Gymnastics Coaching.com

Still a controversial question, I agree with the Sports Girls Play blog:

Some of the gyms I have coached at in the past (before I had kids of my own) actually had “no-watch” policies. I don’t agree with that philosophy ….

As a parent paying tuition or players fees, it is your right to observe what your child is learning. Additionally, I would be very cautious allowing my child to participate in a program that regularly held closed practices unless there were multiple coaches that I knew well and trusted present at all times.

On the other hand, parents in the observation areas do sometimes cause some problems:

Years ago I had a student who’s Mother watched every practice. She would sit in the stands and count how many turns each child took and if her child got any fewer turns than anyone else, she would make a point of letting me know after practice.

She was constantly comparing her daughter’s progress to the other girls and it put a lot of unnecessary pressure on her daughter.

Should Parents Watch Sports Practices?

My personal philosophy is to explain to the parents why it is not optimal to watch all of every practice.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

Where I come from we call a back somersault from sitting on a bar a “leaf drop”. No doubt it has other names in other regions.

It’s not a competitive skill, but is good psychological preparation for future dismounts.

Once the kids can do leaf drop for “fun”, the flyaway seems less “scary”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

From Mountain Shadows Gymnastics Camp, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada.

One gymnast does double back leaf drop. This is not recommended due to the risk of landing on the neck in the foam pit.

Coach Suzi Goodmanson from California has an astonishing array of drills for improving leg power. Many she has “invented” herself.

To see an example (pike jump series) click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

HPTCamp.com

Coach “Milo” (formerly with UCLA, soon moving to Melbourne, Australia) had two good set-ups for coaching the challenging bar transfer “Shoot Half”.

Woodward Gymnastics Camp 2007.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sport Scientist Jeni McNeal is researching the use of vibration to improve flexibility.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

HPTCamp.com

Jeni’s design seems to be very robust. And — so far — results look encouraging.

If you’ve tried vibration and have an opinion on these devices, leave a comment.

Crazy stuff.

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/623940/chinese_gymnastics.swf
Chinese Gymnastics – Watch a funny movie here

This photographer has more photos tagged with “gymnastics” on flickr.

One of the great posters of all time. It could be the tag line of this blog.

Jason Gatson on the wall of Funtastics Gymnastics, Idaho

I like the comedy bits in this well-edited montage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Chalk Bucket)

National Gymnastics Day has two goals: to increase excitement and raise awareness for the sport of gymnastics and to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network through the Tyson Fitness Challenge.

Established in 1999, National Gymnastics Day is a platform to showcase the many benefits of gymnastics, as well as promotes the ideals of physical fitness and community service nationwide.

Clubs and their gymnasts have the opportunity to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network through participation in the Tyson Fitness Challenge, a program designed to improve the fitness level of the nation’s youth and the platform for raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network. …

Who: National Gymnastics Day is celebrated by thousands of gymnasts and gymnastics clubs across the country. Legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi is chairman of National Gymnastics Day.

When: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007

2007 National Gymnastics Day – Home page