Gymnastics Coaching.com

Dana Peart of Utah State University Aggies does a flip throw at a soccer game against the Idaho State University Bengals. USU won the game 1-0 in OT with a Dana Peart goal!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The handspring throw in is a type of throw-in, rarely used in competitive games, where the player completes a front handspring while still holding onto the ball. This is used for long throw ins and for throw ins used a lot alike to a corner kick. This type of throw in follows all of the rules that the player must have both feet on the ground when he/she is releasing the ball, the ball is being thrown from behind the head, and the ball is being thrown with equal force by both hands. Strong abdominal muscles are required for this throw in. …

Wikipedia

(via berryblue on Gym Chat)

Universal Sports coverage.

From Nastiafan101:

MAG Floor
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LLL4VBO4

Pommel Horse
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G83GUMA0

Rings
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SREELPK6

Vault
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TWQ3DJ1E

PBars
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UG6BNAAM

High Bar
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=REOH5YHG

I’m REALLY looking forward to shorter, more spectacular routines in the next quadrennial.

All the changes I’ve heard rumoured have been improvements.

Now this:

… the real question floating around message boards is whether the FIG has decided to scrap the new eight-element requirement on bars, beam and floor to return to the 10-element requirement of the previous quad. A lot of gymnastics fans heralded this as an attempt by the FIG to reemphasize good choreography and dance. But rumor has it that because MAG didn’t want to change from 10 to 8, the FIG may have decided to keep WAG at 10 for consistency’s sake. …

The C Score – Where is the 2009 Code of Points?

That would be a HUGE mistake.

The always endearing Olympic Beam Champion just updated her blog.

She’s working with a personal trainer to get back in shape. And next week she’ll become the first athlete ever on a box of Cheerios cereal. Nice.

Oh, and just in time for Christmas, a new book is coming out:

… a fun little scrapbook/ magazine book cming out for sale with hundreds of fun behind the scenes pictures and thoughts from the past 13 years of my career …

Amazon

The best documentary I’ve seen yet on the famed program. Despite persistent predictions of eventual collapse, the superpower in our sport continues to be very competitive.

It includes many Romanian gymnasts including Izbasa, Nistor, Patrascu, Druncea, Grigore, Tarmijan etc. It talks about the environment at Deva as well as the girls individually. Check it out, it’s worth a watch. It’s in Romanian with English subtitles.

Past & Present Gymnastics

… 2 months before the Olympic Games.

Click PLAY or watch Part 1 of 8 on YouTube.

Part 2 of 8.

Part 3 of 8.

Part 4 of 8.

Part 5 of 8.

Part 6 of 8.

Part 7 of 8.

Part 8 of 8.

related post: Romanian gymnastics – crisis what crisis?

Backyard trampolines are too dangerous. Kids should do tramp supervised by qualified coaches on proper equipment.

This documentary confirms the risk.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Related posts:

are backyard trampolines safe?

“spring free” trampolines

Triple Full posted an excellent overview: China’s Strategy for the Next Four Years

Have you found yourself wondering, like we have, why China is sending almost its entire gold-medal-winning Olympic squad to the World Cup Final at a time when other countries can’t be bothered to send even one gymnast to Spain?

Good question.

… Apparently Cheng Fei, Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, He Kexin, and Li Shanshan will fly to Madrid tomorrow …

Show China

And why are the Chinese men not attending the World Cup Final?

… the International Gymnastics Federation will soon start using new rules. Once the new rules are in effect, all-around gymnasts will play an even more prominent role on the team than they do now. But as far as our team is concerned, once Yang Wei and Li Xiaopeng have retired, we’ll have very few all-arounders,” said Huang Yubin. 　

Read the analysis on Triple Full.

Personally, I’m very happy the Chinese women are heading for Spain.

I’d love to see the World Cup survive and thrive.

Associated Press reports some good news:

Olympic gold medalist Peter Vidmar was elected chairman of the USA Gymnastics board of directors Monday, and will be joined in the group by 1984 all-around champion Mary Lou Retton.

Vidmar and Retton, elected to one of four public sector positions on the board, each will serve four-year terms. Ron Froelich, chair of USA Gymnastics, was named chairman emeritus.

…

“Peter’s experience as a gymnast at every level and as a successful business person provides a strong combination for the chairman for USA Gymnastics,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “He understands every facet of the sport, and is a recognized leader within the gymnastics community.”

USA Gymnastics announced in November 2007 that it was restructuring its board, paring the group from 48 members to 20. In addition to the chairman, the board now has two representatives each from the men’s and women’s programs; one each from rhythmic gymnastics; trampoline and tumbling; and acrobatics; five athlete representatives; four members from the public sector; and three from an advisory council that represents independent gymnastics organizations.

ESPN

Vidmar is a class guy widely respected in the gymnastics community.

Congratulations.

UPDATE: commentary on C Score – All hail: Peter Vidmar named new chairman of USAG

Here’s an interesting job:

Full Time WAG Coach Wanted

The Yellowknife Gymnastics Club in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories has an immediate opening for a dedicated and enthusiastic Women’s Head Coach to spearhead all aspects of its women’s programs, both recreational and competitive. The Club is a non-profit society and provides gymnastics instruction to over 500 athletes each year from the age of 2 to 18. We are looking for someone who is willing to work with us to improve and expand our competitive and recreational programs. …

… starting at $40,000 (CDN) per annum.

… e-mail to: k_bengts AT hotmail.com

I saw this blurb on the USAG website … while I was posting the Altadore job to start June 1st, 2009.

I’ve been up to the gym in Yellowknife a number of times over the years. They have a proud history. And it’s a remote, fascinating location.

Andrew Thorton on Gymnast did an informal survey of the Best US Gymnasts to Never Make Olympic Team.

Reader’s Picks:

Best U.S. male gymnast to never make the Olympics: David Durante

Best U.S. female gymnast to never make the Olympics: Hollie Vise

Andy’s Picks:

Best U.S. male gymnast to never make the Olympics: Dan Hayden and Jay Thornton

Best U.S. female gymnast to never make the Olympics: Vanessa Atler and Ashley Postell

I voted for Dan Hayden. It was a blunder of the highest magnitude when the USA did not select their National Champion to the 1988 Olympics.

Vanessa Atler and Hollie Vise are great choices.

Hollie was the first WOGA gymnast to capture my imagination. She was World Bars Champion in 2003. Then did not qualify to the 2004 Olympics. Sad.

Click PLAY or watch a montage of Hollie Vise on YouTube.

Hollie was stunning as a Junior when she came to Calgary with the American Team long ago. I recall the main story of that meet from the training gym was that “Marta Karolyi was an idiot. Requiring far too much training from the girls prior to the meet.” There was a strong consensus on that point from everyone I spoke with.

Happily, she’s mellowed a lot since then.

For more commentary and videos on the best American Gymnasts to Never Make Olympic Team click through to Gymnast.