WHY COACH GYMNASTICS

After over 35 years as a career coach, I still ask that question. There are jobs that pay much better. A lot of volunteer time is expected.
So why coach?

Gymnastics is the most beneficial physical activity. Gymnasts are the most fit athletes. Gymnastics is never boring. I love being part of the best sport.
We must also ask why kids do gymnastics?

Surveys of gymnasts & parents result in lists like this:

Have FUN
Improve Skills
Friendships
Be GOOD at something
For EXCITEMENT
For FITNESS
To be part of the CLUB
For CHALLENGE
To LEARN new skills
To WIN

How can we best provide an experience to fulfill those goals? My philosophy I appropriated from Keith Russell, a principle author of the Canadian coaching manuals:
Fun
Fitness
Fundamentals
This is the checklist by which I plan practices;
Is it fun? Will fitness improve?
Are basic skills reinforced?
Fun is a great goal as it is one that EVERYONE in the gym can achieve.
So what is fun in the gym?
contests
games
variety in skills and drills
activities where the kids work together (e.g. relays) depending on one another
etc.
How do we improve fitness? It is easy. No other activity improves fitness as quickly and effortlessly as gymnastics. We only run into problems if the strength drills are too easy (no training effect) or too repetitive (the body adapts after 3-4 weeks and improvement slows).
The main principle for coaches is the overload principle. Training plans must progressively and insistently require more and more of the athlete, physically and technically.
If the kids are having fun in the gym, they (normally) wil be more motivated for conditioning. If they are motivated for conditioning, the skills come more easily. If the basics are sound, competitive performance will improve.
Any additions to, or questions on, my philosophy?I would appreciate feedback
By the way, my philosophy is the same for recreational once-a-week gymnasts as it is for high performance athletes. I observe, however, additional positive qualities of competitive gymnasts, including:
high social status
middle or high level socio-economic class
organized in their life- style
more socially adjusted
superior leadership qualities
emotionally controlled
self-confident yet humble
courageous
normal or slightly above normal academic achievement
tough-minded

“Trying to make a top gymnast out of a child with limited physical ability is like trying to play a sonata on a piano with only five keys.”
- John Atkinson, Great Britain

The primary objectives of the sport of Gymnastics is not to contest the ability of those fundamental elements in terms of time, distance and resistance, but to test your command of the total body in terms of artistic value.

Talent Opportunity Program (TOP)

United States of America Gymnastics’ Talent Opportunity Program (or TOPs) is still going strong. Fifty-four athletes participated in the three-day National TOPs Team Camp at the Women’s National Team Training Center, held at the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas, Dec. 1-5. An additional 58 athletes participated in the TOPs B Camp, Dec. 5-9.

For the first time in the program’s history, 8-year-old gymnasts participated in the training camps with tremendous success. The athletes were instructed in all four Olympic events and dance by the National Team Developmental Coaching staff. Lectures were also given by the staff to the coaches on training techniques.

TOPs is a talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 7-11 and their coaches. During the months of June and July, 2,800 gymnasts ages 7-11 were evaluated on physical abilities at the state level. From there, the best 280 gymnasts 8-11 year old athletes were invited to participate in the National TOPs Testing in October, where they were evaluated on the same physical abilities tests and basic gymnastics skills. From National TOPs Testing, 54 athletes were named to the TOPs National Team and invited to participate in the National TOPs Training Camp in December.

The training camps were, without a doubt, the most productive camps in their 19 years of existence and the inclusion of the 8-year-old athletes was a tremendous success.

Asian Gymnastics Camp - India

Mr. Sanjay Sabnis, Assistant Director & In charge, Balewadi Sports Complex as guest of honour, Mr. Kan Singh Rathore, General Secretary GFI, Mr. Zambri Abidin AGU Expert and Mr. M. Chemburkar Secretary MAGA were present at the closing ceremony on 11th December 2010. Mr. Kan Singh welcomed all the guests and participants and appreciated the support provided during the camps by Director Sports & Youth Services. He also said that the credit goes to Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune for the India’s historic medals in gymnastics at CWG and Asian Games 2010. Coaches from Sri Lanka & India also shared their experiences gathered during this training camp

25th National Gymnastics Championships

The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation will be organizing the 25th National Artistic Gymnastics Championship on the 5th December 2010 at Gymnasium III, National Sports Council, Kuala Lumpur.

16 MAG from 7 teams

15 WAG from 5 teams

Team Managers meeting will be held on the 3rd December at 7.00 p.m. Gymnasium III, National Sports Council, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

See you there.