Gymnastics Coaching.com

Seems to me there was more interest in this year’s American Cup gymnastics meet than in many years past. Kudos to USAG and the meet organizers.

Now … why don’t you improve the format for 2011?

Do you want it to be referred to as the Scam Cup forever?

Blythe Lawrence linked to some analysis if you are into post-meet dissection:

• American Cup truths: Andrew Thornton
• American Cup truths II: Aunt Joyce
• American Cup truths III: The Couch Gymnast
• American Cup truths IV: Gymnastics Examiner

The gymnastics week in review

Some weren’t impressed with the inaugural Supergirl Cup, held the day prior, but I love the concept. More reward for the top Level 10s (and Elites dropping down to compete Level 10).

Here’s the Supercheesy wrap-up video.

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mnr_lib/201002/players/player-single.swf?job=42097

source

I’d love to see Oklahoma win the 2010 Team title.

They just beat #1 ranked Alabama.

Why are so few pundits predicting OK to win?

One of the biggest complaints about College Gymnastics is that only 4 teams have won, ever. If that continues, why not put UCLA, Alabama, Georgia and Utah in the Final Four (starting 2011) automatically. No need to run the regular season.

It would be great for the sport to see Oklahoma win. Go Sooners!

The second biggest complaint about College gymnastics is the high scoring. Yet I feel the alternative (F.I.G.) rules are far worse. An example from this past weekend’s ScAmerican Cup:

… Aly Raisman’s beam score was LUDICROUS. I’m surprised the commentators didn’t make a bigger deal about that routine. She did one of the most perfectly executed routines I have seen from ANYONE in a really long time, all as a virtual rookie on live television. Not even a hint of a wobble on a single skill, and a NAILED a brand new double Arabian dismount. I would say that was probably the most impressive “rookie” routine I have ever seen before, and the judges rewarded her with a whopping 9.15 E-Score.

What in the world were they watching? Then, Rebecca Bross, whom everyone knew was going to win anyway, nearly falls on her full turn, has a couple of jittery bobbles in between her skills and minor checks on the side somi and front tuck, and then takes a huge lunge forward on her dismount, and receives a 9.1 E-Score. It really is unbelievable. If Bross’s routine was a 9.1, then Raisman’s was a 9.85, not a 9.15. It’s a perfect example of the biggest problem in judging today…an absolute REFUSAL to reward perfect routines with high execution scores, particularly on the women’s side. Those judges should be fired. …

Andy Thornton

Andy likes Raisman’s beam (video) more than I do. But his criticism of F.I.G. judging is totally valid. They box Execution scores atrociously.

I’m just digging into the second edition, a collaborative project edited by The Couch Gymnast. Looks even better than Issue #1.

• German gymnastics talent Maike Roll
• Italy’s rising star Serena Licchetta
• Reconstructing Russia
• Lost talents of Romania (1990s)
• Form vs Execution
• Russia Rising – Juniors
• Why we love YouTube
• gymnastics photographer Iris Van Den Broek
• gymnastics cross stitch
• Aussie gymnast Nicola Cairns persists
• Amy’s Gym diary (ouch)
• International Gymnastics Quiz

Don’t forget, if you are interested in contributing to the mag- just go to the CONTRIBUTE tab and read the relevant information.

Check it out – Couch Gymnast magazine – issue #2

That’s the only gymnastics site I know using the Squarespace hosting platform. Nice.

Troy brings up a touchy subject:

When it comes to gymnastics competitions, What are We Teaching our Kids?

His recommendations:

1. All athletes should remain in the competition arena until the last competitor is done competing.

2. Athletes should put their things into their gym bags (all of their things), zip them up, and put them out of the way.

3. There should be no talking during the presenting of awards.

4. All athletes should stay until the last award is handed out.

5. Scores at a meet are the least important thing about the meet.

6. An athlete should definitely have goals, but the process is the absolute most important thing.

7. Athletes on the award stand should congratulate the athletes on each side of her.

8. A great athlete learns to keep reactions on a fairly even keel. This means that they should never get too high or too low about what is going on (especially in reaction to scores).

