tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Al Fong perfected the science of using spotting boxes for teaching Bars. It’s a portable channel pit that can be changed around depending on the level of gymnasts and target skill.
Click PLAY or watch one example on YouTube.
Tumbl Trak is now selling Al’s system. Cost for the package is $2275.
Florida meets hosted by one of our site sponsors.
Canada has far fewer summer Camps than the USA. Our biggest is GymRep in Montreal. With heightened border security in the USA 2017, consider friendly Canada as an alternative.
My home Province now has 3 very good residential options.
1. CALGARY – Mountain Shadows 20th Annual Residential Artistic Gymnastic Camps (Brochure)
July 17th – 22nd WAG
July 24th – 28th WAG
2. CANMORE Illusions 2nd Annual Residential Adventure Camp (Brochure)
Aug 13-19 WAG
Aug 20 ( coaches heli-hiking)
3. EDMONTON – First annual Pine Valley Residential Summer Gymnastics Camp (Brochure)
July 2-8 MAG & WAG
July 9-15 MAG & WAG
July 15-22 MAG & WAG
July 23-29 MAG & WAG
I’ve coached at the first two Camps and can personally recommend both. And I’m planning to travel to Pine Valley to get involved with the launch. The Kriangkum family has been putting this together for years. When comparing costs consider accommodation, food and activities. All three Camps are excellent value.
The USGSA are the folks that provide us training equipment. The current President is Stacy Finnerty of Tumbl Trak.
Like this photo on Facebook.
If you have NO equipment, buy mats first.
Next … a tumbling trampoline. It’s so useful for every level of ability.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
by site editor Rick McCharles
Gymnastics Coaching is an aggregator. We try to link to the best of the best published online in English. The most interesting ideas, photos and videos for coaches.
NEW ideas, in particular.
Artistic Gymnastics, especially WAG, dominates the gymternet over all other acrobatic disciplines. That’s OK — I guess — since we want every child to start with Artistic & Trampoline before specializing. 🙂
I’ve blocked recommendations into 3 categories:
INDEPENDENT SITES (blogs, coaches, gymnasts, etc.)
OFFICIAL SITES (magazines, organizations, FIG, NOCs, etc.)
PHOTO & VIDEO SITES
For 2016 I’ll add a few of my favourite social media sources.
Artistic Gymnastics is the Foundation.
_____ INDEPENDENT SITES:
The BIG news from 2014 was Lauren Hopkins launching The Gymternet. Lauren and her writers had the best WAG coverage overall in 2016.
thegymter.net instantly became the 1st site Women’s Gymnastics fans should check.
There was a continued decline in the number of Gymnastics blog posts in 2016. Nico, for example, was not updating The Liukin, instead posting on Tumblr and other social media. Follow papaliukin on Tumblr. IrishDaniel is good, too. Tumblr is messy and confusing, however.
Anne Josephson’s JAG GYM BLOG was excellent again this past year. Much reposted. It’s thoughtful and unique. One of the few sites discussing gymnastics judges and parents.
Bea Gheorghisor and friends post on The Couch Gymnast | Facebook | @TheCouchGymnast. It’s a must read too.
Gigi Khazback-Farid and friends – WOGymnastikA posts more often than anyone else. Often highlight GIFs from Tumblr and social media.
Albert Minguillón i Colomer, Nora Schuler & Elizabeth Long (Europe) – THE ALL AROUND | Facebook | @THEALLAROUND
Katie (Ireland) – @full_twist
Every WAG coach should be following Swing Big. Since 2013, Zari has been methodically posting practical drills. The best of what’s out there.
• Triple Twist Gym Blog | Facebook | @tripletwistgym
• MCSMaria
Tony Retrosi’s Gym Momentum – Gym Momentum | Facebook | @gym_momentum
Gymnastics News Network is an aggregator like this one. But they also post unique content.
GymFever2012 on Facebook is one of my best sources. But I don’t link as it’s “secret”. I belong to a number of private Facebook groups, in fact. Those groups seem to have increasingly taken over from private forums. In 2016 the secret Gymternet Clan Facebook group was another excellent source of breaking news.
Follow Emma Bailey @MoominWhisky
If you do like to discuss Gymnastics topics, the forums offer better software. Check out Chalk Bucket forums. (some public, some private)
___
Other must reads not focused on WAG:
• T&T Coaches Canada on Facebook is a terrific T&T source, too. Invitation only. There are other Trampoline sites on Facebook, as well.
• Uncle Tim Talks Men’s Gym. Uncle Tim has not posted much in 2016, but is a regular on the GymCastic audiocast.
• Ron Noe – Stick It Media (MAG) | @StickItMedia
• NCAA MEN’S GYMNASTICS ALUMNI on Facebook (Open)
• GYMMIN’ MIEL! (all disciplines)
Please subscribe, follow and/or like those as well as others listed here that don’t post quite so often. (A much longer list of sites we follow is listed in the navigation of every page on this site.)
