Category: safety

#girlchampion gymnasts

Here’s a cute video promoting positive self-image.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Vinnie Silber:

LIC Kids Gymnastics in the New York City area …

Leading the development of these athletes are Morgan Lemon (Director) and Natalie Fuertes (Assistant Director). …

Our gym’s philosophy is based on positive coaching, wherein we value being a good teammate, supporting one another, and working hard to achieve your goals, more than we value banners and medals. …

The videos were a conscious effort to present girls with positive images to counteract the more traditional media images they are bombarded with daily. We wanted to remind girls that they are strong and powerful and beautiful …

Gym Blog Central – LIC Kids Gymnastics Develops the Individual Along with the Athlete

USA Gymnastics skips Senate Hearing

USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the Olympic sport, was a no-show Tuesday at a Congressional hearing into its handling of sexual abuse allegations — drawing a sharp rebuke from one lawmaker.

“I’m deeply disappointed they’ve sent a statement but no witness to question,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said.

“If they really cared, they would be here,” he added. “They have to answer for what happened here.” …

USA Gymnastics did not immediately respond to a request for comment about why it did not attend the hearing …

USA Gymnastics Blasted for Skipping Senate Hearing on Sex Abuse

Dominique Moceanu opening statement

Hearing on abuse in USA Gymnastics.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

what next for USAG?

Tony Retrosi adds to the list of next steps needed.

As a top clinician, Tony wants SAFETY instruction in coach EDUCATION at ALL LEVELS

USA Gymnastics needs to become a more transparent organization. …

As professionals we can not afford to turn a blind eye and hope someone else makes a report. …

… independent child welfare advocate for the athletes at all training camps. …

USA Gymnastics has already implemented the Safe Sport Program on it’s website. This needs to be made available on all Regional and State websites as well.

Safe Sport is a good first step. It may not go far enough.

It’s Time for a Change

GymCastic on the USAG abuse scandal

Episode #245 is one of the best in a long time.

Spencer and Jessica on:

USA Gymnastics President has resigned …

Why this is not the time to move on because nothing has changed

  • Three things that still need to be done to prevent abuse at USA Gymnastics
  • USAG still going to do their own policing on non-sexual abuse misconduct and crimes. SafeSport only investigating sexual assaults.

Jessica O’Beirne is the person to follow on this issue. Now that Steve Penny has resigned — a symbolic sign of willingness to change — Jessica details some of the next steps necessary if USAG is actually going to make the sport safer for athletes into the future.

Listen here.

mental blocks in Gymnastics

A big frustration for coaches. Even bigger for the gymnast afflicted.

Mental blocks are far more common for female athletes than male. They are most often on backwards skills. And somewhat more frequent during stressful times of the competitive season.

Every coach tries to prevent mental blocks from developing. Be particularly cautious when training backwards skills. (More matting, more progressions, more repetition.)

Some coaches have fewer mental blocks than others.

We’re learning. I believe there are fewer mental blocks in 2017 than in the past.

Rebecca Smith posted some tips.

HELP! My gymnast is afraid of going backward

Why Gymnasts Get Mental Blocks

USAG Director of Safe Sport

… oversee, coordinate, and communicate all aspects of USA Gymnastics Safe Sport policies, guidelines, educational programs, reporting and adjudication services, and other activities that directly relate to USA Gymnastics efforts to provide its members with a safe, healthy, and positive sport participation environment.

Employment Opportunity: Director of Safe Sport

Protecting Gymnasts

Vinnie Silber has been following the Larry Nassar scandal closely. Here is some good advice on how we move forward.

Parents and coaches need to become better educated on the warnings signs of sexual abuse.

Parents, coaches, and gym owners need to fully understand their roles in protecting gymnasts from predators.

Another thing we need try to do is change the mindset of some parents, athletes, and coaches that “winning at no cost” is not the only option. …

Op Ed – Learn and Grow

Doctor Oz – Abuse Allegations

Originally aired on 3/20/2017

ESPN investigative reporter John Barr discusses the rise of USA Gymnastics, the national team coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi, and the national team physician Dr. Lawrence Nassar, and the abuse allegations against all three parties.

GUESTS: John Barr , Dominique Moceanu , Jamie Dantzscher , Jeanette Antolin , Jessica Howard , John Manly

Watch the full episode online free.

(via Mike Canales)

beware the “cult” of Gymnastics

Over and over again people keep asking how Larry Nassar got away with what he did for so long.

Many elite gymnasts are irrationally dedicated.  They are literally brainwashed.

Recall Goldman’s dilemma? Athletes were asked if they were willing to die in 5 years for sporting success NOW. Many said yes.

1992 Olympian Wendy Bruce Martin (who never worked with Nassar) reflects back on what she was willing to do for Olympic qualification:

I was willing to give anything to gymnastics and I was willing to give everything. …

As long as I could perform my skills, I was willing to ignore the advice from my Doctor. When my Doctors told me to take time off of gymnastics to heal, I didn’t. …

There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do to make the Olympics. When I needed to lose a little weight, I took the cheap and easy way out. Bulimia was my little secret. I was Bulimic for about a year and a half before the Olympics. …

The Cult Culture of Gymnastics

Parents and coaches need be aware that dedication can be psychosis. Mental health is as important as physical health.