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Drill for Leg Kick in Tumbling

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At Camp CentroAmericano in Guatemala this summer I did this drill to get the gymnasts to drive their leg over the top in both a front handspring or a cartwheel.

Se realizan dos pateos fuertes hacia arriba, seguidamente de una rueda carreta a juntar pies al final con conexión a un Flic Flac

What to look for:

  • 2 strong kicks, 3rd kick goes into the skill
  • Leg drive all the way over the top
  • Feet come together LATE
  • Stand up to strong hollow chest shape

Doing a skill OUT of it is helpful. If Not have them fall to their back to a soft mat.

USA Gymnastics supports GAT’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund

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AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2017 – USA Gymnastics supports the Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT) Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which GAT established to help gym owners hit hard by Hurricane Harvey with their efforts to rebuild, refurbish, clean and recover. Many clubs are at or near a total loss. The fund will provide assistance not only for clubs in South and Southeast Texas, but also in Louisiana and other areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people and communities who have been and continue to be impacted by Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath,” said Ron Galimore, chief operating officer of USA Gymnastics.  “USA Gymnastics is proud to support GAT’s relief initiative, and having one central point for channeling the gymnastics community’s effort to help its beleaguered brethren is an ideal approach.  We appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of those who can contribute to the relief fund, whether it is large or small.”

“It is with great appreciation that we receive the notes and prayers the community has sent to us directly and through USA Gymnastics,” said James Jeffers, chairman of Gymnastics Association of Texas. “It is truly inspirational to those of us who are on the ground and dealing with the realities of the situation.  We realized the importance of an effort to assist our clubs in moving forward, and we thank USA Gymnastics for its immediate and steadfast ongoing support of our gyms and people in need here in Texas and the other areas impacted by the storm.”

Donations to the GAT Hurricane Relief Fund may be made via the association’s website and/or Facebook page.  GAT is a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Information for gym clubs about how and where to apply and the process and the criteria for awarding assistance will be posted on the GAT website.

“Experience has shown just how much our gymnastics community can do when working together for the benefit of our sport, athletes and clubs,” said Jeffers. “Thanks to everyone for whatever support you can provide to help us through the difficult days, weeks and months to come.”

The Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT) exists to serve the gymnastics club owners, coaches and judges by providing the most up-to-date training, teaching, business and early childhood development practices available. Through an annual convention, GAT serves not only the great State of Texas, but also the entire United States by being a go-to source for everything gymnastics, both recreational and competitive.

 

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and Gymnastics for All (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.

Calling out Hypocrites

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Calling out Hypocrites

When I travel to competitions, conferences and clinics I am in the habit of picking up the local paper. Checking national and local news as well as coverage of the competitions.

Style and content vary region to region and each publication has their own standards. Some are pretty sensationalized. Some stick with just the facts. On line publications are no different. In this digital age there are a lot of options out there.
Both print and digital media has a difficult task of standing out in a crowded market. They have bills to pay and they need advertisements, subscriptions and clicks.

In a rush to report sometimes sloppy reporting happens, overworked editors may miss an error, photos get mislabeled or have poor composition. What I cannot stand is hypocrisy

All week the OC Register has been killing Gymnastics. Making every coach look guilty of the crimes of a few terrible, terrible people.
THEN they take and publish a very awkward photo of an athlete mid skill. A photo that if I had on my cell phone would get me reported to Safe Sport and face possible disciplinary action.
Not only did the photographer chose this photo to submit (from probably a few thousand they took) an editor signed off on it! I refuse to link to the photo but the caption is:

Ragan Smith reaches for the bar during her uneven bars performance at the P&G Gymnastics Championships on Friday night at the Honda Center. Smith, 17, leads the all-around competition after the first day of competition with a score of 57.400.(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

I feel that at the VERY LEAST they owe an apology to the MINOR and her parents.

I reached out to Don McPhearson to get his opinion.

“Everyone has been led to believe that there is something wrong with gymnastics, the people in it and the people that run it…when in fact what’s wrong is child porn.
Photos like this are taken and chosen by people that know PRECISELY who their intended audience is and what will be done with those photos later.
Considering the photographer had hundreds of ‘action’ photos
to choose from…he chose that. Everyone in gymnastics…and out…should be asking WHY! Moreover, the paper purchased the photo and the editor approved such…asks yourselves WHY?! They are hypocrites and very well might be child pornographers. NO athlete or parent or coach or administrator in gymnastics wants to see that photo…if not then for who?”

