Category: parents

Why coach Amy Nyman was suspended

Amy Nyman has appealed the suspension and an arbitrator is scheduled to hear her appeal over three days beginning June 29.

Nyman, the New Heights owner and head coach, ordered gymnasts to do so many repeat rope climbs that the insides of their legs bled and their arms were too sore to continue training, according to the documents.

When a New Heights gymnast said she was afraid to attempt a balance beam skill during a 2016 camp the team was attending in Pennsylvania, Nyman ridiculed the girl in front of her teammates, then made her do a series of sprints up a hill and 1,000 push-ups, according the SafeSport documents. …

SafeSport: Amy Nyman made gymnasts feel ‘scared, degraded and humiliated’

Confidential documents detail case against wife of former USA Gymnastics sports medicine and science director

coach Chris McClain suspended by Chelsea Piers

For two years, Sara Allan, a former gymnast who grew up in New York City, had wanted to file a complaint.

In 2018, she wrote a letter saying that her former gymnastics coach at Chelsea Piers, Chris McClain, had engaged in a litany of emotional abuse, including insulting and berating gymnasts about their weight, eating habits and mental abilities. …

In less than a month, Allan had compiled a 13-page document filled with specific complaints against McClain that spanned 15 years — from 33 gymnasts, nine of their family members and five coaches. They demanded that McClain be suspended and, to their surprise, their pleas were quickly heeded.

Chelsea Piers suspended McClain last Saturday, the day after Allan sent the complaint. Then, on Wednesday, U.S.A. Gymnastics also suspended McClain, pending an investigation. …

She Accused a Coach of Abuse. Then More Than 30 Gymnasts Backed Her Up.

can you kill COVID-19 with ultraviolet light?

Some Gyms are considering ultraviolet light sanitizing wands for disinfecting Bars, Beams, etc.

At this point, I’d not recommend the technology. 

UV-C works well for purifying liquids. And it’s been used for making food safer for over 50 years.

UV-C light probably kills the new COVID-19 virus IF the light is strong enough, direct enough, and long enough. As I post, however, that’s not yet been scientifically proven.

It did work on MERS and SARS.

But light wands work best on flat, hard surfaces.

UV-C light is dangerous for humans, as well. UV light can cause cancer. Damage eyes. It’s difficult to protect yourself while waving a wand.

NY is testing whether using  powerful ultraviolet lamps can disinfect subways and buses.  In future there might be a way to turn on UV-C lights at night in the Gym to help sanitize.

Companies are working on new ways to disinfect hard surfaces with UV-C light waves.  Robots, for example.

Hospitals and airlines are using the technology.  Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

read more – Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation

Kyle Shewfelt on reopening Gymnastics

The 2004 Olympic Floor champion today owns a Gymnastics club in his home town Calgary.

Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics 

Kyle was interviewed by Jock Wilson on Sports Talk radio.

He believes his Province, Alberta, has made a mistake in deciding when to allow children back indoors into sport and fitness clubs.

Right now indoor sports are relegated to phase 3 along with nightclubs.

Phase 3 could be October.

Will Gymnastics clubs survive?

Other Canadian Provinces are opening sooner. Kyle says some athletes are considering moving so they can resume training.

Outdoor sports will resume soon in some municipalities.  Soccer, for example.  But an indoor soccer centre in Calgary has already had to shut the doors.

USAG on safe reopening

It seems to many that USA Gymnastics was quite slow in posting their own document.

Member clubs had already reopened before they saw this document, I believe.

Here’s a SAMPLE:

Spotting

• Athlete safety is paramount, and coaches should not be restricted from spotting an athlete if necessary, to protect the athlete from injury.

• While spotting remains an important element to athlete safety, consider alternative teaching/coaching methods that align with social distancing protocols.

• Clearly communicate any alternative teaching/coaching methods so they are understood by the athletes and their parents.

• Coaches should consider the use of gloves for personal contact, with a goal of switching gloves between athletes.

Parent Viewing

• Per USA Gymnastics’ Safe Sport Policy, a parent/guardian must be provided the opportunity to observe their child’s training.

Read the entire document for yourself:

USAG Safe Reopening

Laurie Hernandez on the TODAY show

“It’s a really big step for gymnasts and USA Gymnastics just to go ahead and do the right thing and make sure people know that kind of treatment isn’t OK. It’s not OK,” Hernandez said …

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

 

reopening Tri Star Gymnastics, New Zealand

Kiwi Dave Phillips explains the new procedures for parents and gymnasts.

Note that New Zealand needs not be as strict as most of the rest of the world as that island worked hard towards the goal of total elimination of COVID-19.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Dave Holcomb – New Normal when you reopen

Dave is one of the leaders I’ve followed on how to reopen safely.

Dealing with parents is his main challenge right now.

For example, parent viewing.  He’s asking parents to watch on their phones using an app called Spot TV.  It’s a partner program with their club’s Jackrabbit software.

On spotting, Dave is aware of clubs offering classes with no spotting.

His club is going to require coaches who spot to wear masks when they do.  In addition, his staff can wear masks whenever they wish.

Also, parents will fill out an additional release form confirming they allow coaches to spot their child.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (43min). There are a few sections of frozen video, including the last few minutes – the usual technical glitches.

related – Buckeye’s reopening after COVID-19