Updates from March, 2013 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Rick Mc 10:24 pm on March 7, 2013 Permalink | Reply  

    what is physical literacy? 

    The cynic in me is tempted to answer, yet another Kinesiology ‘buzzword’.

    But here’s one definition:

    forward roll1. Forward somersault

    1. Can your child do a basic forward somersault (roll) on the floor?

    2. Flat-footed squat

    Can your child do a flat-footed squat from a standing position and then stand up again? The flat-footed squat is considered a standard test of physical literacy by researchers and health practitioners. This movement indicates a blend of important qualities: flexibility, coordination and balance, not to mention strength.

    3. Swim (comfortable in water)
    4. Throw a ball
    5. Strike an object

    6. Land from jumping

    Watch your child as they jump from a low platform, tree branch or park bench and land on their feet. Do they land with their knees aligned squarely above their feet and flex smoothly into a squat? …

    7. One-leg balance test
    8. Confidence to try sports
    9. Describe a movement skill or activity in words

    Active for Life9 ways to tell if your child is physically literate

    When I was a student of Kinesiology at University of Calgary in the 1980s, we called our department Physical Education.

    And I still prefer that term. :-)

     
  • Rick Mc 3:03 am on June 10, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    $17 gymnastics “Fun Stick” 

    Low cost, yet with plenty of uses.

    Fun Sticks are a NEW fun product that have multiple uses. Velcro™ flaps on one end of each Fun Stick allow them to stand up on closed loop carpeted surfaces. Use a set for jumping over, marking stations, obstacle courses, and more!

    Fun Sticks are an essential element in creating a Forster Handstand Training System, which helps gymnasts learn to self-correct handstand positioning at all skill levels. The Handstand Training System is a great side station for bars that will keep your gymnasts working and learning new skills while they wait their turn on bars.

    All that is needed to create a Forster Handstand Training System are Fun Sticks, a wall with closed loop carpet, and a Floor Bar or Beam. For early learners, have students kick up to a handstand with their legs touching the Fun Stick. Move the Fun Stick down on the wall to wrist height and watch your more advanced gymnast’s impressive handstand work.

    Individual Fun Sticks are supplied in random colors. Packages of 6 include one of each color.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    Details.

     
  • Rick Mc 11:38 am on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    gymnastics warm-up 4-7yr-olds 

    These are pre-competitive girls. But there are plenty of good ideas for Rec, too.

    Girls just want to have FUN. ♪

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    That’s the Sparklers program at Gym-Nation.

     
  • Rick Mc 12:08 am on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Gym STAFF GOALS AND MOTIVATION 

    Good reminders for those managing sports programs.

    1. Hire right.
    2. Offer clear goals.
    3. Manage by walking around.
    4. Share your finances.
    5. Do incentives right.
    6. Build trust.
    7. Treat workers like people.

    gymmomentum – STAFF GOALS AND MOTIVATION

    Island Tag, a classic gymnastics game that helps develop motor skills like balance, agility, coordination and spacial awareness.

    That’s A-Mazing Adventures in Regina.

     
  • Rick Mc 8:01 am on February 7, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    still “tricking” age-44 

    Most gyms with Adult Rec have trickers these days.

    I saw them last week at Twisters, Port Townsend, Washington. (PHOTOS)

    Here’s Jack Lee age-44 at another gym.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    Thanks Guy.

     
  • Rick Mc 7:53 am on January 31, 2012 Permalink | Reply  

    Tumbl Trak school visits 

    I’m visiting Tumbl Trak founder Doug Davis in Washington State.

    Tumbl Trak sponsored some school visits recently, setting-up an appealing assortment of equipment, delighting students.

    Quilcene school for 2 days, Nov. 2011

    It’s called “Rec Kid Fit“, not gymnastics.

    Blue Heron Middle School Tumbling Clinic


    see more Blue Heron pics on Facebook

    That was a cooperative effort involving Rec staff, YMCA staff and PE teachers.

    Note: I’ve added a “school” category for posts like this.

    via Diana Hughes. Thanks!

     
  • Rick Mc 8:55 am on October 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    FUN Rope Activities 

    Wow.

    Pullover on a rope.

    And check out the “car wash” starting 2min 20sec.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    Why don’t we do more work on horizontal and diagonal ropes? Brilliant ideas here, TumblTrak. Thanks.

    see more videos like this on the TumblTrak YouTube channel.

     
  • Rick Mc 4:03 am on October 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    slackline for Rec gymnasts 

    We visited coach Carrie Lennox at Jefferson County Rec in Port Townsend, WA.

    She shows that very young children can do the (supposedly difficult) slackline. And love it!

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    That’s part of Carry’s KID FIT curriculum. (longer VIDEO)

    Tumbl Trak – Slacklines

    ____

    By the way, isn’t “Kid Fit” a much better description than “physical literacy“?

    To me physical literacy sounds a buzz word that will disappear in time.
    ____

     
    • normita ty 9:50 am on November 10, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      DEAR COACH RICK
      GREETINGS FROM YOUR GYMNASTICS FAMILY IN THE PHIL. IHAVE BEEN RECEIVING POSTING IN MY EMAIL THRU RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS AND I HAVE BEEN COMPILING IT AND USING MANY OF YOUR POSTING IN MY PGAA GYMNASTICS CLUB WHICH WAS CREATED 4 YEARS NOW. THE POSTING FROM RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN OUR GYMNASTICS PROGRAM. I HEARD FROM COACH DON ANWIELER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE FIG SEMINAR IN THE PHIL. I WILL BE ATTENDING IT TOGETHER WITH MY 4 COACHES. I AM REALLY SO EXCITED TO MEET AND SEE YOU SOON. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

  • Rick Mc 10:42 am on May 16, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    Adult Gymnastics: You’re never too old to start 

    Suddenly Adult Recreational Gymnastics is much in the news.

    The most widely seen link is a video by triple Olympian Dominique Dawes:

    … If someone would have told me when I was training for my Olympic gold over 15 years ago that adult gymnastics classes would become a fitness trend I would have simply laughed. …

    Clearly not everyone feels the same way. Adults continue to sign up for gymnastics classes and they even love it. So I had to find out why they keep coming back for more. So what better place to check this out then the gym I spent many of my years training, Hill’s Gymnastics in Gaithersburg, MD. …

    Yahoo – Adult Gymnastics: You’re never too old to start

    Click on the link above to see the excellent video feature.

    (via About.com Gymnastics)

    Dominique is kind of a big deal, these days, a fitness guru for organizations right up to the White House.

     
    • Ellen 11:22 pm on May 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Adult gymnastics is really becoming a huge trend in Texas where my gym is. I never would have guessed that when I started my gym 20 years ago. It’s fun though so I guess its a great way to get in shape and have fun at the same time.

  • Rick Mc 5:04 am on April 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    trapeze at the Gym Club 

    I love swinging Rings and Trapeze. Great FUN. Great upper body strength development. Great aerial awareness.

    The principles DANGERS, of course, are twofold:

    1) releasing at the wrong time, hitting the BOX (in this case)
    2) injury on landing

    Still … I do many variations of this activity with kids starting age-4. Carefully. Long before I start swinging on a stationary bar.

     
c
compose new post
j
next post/next comment
k
previous post/previous comment
r
reply
e
edit
o
show/hide comments
t
go to top
l
go to login
h
show/hide help
shift + esc
cancel
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 8,608 other followers

%d bloggers like this: