Thanks to the gymnasts from E.N.A in Paramus, NJ for sharing this video. I am sure that The GYM MOMENTUM website is just their first step to Americas Got Talent.
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CRASH OF THE WEEK.
CRASH OF THE WEEK- How NOT to do a double flyaway!
This is one of the harder crashes I have seen on a double flyaway. You have to admit it is pretty impressive to have the reflexes to grab the bar.
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The 3 hardest words for a coach to say
Coaching any sport is a difficult job. Sometimes you feel like you are trying to herd cats. You are constantly being pulled in different directions. Every day we come across difficult situations and have to think on our feet. What do we do when we are honestly at a loss?
Sometimes the hardest 3 words for a coach to say is, “I don’t know.” The gymnasts we work with look to us for corrections and advice on every turn. Some times, we just don’t know. So what do we do?
All too often we make something up on the spot or give them a correction we have given them in the past.
Why?
- Are we afraid that if we don’t say something we won’t seem omnipotent?
- Isn’t it better to say nothing at all than to just make something up?
There are a number of coaches who are just in love with their own voice. They feel they have to fill every second of practice with the sound of their own voice.
Some of the best coaches I have seen tend to be very efficient with their words.
Next time you are in a situation where you are stumped- try these:
“Hmm. Let me see you do that again”
“wow, that caught me by surprise. Can you do that again??”
“I truthfully don’t know, but I am going to find out.”
Or my 2 favorites
“I will need to check the Gym Momentum Website”
And
With Confidence- mumble something incoherent and just see what happens.
Congress withdraws SOPA,
Congress withdraws SOPA, PIPA anti-piracy measures
The controversial legislation will be withheld for ‘wider agreement’
U.S. lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks on Friday, delivering a stunning win for Internet companies that staged an unprecedented online protest this week to kill the previously fast-moving bills.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would postpone a critical vote that had been scheduled for Jan. 24 “in light of recent events.”
Lamar Smith, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, followed suit, saying his panel would delay action on similar legislation until there is wider agreement on the issue.
Read the rest on the MSNBC WEBSITE
Wit & Wisdom January 20
“Trying to be popular in high school is like trying to be a mayor of a city that won’t exist in four years.” Artist Jenny Holzer
“Politics is just show business for ugly people.” Jay Leno
“Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine.” Elvis Presley
” Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.” Stephen Sondheim
“A simple way to take measure of a country (or your gym) is to look at how many want in… and how many want out.” Tony Blair
” I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.” George Burns
“I have tried to teach them how to show class, to have pride, and to display character. I think football and winning games takes care of itself if you do that.” Bear Bryant
Just a couple of facts:
To be counted in the richest 1% IN THE WORLD, a single individual has to earn just $34,000 a year. Members of the PLANET’S true middle class live on $1,225 a year. CNN.com
Mancino Tower Block Product Review
Recently I did a clinic for the NY State YMCA Gymnastics League up in Cortland, NY. It was a pretty well equipped facility and they had 1 piece of equipment that I immediately fell in love with.
The 4 Piece Tower Block from Mancino.
My favorite thing about these blocks was the simple versatility. This is a 4 piece set consisting of:
2 each 24” high x 30” wide x 72” long.
2 each 48” high x 30” wide x 72” long
When they are attached together (with velcro) they make a great above ground channel bar and make spotting just about anything on high bar a breeze. I am only 5’7” and I had NO problem spotting things up on the high bar. For those who struggle with math (myself included) the height of the mat stack is 6” and VERY stable.
The beauty is when you take these apart and can be used by EVERYBODY.
I was given some advice many years ago when I first opened up my gym. If you spend $100 on TEAM, make sure you spend $100 on your CLASSES. When team needed a new Vault Table, I spent an equal amount of money on new shapes, wedges etc on classes. This does a few things-
1- How bad do I really need it? Knowing that it will cost me as a business 2x as much.
2- Can I use this piece of equipment in different parts of my program?
