Category: parents

coach fired for calling gymnasts ‘beautiful’

Lindsay Nylund was fired from his role as a high-performance coach … in Sydney (Australia), in May, after he sent an email to parents with a picture of his winning team, describing them as “beautiful”.

“Hi all … Our beautiful FDLC Level 8 Women’s Artistic Gymnasts,” he wrote in the email in February, following a competition win.

… “Parents were outraged [over his termination], the coaching staff were outraged, everyone was outraged … Most people are flabbergasted, they can’t believe it. They think this is ridiculous.” …

Determined to get his job back, Mr Nylund has taken the case to the Industrial Relations Commission. …

According to The Australian, the council listed three other allegations in their termination notice, including that Mr Nylund “showed a lack of respect to management” by allowing a one-week membership fee freeze when it should have been two weeks.

He also allegedly transported athletes without parent consent and attended a social event at a local club, which the council claimed breached Child Safe Practice guidelines. …

A four-day hearing at the NSW IRC has been set for mid-November.

News.com.au

Canadian SafeSport Program

SafeSport Gym Education is a collection of gymnastics organisations from across the country who worked hard to create documentary style videos to share what safe sport means from real people.

Completely unscripted from real athletes, real coaches and real parents.  This is a collection of moments, feelings and stories to educate us all. …

Link to SafeSport Gym Education Website

Click PLAY or watch ONE VIDEO on YouTube. Includes Felix Dolci, Ellie Black, and others.

FIG Safe Sport Symposium Oct 3-4, 2023

In conjunction with Artistic Worlds, FIG is running a Safe Sport symposium in Antwerp, Belgium.

It’s FREE. You can attend LIVE or online.

Register online.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gymnastics should welcome ALL

mental health in sports

The best way for the coach to deal with psychological problems is to treat them like physical injuries.

One day your athlete might have a sore ankle. Anther day lack of motivation. Or unexpected fear of a skill. Even depression.

You’d have experts as part of the coaching team. Trainers. Psychologists. Etc.

Athletes can recover from a sore ankle. Athletes can get over fear issues.

In recent years, mental issues among athletes have gained visibility thanks to role models like Simone Biles and Ricky Rubio; now, the focus is on prevention and tangible action …

There’s no longer a taboo. There’s no more secrecy or stigma. Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz talks openly about his psychologist. So does Spanish badminton player Carolina Marín. 

Ricky Rubio recently announced that he is taking a break from basketball for his mental wellbeing. 

Simone Biles took a step back from gymnastics for two years to take three steps forward now. She left the Tokyo Olympics and today, she is thinking about the games in Paris. …

Mental health in sports: How the new generations broke a taboo and learned to take a break

Deal-breaker Behaviours in Coach Education

In Canada, coaches and clinicians will be removed from official Sports Canada course for these behaviours:

  • Uses language that is racist, sexist, or demeaning
  • Allows learners to use language that is racist, sexist, or demeaning

Via the GymCan National Coaching Certification Program requirements.

Juneteenth USA

At least 28 states and Washington, D.C. are legally recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday.

A step forward – equal opportunity for ALL citizens.

USAG celebrates #PrideMonth

All athletes should feel safe and protected when doing their favourite sports.