Gymnastics Coaching.com

by Rick McCharles

A group of experts brainstormed the best ways to introduce rope climbing to children at a recent clinic.

I volunteered to put together a short video of the techniques discussed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Note that none of the activities shown have children climbing high. In fact, we said any athlete who wants to climb to the roof must first prove ability to climb half way, down, half way, and down. Then you can be sure they have the “stuff” to get to the top.

We also asked every demonstrator to climb down with feet. This reduces the risk they might be tempted to slide down, burning their hands.

Not yet included in the video is this point emphasized by Keith Russell:

Knots at the end of a rope are a danger when “flicking” through the air. They also make the rope deteriorate more quickly. (If you must have a knot, make a figure-8. And remove it once the activity is finished.

Better is to set a “no knots” rule. And be sure to buy your rope long enough so that it lies flat on the ground:

Want to know more? One website documents the decline in the popularity of rope climb.

I’m not so sure about that. There are more kids climbing ropes better today than ever in history, I reckon. Thanks to gymnastics coaches. It’s one of our very best activities.

If you have any suggestions or additional drills for the video, leave a comment below. Thanks.

Chessia made us aware of this interesting program:

The New York Kids Club, now in its seventh season, has become New York City’s premier facility for children between the ages of 6 months and 12 years old.

Firmly believing that children succeed in a structured and nurturing environment, the curriculum for the New York Kids Club classes provides children with the opportunity to build confidence through consistent performance in both physically challenging courses such as gymnastics, rock climbing, and martial arts, as well as the opportunity to express their own creativity and individuality through dance, drama, music, art and cooking. …

New York KiDs Club

Seems we don’t have CN8, The Comcast Network, streaming where I live. (At least their confusing, slow loading website has never yet delivered me streaming Shannon Miller.)

The best gymnastics TV show anywhere — Gymnastics 360 — is on cn8. I guess it streams only to 9 million Comcast cable viewers in 12 states on the east coast of the USA.

Too bad, so sad, for me.

Here’s the tentative line-up of shows for this season:

… Hosted by two-time Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller and CN8’s Emmy Award-winning Gregg Murphy, the show features exciting gymnastics action, up-and-coming stars and local athletes. …

“Gymnastics 360” episodes airing on CN8 include:

Good Luck Beijing International Invitational, Saturday, December 29

In Pursuit of Gold, Saturday, January 12

George Washington Invitational, Saturday, January 26

Gym Gala, Saturday, February 9

UCLA at Georgia, Saturday, March 29

European Women’s Championship, Saturday, April 19

NCAA Men’s Championship

European Men’s Championship, Saturday, May 24

Beijing: Ready or Not, Saturday, June 28th

Shannon assesses the U.S. Olympic Trials and the European Championships as the stage is set for the Olympic Games in August. The special will feature highlights, interviews and expert analysis.

***Schedule subject to change

CN8 Press Release

Am I confused?

Is there no way for me to purchase these shows? Or must I wait until someone posts them on YouTube? Leave a comment if you know how to make it work.

Seems Comcast should find some way to market their product to fans around the world who want to buy it.

See a sample: In Pursuit of Gold, Saturday, January 12

A good event coming up in my part of the world:

National Gymnastics Week is an opportunity to increase gymnastics awareness by generating interest and enthusiasm about our sport.

This week-long celebration is held throughout Canada, February 9-17, 2008 and is dedicated to bringing together the thousands of Canadians of all ages and levels who already participate in gymnastics and to encourage all other Canadians to try the sport.

The Alberta Gymnastics Federation (AGF) has organized mall demo opportunities where your participants will act as ambassadors of gymnastics by performing and demonstrating their love of the sport. This event will allow gymnastics to be showcased for the public to see and will generate interest for your club and the sport. …

Gymnastics Alberta

More information complete with documentation on Gymnastics Canada – Gymnastique Canada.

Back in the 1990s I was interim Head Coach for a year of Can-Am Gymnastics. A really great coaching experience.

And I got back to my old gym for the first day of classes in 2008. The real Head Coach Sheralynn Steele and I attended a coaching clinic together in Saskatoon.

Children learn to understand movement through exploration, experimentation and practice. Gymnastics activities improve coordination, flexibility, strength, and endurance like no other sport can. Gymnastics also enhances self-esteem, and encourages a positive self-image. Our coaching staff is nationally certified in gymnastics and has many years of experience working with children of all ages.

Can-Am Gymnastics Club

more photos

This is cool. At a Georgia NCAA demonstration:

… Grace Taylor apparently attempting to set a school record for number of Comanecis in a row on bars.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube:

(more videos via A sneek peek at Georgia « The Gymblog)

A large crowd is expected for Friday’s gymnastics meet featuring No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Georgia.

Gator Gymnastics News @ GatorZone.com

Gator Gymnastics

Georgia Dogs

Three-time defending national champion Georgia Gym Dogs have set a new season ticket sales record with 6,836 sold to date surpassing the previous record of 6,043 set last year.

How many spectators are you getting out to your competitions? Parking is not a problem in Canada.

This battle is going to be close, I expect. New Mom Rhonda Faehn will be back coaching her team at home.

Rick McCharles

Who will win Olympic medals in the Gymnastics Sports?

Over the coming weeks and months I’ll predict the winner of each event in Beijing. (Or waffle and name two or three gymnasts who will all medal.)

Facebook | Photos from Beijing Olympics 2008 – Facebook

Lets start with the EASY apparatus: Xiao Qin will win Pommel Horse

It’s just for fun. (If your idea of fun is me being proved wrong.)

Leave a comment if you’ve got some advice.

by Rick McCharles

Last year I visited at least 50 training facilities. You can tell within 2 minutes what kind of gym you’re in.

Clean or dirty?

Friendly or business-like?

Competitive or Rec focused?

Organized or casual.

First impressions are telling.

Here’s a gym dedicated to teaching gymnastics — not competing in gymnastics.

It’s a refreshing change:

Teaching gymnastics at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada are Doug Hillis and Keith Russell.

a few more photos on flickr – U of Saskatchewan Gymnastics

Xiao Qin is the World Champion on Pommel Horse leading up to the Olympics in his home country.

But the undisputed King of Swing fell in Athens 2004.

His loss there means big time pressure he’s facing in Beijing. Yet I predict Xiao Qin is destined to win this time.

Click PLAY ore watch his astounding “extension” on YouTube:

We’ve posted this routine before. But it’s worth watching again. And again.

Does China have more young athletes coming up like Xiao Qin?

Click PLAY or watch an age group Chinese gymnast training on the Pommel Buck on YouTube.

This video was first shown to me by Canadian National Coach Edouard Iarov.

Technique in 2008 is to swing as straight as possible when young. Even arched circles I would call a “good error”.