If I can use a piece of equipment in different parts of my program then I don’t need to double my expenses. If I buy a new vaulting board- This is a piece of equipment that can be used in different parts of my program. If I buy a new Vault Table- this is a piece of equipment that will be used by only a fraction of the kids in the gym. AND I have to spend an equal amount of money on classes.
Individually they make great spotting blocks and P.bar blocks. Your recreational and preschool classes can vault up to them, they can stack next to a beam to make a beam table, they are great in preschool and recreation circuits on floor.
In my clinic- I used these mats everywhere with everybody.
I e-mailed the good people over at Mancino to get the specs on the mats. Here is what I received:
Secure attaching system allows for advanced training progressions. Premium Construction includes Crosslinked Polyethylene Foam for stability and reinforcement.
What’s the difference?…
As with all Mancino Products, we have researched the core polyurethane foam and have found that a 2.2# density, 95 ILD specification will stand up to years of heavy training all over the gym. This polyurethane core is encased in 2″ thick Cross linked Polyethylene Foam (2# per cubic ft) which furthers strengthens the individual units and makes the set super sturdy. Our 18oz vinyl coated nylon cover features a “four edge” velcro system for secure attaching and standard handles for easy transporting all over the gym.
Customers who call through February 20, 2012 with the Promotion code: ILoveGymMomentum will receive a 10% discount from the list price of $2850.00 (plus shipping).
For Every Coach, Parent and Athlete
Michigan State Quarterback Kirk Cousins delivers the speech to represent the players at the 2011 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon. What a class act. Share this with everyone in your club.
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SOPA and PIPA – Why they hurt gymnastics education
- What are SOPA and PIPA?
- SOPA and PIPA represent two bills in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate respectively. SOPA is short for the “Stop Online Piracy Act,” and PIPA is an acronym for the “Protect IP Act.” (“IP” stands for “intellectual property.”) In short, these bills are efforts to stop copyright infringement committed by foreign web sites, but, in my opinion, they do so in a way that actually infringes free expression while harming the Internet.
I try very hard not to editorialize in the pages of GYM MOMENTUM. I save those tirades for another blog or possibly my stand up comedy routine. So please excuse me but this is a subject the effects all gymnastics educational websites.
How will this effect GYM MOMENTUM and other gymnastics educational websites?
The gymnastics community is largely a pretty well educated technical community. We may not know how a website works but we aren’t afraid of our computers and using them to get more information. The writers of these bills do not seem to have a basic understanding of the technical aspects of the internet.
How could SOPA and PIPA hurt GYM MOMENTUM?
SOPA and PIPA are a threat to GYM MOMENTUM and other gymnastics educational websites in many ways. For example, in its current form, SOPA would require all of us to actively monitor every site we link to, to ensure it doesn’t host infringing content. Any link to an infringing site could put us in jeopardy of being forced offline. Although I enjoy working on GYM MOMENTUM – I own 2 gymnastics clubs, run a gymnastics camp, lecture all through the USA and in many other countries, try to do stand up comedy when I get a chance, and I have a family! I do not have time to be an internet police man.
Does this mean that GYM MOMENTUM violates copyright laws, or hosting pirated content?
I have always asked for permission and will continue to ask for permission before I have posted anything that was not my material. BUT- if the person I asked a person for permission and they had taken the material from some one else, GYM MOMENTUM could be taken down. All it takes is a COMPLAINT against GYM MOMENTUM for the site to be taken down. I have heard this compared to banning all cars because one may be used in a bank robbery.
I think it would is important that SOPA is blocked. Otherwise many of the gymnastics educational websites will look like this.
This was just my opinion. Now, back to gymnastics.
Teach Pre-team gymnasts a Pull Over
This is another great submission from Jason Mortimer from Michigan. Well thought out and planned. How to teach your pre-team gymnasts a PULL OVER. Also good for REC CLASSES!
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Best Tumbling on the GROUND!
Next time your gymnasts say the floor is too hard or not springy enough- Have them watch this.
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