Gymnastics Coaching.com

Masters Gymnastics Survey

You are invited to participate in a research study of participation motivations and online media usage of masters gymnastics participants (Adult gymnasts). The study is being conducted by Andrea N. Eagleman, Ph.D., a Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport and Exercise at Massey University in New Zealand. …

SURVEY

It takes about 15min to complete.

(via Rec Gymnastics)

Céline van Gerner

The Hard Way To Success – Episode 9.

Entire episode will be online November 4.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mom, I’m done with gymnastics

… When she was 11, she earned first place all-around for her level in the state, all ages. It was an incredible moment, and I started believing that maybe she was good enough to get a college scholarship.

Then the injuries started. She fractured the growth plate in one wrist, then the other. Later, there was an ankle fracture. After that, the fear crept in. The skills were getting harder, and the back handspring on the beam gave her anxiety. Her palms often had giant blisters from the bars. I asked her often if she still wanted to do gymnastics. She always said yes. …

We were driving home after a vacation in Virginia a few weeks ago when she told me: “Mom, I’m done with gymnastics.” Just like that. After almost eight years — about half her life — she was ready to trade in her leotard for a life outside the gym. She said the sport wasn’t as much fun anymore. She was tired of being afraid. …

It took me a few days to realize that the huge investment of time had made her who she was now. She’d had to be organized to get her homework done. She was meticulous, focused and strong. Gymnastics had done that.

She’d learned to take risks. She’d learned to fight fear. She’d learned perseverance in the face of disappointment. She’d learned to succeed at one of the toughest sports on earth. She’d learned to give it up on her terms.

Grief turned to relief. …

read more – Gymnast’s decision throws her mom off balance

Proactive Coaching – Mike Morgan

This past summer I attended two of three sessions with Mike Morgan from Proactive Coaching.

Avant Coeur Gymnastics:

3:00 pm – coaches
4:30 pm – athletes
6:00 pm – parents

Many of us loved the parents session. Mike — a music & football coach, parent of a gymnast — didn’t go easy on problem parents.

He pointed out that parents today are parenting differently than in the past:

#1 – 80% of communication is body language …
#2 – tone of voice
#3 – … words you use

Parents have changed, but kids haven‘t. Teens can be contrary, self-negative, argumentative.

Parents need deal with problems quickly and calmly. Practice your response to misbehavior.

“I love you too much to allow that behaviour.“

Mike emphasized that parents need to let go. They need to “release” their children to .…

… A. to the Game
… B. to the Team
… C. to the Coach

Part of parenting is to teach risk taking. Sport is a good place to learn how to put yourself on the line. How to win. And how to lose.

Far more dangerous for teens is experimenting with smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.

Parental RED FLAGS:

1. want to share in sporting credit
2. want to solve all their children’s problems
3. want to coach their son/daughter
4. yell at the officials
5. build excuses: refs, equipment, coaching, etc.
6. avoid the coach after competitions
7. parents more nervous than their children
8. slower getting over defeats than their children

Over-managed and stressed out parents result in over-managed and stressed out athletes.

Parents in distress or emotional need to give their children some space. Stay away from workout. Sit at the very top of the bleachers during competitions.

Interested in the good word on coaching?

LIKE Proactive Coaching on Facebook. They post several times a day.