Category: safety

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.

inflatable landing mats

If you need to move or store landing mats regularly, consider this large portable mat from Tumble Air.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

the main downside of inflatable over foam is durability. Foam lasts much longer during average use.

The main advantage is portability.

Steve Butcher on the Sex Abuse scandal

Through his work in the gymnastics community, Butcher said he’s known Dr. Larry Nasser for about 25 years. Nasser, who treated some of the most famous Olympic gymnasts in recent history, is facing 23 sexual abuse charges, and has been accused by more than 80 girls and women that he sexually abused them during treatments.  …

“I know them personally. I know them, I know their coaches, I’ve known their families, their husbands and kids now,” he told WBIR 10News. “It’s not just shocking, it’s devastating. I feel like it’s a weight on my heart when they tell me what they’ve endured.”  …

“Everybody is putting more safety precautions up. The gyms here in Knoxville are really cautious, background checking their staff and doing everything they can to protect their young athletes.”

Butcher said it’s important, too, for parents to look out for their kids and make sure they are working with coaches who no only make them a better athlete, but a better person. …

“My personal effort is going to be in the future to do anything we can worldwide, not just in the U.S., to develop programs where athletes feel more reassured if they come forward about a abuse case, but to advise the parents and athletes to prevent them. That’s my mission,” …

‘Shocking, heartbreaking’: Olympic gymnastics judge says sexual abuse scandal can lead to change

I’m certain there is more abuse in totalitarian States than in Democracies. 😦

Steve Penny resigned. What next?

“Hallelujah!!” said former U.S. national team member Doe Yamashiro, who in a 2011 Orange County Register investigation said she was sexually abused by Peters.

“I think it’s an important first step, but we’re not going to get a different type of leadership developing until we really change the nuts and bolts of the sport’s culture in general. This is really a long term re-haul that is going to take a lot of effort and education, education of the public and the sponsorship, the gymnasts, coaches and parents.” …

“We don’t see this as the end of the scandal or the end of the need for USA Gymnastics to enact reforms,” said Manly,who represents more than 70 of Nassar’s alleged victims. “This is just the end of the beginning. It wasn’t just Steve Penny that looked the other way when children were being sexually abused. There were a lot of other longtime board members who looked the other way when this was happening and they need to go to.”

In particular, Manly singled out Parilla, who has served on the USA Gymnastics board of directors since 1999 and has been chairman since 2015. …

“They have yet to even say ‘I’m sorry’ to their victims,” Manly said. “Even the Catholic bishops did that.” …

SCOTT M. REID – Critics say Steve Penny’s resignation not enough in wake of sex abuse allegations involving USA Gymnastics

UPDATE – Jessica O’Beirne of @GymCastic has been following this issue closely. She details many possible next steps on the GymCastic #244: Russian Nationals & Gymnix 2017 audiocast. (Posted just before Penny’s resignation.)