Category: safety

Black Lives Matter athlete roundtable

Erynne Allen (Penn State ‘20), Sierra Brooks (Michigan ‘23), Alexis Brown (UC Davis ‘18), Darian Burns (Seattle Pacific ‘20), Dymiana Cox (Penn State ‘22), Kytra Hunter (Florida ‘15), AJ Jackson (Oklahoma ‘18), Zahra Lawal (Seattle Pacific ‘20), Nya Reed (Florida ‘22), Paige Williams (Minnesota ‘20) and Gabryel Wilson (Michigan ‘23)

Floyd’s murder was the flash-point that ignited impassioned protests throughout the United States, with millions of voices screaming for justice and demanding equity for Black citizens. Social media quickly became a hotbed of emotion, and NCAA gymnastics programs were not immune.

The content of the teams’ responses—both official and unofficial—was heavily scrutinized, with many drawing harsh criticism from the gymnastics community for being too generic or too anemic. …

Black Lives Matter: Shining a Light on Racism in NCAA Gymnastics

Which teams were able to use the words “Black Lives Matter”, and which were forced to use weasel words workarounds?

#GymnastAlliance update

It’s not easy to keep up, on different social media, with gymnast statements from around the world.

Fortunately, GymCastic has been doing that for us.  And updating each week.

Listen to episode #437 Lineup Racism?

Michigan Gym are still not open

So far, I’ve only heard of one club that had to shut down after reopening.

A coach tested positive, catching the virus outside the Gym.

So far, it seems competitive gymnasts are able to train safely. 

Michigan gymnastic centers pleading with Gov. Whitmer to re-open

former coach Graham Partington admits rape

Australia.

Alison Wright was 14 and an aspiring gymnast, good enough to win a national junior gold medal. Graham Partington was 40 and her coach. One night, he raped her. Another day, he made her perform oral sex on him in his car.

He eventually paid the price with a prison sentence. But it took 36 years. …

When her case came to the attention of Victoria’s SANO Taskforce on child abuse in 2016, she struck up a natural rapport with a detective who had been an elite dive coach. To make a watertight case, he said an apology from Partington would not be enough; they would need a detailed confession.

He put her on the phone to him and told her to keep him talking. She did, for two hours. …

Decades on, Alison extracted a confession from her gymnastics coach

The coach, now age-76, got six years’s jail, with a minimum of 3½.

Anonymous comment:

l wish to remain anonymous but felt sick to the stomach upon hearing what this monster did to a 14 year old aspiring gymnast. I refuse to say his name but will refer to him as the Monster & Cretin he is.

At the school l attended he was the gymnastics coach of the elite team of which l was a part of. If my memory serves me well he was the gymnastics coach at my school for about 4 to 6 years. It sickens me to think what this piece of scum may have been capable of in what he may have done to other aspiring young gymnasts. This was during the 1980s.

This Swamp Rat should stay rotting behind bars forever. The fact that he admitted to not just the rape of a young girl but forced her to have oral sex is beyond evil & reprehensible.

I fervently hope he Rots In Hell taking away the trust & innocence of young gymnasts. 

I am so thankful l wasn’t one of his victims but am beyond sorry to all those who suffered at the hands of this evil monster.

Don’t let him ruin the rest of your lives Ladies. Don’t give him the satisfaction he’s won. I truly hope there is an eternal hell for paedophiles. They can NEVER be allowed to walk free & as far as “rehabilitation programs” go? Forget it.

HAPPY to be back at Gymnastics

Compared with many team sports, it’s easier to maintain physical distancing in an individual sport like Gymnastics.

Darcie Fellows posted an excellent video showing the benefits of kids getting back to Gymnastics after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Click PLAY or watch Santa Rosa Gymnastics on YouTube.

Thanks Mary.

Can NCAA train safely?

Natalie Wojcik believes it can be done.

Her University has already postponed Football this Fall, hoping to play in the Spring of 2020 instead.

Gymnastics – optimal number of training hours

All coaches agree there’s never enough time to include everything they want in any training plan.

We need to set priorities.

And not waste time.

GAGE is one club I’d highlight as having very efficient training.

I’m hopeful that COVID-19 reset results in many Gyms reducing training hours.  Setting more modest, achievable goals.  Goals less performance / ranking based, more personal development.

Injuries reduce the number of effective training hours.  Fewer injuries over the career = more effective hours.

… but to answer the question, I’ve always admired Shawn Johnson’s plan.  She trained maximum 24 hours / week during High School with one training / day.  And became the best gymnast in the world.

If your goal is not to become one of the best gymnasts in the world, training hours should be fewer than 24 / week.

Aimee posted Simone’s hours on Twitter.

Keith Russell often talks about finding the best coach / hour. 

With less training time, less equipment, who’s the best coach?

Click over to Facebook to see Dave Tilley’s opinion.

NCAA WAG highest surgery incidence rate

Women’s gymnastics, men’s football, and men’s and women’s basketball are NCAA sports with an elevated risk of injury requiring of surgery.

The results from this study can guide the NCAA and providers regarding which sports should be the focus of future research, new injury prevention strategies, and healthcare personnel allocation during events.

The Physician and Sportsmedicine

Surgery rates among 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports from 2005-14.

ACL tears most likely to stop return to sport.

We’ve got to do more to protect knees.

National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Yes.  That’s a thing.

And they will be providing a free dedicated helpline that will support with concerns of abuse in British Gymnastics and other sports.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has joined forces with the British Athletes Commission to provide free, confidential support and guidance to anyone involved with gymnastics who has safeguarding concerns …

British Athletes Commission members can continue raise concerns directly with the BAC Athlete Support team via support@britishathletes.org.

Details.