I am a PROUD Member of USA Gymnastics. The things that have been done to children in our sport is terrible and I believe that USAG is taking the necessary steps to make the crimes committed by a few close to impossible. I am a believer in FREE PRESS and I do to believe that all news is “fake news”. I do believe that the OC Register did not use it’s best judgement when buying and printing that photo.

 

One of the Best Leaders in History Lived 1,800 Years Ago…and His Quotes Are Still Inspiring Today

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Good leadership.
I must be a good leader and I must hire and train good leaders. You can find great information on leadership even in a book that is 1800 years old.

Marcus Aurelius was the emperor of Rome from 161 AD to 180 AD. During his time as the leader of Rome, he was the most powerful person in the world. Though massive power corrupted many leaders throughout history, Marcus is widely documented as being a noble leader with strong moral character.

His book, Meditations, has been read by countless leaders spanning over centuries. He documented parts of his life and how he worked to manage his emotions and perceptions of the world around him. His personal growth throughout the book is paralleled by his growth as a leader. Aurelius never intended for his writing to be released, giving it a sense of purity throughout the pages. It’s stoicism at its finest.

The prose is full of leadership lessons which still apply today. For the sake of this article, you’ll be exposed to three.

1. Perception is Reality

It’s often not what’s happened to your situation but rather how you interpret it that decides how you move forward. Aurelius highlights this when he says, “how we learn: by looking at each thing, both the parts and whole. Keeping in mind that none of them interpret how we perceive it.”

As a leader in your gym, you are undoubtedly going to have setbacks. Those can be viewed as detrimental to your future or building blocks–you decide.

2. Stay Humble

Ego can cripple your gym if you’re not careful. As a leader, you will be forced to make decisions and be accountable for your gym–this doesn’t make you better than anyone. More responsibility doesn’t equal more self-worth.

Aurelius says, “you’ve made enough mistakes yourself. You’re just like them.” Remember, that if you find yourself getting frustrated with a new coach or feeling entitled.

3. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Most of the things that anger you, are irrelevant to where you want to go in life and with your business. If you get hung up on every situation that didn’t pan out in your favor, you wouldn’t get far. As a leader, your ability to demonstrate grit can be contagious. If you’re calm in the midst of a storm, your team is likely to be too.

As Marcus puts it, “When you lose your temper or even feel irritated: [remember] that human life is very short. Before long all of us will be laid out side by side.”

Marcus Aurelius has been dead for over 1800 years and his leadership lessons still resonate today. This is because human behavior hasn’t changed much. People want to follow someone who perseveres, doesn’t let the small stuff get to them and stays humble. These lessons were relevant 1800 years ago, there relevant today and I foresee them being relevant for time to come.

See you at Congress! Don’t be shy- Come up and say HI!

How to be a GREAT Employee

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This summer I have written quite a bit on LEADERSHIP. Qualities needed to be a good leader, head coach, manager, or CEO.

This got me thinking, what does it take to be a good employee? No one starts off at the top. Before you can lead you must follow. Before I was the head coach I was the vault, floor coach. Before I was the vault, floor coach I was the “spotter”. My job was to go in a spot so that the head coach could watch and make corrections. My job was to use my body not my brain. My job was to spot not talk or make corrections. I listened and I learned.

Now looking back – what are traits that I would like to see in my employees. Making sure the right people are on the right events and in the right position is one of my most important roles.

1. Motivated
A motivated employee is likely to possess other qualities that make them the perfect employee. They will want to advance within the company so they will want to stand out. This means that are much more likely to communicate which is a key trait. They likely will be a good listener who will take direction and wants to learn. They are more likely to think about the consequences of their actions.

2. Humble
It’s easy to find someone skilled, smart, talented and has a good resume, but a good attitude is gold. It’s not easily found, and cannot be taught. I like to see coaches who are really smart, but also humble. They still follow rules, accept mistakes and respect others.

3. Dedicated
A dedicated employee is one who takes ownership of their role and the gym as a whole. They are committed to the mission of the company, and really lives the values that have been created by the culture here. There is no blaming or ego. Dedicated coaches really look at the overall good of the company, and understand what is best for everyone. They help out the other teachers and coaches.

