Gymnastics Coaching.com

Rick McCharles

Photo is super coach Peter Soul, Integrity Gymnastics, Ohio. His excellent fitness helped him recover from chemotherapy over the past year.

At Funtastics Gymnastics camp in Idaho I noted my coaching contemporaries are aging.

At 48-years-old, I’ve never been a better coach. My mind is strong but the body starting to fail.

At camp I had never been so disabled: broken hand, sore back and laryngitis. Most of the other “older” coaches were hobbled in one way or another.

One has pain in his shoulder even putting on a t-shirt. Another was limping from a running injury. Many of us were avoiding spotting if we could.

A friend retired from coaching last year after 31-years. Another is scheduling a double hip replacement.

Thank God for 21-year-old Rachael Tart (Funtastics) who already spots Yurchenko and Tkachev!

Older coaches need spend more time providing opportunities for new coaches. Our days are numbered.

This is Trondheims Turnforening — a gymnastics club in Norway.

Average age of these fine athletes is 75yrs, the eldest 94!

They work-out twice a week, the seniors group operating since 1958.

Hardy Fink and Keith Russell visited the gym while in Norway for the “FIG Academy” (a coach education program). The FIG is serious about their Academy program.

By the way, 346 coaches have now completed a FIG Academy level 1, 2 or 3 course from over 60 different countries.

More details on the FIG website.

Friends just bought a backyard trampoline.

Straight off, as a gymnastics professional, I advise everyone against backyard trampolines. I am surprised they are still legal in Canada.

Kids should do trampoline only under the supervision of trained coaches on properly maintained equipment.

If you insist on putting a dangerous trampoline in your yard, consider a trampoline without springs. For example, the Spring Free SF90E.

As backyard tramps go, I am impressed. This company is focused on safety.

Eliminating the springs is a great innovation!

But I dispute the company’s claim that “SpringFree is the Safe Trampoline!”.

It’s a safer trampoline. But the reaction force from the elastic bed can still injure children.

UPDATE: Check the comments below:

“in two weeks my son severely fractured his ankle”.

One of the most challenging skills to “spot” as a gymnastics coach is the somersault from high bar to low bar. It helps to be tall and strong.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.com

I love this skill. It is much safer than it looks. Swinging the kip without hitting your feet on the floor is the most difficult part.

Dennis Swenson recommends spotting Pak to free hip on the low bar so the girls learn to get weight on their hands before pushing away to the kip.

At Altadore Gymnastics we are shopping for a tumbling trampoline.

In the States coaches recommended the Tumbl Track model. At least 40′ long.

Coach Mack likes Ross tumbling tramps. They are made by Canadian company Rebound Products. Their “Power Track” (used by Cirque du Soleil) is the one we are now leaning towards.

Do you agree? Any dissenting opinions?

If so, leave a comment below.

I heard a great quote attributed to Montana coach Terry Hamilton.

When you walk into any gym, the best coach is the one who has all the mats.

I resemble that remark. If you turn your back for a second, I will steal your mats. The more the better.

Spieth Level 4 Vault Mat System

Charlie Tamayo from Cuba invented the Arabian double layout on Floor.

Triple front tucked?

No problem.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.com

I met Kyla at camp, new Head Coach of AIM Gymnastics Club in Moses Lake, Washington.

Kyla was a gymnast in a strong club (Big Sky Gymnastics in Montana) but her new gym has no pit and very limited equipment.

One of Kyla’s gymnasts arrived at camp fearful of back walkover on high beam and flyaway from bars. These skills were frustrating both coach and athlete.

When the athlete returned home from camp she could do both skills with confidence.

Camp worked!

The change of training environment, the excitement of working out with different coaches and athletes, can help break through mental limits. And improve motivation for months.

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison were special guests.

“I am very happy, it went well. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were seated behind me and they had a blast the whole time. It really makes you feel good inside. And the big reunion at the end with Paul, Ringo, Yoko, Olivia and the Martins, it was like a dream to find myself in the middle of that. A magical moment that was completely unexpected.”

– Dominic Champagne, Show Concept Writer and Director

Details on the new Cirque blockbuster Beatles Vegas show on the Cirque website.

Dave Adlard, Head Coach of Funtastics Gymnastics in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, takes all his gymnasts to the lake cliffs every summer. This is great psychological preparation for gymnastics. Kids overcome fear and build confidence.

I love activities that appear dangerous but which are actually very safe. Bunjie jumping is another example.

The club record for degree of difficulty was double back tucked by coaches Derek and George. But Kaila, a Level 10 gymnast, upped the bar this year with a double pike.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.com