American Gymnastics Academy reopening

Every club needs a video like this to explain how Gymnastics can be trained safely after COVID-19 reopening.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

details on MG Elite complaints

Scott M Reid interviewed many MG Elite gymnasts and their parents regarding their complaints about coaches Maggie Haney and Victoria Levine:

Parents were not allowed in the gym at MG Elite and Haney warned gymnasts not to complain to their parents about her coaching methods, according to six parents and documents related to the USA Gymnastics investigation. Β …

Girls who were unable or reluctant to perform skills or displeased Haney in training or competition were screamed at, berated and ridiculed, according to six parents and documents. A mistake could lead to Haney telling a gymnast she was lazy, fat, uncoachable or disrespectful, according to interviews and documents.

Haney and Levine regularly called gymnasts retarded or said they should be in the β€œretarded group,” according to parents.

β€œThey used β€˜retarded’ all the time,” a parent said. …

Sometimes Haney got physical. Haney pulled gymnasts by their hair off the balance beam or out of foam pits, according to five parents. When a gymnast fell on bars during a photo shoot for a leotard company, an enraged Haney pulled the girl by her hair to her feet, according to the gymnast’s mother. …

Special report: Families detail Maggie Haney’s abuse of young gymnasts

related:

GymCastic – Emotional Abuse: The Maggie Haney Eight Year Ban

The Skating Lesson – Maggie Haney’s Coaching Methods

32 ballerinas for COVID-19 relief

“Ballet companies are largely dependent on revenue from performances to pay their dancers and fund their operations, but we are now confronting the uncertainty of when we will return to the stage and once again fill performance venues. Some estimates are that large gatherings like concerts and performances will not be able to resume for another 18-24 months. …

We are coming together to help fellow dancers who are struggling financially. The 32 ballerinas featured in this special video performance represent ballet companies from around the world, including the US, Australia, the UK, South Africa, Norway, Russia, Cuba, France, the Philippines, Canada, Austria, Mexico, Denmark, and China. Β  Β … ”

gofundme

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Jessica.

Belgium has been training

…Β she and teammatesΒ Maellyse BrassartΒ andΒ Senna DeriksΒ board together in an apartment building near the national team training center.

β€œActually, we’re pretty lucky because we can still train at our gym, so that’s good.

Our whole senior team can still train in the hall. But after training we just go back and make our food and we don’t leave the building.” …

At 169 cm, Derwael is the tallest woman to win the World Uneven Bars title in more than three decades. She credits a part of her success to Belgian national team coachesΒ Yves Kieffer andΒ Marjorie Huels, who have worked with her for the past seven years.
β€œWithout them I wouldn’t be standing here now,” she said. …

Determined Derwael biding her time before Tokyo

Click PLAY or watch her 2019 Gold on YouTube.

Communicating with parents about COVID-19

As I post more and more Gyms are opening, or getting ready to open.

Communicating with parents is critical.

I like how Bryon Hough is doing that messaging for Classic Gymnastics in Minnesota and Iowa.

Clean and clear on their website, as is the logo.

via Chalk Bucket forum

Gymnastics Clubs are reopening

So far, so good at Avant Coeur.

Every coach and every Gym has to decide what’s best for them.

Err on the side of caution. Start training slowly with an abundance of physical distancing. No spotting to start.

If it works, gradually increase training. Gradually increase the number of kids invited to restart.

If even one child or coach tests COVID-19 positive for any reason, your Gym will likely close again.

Much depends on the risk in your area. New Zealand clubs, for example, will be back to normal quickly. If you are in a hot zone, you’ll have to go more slowly.

GOOD LUCK. We’re cheering for you.

Many owners right now are worried about this scenario. There has to be enough revenue to keep the doors open.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Gymnastics resumes in Italy

Some Italian gymnasts trained in quarantine during COVID-19.

But most clubs were allowedΒ to open starting May 4th.Β 

Italy deems sports including Artistic Gymnastics, Golf and Tennis in the safest category allowing physical distancing most easily.

Team sports, including volleyball, have more physical contact.

 

 

U.S. Olympic Committee on reopening

As of April 28, 2020.

Here’s some advice on what to do when allowed to reopen sports facilities. It’s quite general, information for coaches of all Olympic sports.

USOPC Return to Training Considerations Post COVID-19Β 

Phase 3:

  • small groups allowed to train. But no general public access.
  • athletes, coaches, and staff have NOΒ symptoms of COVID-19 (Appendix 2) in the past 14 days
  • anyone whoΒ had a case of documented COVID-19 infection needs a note from their doctor indicating they are cleared to participate in training
  • ideally participants should have 2Β negative COVID-19 tests separated by 24 hours before resuming training
  • athletes record signs and symptoms (including temperature) on a paper or electronic log that is monitored by coaches or staff
  • athletes interviewed each time on arrival for symptoms
  • athletes should use their own equipment and avoid touching each other as much as possible
  • Use own water bottle, towel, personal hygiene products, etc.
  • Rigorous, frequent cleaning schedule/protocol of equipment with disinfectant before, during, and after training
  • cleaners wear appropriate personal protective equipment Β (e.g., gloves, face mask, etc.) to prevent contact with contaminated surfaces and protect against toxicities associated with cleaning products
  • coaches maintain physical distance from athletes, as much as possible. No spotting, if possible.

Phase 4 would be return to normal training.

Download the entire document –Β USOPC Return to Training

 

 

Gators 10.0 for frontline workers

Florida Gators were killing it in 2020. Undefeated in the SEC.

Jenny Rowland – NCAA Coach of the Year

A huge bounce back after not qualifying for 2019 Nationals.

But rather than being bitter about the COVID-19 season being cut short, they send thanks to everyone flattening the curve, reducing deaths and bringing back the economy as quickly as safely possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

 

Laurie Hernandez on Maggie Haney

Laurie trained with Maggie Haney for 11 years.

Hernandez has never spoken publicly about the abuse allegations against Maggie Haney.

But in a lengthy Instagram post in response to Haney’s suspension, Hernandez, a member of the Final Five that won gold at the Rio Games in 2016, said that years of being yelled at and belittled had made her think she hated gymnastics.

β€œIt wasn’t until mid 2018 I realized it was the people that made the experience bad, not the sport itself,” Hernandez wrote Thursday. …

USA Today

You can read Laurie’s statement on Instagram.