Posted in Judging, Men's Program on Apr 22nd, 2009 1 Comment »
What is wrong with the new optional system for the junior program? I will tell you one thing that I find very wrong. There is absolutely no development in the developmental program. In other words, there is no incentive whatsoever to have boys go through the various levels. As most coaches and gymnasts have figured out […]
Posted in Body Shapes on Dec 2nd, 2008 4 Comments »
I have noticed, of late, that there has been a tremendous misunderstanding when using the term “Hollow”. Coaches seem to use this term as a catch all phase. I am sure that if you do enough hollow body holds and rocks that the gymnasts understand what this position is. However, do coaches truly understand the […]
Posted in Uneven Bars, high bar on Nov 13th, 2008 No Comments »
Did you ever notice how many kids, boys and girls, kick when they try to do a kip?
This is a very common problem.
When doing a kip, the ankles should be brought up to the bar and as the body swings back, the arms pull up and the legs extend. However, when the legs are […]
Posted in Tumbling, floor exercise on Jul 15th, 2008 1 Comment »
My question to any of you who may read this is, Is a front layout on floor really a layout? After all in most cases going backward it seems everyone encourages a hollow body position. Do you use a hollow body position to do a front layout? It is my experience that a front layout […]
Posted in Tumbling, floor exercise on Apr 27th, 2008 No Comments »
When I went to coach at Bowling Green State University in 1996 I inherited 18 gymnasts and in turn 18 different ways to do a front handspring on floor. I was amazed that we had just won the Olympics as a country in Atlanta yet these young ladies none of whom were below a Level […]
Posted in high bar on Apr 20th, 2008 1 Comment »
I have been judging high bar all year and I have some suggestions on Healys and Higgins. Obviously, everyone needs to learn these skills since they are so important in todays world of gymnastics. However, it is very important that these skills be done to a handstand and not just meet the minimum requirements of […]
Posted in Judging on Apr 10th, 2008 1 Comment »
I have been judging men’s gymnastics from Level 4 all the way up to the NCAA level this year and I have some very strong feelings about the new system. Unfortunately, there is no longer any room for creativity. If it is not in the code of points it is not gymnastics. This seems pretty […]