Gymnastics Coaching.com

sport ethics – Meghan Vogel

Meghan Vogel doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.

Vogel, a junior runner for West Liberty-Salem High School (West Liberty, Ohio), won the 1,600-meter title Saturday at the Division III girls state meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus. But it’s what she did in her next race that was most remarkable.

With about 20 meters to go in the 3,200, Arden McMath, a sophomore from Arlington High School, collapsed in front of Vogel. Rather than run by her, Vogel helped McMath to her feet and carried her across the finish line, making sure to keep McMath ahead of her.

“Any girl on the track would have done the same for me,” Vogel said Monday. …

ESPN – Prep runner carries foe to finish line

Life lessons like this kids learn in sport, not school.

Here’s the VIDEO.

compulsories teach basics

No matter how many times Bruno Grandi insists that quality of gymnastics is paramount, fact is that highest start scores win the medals.

… but how did we get to this state of affairs?

Three main reasons, I postulate:

• open-ended Code encourages more and more difficult routines
• easier for judges to rank top routines
• fewer “compulsories” world-wide

Do you have compulsory routines where you coach?

Though Edouard Iarov has moved on — to WOGA — the developmental program he put in place as Canada’s Men’s National Coach is still working.

We have a big base of good young guys in the “Argo” program doing “compulsories“. It’s still the best way to reward “basics”.

Here’s a sample Horizontal Bar routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Elija is from Calgary Gymnastics Centre.

quick links

Russian Cup June 12-17 results | Finals | Olympic Teams

Aussie CEO Catherine Clark

It’s nice to see a young female in the leadership position of a female youth sport.

… In a room of ageing sporting administrators she is impossible to miss, her gender and age the most obvious points of difference from those in similar posts.

Clark won her first chief executive job at the age of 28, when she was made boss of GymSports New Zealand. Now 34, she heads up Gymnastics Australia …

The Age – Balancing act

(via GYMMIN’ MIEL)

Killian Martin – skateboard

I’ve always felt that skateboard was the most boring (and over-rated) acrobatic sport.

But this video is bloody brilliant.

Directed by Brett Novak. Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/43044223

Ron sends a link to another popular skateboard video shot at 1000 frames / second.

(via Kottke)

a tour of GAGE, Missouri

Great American Gymnastic Express.

Charmingly amateurish, here’s an entertaining way to show off gymnastics facilities. And promote club programs.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

You might be surprised to learn that consummate Elite WAG coach Al Fong is an enthusiastic booster of Men’s Gymnastics and Cheer. 🙂

12 aspiring Aussie Olympians

… Following the first Olympic qualification trial held at the 2012 Australian Gymnastic Championships last week, a finalist squad of 12 has been selected to attend a pre-Olympic training camp and second round Olympic nomination competition at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, June 11-17. The final trial will occur at the camp, June 16 and 17.

Congratulations to selected athletes (in alphabetical order):

Georgia Bonora (VIC)
Ashleigh Brennan (VIC)
Georgia-Rose Brown (VIC)
Angela Donald (VIC)
Daria Joura (QLD)
Emily Little (WA)
Larrissa Miller (QLD)
Lauren Mitchell (WA)
Mary-Ann Monckton (VIC)
Chloe Sims (QLD)
Olivia Vivian (WA)
Georgia Wheeler (VIC)

Gymnastics Australia – WAG Olympic Squad announced

… West Australian gymnast Nikki Chung was forced to remove herself from selection after she sustained an injury to her the deltoid ligament in the ankle and a torn ACL in her knee during warm-ups of the first day of the Championships.

Victorian Zoe Lorenzin has withdrawn from Olympic selection as well, with a stress fracture of the navicula (bone in the foot) that was a diagnosed soon after the completion of the first trial. …

on Shawn

The best piece I’ve read on Shawn Johnson’s retirement was by Andy Thornton:

… when we heard yesterday’s announcement, many of us felt a sudden whirlwind of conflicting emotions – sadness, surprise, and disappointment…mixed with a sense of confirmation and closure…and muddled with an overall bit of confusion – all at the same time. Was there a hint of anger blended in as well? For many fans, I think so. …

… Shawn Johnson is a champion, and I have a great deal of admiration for her as both a gymnast and as a person. She’s been one of the most honest, upfront, and likeable American gymnasts in history, and it would have been a real treat to see her follow this second Olympic pursuit all the way through, regardless of how it ended. Many of us are disappointed to see her drop out of the mix, but at the same time respect her efforts in making what was a very impressive comeback to the most difficult sport in the world – after a two-year layoff and a very serious knee injury. ..

American Gymnast – Shawn Johnson’s Retirement…A Candid Reflection