The only site with more content for coaches than this one is GymnasticsZone, a terrific resource. Original content.
___
John Geddert – The Gymnastics Coach | @JohnGGeddert
Ask Al Fong is another superb site for technique.
I follow the NCAA mostly on these sites:
• NCAA Gym News (new in 2015) @NCAAGymNews_
For NCAA scores and links best is RoadtoNationals.com 🙂
The following sites publish less frequently, but I never miss a post:
• the always thoughtful Gymnast Crossing
• Between the Olympics | @BTOgymblog
Valentin Uzunov – @thegympress.
The best site for recreational gymnastics is another I edit, RecGymnastics.com. We’re looking for contributors.
B.C. Gymnastics does a great job with their non-competitive site PlayGymnastics.com.
For music check these sites:
CodeofPoints.com is a great resource for MAG and WAG coaches. It’s a video library of Gymnastics skills
Sites dedicated to geographic regions:
Region 5 Gym Insider does a terrific job promoting just one of 8 regions in the USA.
Germany
• GymMedia (English & German)
• turn-news (German)
Great Britain
• British Gymnewstics
Belgium
• Belgian Gymnastics
Romania:
• Alina – Tare! magazine
• Mihai – FanGymnastics (Romanian)
France:
• ACTUS GYMNASTIQUE
Arabian peninsula:
• Gombazz Facebook page
China:
• Blossom, Chinese Gymnastics Flowers
• Rewriting Russian Gymnastics
• GymPower (Dutch)
• Gimnasia Latina (Spanish American)
• Revista Magnesia | Facebook | @revistamagnesia (Mexico)
• Doble en Plancha (Spain)
• Gymnastikfabriken (Sweden)
• Gymania (Israel)
• Gym Blog Brazil (Portuguese)
• Jenn Isbister’s Gymn.ca (Canada) … perhaps the original dedicated National site
The Chrome browser offers automatic Google language Translate, one of the main reasons I use it.
_____ OFFICIAL SITES:
With a small staff, Inside Gymnastics magazine does a good job during LIVE events. And especially on Facebook.
Inside Gymnastics | Facebook | @InsideGym
I link a lot to IG. Dwight Normile, Amanda Turner, John Crumlish & team – International Gymnast magazine online News | Facebook | @intlgymnast
Last year and again this year I was astonished at the quality of communications out of USA Gymnastics and FIG. Those organizations have media people equal the best bloggers. In the past information from both was whitewashed — no bad news. But both have gotten increasingly open, over time.
• USAG Headlines | Facebook | @USAGym
• FIG News | Facebook | @gymnastics
British Gymnastics does a terrific job of communicating.
_____ AUDIO, PHOTO & VIDEO SITES:
FloGymnastics are the leaders in unique online VIDEO.
In the past I was boycotting FloGymnastics.com (formerly Gymnastike) as were many other sites. That started with the Joe Battaglia Flocasts scandal, but – in fact – I don’t like some of Gymnastike’s business practices. And haven’t for some years. Things have improved in 2016 so I’ve been linking more.
My favourite feature on FloGymnastics is Workout Wednesday (FREE). They’ve recently added more technical content behind the paywall. I’ve never had a subscription for FloPRO, however.
The Gymneo WAG coaching video tutorials (now in French and English) are superb. Cost as I post is 199€ or $218 / year. They do post free teasers on their Facebook page.
Justin Laury’s Gymnastics Progressions website launched Christmas 2015. WAG coaching tutorials cost $8 – $15 / month.
Sports2Visuals.com posts high quality gymnast documentaries in Dutch and English. Everyone knows their The Hard Way To Success videos.
But Sports2Visuals.com is doing much more. For example they created videos for the 2013 World Championships Organizing Committee. See ALL their videos linked from the home page. And subscribe to their YouTube channel.
The best thing that ever happened for gymnastics coaches is YouTube. Thank Google for buying that company and letting us share with the world for free. In 2011 I still link to YouTube over Vimeo and others as YouTube streams quickest over a weak WiFi signal. The worst place to post your videos is Facebook — link to a YouTube video in Facebook, instead.
Some of my favourites this past year:
• Arabian Punch Front links to the best montage videos. And more.
• American Gymnast Gymnastics on Demand videos on the JoeLangley YouTube channel (1150+ coaching tutorials)
• GymTactics Videos on YouTube (formerly JAO)
• Sargis Siradegyan’s sKT YouTube channel (MAG)
• Coach Sommers – Gymnastic Bodies videos (the #1 MAG strength guru)
Nick relocated to Canada. And started up Blanton’s Gymnastics Consultancy. Recommended.
