ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LEOTARD CREATED FOR US BY OZONE
Pre-Order Leotard by JUNE 4. $45
A limited amount will be available at Gym Momentum Camp. $50
Gym Momentum Camp Order Form
Gym Momentum Leotard Order Form 2018
Gym Momentum Motivation April 16
You could NOT tell that it is spring here in New Hampshire. It’s snowed and iced off and on for the last 2 days. This is CRAZY.
Level 9/10 Regionals in USA and Provincials in Canada were this last weekend. I hope you had a successful weekend. It is a long, stressful weekend and anything can happen. So much is out of your control.
I read a quote this weekend- “Hope is a vampire. Really Hard to kill.” They were specifically talking about the outcome of the Cubs / Braves baseball game. The Cubs couldn’t do ANYTHING right going into the 8th inning. The Cubs trailed by eight runs early but chipped away to a 10-5 deficit entering the eighth. As the wind-chill factor dipped to 25 degrees the Braves imploded and the Cubs Exploded for 9 Runs to win the game.
There is ALWAYS HOPE.
The last time the Boston Bruins Played Toronto in the playoff’s the Bruins were behind 3-1 in their final game. It was not looking good. Until it did. The Bruins scored 4 goals is 11 minutes to win and go onto the next round.
There is ALWAYS HOPE.
At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Paul Hamm fell on Vault (nearly landing on the judges). At that point most people would have just mailed in their last 2 events. He fought through P. Bars and in one of the best olympic moments NAILED his High Bar routine to win Olympic Gold. The first AA Gold medal for a US man in a century (Julius Lenhart 1904 Olympics in St Louis.).
There us ALWAYS HOPE
As coaches we are faced with seemingly impossible odds on a daily basis. You have to be a rock with steady emotions. You have to hold on to hope. How can you expect a gymnast to hold out hope when you don’t?
You put in the time in the gym. You go to all the right competitions. You go to your championship and feel confident and prepared- BUT- Sometimes things are not going to go as you want them to. Don’t give up the fight. There is ALWAYS HOPE. You just never know.
As always I am excited to see my GYM MOMENTUM family. I always pick up so many great ideas from the coaches at camp. My goal is still to learn something every day. Many of the Gym Momentum Training Camp Coaches will be presenting at National Congress and Regional Congresses. Camp may be a great opportunity for you to ask them questions and have then expand on their presentations.
Gym Momentum Monday April 2nd
April started here in the North East of the USA with a bit on a windy Easter followed by some snow today.
I am really ready for spring!
We are less than 2 weeks out for Level 9 and 10 Regional Championships in the USA. This time of year I get the most nervous. It is PMS (pre-meet-stress!). We hide it from the athletes as best we can but it leaks into your life. You family and friends may notice it. Your gymnasts most certainly notice it. Make sure you are taking care of your self. You cannot afford to get sick this time of year!
One of the biggest stressors in the gym is trying to keep the gymnasts healthy. It is NOT the time to try to add something to their routines. Every year I see a gymnast in someone’s gym try to upgrade their difficulty this time of year and then they get hurt. Missing being able to compete at Regionals and their chance at Easterns/ Westerns or Nationals. They may not even get hurt on the NEW skill. Training is cumulative. It is the stress, impact and repetitions of the entire season. Every gymnast is going to reach their breaking point physically and emotionally. You want to see them get to the end of the season with a little bit of gas in the tank.
I had an opportunity to speak to one of my former gymnasts on Saturday. A women who I had had when I first opened up my gym 20 + years ago. We joked and laughed but all I could think about was HOW MUCH SHE TAUGHT ME and HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. If I had coached every subsequent generation of athletes the way I coached them I would probably be out of business and had a bunch of injured athletes around. Of course I thought I had all the answers. I trained hard and with a purpose but with out the experience. I made mistakes and learned from them. I went to training camps and spent time in other peoples gyms learning from their success and mistakes.
When I put together the staff for Gym Momentum Camp I find coaches with the knowledge, passion and experience. We want visiting coaches and gymnasts to learn from our successes and failures. It really is the only way to improve yourself. This day and age, anyone with an iPhone and a youtube account can record something and call themselves an expert. There is a lot of junk out their right now. Like the lessons that I have learned – just because I taught it once – that doesn’t make me an expert and that doesn’t mean everyone will learn it the same way.
Other News:
Last week on “ASK GYM MOMENTUM” I was asked a question on Conditioning for uneven bars. Here is the link to the answer.
I was able to meet up with Nick Ruddock for breakfast. We had a great time talking technique and philosophy. We will be collaborating on some projects in the future. We are trying to do a Podcast in May when we will both be in Germany.
