WHEN YOUR GYMNASTS , YOUR PROGRAM OR YOUR BUSINESS DO NOT DEVELOP OR GROW- YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE. YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT. NOT THE GYMNASTS!
It’s Time for a Change
It’s Time for a Change
Change is difficult but not impossible. I believe with all of my heart that there are some truly great people working at USA Gymnastics at ALL levels. From the National Office to Regional and State Board members and the volunteers who help put on all the events. It seems to me that USA Gymnastics has been a reactive organization for a while now. It is time for it to become more proactive. It is a lot better to avoid a crisis than know how to handle one.
Having a plan to deal with a crisis is a lot like having an airbag in your car. It’s good to know you have one in case you encounter a situation in where you would need it. It’s better to have a way avoid that situation.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS.
USA Gymnastics needs to become a more transparent organization. When speaking about transparency and anticorruption in government, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis (1916-1939) said, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” If USA Gymnastics is going to be viewed as a “clean organization” the first step needs to be shining a light on the process of reporting abuse and the past reporting of abuses.
I know that many people are rightfully angry. They feel betrayed by the organization that they have given their life to. The next leader of USA Gymnastics needs to do their best to reach out to athletes that have been harmed in our sport. To help them find a way to heal. To let them know that we love them, that they are part of our gymnastics family and we are here to help.
Leadership flows both ways. The people at the top need to set the tone for the entire organization. They need to treat people with respect and not lead through fear and intimidation. Those qualities will flow down to the foundation of the sport with how every professional should deal with their athletes.
AS PROFESSIONALS WE PROMISE TO DO BETTER.
Mistakes have been made. We must admit to mistakes and implement some changes.
Change 1. As professionals we can not afford to turn a blind eye and hope someone else makes a report.
Change 2. On the sets of movies and tv shows, when the actor is a minor, there is a child advocate on set making sure the children are not abused, over worked or just have someone to talk to. It would not be difficult to have an independent child welfare advocate for the athletes at all training camps.
Change 3. USA Gymnastics has already implemented the Safe Sport Program on it’s website. This needs to be made available on all Regional and State websites as well.
I recently took the SAFE SPORT TRAINING PROGRAM. Every participant in gymnastics and their family need to know that abuse of any kind is not acceptable and there should be a clear reporting process (Safe Sport also has this. I had to use it last week. It was not intimidating and I had a phone call back with a few hours on a Saturday morning). It is a good place to start.
I had an e-mail exchange with Vinnie Silber from Gym Blog Central who had some ideas about Safe Sport that I would like to share.
USAG is in the process of hiring a SafeSport Director but this position needs a team to help plan and roll out all the program parts. The Directors position at USAG is simply too big for one person. There will need to be a team to create the policies and procedures. In the past, USAG would roll out a program and then scramble to catch up with the demands of it. There needs to be a plan to roll it out in chunks. SafeSport courses need to be mandetory like the Safety and Risk Management course. There will need to be a strong policy in place regarding coach/gym relations. Many parents are afraid that there will be retaliation in the gym.
A question I have is, will the club be notified if a complaint is made about one of their employees? At this point there are more questions than answers. The program within USAG is in it’s infancy, this is where a proactive plan comes in.
To move forward, here are some steps I think USA Gymnastics needs to take.
1.HAVE A CLEAR AND PROACTIVE PLAN and NOT only for the abuse. Educate the coaches, the parents and gymnasts.
2. Force ourselves to criticize our own plan.
The biggest thing we can do to avoid distress is periodically review our plans. USA Gymnastics is a membership driven organization. It would be better to have the criticism come from within, from the members (coaches, athletes, former athletes) who are in the trenches than from the outside. There were many moving parts that got us here. We need to direct the process that got us here so that we can move forward. There needs to be a policy of independent review from the outside as well.
3. Avoid jumping into a plan too quickly.
USA Gymnastics needs to take some immediate steps to improve athlete safety and lessen the chance of abuse whether it is sexual, physical or emotional in nature. As I have stated previously- it is difficult to be patient. Especially when so many sides are demanding immediate action. If we rush into things we may actually overcorrect and make things worse. Many crises do not have a clear starting point or end state, thus creating a plan based on many moving parts is pointless. The key is to understand the weaknesses and how to shape the future. Once there is a mental map developed and visualized, we can see where we need to go and we can stay on course.