• Tony Retrosi – Gym Momentum YouTube Channel
• Mary Lee Tracy – USAmlt YouTube Channel
• John Geddert – GymnasticsCoachUSA YouTube channel and DVDs $.
• Gymnastics Minute YouTube channel. And GymSmarts for DVDs $.
• RedNasvw YouTube channel, especially his MAG Code of Points videos
There were fewer & fewer gymnastics montages in 2016. I link most to AshleyakaFlipper and CSaccullo.
For podcasts the top site is GymCastic. Jessica O’Beirne of Masters Gymnastics. They have a number of guest hosts as well as celebrity guests each week.
For PHOTOS, Inside Gymnastics has the photographer I link to most. That’s the terrific Grace Chiu. She uses Facebook perfectly, posting a few of her best shots in order to promote sales from GraceClick.ca.
_____ …
Did I MISS one of your favourite sites? … or links to their content?
But … leave a comment and I’ll update this list in a week or so. I could name many more.
related:
Gymternet – best of 2015
Gymternet – best of 2014
Gymternet – best of 2013
Gymternet – best of 2012
Gymternet – best of 2011
Gymternet – best of 2010
Lastly, a big THANKS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the individuals who emailed or messaged me with links in 2014. 🙂
Gymneo has signed on as one of the advertisers on this site. We appreciate their support.
Click PLAY or watch a sample on Facebook.
49 minutes:
Video 1: Overview of the training on the front handspring on floor
Video 2: Technical analysis
Video 3: Prerequisites
Video 4: Specific Physical Preparation
Video 5: Pedagogical analysis – 32 drills for teaching the front handspring
Video 6: Spotting
Gymneo, out of France, is the best coach education subscription service, in my opinion. I’ve been a member for over 4 years. (Before they added English language content.)
Cost is €199 or $211 / year.
A review of the USA Gymnastics’ Essential Elements program.
Al Scharns – Program Design
Dusty Ritter – Junior Olympic Program Coordinator
Here is how the program works – each coach can set up their own lesson plan by choosing 4-8 stations known as ‘boxes’ that coordinate with the 14 or more key “Essential Elements” for that level (Levels 1 & 2).
Week after week, they can select different boxes to introduce new drills, progressions and challenges. The boxes can be used for individual stations or included in a circuit or obstacle course. …
Of course, we want to make it fun, interesting, safe and challenging. Thus the program is designed to be flexible and creative. …
Our mission is to provide the opportunity for clubs to initiate and grow a boys’ gymnastics program while at the same time helping to train coaches to the discipline of boys’ gymnastics. We are providing an opportunity to do this in a way that is cost- effective for both the club and the participant …
The program is set up so a Club with very little men’s equipment and coaching expertise can still start to work towards J.O. competitive levels 3 and up.
The videos are excellent. Clear, bright, short and well edited. The demonstrators exactly at the ability level being taught. Any WAG coach would have no trouble teaching these drills.
Other curriculums are divided into 6 Olympic apparatus and Trampoline. This is better breakdown:
Category 1 – Warm up, Flexibility and Body Shapes
Category 2 – Swings and Hangs
Category 3 – Supports and Strength
Category 4 – Runs, Jumps, and Springs
Category 5 – Games, Races, and Courses
I really like the obstacle courses / Parkour content.
The content is advanced Recreational. But by the end of Level 3 boys are prepared to join competitive gymnastics at Level 4. Or go on to any other sport.
It’s $39.95 on disk:
Manual: The Essential Elements Program – includes program description, skill charts, curriculum planning charts, and sample lesson plans.
Video: Complete video of all five skill categories
Forms: Writable PDF versions of Essential Elements lesson plan charts, evaluation charts and certificates
We purchased that disk but it’s also available as a digital download for $29.99 to be viewed on iPad, iPhone and Mac.
Still looking for a competition in the sun?
SOUTH FLORIDA FRIGHT INVITE OCT 21 – OCT 23, 2016
Coral Springs, FL
SUN & SURF SPECTACULAR JAN 27 – JAN 29, 2017
Coral Springs, FL
PRESIDENTIAL CLASSIC FEB 17 – FEB 20, 2017
Disney World Orlando, FL
TIM RAND INVITATIONAL MAR 03 – MAR 05, 2017
Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL
FLORIDA CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP APR 29 – APR 30, 2017
Boca Raton, FL
For details check the USA Competitions website.
Click PLAY or watch a PRESIDENTIAL CLASSIC promo on YouTube.
This post is a shout out for one of our site sponsors. Thanks for your support. 🙂
With new additions to the system, use the Carolina Gym Supply Flip Smart Matting System for any number of tumbling and somersaulting, drills, bar drills (fly aways and giants), and even vault timer drills!
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The one I need most is the Flyaway setup.
