For two years, Sara Allan, a former gymnast who grew up in New York City, had wanted to file a complaint.
In 2018, she wrote a letter saying that her former gymnastics coach at Chelsea Piers, Chris McClain, had engaged in a litany of emotional abuse, including insulting and berating gymnasts about their weight, eating habits and mental abilities. …
In less than a month, Allan had compiled a 13-page document filled with specific complaints against McClain that spanned 15 years — from 33 gymnasts, nine of their family members and five coaches. They demanded that McClain be suspended and, to their surprise, their pleas were quickly heeded.
Chelsea Piers suspended McClain last Saturday, the day after Allan sent the complaint. Then, on Wednesday, U.S.A. Gymnastics also suspended McClain, pending an investigation. …
Category: safety
can you kill COVID-19 with ultraviolet light?
Some Gyms are considering ultraviolet light sanitizing wands for disinfecting Bars, Beams, etc.
At this point, I’d not recommend the technology.
UV-C works well for purifying liquids. And it’s been used for making food safer for over 50 years.
UV-C light probably kills the new COVID-19 virus IF the light is strong enough, direct enough, and long enough. As I post, however, that’s not yet been scientifically proven.
It did work on MERS and SARS.
But light wands work best on flat, hard surfaces.
UV-C light is dangerous for humans, as well. UV light can cause cancer. Damage eyes. It’s difficult to protect yourself while waving a wand.
NY is testing whether using powerful ultraviolet lamps can disinfect subways and buses. In future there might be a way to turn on UV-C lights at night in the Gym to help sanitize.
Companies are working on new ways to disinfect hard surfaces with UV-C light waves. Robots, for example.
Hospitals and airlines are using the technology. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
read more – Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
individual Bars mats at GAGE
Al Fong’s club has expanded on how they train Bars safely on return from COVID-19.
Gymnasts have their own bath mat to hold everything they need for Bars:
- freezer bag for chalk
- tape
- water bottle
- etc.
Do not share. Disinfect after the rotation.
Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.
how NOT to coach Gymnastics 😕
Remember the bad old days of negative coaching?
It went something like this …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Kyle Shewfelt on reopening Gymnastics
The 2004 Olympic Floor champion today owns a Gymnastics club in his home town Calgary.
Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics
Kyle was interviewed by Jock Wilson on Sports Talk radio.
He believes his Province, Alberta, has made a mistake in deciding when to allow children back indoors into sport and fitness clubs.
Right now indoor sports are relegated to phase 3 along with nightclubs.
Phase 3 could be October.
Will Gymnastics clubs survive?
Other Canadian Provinces are opening sooner. Kyle says some athletes are considering moving so they can resume training.
Outdoor sports will resume soon in some municipalities. Soccer, for example. But an indoor soccer centre in Calgary has already had to shut the doors.
High Performance Centres in Spain open
The National centres in Spain closed March 11th … and stayed closed for 67 days.
Spain was hit hard by COVID-19. Plan is to start training slowly and with an abundance of caution.
160 athletes were evaluated by questionnaires, examinations and blood tests. Only 2% were not allowed to return. Yet.
USAG on safe reopening
It seems to many that USA Gymnastics was quite slow in posting their own document.
Member clubs had already reopened before they saw this document, I believe.
Here’s a SAMPLE:
Spotting
• Athlete safety is paramount, and coaches should not be restricted from spotting an athlete if necessary, to protect the athlete from injury.
• While spotting remains an important element to athlete safety, consider alternative teaching/coaching methods that align with social distancing protocols.
• Clearly communicate any alternative teaching/coaching methods so they are understood by the athletes and their parents.
• Coaches should consider the use of gloves for personal contact, with a goal of switching gloves between athletes.
Parent Viewing
• Per USA Gymnastics’ Safe Sport Policy, a parent/guardian must be provided the opportunity to observe their child’s training.
Read the entire document for yourself:
USAG Safe Reopening
Laurie Hernandez on the TODAY show
“It’s a really big step for gymnasts and USA Gymnastics just to go ahead and do the right thing and make sure people know that kind of treatment isn’t OK. It’s not OK,” Hernandez said …
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
liquid chalk for Gymnastics?
UPDATE
I got some feedback on this radical idea. Male gymnasts tried it at one club but quickly abandoned the idea. It didn’t work as well for H Bar.
Dr. Bill Sands sent a Safety Data Sheet on Isopropyl Alcohol (50-100%).
Risks include the fact that Isopropyl Alcohol is flammable. And some are allergic to topical alcohol.
All in all, I don’t think I’d try liquid chalk.
___ original post:
Steve Arkell linked to this video, a rock climber making her own liquid chalk.
Alcohol is a component, a disinfectant.
I checked with a rock climbing coach who agreed it couldn’t hurt to use chalk with alcohol on reopening after COVID-19. On climbing walls. And in sports like Gymnastics.
He suggested we could use 100% alcohol in the formula.
When kids are in the Gym we should remind them not to touch their face, as well.
Leave a comment if you have an opinion.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
train Gymnastics outside if possible
It’s easier to physical distance outdoors as we open up from COVID-19. Move warm-ups or physical preparation rotations outside when possible.
Heart this on Facebook.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 