Category: safety

Maggie Haney’s NY Times interview

If you are not a subscriber, there’s a copy on The Morning Call:

If she could travel back in time, before she was suspended from gymnastics after being accused of berating and mistreating her athletes, including an Olympic champion, Maggie Haney says she would change the way she coached. …

… “Maybe what used to be OK is not OK anymore, and maybe it shouldn’t be. I think maybe the culture has shifted.” …

Haney said the accusations against her — particularly those from Hernandez, whom she coached from age 6 — had come out of nowhere, and she vehemently denied them.  …

Riley McCusker, who has a good chance of making the U.S. team for the Tokyo Games, filed a lawsuit against Haney last month. …

A gymnastics coach accused of emotional abuse speaks out: ‘I cared too much’

Aside from Maggie’s friends and some former gymnasts, most coaches I talk to feel the penalties decided by USAG were harsh but appropriate.

Spencer had the most entertaining reaction to the interview.

Read Stephanie Ventura’s response – An Open Letter to the New York Times Regarding Gymnastics, Abuse, and Sub-standard Journalism

why lock-up youth sports?

The #1 complaint I’m hearing from coaches.

There have been no COVID super spreader events in Gymnastics clubs, yet (in some areas) riskier venues are allowed to stay open.

Churches. Shopping Centres. Bars. Etc.

Schäfer sisters speak out

Pauline (2016 Olympian) and Helene Schäfer publicly spoke up about abuse they experienced during their gymnastics training.

They gave an interview to Spiegel.de alongside Sophia Steurer, Lisa Hill, Isabelle Marquardt, and Rosa-Lynn Schmitz detailing psychological and emotional abuse by the coaches.

gymnovosti

Twisters Gym Club GoFundMe

Twisters Sports in Sunnyvale, California has been shut for many months.

They’re currently running their second gofundme campaign to try to stay alive.

Good luck.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

SEC to compete in conference only

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday a conference-only schedule that will feature eight meets as well as the league meet. 

… based on the need for maximum flexibility in making any necessary scheduling adjustments while reacting to developments around the COVID-19 pandemic and continued advice from medical professionals.  …

Gymnastics Moves to All-SEC Schedule

advantages of NOT moving up levels

For example, don’t move JO7 to JO8 if you are not yet confident in flipping vaults.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

home Beam for Christmas?

James Parent gives a rundown of the excellent products available from Tumbl Trak.

I like the shorter 7″ wide Laser Beam (VIDEO) best. Wide and soft keeps the kids safest at home.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion

USA Gymnastics … introduced an updated policy for transgender and non-binary inclusion.

… intended to promote a safe and inclusive environment for athletes of all gender identities, while protecting the privacy of trans and non-binary athletes.

USAG
  • Transgender athletes no longer need to apply to participate in the discipline that aligns with their gender identity.
  • Surgical sex reassignment, legal gender recognition, and hormone therapy requirements have been removed.
  • Guidance for non-binary athletes has been added.
  • Educational resources have been incorporated within the policy to help build a more informed community.

Coach Dennis Vachon was interviewed on GymCastic about his experience coaching Emily. An inspiring story.

https://twitter.com/Dehneh/status/1329173518249025538

disinfecting Beams

UPDATE

Happily it’s looking increasingly that COVID-19 is not caught easily from surfaces.

But with an abundance of caution where children spend a lot of time, one of the Buckeye parents invented a device that cleans with ultra violet light.

Note – Canada cautions that some Ultraviolet (UV) lights and wands are falsely claiming to disinfect against COVID-19.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Gymnasts locked out again

Life is pretty much back to normal for clubs in New Zealand and Korea.

But in places where COVID-19 numbers are rapidly increasing, some governments are again restricting Gymnastics classes.

That’s a shame as coaches know that our facilities can be as safe as anywhere.

Hang in there. Stay safe.