4. Consistent
I think consistency is underrated in the gymnastics world. You can’t be successful if you have coaching A.D.D. where you work one skill for 5 minutes then move on. There’s a premium that’s put on intangibles like creativity or ingenuity, but there’s a need for someone who shows up every day and really grinds it out. While you need people who are constantly pushing the envelope and churning out new ideas, innovation is backed by hard work — elbow grease shouldn’t be a phrase from a bygone era!

5. Accountable
Perfect employees are responsible for themselves and others. They ask for help when they need it, are dependable and reliable, will not need to be micromanaged, will inspire others to achieve excellence. They know they are the makers of their own success themselves, are introspective, and know that change for the better starts within.

6. Dependable
Talent only gets you so far. Being dependable means you complete tasks given on-time and on-budget, and can solve issues that will arise during a project. Any gym owner can tell you stories of the GREAT COACH who they had to let go because they were not dependable.

7. Self-manageable
I have found that the most powerful predictor of a coaches or teachers performance is the ability to self-manage. Self-management exists when the coach sets their own goals and has high personal standards for performance. Self-management doesn’t mean the coach doesn’t adhere to the overall goals; quite the opposite — the coach uses the gym or teams goals as a guideline and tends to go above and beyond.

8. Integrity
Opening up a gym requires integrity. Integrity is founded on honesty, accountability and delivery. I have made MANY mistakes to get to this point, so progress and commitment to the business is paramount, which requires honesty and accountability. Being accountable for a mistake and not placing blame is the delivery.

9. Committed
I look for coaches who are completely committed to their jobs, team members and customers. The best coaches are strongly motivated to advance their own careers, but at the same time really care about the people they’re working with and the customers they serve. This takes a genuine interest in the business and even the day-to-day details, which are sometimes monotonous. I say often, “I do not expect you to be as singleminded about the gym as me 24/7. But I do need you to view this as more than just a job”.

10. Passionate
YEARS ago when I first opened my mother told me- Hire the personality, you can teach them the job. I am a firm believer that you can always train for skill, but not for talent and passion. When I am looking to bring on a new coach or teacher or even a front office person, I look for someone who is going to bring energy and passion to their role above all else. Without that, the technical skills mean little.

11. Creative
I personally value those who are ‘lateral thinking’ and can develop creative solutions to bolster our current initiatives. This is because someone who is inherently innovative, and can be counted on for delivery of creative solutions is going to work great in the ever changing environment of the gym. They can also take their creativity and help us think around problems in the office and business.

12. Optimistic
An optimistic employee looks for creative solutions before introducing an issue to the team. They approach each day as if it’s an opportunity to do something extraordinary rather than nine hours spent barking out orders and drills. They help drive things forward through actions small and large. BONUS- they are fun to be around!

13. Hungry
Employees who are hungry for knowledge should have no problem taking on a task and running with it. This type of mindset is extremely important within a gym. Resources around training may not be scarce but they are difficult to schedule. Coaches must be driven enough to solve problems on their own.

14. Loyal
There are a lot of great, motivated and talented coaches out there. The ones who share your vision and are loyal to you and that vision are few and far between. People want to build their own dream and their loyalty is sometimes swayed by attractive offers at another gym. Let them in on building your dream with you, develop them as people and professionals, and loyalty will come with it.

15. Character-driven
You can train a coach to learn your business, but character stems from experiences. I sleep well at night knowing I can trust my employees to do the right thing, treat the customer well and be a righteous ambassador of Atlantic Gymnastics. A character-driven employee does not need supervision to make decisions because they will act in the best interest of our business and customers.

16. Achiever
Building a coaching team of achievers is one sure-fire way to really get things done. Being smart and skilled is one thing, but a coach who can successfully plan and execute tasks to a high standard is extremely important. Having go-getters in your gym helps to accelerate growth, fuels ideas and keeps things moving.

17. Persistent
These days, everybody is smart and talented (or at least think they are). The problem is that in our business, we have all become incredibly scared of failure. I love employees who take risks, albeit calculated, and then take responsibility for the ensuing success or failure. It is categorically impossible to succeed without failure, and the coaches and teachers who are persistent are the real superstars.

An Open Letter to my Gymnasts, Meg Wren, #IamUSAGymnastics

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I had the pleasure of working with Meg at the South Carolina State Clinic the last few years. She is a wonderful and compassionate person. I really enjoyed her philosophy reminding me that what we teach is WAY MORE than Just Gymnastics.

Dear Gymnasts,

There is no easy way to start a letter like this, so I’m just going to jump right in. Leaving you and the sport has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I may not be in the gym every day anymore, but I am always here for you. I always have your back.