4. Expect more from the board!
The Board represents all of the gymnasts, coaches, judges, and administrators in our sport, in all disciplines. WE STAND FOR SAFETY, EDUCATION and EXCELLENCE. We want gymnastics to be seen in the light that truly represents it. We want it to be represented by the amazing gymnasts and coaches that devote there lives by working hard everyday, learning, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and pushing through until we achieve success…
The Board must represent USA Gymnastics. When we change, when our styles, standards, techniques change, the board must represent those changes as well.
The CEO, the Board, and all gymnastics professionals need to put our sport ahead of our own egos, needs, wants, finances, and put gymnastics where it needs to be. A leader in youth sports, a place where little children are encouraged and empowered to start here, and go anywhere. We want them to take the amazing life lessons they learn from gymnastics into the world and become healthy and well adjusted adults.
The beauty of any board is that it has enough distance from the overall organization to see the forest for the trees. All of us are involved in our own disciplines, we are all busy with the day to day. Some CEOs may have treated the Board as a necessary evil to placate so they can get on with their business, but that undermines the Board’s role as an early-warning system when the organization is heading for distress. A good board will give us perspective.
It is also the board’s responsibility to look at the President/CEO, in the eye and say, “OK, we like your plan and it seems to be bringing in money. Now let’s talk about what it would take to move funds into coaches education. Let’s talk about athlete protections. Let’s talk about what is important to the membership.”
5. Bring SAFETY and EDUCATION to ALL LEVELS
Regional Chairs, Regional JO Chairs, Regional Technical Chairs in all disciplines need to be brought in and trained to spot and deal with suspected abuse in our sport. They in turn will need to train members of the state boards. Coaches need to be educated. They know that they are being watched. They need to be trained and be part of the reporting procedure.
Safe Sport is a good first step. It may not go far enough. Each state and region needs to have a webpage dedicated to Safe Sport (or whatever program is next).
The change needs to be clear, concise, and big.
The community must be onboard, we must all be willing to work for and accept the change.
Gymnastics can be the silver bullet. Gymnastics can be everything. We don’t need little changes, we need gigantic, monumental changes. Gyms should be palaces of safety. The competition for the best coaches should be fierce. Coaches should be incredibly trained and making six-figure salaries. That’s my position. I just haven’t figured out how to do it yet.
wow- that was a lot longer than I expected.
Thanks Wendy, Jessica, Vinnie and others who let me bounce ideas off of you.
The Cult Culture of Gymnastics – Get Psyched!
Wendy Bruce <artin
I was 5 when I was introduced to the sport of gymnastics. I don’t remember much about my first day in the gym, but something must have happened inside my little body to make me love and desire it for the rest of my life.
Gymnastics is a sport that takes a certain type of personality. Gymnasts must have an impeccable work ethic, crave perfection, have a love/hate relationship with fear, and the ability to push their bodies past the point of perceived limitations.
Gymnasts put in hundreds of hours of work preparing for the opportunity to put themselves on a stage to have every aspect of their performance watched, scrutinized, picked apart, and judged, and yet, gymnasts wouldn’t want it any other way.
Gymnastics is like being in an unfair relationship, it takes way more than it gives back to the gymnast, and whatever it needs from us gymnasts, we give it. When it does give back, it gives us feelings that reach straight into our souls. The little tastes of success are enough to keep us working, and get us addicted.
I needed gymnastics, I needed to feel the highs of catching my first release move and the lows of mistakes and falls. I craved for the emotional rollercoaster and gymnastics never failed to give that to me everyday I walked into the gym.
I was willing to give anything to gymnastics and I was willing to give everything. My addiction had me focused mostly on my immediate gratification. As long as I could perform my skills, I was willing to ignore the advice from my Doctor. When my Doctors told me to take time off of gymnastics to heal, I didn’t. I pushed myself and worked in pain, and when I could’t handle the pain, I begged the Doctor to help. I begged for something to help ease my pain and so against my Doctors advice, I made them give me Cortisone shots in my ankles and wrists.
