coaching difficult athletes

Let’s face it. If you teach or coach long enough, inevitably you will have some students who you find irritating, abrasive or exasperating. …

… you owe it to the child, yourself as a professional and to the profession at large to find ways to rise above your feelings and find a way to positively work with these students.

Here are 20 actions that might help you make the transition from difficult to delightful student.

Ask yourself why you find this child difficult. …

Check to see if it is just the age you find difficult. …

Fake it until you make it. …

Use neutral language that describes the behavior, not the child. Watch the labeling and the backhanded name calling. A child is not a headcase, rather she is struggling with fear. She is not lazy, but she isn’t working to the level that you know she is capable.

…

Give the athlete some responsibly. …

Set clear rules and standards and reinforce them consistently. …

Refrain from arguing, lecturing or yelling. ….

Commit to keeping your cool. No matter what. …

If all else fails, own that you might not be the right fit and have the courage to let the child move on. …

frustrated-coach-1

Jag Gym – When You Want to Tear Your Hair Out: 20 Tips for Coaching Difficult Athletes

Click through to read the rest. I’m really enjoying Anne Josephson’s blog these days. 🙂

Glenville – Acrobatics & Tumbling

USAG:

GLENVILLE, W. Va. – Glenville State College … announced the addition of Acrobatics & Tumbling as the College’s 13th varsity sport. In addition, Amber King has been named the program’s first head coach …

Glenville State … is a member of the Mountain East Conference, an NCAA Division II-affiliated conference …

Intending to begin competition in 2016, Glenville State becomes the 12th member of the NCATA, further bolstering the presence of the sport in the Mountain State as the third member from the state of West Virginia, joining Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillipi, and Fairmont State University in Fairmont. …

NCATA

Glenville State College Adds Acrobatics & Tumbling

related – what is “Acrobatics & Tumbling”?

another great Simone Biles article

Bela:

“World champion is an understatement.”

Simone:

“I’ve never been to a party, like, ever. I don’t even know what they do there.”

Simone bounce

The Next Olympic Star

related – Caroline Price posted a career retrospective (so far) on Simone Biles.

Jason Burnett ACL

Bad news. 😦

Jason Burnett headed to rehab after knee surgery

JasonHigh flying Canadian men’s trampoline champion Jason Burnett has been grounded after undergoing knee surgery on Thursday.

“I survived!! ACL reconstruction surgery complete!” said Jason on Twitter. “Now for the fun part… Rehab rehab rehab.”
Jason injured his knee while in training earlier this month and will miss the upcoming world championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In an earlier tweet prior to surgery Jason reported: “The damage is a complete ACL tear, second degree MCL tear, medial and lateral meniscus tear, and bone bruise with microfracture (right knee).

“This injury comes at a very frustrating time but I’ve been in this position before. I’ll be back!!

Gymnastics Canada

NCAA Vault – a stick contest

Since College judges do not much reward height, distance or body position, getting a good score is pretty much determined by the landing.

Click PLAY or watch Utah training landings on YouTube.

11yr-old dancer Adilyn Malcolm

I’m astonished at the number of brilliant very young dancers getting notice on YouTube of late.

For example … super difficult dubstep comes easy to Adi.

… Adilyn — also known as “Audacious Adi” — says she loves dubstep and learned to dance from watching YouTube videos.

And to make her even more impressive, Adi’s only been dancing for about six months as she’s been busy with a different passion: “I am actually a motocross racer, but when I’m not on my bike, this is the next best thing!” she writes.

HuffPo

Click PLAY or watch Audacious Adi #2 on YouTube.

If you like that, check “Audacious Adi” #1 on YouTube.

Romania Update

Bea Gheorghisor:

We are over-flooded with news from Romania these days …

… Octavian Bellu was interviewed “Things get more complicated next year and I don’t want to think that the Romanian team will be for the first time in history in a position to not qualify for the Olympics. The objectives, beyond the excitement of the moment created by the Worlds, are very clear to me and they remain clear: Romania must not fall from the podium in the team competition …

A new head coach will be appointed … Lucian Sandu, Lacramioara Moldovan and Cristian Moldovan were the interim team for Nanning and are also among the front runners for the permanent position. …

Nicolae Forminte, former head coach of the Romanian Seniors, is now a coach at Deva, for the Junior team …

… Larisa Iordache was everywhere … doing TV, radio and newspaper interviews …

Romania

read more – Couch Gymnast – News, Interviews, Celebrations

the ballet body

Australian Ballet:

Our Body Conditioning Specialist Paula-Baird Colt talks injury prevention and, with the help of dancers Dimity Azoury and Rudy Hawkes, demonstrates the exercises (including “Just Pick it Up” and “Superman”) that help keep the company healthy.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thank Vadim Golub for the link.

elephant acrobatics

This is for real.

kinesthesist:

… that’s Rene Casselly, this act won gold at the Monte Carlo circus festival two years ago.

(via Hal Halverson)