VICE News produces mini-documentaries on important issues.
Last night Mattie Larson, Miss Val and Jessica O’Beirne were guests.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (official link)
Category: safety
training in leotards optional at IGC
Update from International Gymnastics Camp:
… the current recommendation that campers wear either shorts or leggings with leotards at training sessions is in keeping with IGC’s proactive mission to provide the safest possible training environment for its campers. Contrary to some social media allegations, this recommendation is not intended to somehow victimize or victim shame. Rather this practice insures a greater measure of comfort for many gymnasts.
Thank you for a lot of positive support and vocal negative feedback. We are softening our original policy from a requirement to a recommendation as we want all campers and parents to be comfortable and to ensure the wellbeing for all the gymnasts. …
read the full statement
____
original post from yesterday:
International Gymnastics Camp’s concern with the current issues facing USA Gymnastics drives us to take a pro-active approach to ensure gymnastics is a safe sport when it comes to abuse.
International Gymnastics Camp is advocating that, across the entire nation, shorts or leggings be worn with leotards during both workouts and junior competitions in the women’s programs. In that regard, and to accelerate this trend for change, IGC is requiring our female campers to wear shorts or leggings during workouts at camp.
Thank you for your cooperation.
This is similar to those Gyms who require boys and men not to train shirtless.
Though I love freedom, and prefer it be optional, I can live with this restriction. Especially at Camp.
Another good option is training in unitards.
related – World of Gymnastics – pros and cons of bike shorts
Update – Aly Raisman feels any ban of leotards from gymnastics to prevent abuse is a form of ‘victim shaming’. There are many reasons for training dress codes in Gyms. Preventing possible abuse has never been one of them in any Gym I can recall.
full disclosure – International Gymnastics Camp is a sponsor of this site.
(via Chalk Bucket)
new Aimee Boorman interview
Vanessa Steck on Medium:
- Karolyi Camp
- Larry Nassar
- the U.S. system
- education and transparency
- future of USAG
Aimee Boorman Will Now Take (My) Questions
METH: Movement, Elevation, Traction, Heat
METH vs RICE.
Which is better for your athletes?
Agressive treatment for minor injuries like ankle strains is not new. I recall our physiotherapist at University of Saskatchewan walking athletes immediately on ankle sprains as one method for faster recovery. That was in the 1990s.
Coaches without medical training should defer to their most trusted experts on this issue.
RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is a term that is synonymous with treating athletic injuries. Ice has been the gold standard for injuries and sore muscles since Dr. Mirkin coined it in 1978 from his sports medicine book. …
Ice will control the pain from injury, that relief only lasts between 20-30 minutes. There are many other things that we can do to control pain and not impede the healing process. The research is now saying that if you delay or inhibit inflammation, you will also delay your healing. …
Gabe Mirkin himself has changed his opinion:
On March 16, 2014, he wrote “Coaches have used my ‘RICE’ guideline for decades, but now it appears that both Ice and complete Rest may delay healing, instead of helping.
Ice is very effective for reducing pain for 20-30 minutes. And it’s still recommended for other purposes:
What about Ice baths and in between tournaments?
The evidence seems to support use for ice in this instance.
related – Another RICE alternative: MEAT (Movement, Exercise, Analgesics and Treatments).
Thanks John.
Circus Aerialist Yann Arnaud has died
Terrible news. Aerialist Yann Arnaud died after after a fall of more than three metres during a show in Tampa, Florida, Saturday night.
One of the most experienced artists in the troupe with 15 years experience, the tragedy is being investigated.
Brinn Bevan withdraws from Stuttgart
It turned out to be a dental emergency. All is well now.
Empowerment T-Shirt $10
SUPPORT A CAUSE: $5 of each t-shirt sale is donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation.
GREAT DETAILS: Be strong and fearless wearing this We Rise tee to support athletes around the world. …
Mariska Hargitay founded Joyful Heart in Kona in 2004 to help sexual assault survivors heal and reclaim a sense of joy in their lives. Today, Joyful Heart is a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever. …
ASI safety at Gymnastics
A long, but excellent overview of best practice at a club.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (36 min)
Thanks TumblTrak.
suspended by USA Gymnastics
USAG has long published a list of permanently ineligible members.
They are now also posting a list of those currently under suspension.
It does not include names of those suspended in the past nor minors serving suspensions.
red flags for Gymnastics parents
Coach and Mom Nicole Paseka Grundmeier advises parents to ask these questions:
1. Will I be allowed to watch my child practice once she joins the competitive team?
2. Will my child be required to be home-schooled now or when she reaches a certain competitive level?
3. Will the coaches weigh my child at practice or at any other time?
4. Will my child get a snack break during practice?
5. Will my child be punished with painful conditioning for mistakes made inside the gym?
6. How will the coach respond if my child is afraid of a skill or bails on a skill?
7. What percentage of my child’s teammates suffer from overuse injuries?
8. Do my child’s teammates cry frequently at the gym?
9. Do my child’s coaches communicate well with me?
10. Will my child ever be alone with a coach?
Toxic coaching tactics enabled Larry Nassar to abuse girls. Here’s how to know if your gym uses them.
I’d add one red flag I look for in every Gym I visit …
How many older girls are on the competitive team?
If there are few (or none) when and why did they quit?
Gymnastics Coaching.com 