At the end of my career, my Doctor made me sign waivers that stated I understood that there could be long term damage from the shots and my Doctor advised me against the treatment. I had no problems signing the waivers, I never thought about the future of my body, I only cared about being able to do gymnastics with less pain.I knew my gymnastics was more important than my body.
Gymnasts have this mentality of; Whatever I need to do, I will do it. We know gymnastics is difficult and we want it to be difficult. Whatever is put in our path, we accept it, and do it. We don’t ask questions.
There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do to make the Olympics. When I needed to lose a little weight, I took the cheap and easy way out. Bulimia was my little secret. I was Bulimic for about a year and a half before the Olympics. I only threw up after I knew I ate too much, I still had energy for my workouts and routines, and I always thought of my Bulimia as something that I needed to do to achieve my goal. It was a small price to pay to be thin.
About six months before the Olympics someone caught me. I was confronted by this adult and they told me that they knew. I remembered being terrified, I didn’t want to be put in treatment or therapy, I didn’t have time to worry about my eating disorder. I had the Olympics to focus on, and I really didn’t have time to deal with anything more.
This adult told me that they knew about my eating disorder and they said, “Just don’t do it too much.”
I was so relieved that they didn’t want to send me to treatment or therapy. I knew that I would miss out on my chance on being an Olympian. This was exactly the response I wanted. I shook my head and promised not to do it too much, and walked away in relief.
To me, Bulimia was something I was willing to sacrifice for the chance of my dreams. I was never upset at this adult for not doing more or forcing me to go into therapy. I was fine with their passive and non confronitiatal advice on my disorder. I knew that they didn’t want to ruin my dream, and they didn’t want to be the one who spoke up and destroyed the 14 years of training I devoted my childhood to. They understood the Cult Culture of Gymnastics and so did I.
What message did that send to me? Was Gymnastics more important that an eating disorder? Was Gymnastics more important than Me?
This may seem inconceivable now, but this is not uncommon with this cult culture thinking in gymnastics, and it isn’t just gymnasts that are drinking the Kool-Aid.
This week I read a post in a Gymnastics Parent’s Facebook group. This parent explained how their daughter’s best friend committed suicide and the funeral was the same day as State meet. The mother was upset because the gymnast was going to miss the funeral. It sounded like once the parent knew the funeral was going to be at the same time as States, State meet was the only choice. The parent choose gymnastics over death.
The mom bragged how her brave gymnast walked into the State competition in tears. She went on to tell the group how strong her daughter was to overcome her sadness, hit her routines, and make it to Regionals. Most of the other parents in the group praised the girl’s strength and complimented the mom.
Did all of these parents miss the message it sent to the gymnast?
Was the mom telling her child that States was more important then burying her best friend? Was Gymnastics more important than life and death? There will always be another State meet, but there will never be another opportunity to bury your best friend.
The cult culture of Gymnastics convinces gymnasts that there is nothing more important than their gymnastics. This thinking creates a mindset of knowing that they will sacrifice, they will abide, they will do what they are told, they will always come second, and they will only be valuable if they succeed.
It convinces parents to turn a blind eye to questionable coaches, misconduct, overtraining, or allowing their children to be mistreated. The parent who watches the coach punish their child with 12 rope climbs, 3 minute handstands, 1 hour of running laps, or spending an entire workout on beam, knows something isn’t right, but they allow it to happen.
This cult culture of thinking extends to coaches as well. If they must yell, harass, punish, embarrass, belittle, or bully their gymnasts to get results, they will. Their mindset is “This is what the gymnasts need to achieve their goals. They come to me as a coach, because they know I get results. If it works, It must be right.”
The gymnasts are willing to sacrifice, and they are willing to be mistreated or abused to achieve their goals. Many times they don’t even know they shouldn’t be abused. The parents watch their children be harassed, punished, embarrassed, belittled, or bullied by the coach, and they are willing to overlook this treatment to let their child achieve their dreams. The parents become accustomed to the cult culture thinking that this is how phenomenal gymnasts are made, so they let it happen.
If the parents let this happen, it must be okay. The abuse must be needed for success. The success must be important.
We must get out of this cult!
