playground Gymnastics

Love this trend.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That video is promoting Workoutmaps.com.

Volunteers are mapping parks worldwide where you can workout.

fun Tsukahara drill

Long before gymnasts flip their first Tsuk, they should do drills like this for psychological preparation.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It should be fun, not scary, when you finally allow them to flip. πŸ™‚

Another prerequisite would be double backs somewhere, even if only in a spotting belt on Tramp.

Melnikova – double wolf to double turn

Angelina Melnikova – FX Russian Junior Nationals 2015

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Gymternet)

protecting children in Gymnastics

MarvinSharpMarthaKarolyiThe GymCastic audiocast #163 – Enough – did a good job addressing this topic in the aftermath of the arrest of Olympic coach Marvin Sharp for suspicion of child molestation and possession of child pornography. Sharp pleaded innocent but is still in custody.

The GymCastic interviews with Dr. Megan Neyer and Katherine Starr are excellent. Very informative. Very helpful.

To follow up click through to Safe4Athletes.

The GymCastic page has more good links.

Coaches – especially male coaches – should not be alone with an underage athlete in a car, in a hotel, in a photo studio. Perhaps not even in an open Gym.

In the long term, female coaches must continue to take over leadership of women’s Artistic Gymnastics. WAG should have fewer male coaches in future. This means women should do more spotting … or – better – should coach with less spotting. More drills.