IOC on Russia & Belarus

Christine Still & Brett Ince

Alice Kinsella GBR, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion in Team and on Floor, took the time to thank her coaches online.

Much appreciated.

active hip / trunk flexibility

Artistic Preparation expert Julia Spivak recommends this drill.

Encouraging the gymnast to press forward with the hips rather than simply ARCH.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Tumbl Trak Spotting Blocks

All I want for Christmas is the Al Fong Spotting Blocks System.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

FIG MAG landing deductions

From FIG MTC Newsletter December 2022.

The Code of Points, Article 9.2.17 states the following:

Landing with feet slightly apart and gymnast lifts heels and joins both heels together without lifting and moving the front of his feet – No deduction

There have always been discussion surrounding what is meant by “slightly”. …

If the feet are more than 10cm apart there will be a 0.1 or 0.3 deduction taken, even if the heels are brought together after the initial landing. (Article 9.4)

FIG MAG ‘low landing’ deduction

From FIG MTC Newsletter December 2022.

Low Landings

The MTC has also become concerned for the safety of the gymnasts with exceptionally low landing positions on all apparatus. A low landing is defined as the hips below the knees, which should be deducted 0.5 for technical error. (Article 9.4, Other Technical Errors)

In the example below the gymnasts’ hips are below the knees, 0.5 deduction.

Abortion in Kentucky is illegal from fertilization

Abortion in Kentucky is illegal from fertilization. …

Wikipedia

Legal under U.S. law — but with many dangerous unintended consequences for girls and women.

I’m surprised USA Gymnastics would choose to host events in States with such controversial interpretations of the recent Supreme Court ruling. I see this as a red flag. USAG doesn’t care.

18-year-old FIG male athletes

Federations … “must declare through the gymnast’s FIG profile whether their 18 year old gymnasts will compete as junior or senior prior to their first competition for the year concerned.”, new parameters have been set in the FIG Database to allow NFs to proceed with this declaration.

Starting from 01 January 2023, each 18 year old gymnast’s profile will need to be set by choosing a “Preferred age category” (either Junior or Senior) on the FIG Database.

Details.

Nile Wilson’s TED Talk

Nile informative and entertaining, as always.

He’s going to be on ITV’s Dancing on Ice next season. That should be entertaining, as well. 😀

Olympic gymnast and medalist Nile Wilson draws on his own personal challenges with mental health as a trailblazer in sports to shed some light on the challenges many professional athletes face on their journey to becoming champions.

.. Yet, Nile is so much more than just a gymnast – a YouTuber with over 1.5 million subscribers and 350 million total views; a social media influencer; a highly successful entrepreneur; an advocate for mental health awareness; and a powerful voice within his sport over the historic treatment of gymnasts. …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

new Gymnastics Canada complaints program

I just sent in my consent form to participate in Gymnastics Canada’s new system for lodging complaints.

The goal is to make the process more independent. Hopefully better — though there are always unintended consequences of any change.

As of December 19, 2022, Gymnastics Canada is a Program Signatory of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

This means that, from the date, any allegation of maltreatment or other prohibited behavior, as defined in the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), against a UCCMS participant of Gymnastics Canada must be filed directly with the OSIC. …

To validate whether a complaint may be admissible to this service, or for assistance in filing a complaint, anyone can contact the Canadian Sport Helpline at 1 888 837-7678 or by email at info(a)abuse-free-sport.ca

Canadians should check their email to see if they have been asked to fill out this form as the deadline is December 19, 2022.

Anyone choosing not to sign on might have to terminate their affiliation with Gymnastics Canada.