok has taken over the mats.“

Scoring has been bad and not consistent over the past 2 decades.

But here’s the gist of the article:

  • overinflation of scores across the country favored teams with Olympians
  • scores are UP drastically even from last season
  • there is a push for routines to go viral (e.g. Katelyn Ohashi floor)

Steve Arkell and other coaches responded:

  • level of gymnastics has risen, therefore the scores have gone up as well, as they should.
  • level 9/10 developmental scores have risen as well over the last few years.
  • going away from the 10 scoring system would not solve the problem
  • going to the FIG system of scoring would close the door to many good level 10 athletes and greatly raise the injury rates due to pushing difficulty for a higher score.
  • fans love higher scores
  • attendance is higher than ever
  • TV ratings higher than ever
  • Championships tickets sold out

Objectively speaking NCAA Women’s Gymnastics has never been stronger.

Certainly judges should face more scrutiny over awarding impossible scores. And rules should continue to be tweaked ongoing to try to better separate the best of the best.

Nastia Liukin, Kohei to Hiroshima

Japan’s Kohei Uchimura will be among 10 current and former gymnasts from seven countries who will visit Hiroshima ahead of May’s Group of Seven summit to send a message of peace, International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe said Wednesday. …

Women’s 2008 all-around Olympic champion Nastia Liukin of the United States and Britain’s Giarnni Regini-Moran, the reigning men’s floor exercise world champion, are among those who will take part in a series of events organized by FIG. …

Kohei Uchimura among 10 gymnasts to visit Hiroshima before G-7

Mai Murakami, Marcel Nguyen, Aljaz Pegan.

Atomic bomb damage Hiroshima, Japan by U.S. Department of Energy is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

FIG still allows “single point of failure” equipment

In an era with redundancy in all things related to safety, why does FIG certify equipment where failure of one link in a chain can result in the apparatus falling?

Jalon Stephens walked away. This time.

related – FIG – single point of failure