ADHD medication and Gymnastics

Recall that Russian hackers first revealed that Simone had been on ADHD medication since childhood. Ritalin.

Read a discussion on Chalk Bucket:

Questions for parents of kids with ADHD

how much sleep does a gymnast need?

It’s not easy for gymnasts to get enough sleep.

Here are the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours (including naps) on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.

The key here is regular sleep to promote optimal health of your gymnast. Good sleep should be every night and not just on weekends. …

Dr. Joshua Eldridge

Brent Klaus on USA Gymnastics

Brent and his family run International Gymnastics Camp, a sponsor of this site.

At the 2017 USA Gymnastics Congress IGC set up this display.

Now in February 2018, Brent talks about the reaction their display got last August. Particularly comments from USAG staff and Board members.

Aly Raisman nude for ‘SI’ swimsuit issue

… For the shoot, the women pose completely naked, with empowering messages written across their bodies. The idea of the shoot is to prove that women are free to speak about who they truly are and want to be. …

Aly Raisman Writes ‘Survivor’ Across Her Chest for In Her Own Words

More photos.

Aly is now in Australia, speaking on the issue of sexual abuse. She’s really been our most effective advocate.

Gymnastics Canada WAG Aspire program

I really like the Gymnastics Canada WAG Aspire program for talented young gymnasts.

The Aspire Camps are great too.

You can check out the 2017-2018 ASPIRE PROGRAM MANUAL online for free, if you like.

There is one error on page 15.

Of course the path of the Centre of Gravity starts tangent to the point of release. If you let go of the Bar when the C of G reaches horizontal you’d best be doing a Geinger.

If you release with hips above horizontal as required by that Aspire graphic there’s a very good chance you’ll land on the Bar.

The video linked from page 15 is correct, however.

The Centre of Mass must be below the Bar on release. Ideally with the hips below, the feet above as in this drawing.

The gymnast could apply a force to the Bar on release to either pitch-out or pull-in the Centre of Mass. Pulling-in can result in hitting the Bar.

related – G.S. George – Tangent-Release Principle

Coach Kyle – making Gymnastics corrections

Kyle Thalman:

1. Keep it short
2. Use a positive frame of vocabulary
3. Use very descriptive language
4. Use neutral tone / body language
5. Critique technique, not the gymnast
6. Be encouraging about making the fix
7. If there’s no change, try a different correction

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (13min)

related – Kyle’s Safe Spotting tutorial video

transparency at Gym Clubs

Recall the BAD OLD DAYS when parents were not allowed to watch training?

Those are gone forever.

Swing open the front door beneath the tin roof at Achieve Gymnastics, and the first thing you see are rows of chairs in front of a glass wall.

The design is intentional.

Viewed through the glass is a large arena where the daughters of more than 800 families train and compete. At least two staff members must be on watch at all times. Security cameras blanket the facility. …

Every door, except for a restroom in use, is left open and unlocked. …

Why the need for so much transparency?

“We can’t afford not to,” said Alan Herron, Achieve’s operations manager. …

Athlete abuse: How local sports organizations are taking charge to protect kids

Inside the walls of Achieve Gymnastics, the staff works daily to bolster the morale of the young athletes.

At my home Gym for some years we had one way mirrors between the spectator areas and the Gym. That worked well. Parents could see in. Kids couldn’t see out.

These days you can put colourful graphics on the Gym side of the mirror.