As a gymnastics community, do we look out for the wellbeing of the gymnast, the child? Do we look the other way when we see parents put gymnastics before their kids? Do we walk away when we see coaches use harsh and borderline abusive coaching techniques? Do we accept this as just a part of coaching? Do we justify this behavior as just the way things are done? Or do we do more?
Gymnastics was more important than me. My performance was more important than me. The Olympics was more important that ANYTHING. I was fine with this thinking, but who was looking out for me?
When the gymnasts, parents, coaches, and the gymnastics community send the message that gymnastics is more important then the wellbeing of the gymnast, what happens when gymnastics is over. When everyone is watching and cheering for a successful outcome, who is left to watch out for their wellbeing?
Where do we draw the line? When is too much, too much? When do we stand up for ourselves and what is right?
It is easy to see how gymnastics has not gotten to this point of abuse all by itself, we have let it slip through out hands into a cesspool of skewed thinking. We have let ourselves be blinded by the dreams of success rather than understand the ramifications of our decisions. We all sacrificed way more than we needed to for gymnastics.
The bottom line is that NOTHING is more important than the health of a child. No skills, routine, meet, medal, or trophy is more important than the child. Gymnastics will end one day, then what will the gymnast, coach, and parents be left with?
I could have gotten help with my eating AND made the olympics. The parent could have realized that this year wasn’t about the gymnast, and they should have focused on the best friend who died.
We must stand together as a gymnastics community and demand change. We must look at the parents and ask them why they allow their kids to be harassed, punished, embarrassed, belittled, or bullied by their coach? We must look at the coaches and ask them why they want to send the message to their gymnasts that their performance is more important than their health? We must look to the gymnasts and tell them that they are so much more than gymnasts.
We must do better. Gymnastics is not life, it is only a sport.
Coaches for the Ethical Treatment of Athletes C.E.T.A.
In 1874 there were no laws or regulations protecting children from physical abuse from their parents or guardians. The first “child abuse” case was brought by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Since then we have People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
In our sport there are rules protecting the athletes against out right physical and sexual abuse and there are guidelines to protect the athletes from emotional abuse. Last night I received a request to a Facebook Group from Aimee Boorman COACHES for the ETHICAL TREATMENT of ATHLETES (CETA). This group is to start discussions about how we can make ALL sports safer and more “athlete friendly”. It’s not just for Gymnastics coaches. This is for all coaches. This is a new group started by Aimee. Last night there were 3 of us (Aimee, Wendy Bruce-martin and myself). Today- up to 19! Wahoo! We are NOT quite sure where this is going to go.
I cannot speak about other sports but USA Gymnastics is a membership driven organization. We have a voice. There are current organizations with votes on the Advisory Council, like the USECA, NCAA Men or Women, etc. No matter what your discipline you have representatives on the Board of Directors.
CETA will be another avenue to make your voice heard. To make a POSITIVE difference in sports. I think it is important to keep it POSITIVE and not just a knocking USA Gymnastics. We have all been to competitions where we have seen a gymnast TOTALLY BLOW IT. Just a complete self destruction. You watch the coach to see their reaction. They go over to the athlete, give them a weak smile that says, “oh well- we will fix things and show them next time”. There is no drama, there is no yelling or tears. Just a plan.
In my COACHES AS EDUCATORS Lecture I say:
If you feel you can: Harass, Demean, Isolate, Compare in a negative way, Put down, Intimidate, Make fearful in any way (being scared of YOU or another coach), Call Name (wimp, slug) or other disrespectful language, Erode Self esteem
YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PROFESSION
It’s Time to Move Forward.
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.
A National Association for GYMNASTICS COACHES.
Recently I have seen a number gymnastics professionals express concern that there is no voice for GYMNASTICS COACHES within USA Gymnastics.
Although The US Elite Coaches Association has the scary name “elite” in it, The USECA represents all the coaches in Women’s gymnastics no matter what level. It is an organization for coaches devoted to the progress of elite and age group level gymnastics in America. The USECA represents THE COACHES on the USA Gymnastics Advisory Council (with two votes) and on other USAG Committees. In the past we have had major voice and influence on the rules, policies and decisions that govern and affect our age group gymnasts and coaches.
