Gymnastics Coaching.com

I am surprised how many different systems are used for strapping on to a men’s horizontal bar.

Most coaches use the system they first used.

Eugene Galperin, one of the most successful Canadian coaches in history, brought straps from the USSR to Toronto decades ago. An athlete from Ontario showed up in my gym one day with straps — and I was hooked.

I still use 2 inch (5cm) wide straps with long sport socks (from the lost & found) wrapped around the bar. I want to simulate the feel of the actual wooden rail for the girls.

Kids who are used to narrower straps find mine awkward to put on. But force is distributed over a greater surface area, a real advantage, I feel.

Mountain Shadows Gymnastics

Jason from Supertramp.co.uk heard my call for a quality trampoline board.

Check out the TrickBone.

It’s designed to use in conjunction with an outdoor performance trampoline.

… constructed from strong, flexible, laminated beechwood. The rubber feet have been developed to provide optimum jump control whilst the specially curved ends help overcome unsteady landings.

The TrickBone has pre-drilled holes to allow the fixing of all standard snow and wakeboard bindings. If you don’t already have your own bindings, they can be supplied …

Awesome. Every boarder needs to train with one of these.

See product details on Supertramp.co.uk

I’ve often heard these devices criticized — but they seem like a great idea to me!

Where I live there is a big shortage of gymnastics coaches.

Now is a good time to jump into a full-time position in Western Canada. Send me an email (top right corner of the home page says “Email Us” if you are looking.

My own club, for example, needs a full-time Recreation Director pronto. On the job training provided.

I’ve long compared the starting salaries of gymnastics coaches with new teachers. The gap is closing steadily.

Remember the name Louis Smith. He’s the up-and-coming pommel horse superstar from the UK, twice European Jr. Champion.

This is one of the available “wallpaper” posters you can download to your computer from british-gym.com.

Tumbling downhill is standard progression for beginners — but I know it could be used much more with advanced athletes. Speed training, similar to that used by sprinters.

The best apparatus I ever built was a 40ft tumbling floor, slanted at about 10 degrees, constructed out of plywood. (I wish I had a photo.) It worked great!

For fun, tumble downhill on sand or grass.

George Novak, Ica, Peru. The world’s highest sand dunes.

This is the only trampoline bike I have ever seen. It was more of a novelty than a true training device, I thought.

Woodward West Action Sports Camp

More gymnastics equipment photos from Woodward West 2005.

Those I have designed (foam, shoes & duct tape) never survive more than a few weeks.

Those constructed out of an old skateboard, I fear will damage the tramp bed. The padding tends to disintegrate.

Have you built a good one? Have you ever seen one sold commercially? If so, leave a comment below.

Woodward West Action Sports Camp

As a kid I remember playing around in a “German Wheel”.

Coach Doug Taylor bought one and would bring it out to our gymnastics events. He even took it on the road and charged people a few bucks to try it.

Recently, it has become even more popular in the circus. I love it!

Did you know there was a World competition in “Wheel Gymnastics”?

Details on this GymMedia.com page.

I posted an article on preventing & managing rips.

Another good article on rips was published by Rik Feeney.

More than anything else, I use many drills which do not involve swinging on a bar. Use safety straps with gloves as much as possible.