Gymnastics Coaching.com

Rick McCharles presented an overview of the issues facing gymnastics coaches who want to use trampolines and trampoline-like equipment.

He feels trampolines are ideal for fun, fitness and fundamentals. But cautions that the general public perceives trampolines as dangerous — and that very “spring” surfaces can be dangerous when not properly supervised.

Gymnastics coaches should bring in trampoline specialists to help design safe training programs.

To see Rick’s presentation notes click PLAY or watch them on YouTube.

More information on trampoline.

Most gyms do not have enough storage space.

One option is to install hardware to hang gear when not in use.

Kingborough Gymnastics, Tasmania.

Rick McCharles uses similar drills for tumbling and vaulting.

For example, we can teach a Handspring vault using “Flyspring” tumbling drills.

He led an in-gym session explaining some of his favourite drills: high reps, low stress. Fun, easy and requiring a minimum of spotting.

To see Rick’s PowerPoint Presentation click PLAY or watch them on YouTube.

More information on tumbling.

More information on vaulting.

Popular in Australia are in-ground trampolines with pit access, many of which have no metal frame on the pit side.

Melbourne, Victoria

At first glance, this looks fantastic. There is now no risk of injury landing on the frame of the tramp while somersaulting into the pit.

But Aussie coaches informed me of a downside.

Since the pit side of the tramp is NOT supported, the bed is SOFT on the pit edge.

All things considered — I still prefer this pit trampoline (made by Acromat over a trampoline with a frame.

)

Rick McCharles presented an in-gym coaching session of some of his favourite drills for girls bars and boys horizontal bar.

The objective is to find drills that work, are fun, are safe, and do not required much “spotting”.

To see Rick’s PowerPoint presentation click PLAY or watch them on YouTube.

More information on bars.

More information on horizontal bar.

I am happy to recommend (almost certainly) the best video resource for recreational coaches available.

It is called “Complete Recreational Gymnastics“, a huge collection (2hrs 43min!) of over 550 skills and drills for coaching girls gymnastics.

Quality is excellent, produced by coach Charles Minster, an expert video editor.

His co-author for this video is Tasmanian coach Mark Moncur from Kingborough Gymnastics.

Games and activities are easy to understand, even for young children.

The resource looks expensive at AUS$120 until you consider that other companies would have sold it as six 30min videos. (I find it far more convenient to have everything on one disk.)

View details and see video samples on-line: “Complete Recreational Gymnastics“. (PAL format)

This DVD is also available in the NTSC format from 10.0 for US$99.

Charles Minster has another video highlighting the coaching philosophy of world expert Colin Still from the UK. (This video is 4hrs 33min! featuring 395 skills and drills!)

And I will soon be reporting more DVDs. Charles is currently in the UK shooting more footage. Minster Productions will be permanently linked under VIDEOS in the right hand navigation column.

Will we see this fantastic content available on-line, as well?

Congratulations to the British Artistic teams who both finished third ahead of host Australia.

I was not surprised to hear that Louis Smith was a star of AYOF Gymnastics 2007.

China topped the gymnastics medal tally with 11 gold. The women’s artistic team cleaned up the gold in all four apparatus finals.

Emma Dennis and Mary-Anne Monckton were the most impressive gymnasts from Australia, taking out the silver on vault and floor respectively.

Australia was unfortunate to miss out on medaling in the team events of the artistic gymnastics, placing fourth in both men’s and women’s.

In the men’s artistic competition Great Britain proved they have the potential to compete at the same level as China and Japan. Louis Smith claimed Great Britain’s first gold on the pommel horse.

He also won silver in the artistic all-around and an unexpected bronze on the high bar.

The British team scooped up bronze in both men’s and women’s artistic team events. Britain’s team manager, Vince Walduck said “It’s been a wonderful experience. Thanks for the invitation. The competition has had a great intense international feel but with a human touch that is so important to these young elite athletes.”

Australian Youth Olympic Festival 2007 – AOC

I subscribe to Tom Burgdorf’s Parenting An Athlete Newsletter. Good advice, delivered by email.

You can sign up to get Tom’s Parenting Newsletter from the GymNetSport.com Gymnastics Business Newsletter page. It’s free.

Tom feels the price levied to compete is getting too high. I agree.

How does cost in your region compare with Tom’s hypothetical USA gym club?

The $5650 Commitment

12 months of team gymnastics, Level 5 gymnast – $180 a month = $2160.

Leotard and warm ups = $100.

4 Local meets a year = $250 in total family expenses.

2 travel meets within the state with overnight accommodations needed = $600 for a family.

1 big meet trip with air fare = $1000 with 1 parent going.

Gas to the gym for a year = $500.

Team goes to a summer camp together = $800

6 private lessons during the year = $240

Total commitment = $5650

… My question is, can we have team and cut back anywhere above and still offer a terrific team program? Sometimes I feel like we add and add and add to the team commitment with hours and costs without keeping an eye on our community and the expenses for a family. We will lose some very nice kids because of the costs if we are not careful.

Personality is what makes a coach. If you can find a coach that motivates your child in a positive manner to strive to meet their potential, then in essence you have won, regardless of the end medal count.

– anonymous guest on Gymbrooke.com

Swinging Rings on Santa Monica Beach, California was the highlight of my pilgrimage there in the late 1970s. Twice I saw quad back somersault dismount where the only landing mat was a large group of people with upstretched arms.

Swinging rings was very popular for girls in that era. Men did “still rings” and women did “swinging rings”.

Arnold Schwarzenegger moved to nearby Venice, California to train as a body builder. This was also the birthplace of vertical skateboard.

Southern California has an amazing acrobatic history.