I understand that coaches are upset and frustrated by the recent events at USA Gymnastics. Many feel they have no voice. Individually our voices may not carry much weight but as part of the USECA our voices will be amplified.
As USAG begins the process of hiring a new president, it is important to think who will best lead us through this? Who will continue on our path of international victories while growing membership and providing educational resources.
In Defense of Division III | The Gymternet
NCAA gymnastics season is an exciting time of year for gymnasts and fans alike, with the top teams in the country earning tons of attention. But there are over 80 NCAA women’s gymnastics programs, 14 of which belong to Division III. While Division I teams can offer 12 full scholarships, and Division II can offer the monetary equivalent of 6 full scholarships, Division III gives no athletic scholarships. In previous years, the lack of athletic scholarships has shown a significant divide in the level of comp
Source: In Defense of Division III | The Gymternet
NCAA gymnastics season is an exciting time of year for gymnasts and fans alike, with the top teams in the country earning tons of attention. But there are over 80 NCAA women’s gymnastics programs, 14 of which belong to Division III.
While Division I teams can offer 12 full scholarships, and Division II can offer the monetary equivalent of 6 full scholarships, Division III gives no athletic scholarships. In previous years, the lack of athletic scholarships has shown a significant divide in the level of competition across the divisions, but in 2015 it is more evident than ever that Division III is closing the gap and demanding respect.
The National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) was born in 1983 to be the governing body of Division III gymnastics, as the NCAA refused to sponsor it. In 1984, there were 24 member institutions. We all recognize that NCAA gymnastics is in jeopardy, as it seems like a different team faces elimination every year.
Nobody understands how devastating the loss of programs is more than Division III programs. In 2009, MIT cut both their women’s and men’s teams, despite producing the Division III national all-around champion that year, Julia Sharpe (then Zimmerman). In 2011, Rhode Island College was cut, but later reinstated due to public outcry and demand for the program to remain. In 2012, Gustavus Adolphus threatened to cut their program, and in 2013, Wilson College disappeared. With just 14 programs remaining, Division III is teetering on the edge of disaster.
But the division is truly a diamond in the rough, worthy of recognition and praise. Here’s why.
1. The Level of Division III Gymnasts
Many people believe Division III is not “real” college gymnastics and they couldn’t be more wrong. Chelsie (Veilleux) Burland (Ithaca College ’07) is a club/high school coach and level 10 judge who turned down walk-on spots at DI schools to instead compete in DIII. She finds herself constantly defending DIII against naysayers.
“I hate how many people knock DIII gymnastics,” she says. “I am constantly biting my tongue when I hear ‘my daughter is too good for DIII’ or ‘my goal is DI because DIII isn’t competitive’ or that it’s ‘like high school gymnastics.’ I want to ask them if they’ve ever even watched a DIII meet.”
2015 has been a great year for DIII, with teams like Ursinus, Brockport, Ithaca, Springfield, Winona State, UW Whitewater, and UW Stout – to name a few – breaking school records left and right. Ursinus scored a program record 192.625 on February 22, defeating DI Temple by nearly 5 points. Yes, you read that right. A team of non-scholarship gymnasts blew a team of full scholarship athletes out of the water.
Brockport also broke into the 192s with their school record finish of 192.225 on March 1. In addition to Ursinus and Brockport, Whitewater – one of several in the University of Wisconsin system – has hit 190 or better twice this season.
Many DIII gymnasts are higher in the national rankings than DI athletes. As of March 2, the top gymnasts in DIII per event are Whitewater’s Katie Fiorilli on vault (9.731 RQS), Brockport’s Stephanie Schuler on bars (9.706 RQS), Cortland’s Elise Konikoff on beam (9.713 RQS), Brockport’s Lexi King on floor (9.775 RQS), and Whitewater’s Courtney Pickett in the all-around (38.163 RQS). With top scores in the 9.7-9.8 range, DIII seems like “real” college gymnastics to me.
2. DIII Does Not Have the Funding of DI Programs
Since the NCAA doesn’t sponsor DIII, many programs lack funding, which is one of the reasons why so many DIII programs have been on the chopping block in recent years. They don’t have the luxury of state-of-the-art, multi-million dollar practice facilities, or different leotards for every meet. Most programs rely heavily on alumni contributions to keep going. They also aren’t allowed the same amount of practice time as DI athletes, training fewer hours for fewer months in preparation for the season.
