Gymnastics Coaching.com

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’m reviewing the structure and function of this site. Leave a comment if there’s something you would like added. Or removed.

The about page has been updated.

If you are attending my favourite gymnastics meet anywhere, the Great West Gym Fest in Couer d’Alene, Idaho Feb. 19-20, check the updated schedule posted Jan. 4th.

GreatWestGymFest.com

You’ve got to see the “new” Utah Gymnastics site.

It’s certainly different than the boring old CMS sites used by seemingly every other University in the NCAA.

Greg Marsden has worked tirelessly to add new promotional innovations for his program.

Congratulations on this latest one. … Who will be the first College Team to follow Utah in a site redesign?

Check it out – Utah Gymnastics

(Click through the top links to see some cool graphics.)

Utah opens against UCLA on Saturday.

Update – some feel the images go too far – Sexualizing Collegiate Gymnastics

OK, we all know that College gymnasts are sexy. But should the official website be pushing that theme? … Would it be better to have images that might offend at arms distance, perhaps a Booster Club website?

Update – commentary on Gymnastics Examiner

Episode 11 is online free if you live in the USA at ABCfamily.com.

And online here if you live outside the States. (Check the comments for more links.)

Watch a preview of episode 12. Will Sasha be replacing Marta?

Actually, there are 4 free previews on ABC.

Who else?

Courtney Kupets.

The greatest College gymnast of all time.

http://www.gymnastike.org/assets/portal/add_ons/mediaplayer-4.2/player.swf

Click through to Gymnastike to see a personal interview with Courtney. And a long list of her accomplishments.

She’ll be cheering Georgia this weekend, the first competition of their new season.

Dr. Alison Arnold gives 3 tips on how to train psychologically for hitting gymnastics routines.

Click PLAY or watch it on Tom’s GymSmarts blog.

Watch more gymnastic training videos on The Gymnastic Minute Channel on YouTube.

DVDs and more on GymSmarts.com.

Follow them on twitter @gymsmarts

The College Gymnastics season begins. I’m happy, happy.

UCLA Gymnastics vs Utah Preview

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Kate Richardson competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, finishing 7th on Floor in Athens.

Here she is, a few years ago, competing Floor for UCLA.

Click PLAY or watch Kate on YouTube.

Great tumbling. Interesting and unusual (College) dance.

Andrew Thornton used this routine as just one example of how college gymnasts have more entertaining floor routines than most elites.

Check Andrew’s American Gymnast blog post where he show other examples: Jamie Dantscher, Allyse Ishino and Tabitha Yim.

In College “entertainment” value is more important than difficulty. The best of example of that was Courtney McCool dominating Floor Exercise in 2008 all season. And winning the NCAA Championships on Floor that year despite having no double salto on FX.

Judges agreed that McCool’s was the most entertaining and “cleanest” routine of the finalists.

From Linda Hamilton:

The University of Utah’s gymnastics team opens its 35th season Saturday afternoon at UCLA with the first–ever change in its head-coaching position.

Oh, Greg Marsden — the only head coach the Utes have ever had — remains the head coach.

But on Saturday, his wife, Megan, will share that title in a competition for the first time.

“I feel great about it. It’s been a partnership for 25 years or more, and it probably should have happened long ago, but better late than never,” said Greg Marsden of Megan’s first meet with the title of co-coach. …

details – Utah Utes gymnastics: Another Marsden set to assume head coach title

related – Gymnastike interview – Get To Know Megan Marsden

Americans can watch last night’s episode of the hit TV series online at ABCfamily.com.

Leave a comment if you know how those of us not living in the U.S.A. can watch it legally. … Without giving our phone number to a marketing agency. Update – try here.

I’d avoid makeitorbreakit.tv if I were you.

UPDATE: casttv.com and hulu.com links do not work outside the U.S.A.

ABC Nightline posted this article on Jan. 4th.

Most Dangerous ‘Sport’ of All May Be Cheerleading
With No Regulatory Framework in Place, Cheerleading ER Visits Have Skyrocketed

Currently Cheer is the target of a lot of negative press, some of it deserved.

In the past Trampoline Sports were a media target. At other times, elite Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. Many times I challenge comparatively uninformed journalists when they make misstatements.

But it’s hard to dispute much in the ABC video – When the Cheering Stops (8min)

Embedding disabled by request of ABC

I do think Cheer needs to do better at training and certifying coaches, especially in tumbling.

On the other hand, there are a surprising number of superb coaches and athletes for a comparatively new sport. Some of the spotters are as good as the best Artistic coaches.

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

Over the past 10yrs I’ve been converted to a Cheer fan. It’s wonderful to see so many hundreds of thousands of athletes participating.

Update: Check the comments. Geoffrey Taucer feels different.

We need to do more to educate the general public on the health benefits of Cheer.