One of the most difficult lessons for any coach to learn in gymnastics is PATIENCE. Reality is that to do a good job, to be successful long term- you must take your time. Our country has a tendency to over-correct 2,3 or even 4 times before we might get it right. This becomes obvious when we look at the state of politics in our country at the national level. We swing one way then over correct in the other direction. It’s amazing that we can keep any semblance of a straight course.
With the resignation of Steve Penny today, USA Gymnastics is facing some difficult decisions ahead. I have heard people screaming for the entire board to resign, but what is the point of that? I have heard some call for USA Gymnastics to no longer be the National Governing Body (NGB) for gymnastics in this country. And replace it with what?
Do we need to make corrections? As I have stated before, of course we do. You always need to make corrections to stay on course but any organization needs to proceed with caution. If you over correct, you may end up in a ditch.
Possibly it is our current political climate that is asking everyone to pick a side and has so many screaming for blood. I am just not sure that is helping us.
DO I WANT CHANGE? YES!
Do I want a revolution? No.
We do not need gymnastics professionals YELLING for change. We need gymnastics professionals WORKING for change.
Will change ever go as fast as we would want? Of course not. There are many moving parts and all outcomes need to be explored so that we do not overcorrect.
What USA Gymnastics needs now is a BIG Public Relations victory to help us move past this. I believe that USAG is implementing some of the necessary changes that will make everyone’s experience in our sport BETTER and SAFER.
We had some huge victories after the last Olympics but it’s been a tough few months since then. USA Gymnastics has been under a lot of scrutiny and we as gymnastics professionals are forced to stay positive and remember WHY we are doing this and WHAT WE STAND FOR. I believe we all have some common goals for USA Gymnastics.
- once again become the countries premier NGB in Safety and Education
- Increased enrollment in our gyms.
- Access to educational resources that will make each of us better coaches.
- Access to information to help us spot and stop abuse.
and of course- - Continued victories at the international level through all disciplines.
That’s All for tonight.