And let’s not forget the amount of personal funding that comes from each gymnast just to attend the school. Where DI scholarship gymnasts attend school for free, every single DIII gymnast must foot the bill for her education. And with so many programs coming from private institutions – like Ursinus, Ithaca, Hamline, Springfield, and Gustavus, to name a few – the price of a college education and competing in collegiate gymnastics can skyrocket to over $50,000 a year.
But despite it all, DIII continues to succeed. “After being a DIII gymnast and then working at a DI school, I see so many differences which made me appreciate even more why I chose DIII,” Lauren Moroch (Ithaca College ’12) notes. “The last DIII nationals I went to, the top three teams scored over 190. That says a lot about how much DIII gymnastics has improved, especially when we have some of the worst practice facilities in the country.”
3. Many DIII Gymnasts Learn New Skills in College
While many level 10s choose DIII, there are just as many – if not more – level 9 gymnasts who end up there. In order to produce competent scores under NCAA’s modified level 10 requirements, many gymnasts end up learning new skills in college. Learning new high-level skills in your early 20s is not a feat that should go unrecognized. It is hard enough to maintain and fine-tune skills a gymnast already has, but learning new skills in addition to improving them adds a completely different dynamic.
“I learned about 10 skills in college,” Moroch told us. “That may be a tribute to my coach and his coaching style (the willingness to still coach new skills and selecting girls with potential), but I don’t think you can get that experience anywhere else.”
4. DIII Teams Regularly Compete Against DI and DII Programs
Since there are so few DIII programs, many teams have no other choice but to compete against DI and DII teams in order to fill their schedules, something Rhode Island College graduate Caitlin Elliott fondly remembers. “DIII gymnastics is so tough. The support from many of the athletic departments is not there and the women constantly have to compete against DI and DII teams but they do it without a single complaint because they love the sport.”
In few – if any – other sports do DIII athletes compete so regularly against scholarship-level athletes, and yet many DIII teams are able to hold their own.
5. DIII Gymnastics is All About Love, Solidarity, and Camaraderie Between Teams
Since DIII is so small, despite all the rivalries, every team supports one another. Every DIII coach and gymnast knows they can’t afford to lose another program. The camaraderie in DIII is so strong that during preseason, Brockport invited Rhode Island College out for a weekend to practice with them in a clinic-type atmosphere, where coaches and gymnasts alike could share ideas.
The bond formed between the two programs is as strong as ever. Despite being programs in the same conference, RIC and Brockport are incredibly supportive and loving of one another, as if they were one big team.
This support amongst teams is one of the greatest things RIC graduate Fallon Connolly remembers from her time in the sport. “DIII is great because every athlete and coach is there because they love it, and because they want to be there. DIII teams root for each other and want each other to succeed. There aren’t many of them out there and they know that, which is why they find it important to support each other to keep the sport they love alive.”
When MIT, RIC, Wilson, and Gustavus faced the chopping block, it was the DIII gymnasts and coaches who were first to rally to the cause. That family is what Lauren Moroch misses most about her DIII experience. “DIII gymnastics is like a family. We stick together. We all have our little rivalries, but when it comes down to it, everyone is so happy for each other at the NCGA Championships.”
Gymnastics is a sport that incites passion among athletes, that much is certain. But it is my belief that DIII gymnasts have a unique kind of passion, and it is that passion that drives DIII gymnasts as the sole motivation for doing what they do. RIC’s Caitlin Elliott said it best: “DIII gymnastics is all about love. Love for the sport, love for the atmosphere, love for your team. I would not have traded my DIII experience for anything.”
To end our article, here are a few statements from real (current and former) DIII gymnasts when I asked them “Why DIII?” Their answers are 100% genuine, from the heart, and completely encompass the passion and spirit of Division III.
