Category: Uncategorized

Coach Roger Burke is preparing one of his JMU gymnasts to compete in the Men’s NCAA championships starting April 12.

It must be tough coaching with the knowledge that both Men and Women’s Gymnastics teams will be dropped July 1st by James Madison University.

On Sept. 29, JMU announced it would drop seven men’s teams – archery, cross country, gymnastics, indoor track, outdoor track, swimming and wrestling – as well as three women’s teams – archery, fencing and gymnastics – because the school was not in compliance with Title IX, the 1972 law designed to guarantee equal opportunities for men and women.

I’m still confused. If Title IX is intended to help women’s athletics — why is the Women’s Team being cut?

Sounds like there is still a slight chance some of the sports may be saved at JMU.

The qualifying teams for Championships have been announced. Ohio, Oklahoma and Penn State are the top 3 seeds.

But how many years remain in the proud history of NCAA Championships if men’s teams continue to get dropped?

Field set for 2007 National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics Championships

UPDATE: Check the comments on this post for an explanation. (I had never heard of this before.)

==== original post:

Putting together a circus act at Santa Monica Gymnastics Center?

Looks like fun.

original – Flickr

source – Flickr

One reason I am going to the NCAA Championships is because I’m a huge booster of College gymnastics.

It’s a great training ground for coaches and judges. And a fantastic way for athletes to get a University education.

I’m doing some research before I go. Like most, I’ve misunderstood the purpose and results of Title IX legislation. I’ll be asking College coaches what they think.

I already know that Homer Simpson is old school:

Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else – and it hasn’t – it’s that girls should stick to girls’ sports, such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing and such and such.

Here’s a more modern perspective:

Title IX (Title 9) passed into law in 1972 and was intended to give both males & females equal participation and opportunities in federally funded institutions.

Title IX is not just for athletics, but equal access for pregnant & parenting students, employment, and many other important areas. Title IX has increaded woman & girls particiaption in sports dramatically from 1972 (see graph below). As gymnasts, coaches & fans title IX has been important in creating/saving many womans gymnastics programs in the past, and hopefully in the future.

Woman’s Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics

Womans Participation in High School Athletics

Title IX & womans gymnastics is now under attack. The Department of Education has created a new policy for the purpose of “Clarification”. Under this new “Clarification” the only requirement schools have now is to send an email survey to each female student asking if they have interest, and ability to play additional sports. If the female student doesn’t respond in a timely mater, the school considers this as no interested. The Department of Education’s new policy clearly undermines the intent of the law.

… Texas is a fine example of a high interest in womans gymnastics, but lack of collegiate gymnastics programs. The new Department of Education’s policy directly threatens woman’s sports and the progress it woman have made in sports.

Title IX Under Attack > GymnasticsMedia.com > GymnasticsMedia – Articles

The GymnasticsMedia article includes a number of links to more information.

Certainly things have improved for women in USA. Is Title IX a major reason?

How much did it actually hurt Men’s College sport?

Some additional links:

Title IX – Wikipedia

Is Title IX, the law protecting against discrimination based on sex, a good law? – ACLU

Leave a comment below if you have an opinion.

More footage of the unique Nastia Liukin.

Montage by fully booked.

Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.

Is my birthday coming up?

Maybe the top seller at lizatards is this hoodie. (US$40) Various colours.

Check their SALE ITEMS page as well.

Thanks Liz.

An important theme of this site is promoting career opportunities for acrobats and acrobatic coaches. The leading employer is Cirque du Soleil though the number of other options is expanding.

Career opportunities like this are a great motivator for athletes.

The Cirque du Soleil Casting team is specifically seeking artists and athletes in the following disciplines:

Artistic, rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, circus arts, trampoline, tumbling, diving, synchronized swimming, martial arts, stunts, extreme sports (BMX, rollerblading, etc.), urban acrobatic disciplines (b-boy/hip-hop, urban movement, acrobat-dancers, etc.).

… Do you know any talented individuals interested in joining Cirque du Soleil? …

Auditions based on video demo submission.

Details: www.casting.cirquedusoleil.com

casting @ cirquedusoleil.com.

This company introduces more new equipment than everyone else combined. And they’ve done it again.

Though I can’t find it (yet) on their website, I know the new air inflated mat is available for an introductory price of US$239. Almost a beatboard replacement, it looks like a lot of fun!

Email newsletter @ TumblTrak.com for details.

Is this now the biggest and best competition in the world?

Dates: April 21-22, 2007
Location: Orlando, Florida
Venue: Cheer: The Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sportsâ„¢!
Venue: Dance: Disney’s MGM Studios

Confusing technical regulations change constantly in the fastest growing acrobatic sport in the world. Check the official website for details: 2007 Cheerleading & Dance Worlds

Ascension Eagles

Grande Prairie (pop. 50,000) has a sweet new gym with 24,000 sq ft of gym space.

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Is there a better gym in a more remote location anywhere?

Open – September 2005
… operated by the GP Gymniks Assoc., who did their own fundraising over the past decade to make this 5.5 million dollar project a reality. Partners in funding also include the City of Grande Prairie, Centennial Legacies Grant (Province of Alberta) and the Swan City Rotary Club.

Programs encompass participants 18 months of age and up. There are recreation programs, rug rat programs, parent and tots, preschool, recreation badge programs, tramp and tumbling programs… Summer camps, fall classes and other year round events means a facility hosting over 1300 participants, with over approximately 100 000 visits annually.

… With this world class facility, future plans are already under way for expanding programs such as adding rhythmic gymnastics and men’s equipment.

The Gymniks Club was founded some 30 years ago. It is a not-for-profit organization that has successfully has raised millions of dollars, recruited Olympic standard coaches and earned the respect of local, regional and provincial funding agencies.

City of GP – CKC Gymnastics Centre – City of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

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If you want to see the gym for yourself, it’s 456km NORTH of Edmonton.