Gymnastics Coaching.com

confusion over the new judging system being used for the first time at a global competition dominated the action.

Confusion over judging system

Russia is back. Switzerland looking good. And congratulations to the Canucks on finishing 5th in prelims. (Their best finish in the past was ninth in 2003.)

Anything can happen in the Team final under the current rules. China has by no means got a lock on the championship.

Canadians – Gymnastics Canada

I asked an artist in the new Cirque du Soleil show LOVE how he learned the air flare. It’s by far the best “floor exercise” I know.

A break dancer, he told me that he worked as hard as possible every day for 6 months before swinging out of his first air flare. After that point, learning the flares in series got easier.

Regular flares and windmills are prerequisite.

Many top gymnasts have tried and failed to add it to their Floor routine.

Click PLAY to see Bboy Ducky from Drifters/Expressions fly the flare as well as I’ve ever seen it done — or watch the clip on YouTube.

It is easy to comment on any post via the link at the bottom of each.

But if you have a story, a website, an idea, a point of view — click “suggest a story” in the top right navigation. It will bring you to a simple fill-in-the-blank suggestion box.

That’s the way Dieter Hofmann calls it after reporting on podium training.

Hofmann I’ve often called the second most successful coach in history. (After Arkaev.) He was long-time Head Coach of both Men’s and Women’s National Teams in East Germany.

At the end of the podium training it certainly can be said that the following teams will qualify for the World Championships 2007: Italy, North Korea, France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Canada, USA, Australia, Romania, Germany, South Korea, Russia, Great Britain, Ukraine, China and the Netherlands.

– Further 10 teams will have to make it into the top 24 with improved performances in the competition.

– It is hard to name one favorite for the women’s team competition. Probably about five teams would have the chance to win the event.

– Considering their technical abilities and the content of their routines the team from China probably is the favorite for the gold medal. However, they still have to prove that with stability during the competition. With the new judging regulations major errors are deducted with 0.5 and falls with 0.8. So for the teams mistakes don’t anymore mean loosing tenths, it might very well mean loosing whole points.

It definitely will be an exciting event and everyone is looking forward to the start of the competition!

Reporting for GYMmedia from Aarhus: Dieter Hofmann

CURRENT STANDING (after subdivision 5):

1. CHN — 370.425; 2. JPN — 367.750; 3. RUS — 365.400;
4. ROM – 364.325; 5. CAN – 361.875; 6. SUI – 359.200; 7. BLR — 359.175; 8. FRA – 358.475; 9. KOR — 358.475; 10. USA — 358.100; 11. AUS – 356.175; 12. ITA – 352.200; 13. GBR — 347.450; 14. KAZ –346.325; 15. POR — 344.525; 16. NED — 344.175; 17. MEX – 340.250; 18. TPE – 336.825; 19. ISR – 335.875; 20. NOR – 327.850; 21. AUT – 327.250; 22. TUR – 327.075; 23. EGY – 326.450; 24. CZE – 324.500; 25. ALG – 324.175; 26. ISL – 316.900

continually updated information on GymMedia.com

When Worlds starts Saturday in Aarhus, Denmark, nations can appeal (difficulty score only) to video review. The first protest costs US$300, the second $500 & the third $1,000.

If a team wins the appeal, it gets the money back. If not, it goes to the charitable foundation of the federation (FIG).

Hopefully video review will not be used often. Certainly it could slow down the already too lengthy competition.

Former MTC chairman Hardy Fink from Canada feels that video appeal is necessary. It’s been used in Canada for years and not been abused. I agree.

Not everyone agrees. Many are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Jury still out on new gymnastics replay system

More and more athletes are starting blogs.

This is a good way for coaches to gain perspective on the point of view of their students. The athlete’s worldview is often much different than coaches expect.

The Trampoline Queen lists her favourite trampolinists:

Women: Kirsten Lawton, Huang Shanshan & Karen Cockburn (pictured)

Men: Yasuhiro Ueyama, Gary Smith, Jason Burnett

Leave a comment if you know of any other good acrobatic athlete blogs.

thanks Dana

Artistic Worlds in Denmark begin October 13th.

Some countries will enjoy TV coverage of the event. Better we feel is on-line internet webcast for only $4.95 a month. That’s cheap! Sign up on WCSN.com.

Commentary by Bart Conner. Watch the video live or archived after the competition.

Some call this the “unimportant Worlds” as it does not directly qualify for the Olympics. It is important in the sense that the top 24 teams advance to Worlds 2007.

More on the official website of the 2006 World Gymnastics Championships.

Or check the up-to-date Google News coverage.