“For me, DIII gymnastics is special because it allows you to learn and grow – not only as an athlete, but as a leader, a teammate, and a person. Like others have said, there is truly a lot of love and passion that goes into the DIII world. I’m lucky to be a part of it!” – Riley Acton, Ursinus College ’15
“DIII athletics allows you to have fun and enjoy the sport. I looked at some DI schools and got accepted to some, but I didn’t feel like I fit in there. Ithaca is perfect for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” – Kendra Balcerak, Ithaca College ’18
“We aren’t here because it’s our job. It’s our passion, and we do it for the love of the sport. We are surrounded by people who feel the same. They are our family.” – Courtney Boyle, SUNY Cortland ’16
“DIII was a lot less pressure, and it seemed really team-oriented and a lot of fun!” – Faith Burns, SUNY Brockport ’17
“I was not good enough for DI, and I would have probably cracked under the pressure I put myself under had I chosen DI.” – Bri Carey, SUNY Brockport ’18
“Gymnastics is my life, and to be a part of a loving and supportive team that feels the same way about the sport as I do is more than I could ever ask for.” – Maria Cusanelli, SUNY Cortland ’18
“DIII [athletes] have so much heart, passion, and love for the sport.” – Mandy Grahn, Wilson College ’13
“I wanted to continue gymnastics throughout my college career, and to have a second family away from home. DIII is where I felt I could accomplish this.” – Alli Hester, SUNY Brockport ’18
“DIII was perfect. I could do what I loved while still focusing on my school work. It’s been much more rewarding than club gymnastics, because it’s all about the team.” – Lily Jagodzinski, SUNY Brockport ’16
“Gymnastics is my first love. I couldn’t imagine not continuing my career after college. This sport has taught me so many life lessons.” – Lexi King, SUNY Brockport ’15
“DIII gymnastics is a lot less pressure than DI. I wanted to be able to have fun doing gymnastics without the DI pressure.” – Sarah Krulish, SUNY Brockport ’17
“It is all about passion for the sport. We are here as a team, united to chase success.” –Elise Konikoff, SUNY Cortland ‘15
“I wanted to continue my gymnastics career, but my schooling came first. In DI, it seems like gymnastics comes first and school second, so DIII seemed like the perfect fit for me.” –Ariel Leahy, SUNY Brockport ’17
“DIII athletics allows you to enjoy the sport you love and to experience that competitive nature for another four years, while still allowing you to experience all the other aspects of life as a college student. There is a balance of both student and athlete.” –Danielle Maffuid, Ithaca College ‘18
“I chose DIII gymnastics because I knew it was going to be a fun atmosphere and a perfect fit for me. I don’t have huge skills, but my gymnastics is clean. I think DIII gymnastics is perfect for the gymnast who still wants to pursue the sport without breaking her body for it.” – Cailee Mallory, Rhode Island College ‘18
“I wasn’t good enough to do DI, but I still wanted to do gymnastics and get a good education.” – Becca Meister, Ithaca College ‘18
“Division III gymnastics is unique because it allows gymnasts to continue the sport in college without the extra pressures of some DI schools. These athletes do it because they truly love it. No scholarships are offered, and so participating in Division III gymnastics comes from the heart. There is no extrinsic motivation.” – Lauren Moroch, Ithaca College ‘12
“Choosing DIII allowed me to continue my passion for the sport, and to also have a good balance between sport and education. I could not be happier with my decision!” –Emily Nagy, SUNY Cortland ‘16
“I chose DIII so I would be able to balance my gymnastics and being a nursing student.” –Amanda Rota, SUNY Brockport ‘16
Article by Sarah Chrane
USA Gymnastics – It’s about being a professional.
On occasion I am called as an expert witness. When I have to do that I always start with the phrase, “I reserve the right to change any and all opinions in this report in the event of additional information being made available or information previously provided is learned to be erroneous. ”
I had an e-mail yesterday from someone who asked me if I was WITH or AGAINST USA Gymnastics and the current board and president. I do not have any more information than anyone else who can read a newspaper. I try to avoid sensationalism and pseudo-journalism. I am a firm believer in freedom of the press. Newspapers today have a difficult task. They must report the news truthfully but they also need to sell papers. Sometimes these two objectives crash into each other. A newspaper will get a piece and they will run it dry. Pretty soon everyone has to be on one side or the other. It is not about being WITH or AGAINST someone or something. It is about being a professional.
