Gymnastics Coaching.com

This show by Cirque du Soleil opened on 27 July 2008 in Macau.

ZAIA presents a young girl’s perception of the stars and planets, space and infinity, all populated by a panoply of fantastic, literally out-of-this-world creatures. The title, ZAIA, comes from a Greek name meaning “life” and is also reminiscent of Gaia, the living, self-aware, spirit of Earth.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cirque du Soleil Official Website – ZAIA

I’ve been browsing the internet looking for better software for scheduling rotations in the gym.

Currently I’m using iCal from Apple:

screenshot

It’s good. But limited. I’d like something much more powerful. (And not Excel.)

An online solution would be ideal.

Leave a comment if you have a recommendation.

A conference hosted in Calgary, Alberta, Canada November 6-7, 2008.

The 2008 SPIN Summit will highlight a variety of topics relevant to the practical application of applied sport science and medicine with high performance athletes and coaches. A complete schedule will be available shortly but some of the highlights include:

Supplements in High Performance Sport

Effectively Servicing Decentralized Training Groups

Integrating Sport Science and Medicine with Coaching

Keys to Servicing Developing Athletes

There will be many other sessions including sport psychology, performance technology and sport medicine.

Guest Speakers

Dr. Gord Sleivert, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific
Dr. Arne Gullich, Germany
Dr. David Smith, Canadian Sport Centre Calgary
Dr. Bob McCormick, Chief Medical Officer, 2008 Canadian Olympic Team

Pacific Sport

Jon Pumpkin posted some funny photos.

larger size

see more on flickr

And here’s a cute one posted by .Mrs. Blue:

larger original – flickr

I’m only starting to think about gymnastics after Beijing. About.com Gymnastics posted some of the competitions to look towards.

2008 Stars and Stripes Cup (Trampoline)
Date: October 10-12, 2008
Location: Colorado Springs, CO

2008 Glasgow Grand Prix
Date: October 16-19, 2008
Location: Glasgow, Great Britain

2008 DTB Cup
Date: October 23-26, 2008
Location: Stuttgart, Germany

2008 Arthur Gander Memorial
Date: October 29, 2008
Location: Chiasso, Switzerland

2009 American Cup
Date: February 21, 2009
Location: TBD

2009 National Elite Qualifier (Women)
Date: February 28-March 1, 2009
Location: West Palm Beach, Florida

2009 American Classic (Women)
Date: April 3-5, 2009
Location: TBD

2009 NCAA Championships (Women)
Date: April 16-18, 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

2009 NCAA Championships (Men)
Date: April 16-18, 2009
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

2009 Junior Olympic Nationals (Men)
Date: May 6-11, 2009
Location: Cincinnati, OH

click through for links to the meets – Upcoming Gymnastics Competitions – About.com

The two NCAA Championships are the same weekend this year. That means I won’t be able to attend both as I have in the past. Dang.

Let’s add 2009 Junior Olympic Nationals (Women) – May dates TBA in Seattle – hosted by Auburn Gymnastics

2009 World Individual Gymnastics Championships
Date: Oct 13th-18. 2009, London, UK

UPDATE: The 3rd European Championships in men’s and women’s individual artistic gymnastics will take place in April 2009 in Milan (in principle from April 21st to 26th).

13th-18th October 2009

The O2 Arena, London

This World Championships — Individual apparatus only — may be something of a letdown as many top Olympians from 2008 will have retired. Nastia says it’s definitely possible she will be there. That would be a huge coup for the media and meet organizers.

Tickets are already available.

I’ve been talking to Tom Kovic of Victory Collegiate Consulting regarding best practice for athletes from around the world to apply for Athletic Scholarship in the NCAA. Tom was for many years a Collegiate coach in the States and is an ideal consultant for coaches, parents and athletes.

Victory can walk you through the entire process. Or simply provide advice and answer questions as you make your own application and video.

Highly recommended.

You should be talking to Tom now if you have athletes looking to go away to College in September 2009.

Victory Collegiate Consulting

mendwillie from Brazil posted an Olympic highlights montage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

No telling how long this will last before being removed.

Thanks mr solis.

The Tour in the States kicked off in Reno, Nevada.

Inside Gymnastics has a 6 page write-up including some interesting athlete interviews. I especially liked those with Jonathan Horton:

… “So far, they’ve treated us like rock stars,” Horton said. “It’s great, and not like my normal life at all. I don’t think I really realized how many people watch the Olympics until I got home and started being approached, just, everywhere. I can’t even go to a restaurant without someone asking for an autograph and it’s like, ‘How do you know me?’ It takes a minute to realize they watched me on TV. …

Gymnast celebrities. How about that.

… they’ll rack up 13,011 miles during 38 exhibition performances in 70 days on the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. …

Hitting The Road – Inside Gymnastics

Kids often bring cupcakes to gym on their birthday. Either to celebrate with their team … or get their coaches to overeat.

I’m often tempted to ban the cupcake tradition.

… but these ones are OK.

larger original – flickr – Ally Cake Designs