Gymnastics Coaching.com

Most recent edition has just been posted.

Here are a couple of studies that may be of interest.

… sample consisted of 27 female gymnasts and 15 controls. …

… Sedentary adolescents show a higher prevalence of overweight, hypertension, osteopenia and final height prediction. In this particular group of athletes, competitive gymnastics influences body composition but does not appear to compromise nutritional status, normal progression of puberty, bone mass and genetically defined final height. …

GYMNASTICS AND THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD: REALITY OR MYTH? (PDF)

Another compared take-off’s kinetic and kinematic variables of elite male gymnasts doing different kinds of standing backward saltos.

KINEMATIC AND KINETIC ANALYSIS OF COUNTER MOVEMENT JUMP VERSUS TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STANDING BACK SOMERSAULT (PDF)

UPDATE:

Good news.

In California, coaches were not standing in for Compulsory J.O. Bars, fearing deduction, even if they didn’t spot their gymnast.

Beginners are at risk of slipping off backwards, while trying to get as high a swing as possible in competition.

But check out what JBS, founder of the Chalk Bucket forum, found after researching the issue:

Page 163…section VIII…#4 of the JO Compulsory Program book used to read:

Coach standing between the bars or next to the beam throughout exercise 0.10

Now it reads:

Coach standing next to the beam throughout exercise 0.10

read more on Chalk Bucket…

JBS links to the relevant update in the 2005-2013 WOMEN’S JR. OLYMPIC COMPULSORY BOOK ERRATA.

So, … J.O. coaches CAN stand-in for their kids on Bars in compulsories. Without deduction. You may want to photocopy that update document and take it with you to the competition if you want to stand in.

Note also:

118 L5/6 V A. General: Add 12. There is NO deduction for coach standing between the board and the vault table.

You’re still not allowed to stand in for Beam or Floor.

____ see original post below:

Jeremy Waters, California Sports Center, San Jose, CA:

Open Letter to USA Gymnastics

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of coaching my girls at the NorCal Level 6 State Championships. While I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend — as I almost always enjoy meet weekends — there was one moment that I will be reliving in my nightmares for weeks to come. A girl from another gym peeled off the bar in the back of a tap swing, and landed directly on her head. The meet was interrupted, the girl was carried out on a stretcher and taken to the emergency room. Fortunately, she turned out to be fine …

Under current USAG rules, points are deducted if the coach stands between the bars ready to catch the gymnast during a routine. And while coaches are permitted to step in for a singe skill or brief sequence, this is so nebulously defined that most coaches, to avoid that deduction, simply stand back for the whole routine.

This is not an acceptable situation. Such dangerous and preventable crashes should never be allowed to occur. For the safety of all female gymnasts in the US, I urge you to rewrite the spotting regulations on bars to encourage or even require coaches to stand close to or under the bars during a routine. …

If you’ve an opinion on that, leave a comment on Jeremy’s Facebook page.

Gymnastics Alberta:

During a routine training session in October, Age Group National team member Brett Babcock (formerly of Kingston Aeros) was injured while training Double Mini Trampoline at the Phoenix Gymnastics Centre in Edmonton, AB. Brett suffered a spinal cord injury (C5 fracture) and had surgery several days later. He is undergoing physical and occupational therapy and has regained significant upper body movement. Brett will continue his rehabilitation process in Toronto.

A trust fund is being established on Brett’s behalf. Details will be circulated as soon as they are available.

Brett is happy to receive contact and well-wishes via facebook.

The Canadian gymnastics community is wishing Brett a successful rehabilitation process and complete recovery from this unfortunate accident.

Brett Babcock on Facebook

I stumbled on to a Newsletter of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine for 2008. The theme — Gymnastics Injuries.

In conclusion, gymnastics is a very demanding sport for the athlete and for those involved in providing medical care.

Gymnasts often suffer a significant number of injuries during their careers and to numerous body parts including the upper and lower extremities and the spine. …

Newsletter – Gymnastics Injuries (PDF)

You can open a copy from that link. if interested in the medical community’s opinion of our sport.

