Category: Uncategorized

by Rick McCharles

As the editor of the world’s #1 site on a search for “gymnastics coaching”, I was invited to speak to some of the top coaches in Canada. Google says I’m an expert.

It’s been 4 weeks over 2 years of course work for the those graduating from Gymnastics Canada’s most advanced coaching certification. These fine people aspire to train Artistic gymnasts to compete internationally.

larger original

As usual, the course was directed by Keith Russell (far left) from University of Saskatchewan. Far right front is course organizer Bev Dickinson.

Thanks to our excellent demonstrators, front row.

Here’s my powerpoint presentation: “computers and the internet for elite gymnastics coaches” as a PDF file.

I organized topics of internet interest for elite coaches in 4 categories:

• coaches must be irrationally dedicated to succeed
• computers are frustrating and prone to failure
• computers can be time-wasters
• use them prudently

Communication:

• the internet is faster, cheaper and more efficient than phone
• email is essential
• instant messaging is not essential
• most coaches who try it, like Facebook
• good club communication prevents problems in future
• informal, interpersonal club communication is super important too
• schedule many opportunities for coaches, parents and athletes to socialize

Information:

• coaches first need to apply the information they already have
• keep a consistent, persistent training system
• Google is the best search engine
• I recommended Wikipedia as a place to get answers to general questions
• text (books, articles, etc.) highly over-rated as a communication media
• much better for inspiration are photos
• it’s easy to find great gymnastics photos on the internet
• coaches should collect and display good photos of their own athletes
• video is the most useful digital file type
• we need a bank of great video clips posted on-line
• YouTube is great, but low resolution
• YouTube gets worse every day, increasingly cluttered with crap
• YouTube has a lousy “filtering” system when you go to look for the good clips
• Gymnastics on Demand is the best on-line video source
• GymSmarts is the best source of DVDs
• recommended – Paul Hall DVD
• many websites are frustrating and rarely updated
• recommended – GYMmedia.com (Germany)
• recommended – International Gymnast magazine on-line
• the best websites have an RSS feed which lets you know when something new is posted
• recommended – Google Reader for RSS feeds
• blogs started as on-line diaries
• in 2007, most of my favourite websites are blogs
• recommended – Gymblog (WAG, MAG)
• recommended – difficulty plus execution (WAG)
• recommended – Perfect 10 (WAG)
• I wish more coaches would post blogs using WordPress or Blogger software
• best index of coaching articles is i-NEEDtoknow.com

Promotion:

• we need to promote our top athletes more
• we really need to promote our coaches more
• study the USA if you want to know how to “promote”
• some clubs are far better at promotion than others
• coaches need push their clubs to improve their websites (most are bad)
• recommended club website – Gymnastics Revolution

Administration:

• we have many good administrators, very few good coaches
• elite coaches should delegate administration to others, focusing on as few tasks as possible in their job descriptions

Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

I use it to track what’s new with gymnastics coaching.

source

Try a Google search for “Gymnastics Coaching”.

Google is still the best search engine.

With China’s massive population it is not surprising that there will be plenty of records broken when it comes to people and the Olympics. A record 560,000 people volunteered for the Beijing Olympics, including some young females to play the role as Olympic hostesses for the opening, closing and various other ceremonies that require a pretty face. …

the photos are great – Chinese Olympic hostesses in training » Beijing Olympic Games 2008

If you are a fan of free running video clips, you have to see this one. I’m certain it’s the oldest ever filmed.

Watch it on parkour-videos.com.

It comes from a weird and acclaimed documentary of newsreel footage from the 30s and 40s and 50s called Gizmo (1977). In fact, you can watch the entire 80min movie free on Google Video.

(via Straight to the Bar)

Personally I like wide “freeway” beams. They are excellent for beginner and even intermediate girls.

This home-made version is the widest I’ve ever seen.

freeway beam – flickr

Gymtastics Gymnastics, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

UPDATE: This content is originally from Stephen McCain of American Gymnast (AmGym.com). Steve also took the photos. It’s from one of their training articles. (Check that out right now if you have not seen them already.)

I love this site. Especially their fantastic Gymnastics on Demand video clips.

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Tip:

One of my favourite leg conditioning drills is drop down, stick landing. Not only is it very specific for training landings, but the eccentric contraction of the legs on a challenging landing is great for leg strength.

Most often we bounce off a trampoline, landing on a competition landing mat on the floor.

Only “stick” landings count.

From a high surface, such as the bar or a stack of mats, jump off to a stick position on the landing. Centre of gravity should be directly over the feet when landing, with arms stretched outright to assist in maintaining balance. Avoid bending your knees past 90 degrees during the landing.

From the GymSports New Zealand November 2007 newsletter (PDF) – Coaching | NZ Gymnastics

Congratulations!

Jennifer Wood, on the Canadian Olympic Team in 1992, is a great success story. She overcame many obstacles to emerge the first female gymnast from my region to get to the Olympics.

She then (1993-96), starting age-20, became one of the greatest LSU college gymnasts of all-time.

she finished her career as a nine-time All-American and four-time All-SEC selection … Scored a school record nine perfect 10.00s during her career, recording all of them on the vault …

LSU Sports

Born Dec. 12th, Isabelle Victorine Aucoin, 7 lbs 6 oz.

(via Rick McCharles)

Jennifer Isbister posted a terrific interview with Jenn if you want to know more. It’s a great story.

One excerpt:

I really think the FIG needs to consider the spectators and fans of the sport more. If you get too far away from the 10.0 scores you will lose your audience. If you make the scoring system too hard for the fans you will lose your audience. They also have to do a better job of selling the sport to the lay person. If you make things to complicated you will lose your audience. There are days when I am watching competitions and I have trouble figuring out what is what and if I can’t figure it out I can’t imagine someone without any gymnastics experience doing it.

Jennifer Wood – interview on Gymn.ca

Tricia Jephcott from Yorkshire, England contacted us about a women’s artistic coaching position. The ideal candidate is a proven coach who is also keen to train other coaches. The winning candidate would work with 3 different clubs as a regional coordinator.

It’s a 3yr contract. Closing date Jan. 11th, Feb 22, 2008.

recruitment @ british-gymnastics.org

This is one of the competitors in the 10th All China Games that took place Aug. 2006.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via poke me with a stick! « JumpClub)

For a coaching clinic in Calgary Dec. 27-31st, kids from Altadore Gymnastics will be my demonstrators.

The Altadore girls demonstrated for a clinic earlier in the season. That was good training for them and a lot of fun. (It had better be fun if they are to come in extra over the school holidays.)

Altadore gymnasts on Flickr – Stephen Neal

We could use more demonstrators, actually. Coaches of kids who will be in Calgary should email me (Rick_McCharles@hotmail.com) if they have boys or girls who would like to demo at the Level 2 Technical camp.