USAG had it’s first Board of Directors meeting last Wednesday. Some of you e-mail me your concerns and thoughts. I sent these on to members of the BoD. At this point I have not heard the outcome of the meeting. I will send out an e-mail as soon as I hear.
Train safe, Train Smart
Tony
Gym Momentum Training Camp Brochure to distribute to parents and athletes
GYM MOMENTUM TRAINING CAMP IMPORTANT FORMS
GYM MOMENTUM TRAINING CAMP ENTRY 2018
gym-momentum-t-shirt-size-form (Every gymnast and coach gets a T-shirt)
Meet Stephen David, Gym Momentum Tumbling and Trampoline Coach
I had the opportunity to work with Steve at a camp up in Calgary. I knew right away I wanted him to work at Gym Momentum Camp.
Stephen David has been involved in the wonderful sport of gymnastics in Canada for over 31 years. He has enthusiastically coached athletes of all ages, levels & abilities to their full potential in women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics as well as trampoline & tumbling. Stephen takes a holistic approach to coaching and is well known for his technical, tactical and psychological abilities.
Stephen works alongside his wife, Jacinda David, at their club, Just Bounce Trampoline Club, where they have guided athletes to numerous national championship titles, junior and senior national teams, as well as World Age Group medalists.
Stephen is presently the national coaching chairperson for Canada’s trampoline & tumbling program committee (TTPC) and is authoring the country’s elite athlete development model as well as a long term coaching development model.
Gym Momentum Monday 3/26
Now that the days are getting noticeably longer I am really looking forward to spring. I only had to plow snow ONE TIME last week!
I NEED YOUR INPUT (at least from those of you in the USA).
As chairman of the US Elite Coaches Association I represent the professional coaches community to the Advisory Counsel and to the USAG Board of Directors.
There is a Board of Directors meeting this week and I want to know what things you would like reported to or brought up to the Board of Directors. I have already sent out an personal e-mail to some people and here are a few of the response.
1- Some amount of protection of professional members. Right now anyone can make an accusation to Safesport against a coach and ruin their career.
2- Transparency of the Board of Directors.
3- Make up of the NEW Board (USOC, an agency in trouble itself, has asked USAG to reduce the number of members from 21 to no more than 15 on the BoD. 20% must be Athlete Directors, A majority of the Directors must be independent. ). That will significantly reduce the VOICE of many disciplines on the board.
4- address the court briefs regarding the USA Gymnastics lawyers claiming they have no responsibility with regrades to Larry and others.
5- existing staff as to their involvement in these matters
If you have any thoughts on these matters or you have something else you please let me know ASAP. All coaches who attend Gym Momentum Camp OR Future Gymnastics Academy will be able to become USECA members at a discounted rate. Gym Momentum will be paying your difference.
Gym Momentum Coaches are making their transportation arrangements for camp and YOU SHOULD TOO! Our Host Hotel is Best Western in Danvers There is a Special Rate for GYM MOMENTUM. The hotel has been newly renovated and is about a 7 minute drive from the gym. A few parents of registered gymnasts have e-mailed me wondering of the MUST stay at the host hotel. NO. I have just made arrangements at the closest nice hotel I could find.
We are in the process of planning our lectures that some of the staff will be doing.
Something to make sure you plan on is BRIAN PICKARD will be doing a lecture THURSDAY on SIDE STATIONS for Vault and Bars. This is a lecture he will be giving at National Congress.
SCHEDULE
Thursday July 12. Arrival and Orientation. Light Training with personal coaches. Brian Pickard– Side Stations for Vault and Bars.
July 13.
Training 9 AM – 5:30 PM. Lunch and a snack will be provided
Evening Lecture- TBD
July 14
Training 9 AM – 5:30 PM. Lunch and a snack will be provided
Evening Activity TBD
July 15
Training 9 – 12:30 Workout. Lunch will be provided
12:30 Departure.
Thursday July 12. Arrival and Orientation. Light Training with personal coaches. Brian Pickard– Side Stations for Vault and Bars.
July 13.
Training 9 AM – 5:30 PM. Lunch and a snack will be provided
Evening Lecture- TBD
July 14
Training 9 AM – 5:30 PM. Lunch and a snack will be provided
Evening Activity TBD
July 15
Training 9 – 12:30 Workout. Lunch will be provided
12:30 Departure.
Have a great week,
Tony
Meet Don McPherson, Gym Momentum Bar Coach
If I were to write all of Don’s qualifications it would probably shut down my server. Through the years I have learned so many things from Don. On Technique. Staff Management, Safety and Education. I am proud to call Don a mentor and friend.
Don is a former National Team Member in Trampoline and Tumbling where he represented the USA in Tramp, Tumbling and Double mini.
