Gymnastics Coaching.com

That’s a comment by Geoffrey Taucer of Chalk Bucket:

Or rather, I hate having to teach them.

It’s so counterproductive to teach a cast in a hollow shape to beginners! If you want an easy cast handstand (video), stick your head out and drive your heels, and it will go right up. Granted, this should be a tight arch, not a loose one, but an arch nonetheless. It would make much more sense to me not to require any hollow position on any cast below a handstand.

The way I would prefer to teach it (and the way I DO teach it to my boys) is a tight arch. I don’t even bother trying to get them to hollow until they are either casting away to a tap swing or hitting handstand.

Watching elite gymnast, I have found very very few on either the men’s or women’s side who do their casts in a hollow position. They all drive their heels up in a tight arch and then hollow at the top.

So why do USAG women’s compulsories insist on a hollow position in a cast at level 4?

URGH!

Sorry, this just really annoys me.

I agree. There’s far too much emphasis, too, on “straight arms” for beginners. It happens because of judging deductions.

The FIRST step in teaching cast is a tight arch with bent arms. Hollow position and straight arms come much, much later. In fact, I’m oft to say: “The very last error that should be corrected is straightening the elbows.”

Men’s coaches, I should add, rarely waste time teaching hollow cast at the early stages.

Coach Miahi Stoica using a rail to measure height of cast with beginners

One of my favourite activities.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

These boys at Altadore Gymnastics age 4-5 are called “Mitey Mites”. They train 4hrs/wk, 10 months of the year.

The goal is general phyical (strength, flexibility) and motor (agility, balance, coordination, rhythm) fitness for all sports.

From this group kids are invited into 6hr/wk precompetitive, normally the September when they start Grade-1.

In a recent post I diplomatically mentioned that many had noted that Shawn was out of competition shape.

That raised a flurry of comments.

Fact is, Shawn has gained weight.

original – flickr

chinaSMACK (link c/o apolytongp)

That’s normal.

No doubt the adult maturation delayed by intense training as a gymnast kicked in.

She’s a healthy young woman.

Can she come back to International gymnastics after Dancing with the Stars?

Of course. If Shawn wants to.

But it won’t be easy. I’ll be surprised if she does.

Shawn’s celebrity guarantees she’ll have a dozen other terrific career opportunities.

From the Workout Wednesday series of videos.

MUST see.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

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

The Couch Gymnast made the long flight from Australia just in time for European Championships in Italy.

She’s posted some interesting and entertaining notes from podium training:

… The Italian faction was very delighted to have a last minute Vanessa Ferrari in their midst. They followed her around the rotations excitedly snapping pics and chasing autographs. She was looking okay, muscling a lot on bars. Her beam was solid, and her planche mount still looks strong. Her tumbling was okay on floor, with a lot of stepping, and she is back to her old music …

read more – euros podium training… Greetings From Milano!

International Gymnast’s Paul Ziert is there too.

Check his usual self-indulgent ramblings here:
Ziert Alert: European Championships Blog

I wish he had assigned Amanda Turner to do this event, instead.

An April Fool’s Day resolution.

Some jots have been posted online …

GymNiceTic – Podium Training at European Championships

… The comment that stood out to me was “Women’s Podium Training finished today in Milan without brilliance. Falls were common rather than isolated and the general skills level was not impressive,” maybe the new code isnt quite doing its job improving form and removing falls I just hope the actual competition is better. …

Gymnastics In Europe – European Championships Podium Training

GYMmedia European Championships coverage (German)

… Dancing last among the 11 couples, Johnson and Ballas performed an athletic, fast-paced routine that included a few front and back flips. They scored 25 out of 30 points, tying them with rodeo champion Ty Murray and partner Chelsie Hightower for the evening’s fourth-highest total. …

International Gymnast – Johnson Flips to Fourth-Place Tie on ‘Dancing’

Billionaire Apple founder Woz was eliminated.

Many noted how out of competition shape Shawn has gotten since Beijing.

GymNiceTic linked to the FIG press release confirming that the FIG A category World Cup from June 3-7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico has been cancelled.

The reason?

Sponsorship money they were counting on did not materialize.

There’s a world financial crisis, of course.

GymNiceTic – World Cup cancelled!

A call to arms from the Gymnastics Association of Texas:

Gymnastics Association of Texas and Texas USAG support the COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE version of House Bill 1393, authored Representative Leibowitz. Further, we call on Senator Nelson to change Senate Bill 68 by adopting the language of the Committee Substitute version of House Bill 1393.

…

We call all GAT members, parents, and gymnastics enthusiasts to join us in Austin at the Capitol Rotunda at 11:30 AM, THIS Thursday, April 2, 2009to make history! THIS IS OUR CHANCE to RAISE OUR VOICES and BE HEARD to SAVE OUR SPORT!

We need phone calls – emails – letters to your STATE representatives. Time is short ask all your team parents and coaches, everyone we MUST unite!

Gymnastics Association of Texas

I’m hopeful the amendment they support will be accepted.