Safeguarding Policy – Pain, Injury & Illness

British Gymnastics has a number of Safeguarding VIDEOS.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

introducing Double Back

My favourite progression for Double Back is backward layout 1 1/4 to flat back on soft, safe matting. ROTATION is 1st priority.

When the gymnast has a good feeling on HOW to generate rotation, next work on vertical height (time in the air) and adding the tuck. Please teach hands on the shins, not the thighs.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sports Psychology Has an Evidence Problem

Of course every coach uses methods from sport psychology to improve ultimate performances.

But we don’t really know how or why methodology works: self-talkmental focus, attention, etc.

The brain is complex. Each athlete is different from the next.

A mental training plan for one might well be quite difficult for the teammate training beside them.

Sports Psychology Has an Evidence Problem

The benefits of training your mental skills are, by definition, all in your head. So how do we prove that it works?

Gymnastics in Gaza

Wassim Naqqar, 11, snagged first place in gymnastics in the Palestinian territories before the war began.

But after being forced to flee northern Gaza in April as fighting escalated in the area, he left Palestine Club in Sheikh Redwan, where he would train in gymnastics, yoga and parkour, a sport that involves running, swinging and vaulting in urban spaces.

His favourite sport of the three? Gymnastics. But because the region is war-torn, he says he often winds up practising it on the rubble. …

WaPo (paywall) – This 11-year-old does gymnastics atop the rubble of Gaza as the war rages on

Father-son duo helping train around 60 kids in war-torn region, teaching them gymnastics and parkour

tumbler broke the fluorescent light !

Aaron needs a higher Gym. 😀

Diver Matthew Mitcham fights for equality

Matthew Mitcham is the 2008 Olympic champion in the 10m platform, and he is the 2nd highest single-dive score in Olympic history (at the time it was the highest scoring dive ever). This made him the first openly gay athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sticking the Parenting Landing: A Handbook for Parents of Gymnasts

by Betty Okino Benson (Author), Jacob Okino Benson (Editor), Valorie Kondos Field (Foreword)

I’ve not yet read the NEW book — but I’m certain it’s terrific.

Amazon

R.I.P. Nguyen Minh Triet

Nguyen Minh Triet, 18, died at the Thanh Nhan Hospital in Hanoi on Thursday morning, seven months after suffering a neck injury that paralyzed him during training.

Rutgers Gymnastics under investigation

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

NEW book – Beyond the Chalk Box

Published Aug. 20 2024.

Interviews with Akash Modi, Justin Spring, John McReady, Kim Zmeskal, Betty Okino, Tracee Talavera, and more.

… unfiltered and heartfelt interviews presented in Beyond the Chalk Box. …

… the challenges and triumphs of former elite gymnasts …

Beyond the Chalk Box is not just a chronicle of athletic accomplishments. It’s a valuable resource for athletes, shedding light on the often-neglected aspects of athlete well-being.

It underscores the significance of a comprehensive approach to health, longevity, and joy in sports.

The book explores tools such as mindfulness, spirituality, self-compassion, visualization, and introspection, providing practical insights on how athletes can navigate the intricacies of their sport and cultivate resilience in the face of challenges.

Amazon

Theresa Kulikowski-Gillespie is a holistic wellness and performance coach, physician assistant (PA), certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Army veteran …

A former 1996 Olympic Team Alternate and NCAA Champion, she now lives at West Point, NY, with her family and goldendoodle, Ollie.