Crash of the Week for February 20th.
This guy looks as if he successfully removed himself from the gene pool. Did anyone think this was ever going to end well?
Wit & Wisdom February 17
“Our culture peculiarly honors the act of blaming , which it takes as a sign of virtue and intellect.” Lionel Trilling
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” Thomas Wilder
“The tavern chair is the throne of human felicity” Samuel Johnson
“The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person.” Quentin Crisp
“Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got when you ought to have it.” Langston Hughes
“A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” Victor Borge
“The first 40 years of life gives us text; the next 30 supply commentary.” Author Schopenhaur
“It hasn’t killed anyone yet and only makes a person fitter.” Viktor Baloga, Ukraine’s Emergency Minister, advising the public to exercise more.
“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” Ingrid Bergman
“All you need is LOVE. But a little chocolate every now and then doesn’t hurt.” Charles Shultz
“Money can’t buy you love. BUT it does improve your bargaining position.” Christopher Marlowe
Do you have a quote or comment you would like to share? CONTACT
Massachusetts Boys High School State Champions
MASSACHUSETTS BOYS HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONS
Burlington High School (Burlington, MA) won the Boys High School state tournament with a 180.15.
Coached by RICH BACZEWSKI , JOURDAN E. MARINO and KELVIN CHAN.
Senior Captains Joey Hanain and Patrick Gallivan
Individual Events
- Floor 2nd place Ryan Girouard, 4th place Dion Santiago, 5th place Doug Johnson
- Pommel horse 2nd place Ryan Girouard
- Rings 1st place Ryan Girouard, 5th place Derek Ostlund
- Vault 5th place Ryan Girouard, 6th place Joey Hanafin
- P Bars 3rd place Ryan Girouard, 4th place Joey Hanafin, 5th place Evan Burt
- High Bar 1st place Ryan Girouard, 4th place Joey Hanafin, 6h place Patrick Gallivan
Do you have results you want to share? CONTACT ME
Fun without Competition : Cooperative Activities
Fun without Competition : Cooperative Activities
Thanks to contributor Casie Millhouse-Singh, Casie is an American gymnastics coach with over 20 years of experience in the sport as both gymnast, coach and judge. Currently, she is coaching for the Singapore American Community Action Council, better known as SACAC, gymnastics program. She is elected as Singapore Gymnastics Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Recreational Pathway Technical Leader and is also a Singapore National judge. You can follow her blog at: COACH CASIE
Like most coaches of this sport or any sport we can think of great games to get kids motivated and to spark a little friendly competition between our athletes. But what if we have a recreational class with a young girl who is afraid to participate because she might lose and can’t deal with the embarrassment or have one of those super competitive type kids who will do anything, and I mean anything to win at all costs? Cooperative learning activities are great for pre-school, recreation classes and even our team workouts in ways that go deeper than just achieving the goal.
First, can show our children that all physical fitness doesn’t require competition or even a rule-governed game for that matter. Second, the camaraderie that results from teamwork is precisely the benefit of cooperative activity, whose very essence is working together for a common goal. Intergroup competition is not necessary for group cohesiveness. The distinguishing feature of team competition is that a given person works well with and is encouraged to feel warmly or work well with only half of those present. Let’s get all the kids involved and everyone on the same side.
Some examples of cooperative activities:
- -Partner Log Rolls
- -Toesie Rolls – log rolls with feet touching
- -Log rolls in 3s, 4s, 5s & super GIANT Log roll
- -Musical Mats where no one gets out. Instead, take the mats away and let them share all the way down to one mat.
- -Partnered 1-arm cartwheels
- -Across the Ocean – using a few carpet squares, or mats the children have to cross the floor jumping from one to another and passing the last one up without touching the floor.
- Hoop Ring – hold hands in a ring, a hoop is passed around the ring without breaking the ring
The gains realized from cooperative movement and learning are impressive and consistent; Think in terms of self-esteem, social interaction, achievement, individual accountability and positive interdependence. It’s great to show we do not need to beat other people to have a good time.
Video of Super GIANT log Roll
Cracking the mobile code
Poorly placed or ineffective QR codes can lead you to consumer frustration. Here’s how to use them to enhance- NOT EMBARRASS- your gym.
I have a love/hate relationship with QR (quick response) codes. These boxy symbols which you see everywhere these days from business cards, ticket stubs and pizza boxes function like a bar code on steroids. It allows people who have a QR code reader on their smart phone to visit websites, access discounts or otherwise engage with your brand. In your gym business it is another great way to interact with your current clients and your potential customers.
WHY I HATE THEM-
- Sometimes they lead NOWHERE. A QR code on a pizza box brought me to their menu! I had already ordered and picked up the pizza. This was of no help! A QR code that brought me to a NON-mobile-friendly site.
