Giving Trans Kids a Sporting Chance

As throughout history, somewhere less than 1% of children are born transgender. It ranges from <0.1% to 0.6%.

Of course those children should have an equal right to participate in everything, including sport.

Each competition sport will have to have rules accepting children into either boys or girls divisions.

Sport New Zealand recently released guiding principles for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport. Trans young people in Aotearoa experience considerable health and wellbeing disparities, as a result of stigma, discrimination and violence.  They face challenges within their own families, at school, in medical settings and in their wider communities.  

Engagement in sport has positive effects for psychological and physical wellbeing, academic performance, and sense of belonging, and can be a source of passion – a strong protective factor for mental health. …

Giving trans kids a sporting chance

I was excited to see Cat Runner win a new reality TV show. 10 amateur climbers competing for a cash prize of $100,000 and $100,000 prAna sponsorship.

It was impressive as Cat does not have much reach. He’s the short guy in the blue jacket.

It helps to have long limbs for rock climbing.

Cat identifies as transgender, one reason he’s a climber — an activity where gender doesn’t matter.

Finally — I’m disappointed with politicians and deplorable who are today trying to win votes, make money, and accrue power by targeting transgender kids and other minorities. Attacking some of the most vulnerable people in society.

That’s despicable.

British Gymnastics – ‘Leap Without Limits’

Building on their Reform ’25 progress, British Gymnastics wants to put positive experiences for ALL at the heart of the sport.

The Vision at a glance:

  • A significant step towards delivering genuine lasting and positive change in gymnastics
  • Puts positive experiences at the heart of the sport
  • A united approach across all home nations, shaped by the gymnastics community
  • Recognises benefits gymnastics can provide for individuals, communities and society
  • New vision has received backing from within and beyond gymnastics

Details

Derrian Gobourne reflects

“The Queen” will retire after this season.

In this interview she thinks back to her coach Laura who had faith in her switching from Cheer to Gymnastics. And much more.

Teens need motivation ➙ e.g. Sport

I’ve always felt the average teen competitive gymnast is psychologically safer — on average — than their classmates.

Spending 20+ hours a week on a sport or activity has risks. BUT staying home scrolling TikTok and other social media may be even more damaging.

The Gym is one place in a teen’s life where profanity is rare. Structure is clear. Rules in place.

The culture of a Gymnastics club is far healthier — on average — than school or the mall.

Sadly, this is increasingly true in the USA according to a new study.

Of course this is even more true of teens identifying as — or confused about — being LGBQ+. One American political party is targeting those young people for attack.

Bottom line for coaches and all adults is to be patient and supportive of teenagers. It’s a difficult time of life for many.

Maryland, Yale, Temple, George Washington, Towson

America’s best and brightest standing up for human rights.

All are created equal.

And — therefore — all wear the same leo. 😀

gymnast T’Yonna Major murdered in mass shooting

This week Orlando Metro Gymnastics is hosting a fundraiser for the family of T’Yonna Major, the 9-year-old girl who was killed in the shooting spree in Pine Hills last week. …

‘An angel on our team’: Gymnastics coach of 9-year-old killed in Orlando shooting spree remembers her

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The rest of the world wonders why the USA cannot reduce the number of children killed by firearms.

volunteer coach let go for requiring ‘line drills’

In general, it’s a mistake to use conditioning as a punishment at workout.

But any thinking human being instantly realizes the Hantsport School administration made a mistake here.

The Hantsport School junior high boys basketball team was about to play their first playoff game of the season last week. But two hours before the game, the school administration dismissed Brandon MacInnis, the team’s volunteer head coach. …

One of his long-standing coaching philosophies is for his players to be on time for practice, he said. Some of his players were fooling around in the locker room as practice was about to start last week.

“I hold the team to be accountable for their actions and because they were a little bit late we ran some line drills,” said MacInnis. …

The players on the team were shocked to learn before the playoff game that their coach had been let go. They made the decision to stand behind their coach and did not play the game, which resulted in them losing by forfeit. …

CBC – Hantsport residents rally behind volunteer coach fired hours before playoff game

GymCan CEO Ian Moss is out

Ian Moss is out as chief executive officer of Gymnastics Canada, a move that comes amid calls for leadership change at the embattled sports organization.

The governing body said in a release that it is moving forward with “substantive changes in leadership” after months of calls for Moss’s resignation from Gymnasts for Change Canada, an advocacy group made up of hundreds of former and current gymnasts. …

Gymnastics Canada’s move comes after the Jan. 27 release of a 277-page report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions …

Gymnastics Canada said it will work with Moss on ensuring a “smooth transition” toward bringing on a new CEO.

The organization is also looking for a new chair for its board of directors after Jeff Thomson resigned earlier this month and was replaced by vice-chair (Bernard) Petoit on an interim basis. …

CBC – Gymnastics Canada parts with CEO Ian Moss after months of calls for resignation

What Gym should I start at?

A question coaches often hear from friends with young children. 😀

Children’s Rights in Sport – Norway

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1990 does not include any direct reference to sports.

Norway is better, putting CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN SPORT into law in 2007.

1. SAFETY Children have the right to practice in an environment that is safe and secure, without any inappropriate pressure or exploitation. Children under 6 years should be accompanied by an adult to help avoid accidents and prevent injuries.

2. FRIENDSHIP AND ENJOYMENT Children have the right to participate in training and competitive activities which are designed to help develop friendship and solidarity amongst them.

3. COMPETENCY Children have the right to experience the feelings of competency and to learn a varied skill-set. They should also be given the opportunity to experience variation in their sports, training and interactions with others.

4. INFLUENCE Children have the right to express their own opinions and that their opinions should be considered. Children should have the opportunity to participate in planning sessions and can execute their own ideas in sports activities with their coaches and parents.

5. THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE Children have the right to choose which sport, or how many sports they wish to participate in. Children have the right to determine how much they wish to practise their sport.

6. COMPETITIONS FOR ALL Children have the right to choose whether they would like to participate in competitions, and should have equal opportunities to participate. Children transferring from one club to another in the same sporting discipline have the right to compete in competitive sports for the new sport club, as soon as the registration is completed.

7. ON THE CHILDREN’S TERMS Children have the right to participate in training and competition activities that are suitable to their age, physical development and maturation level.

Download the PDF free.