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2014 Canadian Gymnaestrada – June 29 to July 1, 2014
The 2014 Canadian Gymnaestrada is a performance and educational event. It is a festival of movement involving all gymnastics disciplines and is proudly hosted by the Alberta Gymnastics Federation, in partnership with Gymnastics Canada, at the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson gymnasium along with several outdoor Calgary venues. …
Doug Davis is energetic in helping instructors teach happy, safe kids. He’s all about building confidence through systematic progression. And repetition.
These progressions are not only for competitive kids. They are for everyone who wants to learn to tumble.
Doug:
“Balking” happens frequently in many gyms across the country. A gymnast attempts a skill, and then STOPS in the middle of the attempt. This can be extremely dangerous with some skills. Or, the gymnast will not go for the skill at all, due to fear. …
One example of a common skill series where students may “balk” is a Round-Off to one or two Back-Handsprings. Students should be taken through a series of progressions …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Keep in mind, these steps are not all linear. Start developing back-handspring skills at the same time as round off skills. …
It is not all about overcoming fear and preventing balking, it is also about setting up all of your students for repeated success. …
read more – How Progressions Build Confidence and Reduce Fear
Catherine T details her struggles to get ready for an Adult Rec Competition:
On Saturday I competed in my second masters meet. Eleven months ago, after my first meet in a decade, I was filled with hope and inspiration and energy. I vowed to train every day, get in shape and not let anything stop me. And then, well, I let things stop me. Things got stressful. Anxiety. Depression. Sickness. I seemed to either have a cold or the flu from basically October to February …
I’m going.
World Gymnaestrada 2015 Helsinki, Finland, 12-18 July 2015.
Make the Earth Move!
It’s like the Olympics of non-competitive gymnastics.
Click PLAY or watch a strong performance that COULD go to Gymnaestrada on YouTube.
more FIG Gymnastics for All videos
There are cheaper Gymnastics festivals. And friendlier festivals. Leave a comment if you like one better than the World Gymnaestrada.
New Twisters Gymnastics Location, Port Hadlock, WA on the Olympic Peninsula. $40
Saturday, May 10th, 2014
Join us for our summer series of Coaches Clinics geared toward Recreational to Pre Team level coaches looking to create a foundation of good habits in themselves and their athletes.
Clinicians will include: Doug Davis, Randy Parrish, Steve Roney and Kelle Riley!
Kim Z Dale:
Why are you there?
Our kids are three. Three! That means we have graduated from parent and tot gymnastics to drop off gymnastics. Drop off gymnastics class, a.k.a. you are expected to drop off your kid and go until class ends.
“The stereotypes of weak older people hurt us all. I like showing younger people what’s possible.” — Johanna Quaas
The 88-year-old competitive German gymnast appeared in her first gymnastics competition in 1934. …
read more on Facebook
Tumbl Trak:
… For beginner athletes, building enough strength and confidence on bars takes lots and lots of steps that often get skipped in a typically rigorous, fast-paced gym curriculum. We’ve compiled a list of important success steps to challenge kids BEFORE the elusive pullover. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Coach Carrie Spender Lennox finds herself in … the parent viewing gallery:
From the balcony, parents don’t always hear a coach’s words, or recognize the exact benefit of drills that highlight our kids flopping around the floor. What is always clear is the expressions of enthusiasm and joy on coaches and kids faces when giving praise for a job well done.
Parents know the power of praise and how challenging it is to be consistent, and purposeful with praising kids. Here’s some great reminders from Dale Carnegie, an American writer and lecturer …
- Make eye contact with the person you are praising
- Use their name
- Make sure you sound like you really mean it. When you sound enthusiastic you will always be far more convincing
- Let them have the praise as soon as possible – why wait to give positive feedback. If it is important to you then you will make it a priority
- Show that you know what makes the person tick when you decide where and how you give the praise – some people prefer praise in private others will be delighted by more public praise such as in a team meeting
- Praise and positive feedback is not just about motivation – it is also encourages repeat behavior. If you want someone to do the same good work again – or develop it further then make sure you let them know:
- Let them know why you valued their concentration and hard work; ‘I know that you had to put of extra time and effort into this progression and the extra effort really showed in the final result.
- Nagging does not work
- Try to give each athlete a word of appreciation, its not hard to find something you appreciate about people you care about.
read more on the Tumbl Trak email newsletter –
A Few Choice Words…
Recreational Gymnastics 
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