- NO INCENTIVE- I scanned a QR code and was brought to a site that wanted my Name, e-mail address so they could send me future specials. Right- I don’t get enough spam already. I am going to sign up for more. Plus- typing that info into my iPhone is a PAIN IN THE ASS.
- BAD PLACEMENT- A QR code on a bottle of shampoo? Sorry- I don’t happen to have my phone with me in the shower. A QR code on a billboard along the highway? Isn’t driving and texting dangerous enough? Let me try to scan that code as I drive 65 mph through traffic.
- TOO MUCH INFO- No one likes to wait. Don’t make me wait for a video to load onto my phone.
All these are really a shame because I really do love the potential.
WHY I LOVE THEM-
- QR codes can bridge the online and offline worlds and enrich your efforts to generate leads.
- They are FUN
- They present an easy way to get information to potential customers
- They are another way to interact with customers.
BUT- They only work IF you use them the right way.
FOCUS ON USER EXPERIENCE.
The mobile web is rapidly becoming a major conduit for relationships with customers. Take a look in your waiting room someday and look at how many parents have their smart phones out. Make sure your mobile efforts are purposeful and relevant in order to better attract new customers and service those you already have.
Practice the K.I.S.S. method. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. In a practical sense, BREVITY RULES- in terms of speedy load time on the QRs landing page.
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
According to an article in Entrepreneur Magazine 14 MILLION U.S. customers (6.2% of the total mobile audience) scanned a QR code on their mobile device in JUNE of 2011. That may sound like a small portion but consider this, 40% of customers ages 25-34 have scanned a QR code. I don’t know about your gym- but that is the age group I am marketing to.
HAVE A POINT
As with any of your marketing efforts, be sure to have crystal clear objectives.
- Is your goal to generate leads to your gym?
- Are you just looking to grow your database of potential customers?
- Are you looking at expanding 1 program in your gym (summer camp, pre-school)
GIVE THEM A REASON TO SCAN
Offer an incentive to scan and visit your site. We recently had an Ad for our summer programs in a magazine. Our QR code lead them to our summer page where they received $15 off if they signed up by March 1st.
If you were doing a direct mail piece, the QR code can lead them to access “the rest of the story”. Whatever you do, be sure to frame the offer contextually. Don’t just point to a website. Think of the QR code as being a step in the customers journey. Treat the code not as a passive entry but as a call to action.
It is clear that the mobile experience is going to change everything. It is estimated that by 2015, more people in the U.S. will access the web through mobile devices than through PCs.
What are you doing to take advantage of that MOMENTUM?
Happy Valentines Day!
Planning Balance Beam Workouts During Competitive Season
Cori Cunningham. Cori is the Team Coordinator at Atlantic Gymnastics Training Center in Portsmouth, NH. She is a former competitor and Grad assistant at The University of New Hampshire.
During my own competitive gymnastics career I used to dread going to beam every day knowing that we would be expected to do huge numbers of stuck routines. I would also dread meet day because even though I had numbers of stuck routines tucked under my belt I was still not confident in my ability to hit a routine under pressure. As a coach I vowed to make an effort to get my gymnasts to look forward to coming to beam. My other goal is for them to present as confident and competent beam workers on meet day. [Read more…]
Crash of the Week. February 13
Crash of the Week. February 13 FLIP ‘TIL YOU HIT.
Thanks to Eddie Umphrey for sharing this video.
Not sure what he was attempting- Over rotated double? Bailed out on a Triple? Bad timing on a front 2 3/4?
Perfect Timing on a Front 2 1/4.
Notice the lack of concern from the coach and the laughter from his team mates.
[Read more…]
A good video for a Friday
This has NOTHING to do with gymnastics (other than the poor attempt at a handstand about 2/3rd of the way through). What makes this an interesting video is that it comes from my cousins, Sergio and Daniel Retrosi, who lives about an hour south of ROME, ITALY. They received 20 inches of snow! Which is completely crazy!
Here in NORTHERN New England we have hardly any. I think our winter has gone on vacation in Italy.
Enjoy the video!
[Read more…]
Wit & Wisdom. February 10
“Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is merely calisthenics with words.” Dorothy Parker
” It’s impossible not to take advantage of the people. The trick is to take advantage of them in their own interest.” Ralph Ellison
“They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.” George Carlin
” Expectation is the root of all heartache.” William Shakespeare
” Words are like money: There is nothing so useless, except when put to use.” Samuel Johnson
“We cannot control the evil tongues of others, but a good life enables us to disregard them.” Cato the Elder
“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument is an exchange of ignorance.” Journalist Robert Quillen
“I’m really happy for Coach Cooper and the guys who’ve been around here for six or seven years, especially our seniors.” Anonymous Ohio State Football Quarterback