We’ve spent a lot of time together over the years and gotten extremely close. Most of you have been with me through some of the biggest events of my life. You are my people, and I will always have a place for you in my heart. No matter what, I will always continue to cheer you on in gymnastics and in life.

It’s been an honor to watch you grow into beautiful and strong young women. As your coach, it was my job to teach you in gymnastics, but remember, I care more about you as a person than as a gymnast. With that in mind, I have a few pieces of advice as your journey continues on.

First and foremost, love yourself, as you are for who you are. All those things about you that you think are flaws are what make you beautiful and interesting.  I know this is the worst cliché, but it really is what’s on the inside that makes you beautiful. It’s who you are that counts, not how you look.

Those callouses on your hands are a testament to your work ethic. Your crazy hairdo is not because you have bad hair or because you are too lazy to style it. No, it’s because you are not afraid to throw your hair into a messy bun on top of your head to get it out of your way and get to business. The bruises on your legs from crashing hard on beam are evidence of your resiliency. Your muscular arms are proof of not only your strength, but of your dedication. Sure, you’re a bit more beat up than most girls your age, but you’re also more committed, driven, and hard working. You are amazingly wonderful. Never forget it.

Third, it is okay to be afraid. I’m afraid all the time. I’m pretty sure most everyone feels scared at one time or another. We’re all afraid, but don’t ever forget it’s important to face your fears. You’ll be a better gymnast and a better person for it. I know you’ve seen your friends crash hard and that you’ve crashed hard a few times yourself, but don’t let that stop you. Look your fear dead in the eye and face it. You are more powerful than you know. If you don’t try, you don’t give yourself the opportunity to succeed. Don’t rob yourself of that.

Second, keep at it. Remember to keep your eyes on the end of the beam. Only by concentrating on where you want to be are you able actually get there. Life will try to throw you off balance, and when it does, keep your eyes laser focused on your goal. Should you lose your balance, fight with all of your might to stay on. You may just surprise yourself.

Finally, at one point or another in your life, someone will make you feel inferior or look down on you specifically because you are female. They will think you are incapable or undeserving of something, whether it is be a physical activity, a job promotion, a career path, or as much as it pains me to say it, of having a voice.

When that happens, you have a choice. You can let them be right and give up on your dreams and silence your voice, or you can stand up, relentlessly pursue your goals, and scream from the rooftops. Only you can take away your own voice. And please, don’t silence yourself. You have something to say and it needs to be heard. Don’t ever let anyone make you think otherwise. Your story is important and your voice can change the world.

If you’ve learned nothing else from me, I hope you have learned that you can do anything and be anything that you put your mind to. That is not to say it won’t take a whole lot of work and sacrifice. There may be obstacles in your way, but don’t ever give up. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. As you get older, you’ll learn that being a woman means something, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. being a woman means you can be strong and independent, as well as nurturing and caring and loving. You can want a career, and you can want a family. Whatever you want, they are your dreams and your goals. No one can take them from you unless you let them. Don’t let them.

I am so proud of you. You are our future and we are behind you. Dream big. Work hard. Stay passionate. And most importantly, stay you.

Love always,

Your favorite beam coach

USAG Athlete’s Alumni Network Launches; Thank YOU! – Get Psyched!

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Thank You Wendy Bruce for your tireless effort at getting this going. I am proud to call you a friend and my “gym sister” . #IamUSAGymnastics

Tony

Source: USAG Athlete’s Alumni Network Launches; Thank YOU! – Get Psyched!

Date: August 8, 2017Author: wendy bruce martin

As a former USAGymnastics National Team Member, I am thrilled to see the launch of OUR Alumni. This is something that I, along with many others, have been lobbying for. Although I have had many who have wanted me to start my own Athlete’s Alumni, I always knew that it would mean more if it came from USAGymnastics.

So why is this important for gymnasts?  Why should we join? What’s the big deal?

It takes years and years of emotional and physical training to become one of the best in the United States. All gymnasts share the same training, have similar fears, endure the pressure, and understand the process to becoming the best. Once making the National Team, we go from competing for our personal local gym programs to competing for the United States of America. We go from representing our city to representing our Country, our gymnastics means more, and the stakes are higher.

