Category: safety

Tom Forster is the USAG HP Director

Kerry Perry:

“When considering this very visible and important leadership role in the women’s program, I believe that whoever filled this role had to have a training philosophy that is aligned with transforming to a culture of empowerment that encourages, supports and hears our athletes,” said Perry …

“…. Based on the feedback from the coaches, athletes and interviewing panel, Tom was the obvious choice.

Tom is well-respected and recognized throughout the community as a leader, both technically and as an incredible motivator, with a positive coaching philosophy,” said Perry.” …

“I am humbled and excited to accept the position of the high-performance team coordinator for women’s gymnastics,” said Forster. “The responsibility of motivating and guiding our current and future elite athletes, and their coaches, is not one I take lightly.  …

“I believe in coaching through inspiration not intimidation,” said Forster. …

USAG

Good luck, sir. You are taking on a big job at a very difficult time.

attention potential NCAA recruits

If a football prospect wants to be recruited by Nebraska coach Scott Frost, he should know that the Husker staff will comb through his social media history checking for character.

“And I’ll tell you this right now — if there’s anything negative about women, if there’s anything racial or about sexuality, if there’s anything about guns or anything like that, we’re just not going to recruit you, period.

Piece of advice for you — what you put on social media, that’s your résumé to the world. That’s what you’re trying to tell the world you’re all about. That’s how you’re advertising yourself. Be smart with that stuff.”

Omaha.com

Patti Komara’s Safety Statement

Patti posted some details on their Gym Staff safety policies. In fact the staff recites them twice a year, just to be sure they’ve been covered.

That’s included in her 64-page handbook that all employees sign after reading.

Trampoline RULES

Bermuda Gymnastics just got a new Eurotramp Ultimate. I went looking for a set of rules for coaches / gymnasts.

• Trampolining should always be supervised by a qualified coach/teacher.

• Check that pupils wear suitable sports clothing; suitable non-slip footwear (trampoline shoes or non-slip socks) if possibility of toes going through the webbing.

• Check that jewellery (including that associated with body piercings), watches etc have been removed.

• Check that hair is tied back and nails are trimmed.

• Prevent fooling around and jumping from the trampoline

Those are a few mentioned in this PDF document from the official Eurotramp website.

Leave a comment if you know of a better set online.

North and South Korea in PyeongChang

Peace through sport.

We Are One is a documentary about the Unified Korean Team came to be and its legacy.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

montage of Pommel falls

I had parents watching Pommel training this week. They were surprised to see pretty much every approach to the apparatus end in a fall.

I further explained that no two Pommel falls are identical. They are as unique as snowflakes.

Click over to Balance Beam Situation to see many examples. That guy must hate Horse. 😀

Gymnastics “saves”

I skipped the Gymnastics FAILS meme not wanting to encourage people considering falls as entertainment.

But I do love gymnasts who can SAVE a skill or routine. That takes psychological toughness.

There is some great coaching SPOTTING in this blog, as well.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch the original SAVES montage on YouTube.

if USAG declares bankruptcy …

Dvora Meyers did some research:

… Since September 2016, when the Indianapolis Star reported that former team doctor Larry Nassar had sexually abused gymnasts under the guise of care, USA Gymnastics has been defending itself against hundreds of civil claims. The organization recently sued its seven insurers for failing to pay their defense costs in the ongoing litigation.

In short, members of USA Gymnastics have every reason to be worried about the future. ….

The grassroots of gymnastics are worried, too—not just about the future of the nation’s most powerful gymnastics organization but about how that organization’s rocky future might complicate and imperil the smaller organizations that will produce the next generation of gymnasts. …

If USA Gymnastics Goes Down, Who Goes Down With It?

USAG told Dvora:

“USA Gymnastics has taken no steps toward filing for bankruptcy and has no intention to do so. Any rumors to the contrary are false.”

“single point of failure” FIG equipment

Why does the International Gymnastics Federation approve apparatus with a single point of failure?

If one part fails, the entire apparatus falls.

For SAFETY and reliability redundancy should be required. For example, two chains instead of one.

Click PLAY or watch Paul Rugeri on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjvYwLrhqrW/

Marta’s letter to the Senate subcommittee

… My second recommendation is the implementation of USA Gymnastics-assigned chaperones.

Each gymnast should have a chaperone present with them at the national training camps and competitions.

While each gymnast was required to travel with their personal coach to the national training camps, a neutral chaperone, responsible solely for the safety and wellbeing of each gymnast, would help create a safe space for gymnasts to voice concerns outside of their athletic training.

This chaperone should also be required to accompany each gymnast on any medical treatments or sessions, whether formal or informal. A gymnast should never be alone with another adult who is not her parent without her chaperone …

read more – Karolyi letter to Senate

1. This letter was obviously written by lawyers

2. Marta was the last person at Camp who would have wanted chaperones attending

Secrecy and lack of transparency were a big part of the old Romanian system. It’s something Marta continued at her remote Camp.

(via BBS)