Gymnastics Coaching.com

I thought the open-ended code was supposed to be killing Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.

The 42nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships set for Rotterdam (NED) this year are drawing a great response from national gymnastics federations around the world. By the time provisional registration closed yesterday, May 19, a record number of gymnasts had entered the championships.

A total of 729 gymnasts (399 men and 330 women) from 72 different nations are expected to make their way to Rotterdam in October.

However, whether or not 2010 will go down in history as the world championships with the greatest number of competitors ever remains to be seen; we’ll know more after the athletes have shown up in Rotterdam.

It’s easy to see why the Rotterdam Worlds are attracting so many participating nations. This year’s championships will determine which 24 Teams in Men’s and Women’s Artistic will go on to compete at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo (JPN), prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. A total of 56 Teams will compete in Men’s, and 47 in Women’s. …

read more – FIG – Record participation in Rotterdam?

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js

The draw for the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore has been posted, as well. Nations have been assigned, but not whom will be competing.

Numbers at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships are way up, too, a 26% increase over 2008.

From MunchTheSilivasFan.

Some long forgotten skills and combinations.

… Music: ABBA – Take A Chance on Me. Yeah, I know Abba were 70s.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

MAG / WAG coaches required in New Zealand

Hutt Valley GymSports situated in Lower Hutt New Zealand has vacancies for coaches able to instruct in the MAG and/or WAG disciplines. Qualifications to coach at a senior level are desirable but not essential as the roles and responsibilities are open to discussion and there is scope for additional work in the club’s Gym for All, Play Gym and casual programmes. The ability to communicate with people at all levels, a willingness to learn and enthusiasm in coaching are key attributes that applicants must be able demonstrate.

If you’re travelling to New Zealand on a working holiday or are heading this way for a longer stay this could be the ideal work opportunity for you.

You can also visit our website at www.huttvalleygymsports.co.nz for more information about our club.

Pay rate and hours negotiable.

Please email CV in the first instance to HVGS President – tim.edgeler AT gmail.com.

The best coaching staff photos I’ve ever seen were shot by Missoula photographer Jonathan Qualben

Those are some of the Mismo Gymnastics and Cheer coaches.

Analyst Andrew Thornton posted the most optimistic assessment for the USA that I’ve seen.

He believes this American team could beat this Russian team in Rotterdam, this October:

1. Rebecca Bross
2. Bridget Sloan
3. Kytra Hunter
4. Kayla Williams
5. Aly Raisman
6. Samantha Shapiro

1. Aliya Mustafina
2. Tatiana Nabieva
3. Ksenia Afanasyeva
4. Ksenia Semenova
5. Anna Pavlova
6. Anna Myzdrikova

There’s a whole lot of ifs, buts and maybes, of course. But it makes for interesting speculation.

Click through for details and to comment: American Gymnast – Could this USA women’s world team win gold?

Frustrated trying to get a question answered online?

Ask Jay.

American Gymnast is owned by former World Gymnastics Team Member and Goodwill Games Silver Medalist, Jay Thornton. Jay has over 25 years experience in the sport of gymnastics, including as an elite gymnast, coach, judge, USA Gymnastics Board Member and member of the 2004 & 2008 (chairman) Olympic Games Selection Committees.

Click through to American Gymnast to ask Jay any question you wish about Gymnastics.

Of course Andrew Thornton is Jay’s brother, and a blogger on that site.

You can pose any question to elite WAG coach Al Fong, too. Leave a comment on any post on the Ask Al Fong – Dragon Gymnastics blog.

I’m hearing rumours of a great job in the sunny Southwest.

It’s not posted yet. But you can get a head’s up in advance by emailing me: Rick_McCharles@hotmail.com

MostepanovaFan sends us the link:

They’ve only got one set of eyes between them and bear a striking resemblance to a computer game figure crossed with a character from the film Monsters, Inc. …

Meet Wenlock and Mandeville: The new London 2012 Olympic mascots

Here’s Wenlock trying gymnastics, inspired by Beth Tweddle:

At least, there’s only one each for Olympics and Paralympics. Not an ensemble of mascots.

If you’ve got nothing else to do, watch the video.

Gymnasticsman (aka Matthew Miscisin) wrote the Big Book.

An older product, you might get it directly from Amazon.

Amazon

Or via Gymnasticsman.com. Prices vary, but you might get it for $25.

You can also download games one-at-a-time for a dollar each.

I’ve not seen The Big Book, myself. Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

Of course Asian acrobats, male and female, have been doing Chinese Pole performances for hundreds, or thousands, of years.

But when the general public hears the term “pole dancing”, what jumps to mind is the female version seen in strip clubs. The new Cirque ELVIS show has a terrific pole dance act, based on the strip club version.

More recently, fitness pole dance classes have become popular. And competitions.

For example, Miss Pole Dance World 2009 was held in Jamaica. 2010 is in Zurich, Switzerland, Oct. 2nd.

Karry Summers, former Level 10 national gymnastics champion from New Zealand, tells me that me that men are actually much better than women on pole as it’s so upper body strength dependent.

(Karry, by the way, has launched a Pole Fitness program in Christchurch. Click through to see details on her public Facebook page – Altitude Pole.)

Click PLAY or watch a Dominic Lacasse pole dance highlights video from Japan on YouTube.

related – interview with male pole dancer Tavon Hargett