9. Support and cheer for the other teams in your rotation.

10. We can set an example for our athletes by helping each other out as coaches.

11. We control what we can control, and don’t worry about things we can’t control.

Those are the summary points of a long essay: Coaching Gymnastics in the New Millenium – What are We Teaching our Kids?

I’d agree with Troy if all meets were run as excellently as the Great West Gym Fest. But when a competition is run badly (as many are) I’m sympathetic for the bored gymnasts, especially during awards.

My own pet peeve is older male gymnasts improperly dressed, or completely missing, during awards ceremonies.

Comments?

Central Station Antwerp, Belgium

More than 200 dancers …

It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of “The Sound of Music”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Linked by (fantastic) choreographer Jenne Smart Kissell on Facebook.

Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs had a 10.0 Beam this weekend. And so did Grace Taylor.

Who’s routine do you like better?

Click PLAY or watch Elyse on YouTube.

Grace Taylor’s most recent 10.0 Beam is on GeorgiaDogs.

Thanks for the updated link, Marcus.

… in order to go fast in the development of a gymnast, we need to go SLOW. Coaches need to make the athletes and parents understand that Gymnastics is a long term sport, especially if seeking to reach a high level of competition. Strong basics and fundamentals are key to the success of any athlete in any sport.

The tap swings(on Uneven Bars) are a perfect example of something we need to take a LONG time on. It doesn’t matter if a gymnast already has the correct body shape in the transfer between the hollow-arch-hollow….. it needs to be repeated many times so it can be strengthen and “recorded” in the brain. …

ET Gymnastics Coaching

Reading this post I was reminded of the philosophies of David Kenwright.

Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.

From Dory Dynna:

… pretty much sums up the city from Feb.12-28. …

I’ve always been a bit of a Vancouver skeptic, myself, thinking it’s somewhat over-rated.

But I must now bow down to the city on Canada’s left coast. Congratulations on a job well done.

Ridiculous. That’s what some are saying about escalating scores in NCAA Gymnastics.

But I love it.

This may be the best NCAA season ever. So many teams have proven they can put up big scores.

The Gym Dogs sent a crystal clear nation to the collegiate gymnastics world Saturday afternoon; that they are truly back amongst the nation’s elite.

With its 197.900-197.875 win over No. 3 UCLA at Stegeman Coliseum, Georgia proved to the nation it can compete, and defeat, anyone at anytime. …

Gym Dogs edge UCLA with stellar score

How did the rankings end up after this weekend’s action?

… Along with the highest all-around score (60.550), Bross won uneven bars (15.300), beam (15.300) and floor (14.850).

“I am very proud of myself,” Bross said. “I just wanted to go out and hit, and I did that. It’s still early in the season, so I’m just ready for the rest of it now. It was amazing to watch girls from my gym win this event and then go out and see what they accomplished, and I just hope the string continues for me.” …

… Russia’s Maxim Devyatovsky took advantage of the misfortune of mid-meet leader Jonathan Horton to win the men’s title with 90. 600. Horton cruised through the first four events, including the top rings score of 15.800, before coming undone at parallel bars. He missed a front uprise and later slipped on a giant swing and jumped off. He finished strong on high bar to second at 90.150.

“I am very, very glad to have won,” Devyatovsky said. “It was important to me because in 1986, 24 years ago, an athlete (Alexei Tikhonkikh) from the former Soviet Union and my hometown was winner of the American Cup, and an American girl (Kristie Phillips) won at that competition, as well. So I am very glad!” …

read more on International Gymnast – Bross, Devyatovsky Claim Tyson American Cup

related:

Gymnastics Examiner commentary – Rebecca Bross, Maxim Devyatovskiy capture 2010 American Cup titles

Gymnastics Examiner – Notes and quotes from the 2010 American Cup

Andy Thornton Men’s commentary – My thoughts on the American Cup…Part 1