That would be … Wayne Miller.

Jeff T. Hennessy:

… The 2 ½ twisting backward 1 ½ somersault performed on the springboard was the diving skill that was the birthplace of the triple twisting double backward somersaults. While evaluating Wayne Miller performing a 2 ½ twisting backward 1 ½ somersault, I could see if added a barani to the end of the dive …, he would have a new trampoline skill. …

After a considerable number of well-executed performances, of this new skill from the springboard, he moved to the trampoline. The trampoline bed was a one inch web bed. This took place during 1963-64. …

Trampoline Pundit – The Miller: Triple Twisting Double Back Somersault

See more historical photos on TrampolinePundit’s Flickr.

related – responses to that post from Wayne Miller, Ron Munn, and more

Here’s the kind of opportunity you don’t see too often.

Following the conclusion of the London Olympics Gymnastics Queensland has conducted a review of its High Performance Program with a view to increase the number of Queensland Gymnasts on the National team at 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

As part of this, Gymnastics Queensland is seeking to fill the following positions:

WAG Senior International Coach
WAG International Coach
WAG Senior Development Coach
WAG Senior Development and Dance Coach

MAG Senior International Coach
MAG Senior Development Coach
MAG Junior Development Coach

Salaries dependent upon experience and qualifications.

Gymnastics Queensland

This is a serious reboot, not simply an exercise where current coaches need reapply. Closing date for applicants is Nov. 26th, 2012.

Thanks Anita.

Dozens of coaches have been consulted on a new resource, a home handstand training program.

The first reaction of most was: “I’m not sure I want my kids doing too many handstands at home. They’ll practice bad habits.”

But I was quickly won over. This is going to work. Kids are going to do handstands at home — so let’s have them practice as correctly and safely as possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Just in time for Christmas, the package is available worldwide for $361. Or you can buy the pieces separately.

details

The 60 page Handstand Homework book is the best resource on handstand I’ve ever seen. Congratulations to editor Carrie Lennox.

… has launched a new strategy designed to build on the success of the last four Olympics Games and to solidify its identity as one of three foundation sports fundamental for participation in all other sports.

Canada’s gymnastics athletes have won a total of seven medals (6 in Trampoline), including two gold, at the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games, putting them among the country’s top Olympic medal producers in recent years. …

The new plan identifies four key strategic objectives:

• Grow gymnastics from the foundation up and continue to improve international results

• Enhance athlete and coach support nationally through improved revenues and program spending

• Improve efficiency and productivity at every level of management and operations

• Improve services and communication with all members and stakeholders

Gymnastics Canada

Check the Plan overview. (PDF)

Details to come.

I’ve criticized the organization for poor communication. Let’s see if there’s any real improvement with the Plan.

The biggest argument against the “perfect 10” scores is that it’s always possible to do a little bit better.

BBS compares perfect routines:

In 2012, we saw five 10s awarded on vault. …

My ranking …
1. Frattone
2. Zamarripa January
3. Zamarripa Super Six
4. Stack-Eaton
5. Milliner

Click PLAY or watch Tauny Frattone on YouTube.

See the rest on Balance Beam Situation

I slightly prefer Vanessa Zamarripa – April 21, 2012 🙂

Leave comments on that page.

Full Twist:

… India competes for both Ireland and Northern Ireland, similar to top Irish male gymnast Luke Carson, she is eligible to compete for both. …

Who would be your gymnastics idols and why?

My gymnastics idol is Shawn Johnson, I love her power and style of gymnastics. I remember watching her in Salto in 2007 at the GB v USA competition, this was the first time I saw her perform her tuck full twist on beam and it has been my goal to do the same, now I have finally achieved that!

Click PLAY or watch a training Beam routine on YouTube.

What would be the highlight of your career so far to date?

Competing Internationally is always great – I’ve been to Junior Europeans and the European Youth Olympic Festival but the highlight really has to be gaining a full scholarship to Western Michigan University.

read more – 10 minutes with: India McPeak (IRE)