There are injuries before every major competition.
But Worlds 2023 — the Olympic qualifier — is the very worst time for contenders to be hurt.
Category: sport medicine
Derwael and Vaelen injured
Terrible news for Worlds host Belgium.
Two of their stars will miss the 2023 Championships.
sex differences and sport
We are unique in having men and women do such different apparatus in a sport commonly called Artistic Gymnastics.
There are pros and cons, of course.
There are distinct differences between men and women. It’s not always logical to have women do exactly the same sport, same rules, same equipment as men.
For one thing, women are far more likely to suffer ACL injury than men.
It makes sense to change rules and put women at lower risk of ligament tears, if possible. Different landing mats, for example.
Simone’s Yurchenko Double Pike is as good or better than any male. BUT — on average — women are more flexible, less strong than men.
…Scientific questions of relative performance lead to those of player safety, and ultimately to philosophy: what do varying opinions about changing women’s game reveal about the purpose of sport in society? …
Economist – Women are not the same as men. Should the rules and kit of their sports be?
Economist has a good podcast on the topic.
The GymCastic interview with Steve Butcher touches on some of the same points.
FIG eLearning platform – a review
As one of the authors of the Canadian WAG & MAG coach education online platform materials, I am impressed with what FIG has done with theirs.
It’s inevitable that eventually all our resources will be digital. Only a few of those printed.
Every organization is struggling with how BEST to move online.
FIG has challenges: 8 disciplines x 3 languages.
NEW is a requirement that all coaches in an FIG competition must get their Safeguarding Certificate by December 1, 2023.
The FIG is happy to announce that the Safeguarding Online Course is now available on the eLearning Platform. As approved by the Executive Committee in March 2023, the purpose of this course is to provide all coaches with a Safeguarding Certificate and therefore give them the tools they need to ensure a safe environment in Gymnastics.
This course is mandatory for all coaches registered in the FIG Coach – Sport Database, and the deadline to comply with this requirement is 1 December 2023. After this date, coaches who did not comply will see their registration pending until they obtain a Safeguarding Certificate.
via email
The guidelines are available here:
Step #1 is to register for the FIG E-learning platform. Anyone can do this.
There is a LOT of free content in all disciplines for anyone who registers:
- Age Group Development Program VIDEOS and ROUTINES
- Safeguarding
- Ethics
- Anti-doping
- Webinars
- More …
Create NEW Account
Enter your email address and choose a password.
Step #2 is to have your national Federation create a “Coach – Sport” profile in the FIG database for you.
Only those coaches who are planning to compete in an FIG sanctioned meet need their Federation to create a “Coach – Sport” profile in the FIG database, however.
hand RIPS are injuries
Smarter gymnasts and coaches suffer less lost time due to rips.
Some are avoidable.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Horizontal Bar – preventing griplock
Over the years I’ve seen griplock injuries 2 or 3 times. Never to one of my own gymnasts, happily.
Grip lock is a … injury that rarely occurs in gymnastics …
Athletic trainers and therapists should become familiar with the cubital grip positions that place gymnasts at high risk for grip lock injury and carefully observe performances
on the high bar in men’s gymnastics …Grip lock injury may be prevented through education of gymnasts and their coaches …
Concussion Symptoms
Appears dazed,
stunned, or confused
Struggles to follow instructions
Moves clumsily
Answers questions
slowly
Loses consciousness
Shows sudden mood, behavior, or personality changes
Can’t recall events that happened before or after their hit or fall
Marasco & Nesselbush have a good overview of concussion and brain injury protocol:
MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (MTBI) OR CONCUSSION AND SPORTS
Dave Tilley’s LANDING training
I’d concur that the very BEST drill for landing facing forward is jumping down from a height to punch forward salto. It’s also my favourite drill for take-offs facing forward.
For strong gymnasts I’d include 10 drops to punch front — OR 5 sticks, whichever comes first. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
injury recovery timeline
Walking with Ava leotard
Ava Costa, a 14 year old gymnast recently sustained a serious spinal injury during training that has left her with no movement below her point of injury.
Together with Ava and her family, we have created the Walking with Ava Leotard to raise funds to her recovery. …
Alternatively, you can donate to her Foundation.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 