National Team Members receive International Assignments. We receive National Team appeal, and we are a part of an exclusive club. The National Team is a big deal. The honor to wear the USA Flag on our uniforms comes with a sense of respect and pride for our country. We compete with passion. We train with purpose. We devote our lives to represent USAGymnastics to the best of our ability. We sacrifice our families, bodies, and time to better ourselves for our sport.

Throughout the years every gymnast along the way has made USAGymnastics what it is today. All the skills, techniques, conditioning, mental training, equipment, and leotards are because of the work of the past. These gymnasts worked, influenced, and created everything that is done today. The past created the present.

Yet that past feels forgotten.

Once we finished our gymnastic’s careers, there was nothing. Even if we were loved, appreciated, or respected for our contribution to USAGymnastics, we may not have always felt that way. Many of us felt hated, used, and thrown away.

We had spent our lives training gymnastics and it was our family. Then one day, we were done and our family was gone. It wasn’t that we were actually thrown away, but we would see the next set of gymnasts step into our place, we would see them living our lives, competing and training in our spots, and we knew there was no need for “us” anymore.

So many of us walked away. We walked away because we felt unneeded and unwanted. We didn’t know our place in USAGymnastics if we weren’t gymnasts. We felt our family had turned its back on us. Even if we wanted to come back, we stayed away because we didn’t know how or what to come back to.

One day we are competing for our country and the next we are alone at home. In the absence of communication we will tend to create our own stories. Many of us thought USAGymnastics hated us. In our minds, that would be the only reason for them to stop talking to us. Did we do something wrong? Did I not do enough? Am I not worthy to be in the family? Why don’t they want me? Was my gymnastics career worth nothing? Did I waste my childhood? Did I sacrifice my life for USAGymnastics and get nothing in return?

Many of us grew bitter. Many of felt used.

I was bitter. I felt used, I felt inferior, and I decided to do something. After talking to many USAGymnasts, Judges, Coaches, Board Members, and Office Staff they convinced me that my thoughts weren’t true. They had loved and respected me. They love and respected all their former gymnasts. Yes, ALL. They appreciated everyone’s contribution, they knew that every single gymnast of the past was the reason for the success of today. They knew it, why didn’t we?

We needed to know this. We could have created our own group, but we needed to know this from USAGymnastics. We needed an Alumni.

Over the past 30 years, I have realized that our effort in gymnastics are not measured by fame or fortune. They are measured by appreciation and respect. We do not want money for our contribution, we want recognition and to know our work was valued. We wanted to feel the love and respect from the Federation that we had devoted our childhoods to. It needed to come from USAGymnastics. Even though the “players” ( CEO, Board, Coaches, Judges, and Gymnasts) had changed, we needed to feel, hear, and see it from the source.

The USAGymnastics Alumni Network is the bridge needed to come back. It is the road back to our family. When we retire, we no longer will feel lost and forgotten. We will not have to worry about losing our community and family. We will not lose touch and make our own stories, we will walk back into the house and see for ourselves.

This Alumni Network is the first step.

  1. Community: We now will have a place to feel accepted. We will be able to feel a part of gymnastics long after our careers are over. From simple meet ups at competitions, to meeting more National Team Members from the past and present, to really knowing everyone and their families. We should know everyone!
  2. Appreciation: The implementation of the Alumni shows that USAGymnastics does care about us. The leaders do want us to know that our careers are valued and appreciated. They want us to know that we matter.
  3. Opportunity: Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a dream of growing this Alumni. There are many opportunities for us to use our families and connections to do great things and help one another. It must start small and we must take one step at a time, but I do think we can make this something great.

I encourage all of my former National Team Members to join. Let’s us all come back together and walk back into gymnastics feeling loved. We are the Athletes. We have a connection to each other regardless of year, outcome, or discipline. We KNOW what it takes because we were the ones who put in the work, tears, time, and ideas. We KNOW our stories and we must join to claim our history.

Once a Gymnast, always a Gymnast.

What we were able to accomplish is not forgotten. We can continue to spread our love for our sport and our family.

Welcome back.

#WEAREUSAGYMNASTICS.

Thank you to Luan Roberts Peszek, Ron Galimore, and all the people who conintued to listen to me and read my letters. Thank you to the staff who were able to put it all together. Thank you to USAGymnastics for recognizing how important this is for the athletes. I have been lobbying for an Alumni for a while and although we knew it was needed, it wasn’t hight on the list of things to implement. Thank you for brining it to the top of the list! I look forward to working with USAGymnastics and helping to heal, promote, empower, and protect in anyway I can.

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