Gymnastics Coaching.com

Rings crucifix

UPDATE:

Some were offended by a photo of Jesus as a gymnast doing Iron Cross on the Rings.

I’ve removed it from the post. But you can still see the photo by clicking the link, if you wish.

==== original post:

waÉª.t posted a strange image from Prague, Czechoslovakia on flickr:

PHOTO REMOVED

the sacrifice of the gymnast – larger version

Dancing with Shawn Johnson week 4

DWTS WEEK 4 Season 8, Episode 6 ( March 30 2009 )

The Lindy Hop in front of a live studio audience.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This was something special, I thought.

But the judges wanted more dance, fewer tricks.

end of gymnastics in Texas?

The best article I’ve seen yet on a misguided new set of regulations that could force gym owners to move to another State.

Legislation Could be a Blow to Gymnastics, Martial Arts

Some argue the bill protects kids, others believe it’s all about money

One great quote from the article:

… Texas currently produces more Olympic athletes than any other state in the union, and children often spend 30 to 40 hours a week training, even home schooling to have enough time. Injuries occur, but are par for the course of such intense training.

“In the Senate hearing last Tuesday, it was testified that 35 children have died in the state of Texas in licensed childcare facilities,” Dudley said. “But in gymnastics, we didnâ€™t lose a single one.” …

NBC

airplane wing walker

… wing walking is the act of moving on the wings of an airplane during flight.

Capital Coastal

Agnes Skinner (fictional character from the Simpsons) was a wing walker in the 1920’s.

Selena misses gymnastics

Selena is one of those rare gymnasts who could not seem to retire.

She finally did.

I love her stream of consciousness advice to the young kids still at her old club:

I miss it. Absolutely everything about it. I miss the crashes, the tears, the bruises, rips and cuts. The pressure, the pain, the rush. I miss flips, air sense, sore muscles and that feeling of accomplishment. I miss callused hands, sockless feet, spandex, stick it, and chalk. Iâ€™d do anything to nail a perfect beam routine, to stick all my tumbling lines or a dismount. I miss landing double backs and twisting tsuks. Toe on fronts, layout walkouts and front tucks on beam. I miss eating mat or twisting too hard and having a mouth full of foam. Yeah, I even miss conditioning. I miss rope climbs and working so hard your muscles shake. I miss overcoming fears, conquering skills. I miss competing, I miss being afraid. Take me back to the vault room, my locker covered in messages â€“ to that smelly old gym I call home. I miss drama nights & laughing so hard I couldnâ€™t breathe. Those outrageous ideas weâ€™d come up with. I miss being inspirational, I miss being there. I miss the coaches…even when they yelled. Cause they believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. I miss travel meets â€“ long bus rides and plane rides. I miss handstands in the elevator & milkshakes at midnight! I miss cheering so loud it hurts to talk, I miss march in. I miss nervousness, I miss the crowd. I miss walking on that floor, hearing my music; I miss the glory, the high scores and the low ones too. I miss that feeling that nothing but gymnastics gave me. Waking up everyday with unbelievably sore muscles but excited for training that night anyway. I miss stretching, the front tuck game and circuits. I even miss not being able to hang out because I had practice or training camp. I miss that security, that sanctuary that place where nothing else matters itâ€™s just you and your passion. But more than anything…I miss the girls. I miss my team: those girls who I call family. Of course I miss the good times but I miss the bad ones too the hard ones, like saying goodbye – I still miss you everyday E.N., RIP. I miss being part of â€œthatâ€ team, I miss training nights and warming up to S Club 7. The goofy vault warm-ups, the support system, training groups and countless crazy times I miss being your captain; I miss each and every one of you. I miss every little bit of it, the good and the bad.

keep your chinâ€™s up ladies.

STRONG – Endo roll through planche

WOW.

Brittney from Adrenaline in Denver is a strong gymnast with a bright future.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

More videos like this on the Gibson Athletics SaltoCafe YouTube channel.

gymnasts – The Confidence Season

At my gymnastics club this season we have many “first year” competitors.

First year in a new age / ability category.

I find that first year competitors work hard and make rapid progress. They are motivated to prove they should have “moved up“.

Sports Girls Play has an excellent post, however, on the other kind of season: The Confidence Season:

Sometimes the road to success is not the fast lane. …

… Each season we end up with a group of athletes who excel – they have mastered their skills, are relatively consistent in their performances, regularly place in the top third during awards, and are learning the next level skills with excitement. We also have a group of athletes we call â€œbubble kidsâ€ – they are making it through their routines, getting average or lower than average scores, are not getting called up for awards, and are not as ready for the next level skills. Sure we could push them ahead anyhow, but that often leads to discouragement, low self esteem, and the development of fears.

When the placements for the next season come out, many of the parents of our â€œbubble kidsâ€ get a little anxious. They worry that their child is being left behind, wonâ€™t be with her friends or will be bored. But more often than not, when we have these athletes stay at their current level, one year later we hear from the parents that it was the best decision they did not get to make! …

The Confidence Season