LANDING on the feet
As Keith Russell always says: We teach landings first. We teach landings best.
Landing and falling safely are LIFE skills.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Updates from January, 2018 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Rick Mc
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Rick Mc
teaching BRIDGES in Gymnastics
Many children can do a back bend before they get to your first Gymnastics class.
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Some cannot. Some are not strong & flexible enough. Some are still nervous about falling on their backs.
Never force a group of kids to do Bridges. It can be a BIG disincentive for participation.
Instead challenge children to do Bridge activities. Start with activities lying over soft equipment in a Bridge position. Encourage them to work towards Bridges balancing on head, hands and feet (Wrestler’s Bridge).
The final goal is an elevated Bridge. Hands on the floor, feet up on something higher.
Never spot beginners into the Bridge position. Let them discover how to get into position on their own.
Certainly some children will never be able to achieve a proper Bridge. That’s OK.
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Rick Mc
teaching LANDINGS at Gymnastics
We teach landing and falling safely FIRST at Gym.
We teach landing and falling safely BEST at Gym.
Of the 6 movement patterns we teach, LANDINGS are the most important.
Children should practice in a padded playground under supervision long, long before they have a bad fall from a bicycle out in the cold, cruel world.
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Rick Mc
Self-taught Trampoline is too Dangerous
Landon Smith broke his neck at Jump Park Trampoline in January.
We recommend that EVERYONE train with certified, experienced coaches at a Club. Backyard Tramps and drop-in Trampoline Centres are too dangerous.
related – Alberta Injury Prevention Program – Position Statement Private Residence Trampoline Safety
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Rick Mc
backward rolls for little gymnasts
Small children have bigger heads than adults relative to their body size.
Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.
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Rick Mc
backward salto without a spotter
Click PLAY or watch a fun progression on Facebook.
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Rick Mc
Schools BANNING cartwheels are short-sighted
Every child should be taught to do a cartwheel.
A child unable to cartwheel is unfit, in my opinion. Not ready for life events that put them into an inverted position.
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Rick Mc
collecting and returning kids to parents at GYM
Every program needs a system.
Learning the Hard Way – How to Welcome Kids to Camp!
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Rick Mc
Handstand facing the wall
The best and safest way to teach good position to beginners. The further the hands are from the wall, the easier.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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Rick Mc
let kids PLAY
‘Lets face it, keeping children sedentary for most of their waking hours is causing harm’
Recreational Gymnastics 
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