Like many, I got involved with the sport after watching the Olympics. After college, going into coaching seemed to be the most natural thing. I love nearly every minute I spend in the gym coaching. I AM A GYMNASTICS PROFESSIONAL.
Tip O’Neil, the former representative from Massachusetts famously said, “All Politics is Local”. Although safety should not be a political issue, all safety with athletes starts locally. In your club, in your town, in your state and in your region.
Gymnastics Professionals at ALL LEVELS have failed some athletes. When they should have reported something but didn’t. When they hired a person with a questionable background. When we see behavior at a competition or training camp that we question and then we don’t follow up. Even by innocently putting themselves in situations that can be misconstrued by the public.
If the accusations against Dr. Nassar prove true then the legal system will make him pay. Hindsight should always be 20/20 but we can not go back in time to fix things. We can only move forward. He had so many people fooled. Me included. I have known Dr Nassar for more than 20 years and I have trusted him seeing athletes in my program including my own daughter. I am heartbroken over this but NOT ONCE did he ever give me reason to question him.
With the information we currently have – I too want to make someone pay. This must be someone’s fault. Someone should have done something 20 years ago. The reality is that no one I knew suspected anything. If we had, we would have reported it.
USA Gymnastics was one of the first National Governing Bodies to have a code of ethics and to suspend and permanently ban coaches who have breached those ethical codes. Our popularity as a sport and our recent chain on International Victories will keep USA Gymnastics in the limelight. Everyone will be looking at us. We must become the example for all sports.
I find current statements by the USOC slightly hypocritical. In 1999 the USOC was warned that many other Olympic sport governing bodies lacked basic sex abuse prevention measures. At the time USOC officials objected to USA Gymnastics immediately banning coaches convicted of sex crimes. When USA Gymnastics urged something be done, the USOC pushed back. In 1999, Scott Blackmun was deputy executive director and general counsel of USOC. Fast forward to last week, Blackman and the USOC “demanded” that the President of USAG resign. It seems like they are trying to distract the media.
Can we, as gymnastics professionals, do better? Of course we can- and WE MUST. There is not one medal that is worth the abuse that could occur. There will be countless medals that will be won without abuse. But it must start with each of us. In our clubs, in our communities and towns and in our states and regions. Set the bar high and hold each other to that standard. USA Gymnastics is a membership driven organization. It is bottom up, not top down.
An Open Letter to the USA Gymnastics Community
I welcome your comments and appreciate your thoughts. BUT- be professional.
Camp Centroamericano 2017
Hola amigos en Centroamérica. Estoy deseando ser parte de este entrenamiento!
2017 Convocatoria CAMP Centroamericano
Los entrenadores se ven fuertes! ¡Gracias por tenerme!
Other camps I will be doing this year will be- NO LIMITS CAMP in Calgary, Thomas Gymnastics Camp in Rockhill South Carolina and of course GYM MOMENTUM TRAINING CAMP in Boston. Hope to see you there!
Job Posting- New Hampshire
Established gym with a Team that continues to grow is looking to add to it’s staff. Located on the seacoast of New Hampshire, Atlantic Gymnastics , will be hiring full time positions. Looking to fill these positions for this fall. We have had VERY little turn over in staff since we opened 22 years ago. Most coaches have been here more than 10 years with some coaches having been here since we opened.
Atlantic is looking for experienced, high energy coaches who want to be part of a great coaching team. Candidates must have:
- Positive Patient and Enthusiastic coaching style
- Knowledge of skill mechanics and spotting
- Be able to communicate effectively with parents, gymnasts and coworkers
- Current (or be able to become current) USAG Professional Membership
- Positions will work with All levels of team + Tops
- Be willing to grow and continually educate yourself
- All coaches at Atlantic also teach a few classes.
You will be part of a high level program wanting to reach further. Yes- we are all a little crazy and work super hard but we are also a lot of fun.
Atlantic is a big believer in educating the coaches as well as the gymnasts. There has been VERY little turnover in staff in the last 20+ years.
Send Questions AND/ or Resume and cover letter to: tretrosi@atlanticgym.com
Both Positions offer competitive pay based on experience.
Send Questions AND/ or Resume and cover letter to: tretrosi@atlanticgym.com
