473 former College gymnasts surveyed

Dave Tilley one of the authors of this study.

Gymnastics is a popular sport with high injury rates, especially at the collegiate level. …
The median age of gymnastics specialization was 8 years [interquartile range = 6-11 years]. The proportion of injuries sustained during college did not significantly differ by specialization age.
A significantly greater proportion of early specializers required surgery for college sports-related injuries (60% vs. 44%; p = 0.02).
Forty-two percent of the respondents reported concussion history, and a greater proportion of those with concussion history reported seeking mental health treatment during college (32% vs. 23%; p = 0.03), and anxiety disorder diagnosis (16% vs. 9%; p = 0.01).
Disordered eating history was reported by 34% of the respondents …
Conclusion: Athletes and clinicians should be aware of the long-term effects of early specialization, concussions, and disordered eating in gymnastics as these issues are common in female collegiate gymnasts.
Health outcomes among former female collegiate gymnasts: the influence of sport specialization, concussion, and disordered eating

Aimee Boorman interview

For the 100th episode of his podcast, Dave Tilley interviewed Simones coach.

I recommend it.

Surprise!!

To celebrate SHIFT's 100th podcast episode, I'm honored to have on Aimme Boorman (@Salto_Coach), coach of the amazing Simone Biles 🙌

We discuss coaching Simone, positive coaching, culture change, & challenging "the way we've always done it"https://t.co/mvRkQT5xi6
— SHIFT MvmtScience (@SHIFT_MvmtSci) November 10, 2020

Ariella Käslin’s story

Ariella Käslin is a 2008 Olympian voted Swiss Sportswoman of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

I recall being disappointed when Ariella retired 2011. She seemed still top of her game.

She later wrote a memoir detailing her exhaustion, related depression, and concerns with former Swiss National Coach Eric Demay who was let go April 2007.

Read it on gymnovosti:

ARIELLA KAESLIN: THE DEAL WAS: “YOU DO THIS!”, AND THERE WAS NO REFUSAL

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

Journal To Inspire Young Gymnasts

Bulgarian Olympians Dima Raynova and Silvia Topalova have teamed up again, this time to create and publish The POWER in the Hour, a journal and tracker designed to motivate, guide and inspire female and male gymnasts ages 8 to18. …
The journal has quotes, inspirations and stories from all over the world. … There’s also room for writing down reflections, goals and dreams. …
There are several sections that the kids can fill out: healthy habits such as sleeping patterns, food, and other things, goals they want to achieve and how they’ll achieve them, academic activities, books they’re reading, outdoor activities, family and friends time, how they help at home, reflection of their week and improvements. …

Bulgarian Olympians Team Up On Journal To Inspire Young Gymnasts

Details.

https://twitter.com/intlgymnast/status/1319347019744485376

Noah Lyles thinks like a Champion

Noah Lyles is one of the best sprinters in the world. His goal is to win Gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

Noah did Gymnastics and other sports as a kid. He switched to Track at age-12.

An inspiring family story.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Discipline tips for coaches

1. There is a difference between discipline and punishment.

5. Don’t have too many rules

6. Let the stakeholders (read: the athletes) be involved in creating any necessary rules.

12. You are the adult.

12 TIPS ABOUT DISCIPLINE FOR COACHES

Click through to read the rest.

boys jumping

coach Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso is an American sports comedy.

Very funny.

I only started watching Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ because Ted is a coach.

He had success with American Div II Wichita State Shockers College football and is recruited to coach an English Premier League team, AFC Richmond, despite having no experience in association football.

It’s a feel good positive story.

Personally, Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard, Lasso’s longtime taciturn assistant and friend, steals the show for me.

It’s been renewed for a second season.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Matt Sparks shared this video, much related to one of the movie themes.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gymnastics called ‘legal child abuse’

Michiel de Hoog writes about sport for De Correspondent in Netherlands.

Though no Gymnastics expert, de Hoog put together a very damning article on the culture of elite women’s Gymnastics.

There are some specifics overstated. No examples at all of any elite gymnasts who feel they didn’t suffer child abuse. But his main point is hard to refute.

Best read it for yourself.

Women’s gymnastics has a decades-old, reform-resistant culture of abuse. It’s hard to see a solution when child abuse isn’t an exception in women’s gymnastics – it’s the logical consequence.