When he finished competing he opened up Aerial Gymnastics Club. Working in Mens, Women’s and T and T he has been awarded many awards including Coach of the Year and Educational Service Award for USA Gymnastics.
He has placed numerous athletes on to the US National Team and has worked at many National Team Camps.
Meet Sam Amico, Gym Momentum Dance Coach
Sam Amico is a graduate of Dean College, where she majored in Dance. She was a part of Dean’s Dance Company for two years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 2016.
Sam has been involved with dance since the age of three. She started taking lessons at LeAnne Leslie’s School of Theatrical Dance in all dance styles. Sam was a company member at the studio for nine years. She has been awarded many performance and choreography achievements over the years.
Along with the dance community, Sam has been involved with gymnastics since the age of 7. She was a competitive gymnast for seven years and later on began coaching. She is currently a coach at Yellow Jackets Gymnastics.
She is very excited to be working with Gym Momentum this summer!
Gym Momentum Monday 3/19
The season is slowly drawing to a close. Level 9/10 State Championships was this weekend in the USA. I saw lots of happy faces on social media posts over the weekend. I hope that everyone had a successful weekend.
In gymnastics there are VERY few guarantees. I have joked that the only sure things in gymnastics is that
1. You will get hurt
2. You will be disappointed
3. You will be frustrated.
It is how you deal with the #1 and 2 that will help you handle #3.
So with your 9’s and 10’s (and some Level 8’s that competed at various state meets) you are either preparing for Regional Championships or actively resting, reevaluating and setting goals for the summer. We are not in a sport that really has an off season. If you do not capitalize on the lessons learned at the most recent competition you miss that opportunity to learn.
After a disappointing competition you need to set some goals. Give the gymnasts something to look forward to.
When I am out “selling” Gym Momentum Camp I tell people it is as important what you do BEFORE and AFTER the camp as what you do DURING the camp. I give out an award for a club every year. That award is based on the progress they have shown since last year’s camp. The club that took the drills, progressions and ideas that they learned at camp and followed it through to the next year. I am always pleasantly surprised when I see a club attend one year with a bunch of new level 6/7s then return the next year with the same gymnasts that are now working towards Level 9/10.
When you are setting your goals it is important that goals are
1. Challenging YET realistic
2. Measurable (you cannot measure “better”. You CAN measure “Faster” or “Higher”. )
3. Have a Time Line.
For example: On vaulting for a gymnast currently competing a Pike Yurchenko whose goal it is to compete a LAYOUT next season
The goal is challenging and realistic.
It can be measured
Time line.
1- open tuck into resi June 1
2- Layout into loose foam June 1
3. Layout to Mat in pit July 1
4. Layout to resi August 1
5. Layout to competition (but soft) height September 15
6. Layout to competition (hard) surface October 30
Compete Layout December 15
Every few years I get cocky and I forget these lessons. Sure enough- things do not go as planned. The best way to remember a valuable lesson is to forget it once! I love my Gym Momentum coaches because they are family and they never hesitate to point out when I have forgotten a lesson. You must learn from those around you. You must learn from both their successes and failures. The only way to really become successful to to fail, make a correction, and move on.
Gym Momentum Training Camp is one of only 2 Training Camps officially endorsed by The US Elite Coaches Association.
The other camp is Cris Gallardo’s Camp at Future Gymnastics Academy.
At either of the camps coaches attending come for a discounted rate. USECA Coaches are FREE at Gym Momentum and only $100 at Future Gymnastics Camp.
We also have formed an alliance with NO LIMITS GYMNASTICS CAMP in Calgary.
If a gymnast attends Gym Momentum Camp AND either of these other camps the receive a 15% discount off BOTH!
Train Hard- Have a great week.
Tony
A look at Gym Momentum Staff 2018
STAFF
Tony Retrosi, Owner Atlantic Gymnastics and Gym Momentum. Chairman US Elite Coaches Association. Tumbl Trak Ambassador Coach
Chris Gallardo. US Olympic and World Championship Coach. Owner Future Gymnastics.
Vasko Vetzev, 2 time Olympian and World Champion. Coach Yellowjackets Gymnastics
Wendy Bruce-Martin US Olympian and World Champion, Member USAG Hall of Fame, Sports Psychologist, Coach
Don McPherson, Owner/ Head Coach Aerial Gymnastics Club, Downers Grove, IL. USA Gymnastics Educator, Former National Team Coach.
Rob Murray, Owner/Head Coach KidSport Gymnastics Center, Winona, MN. Former USA Gymnastics National Team Coach
Jamie Donkin, Yellowjackets Gymnastics, Middleton MA
Carly Meyer, Head Coach Arlington Aerials. Arlington, VA
Daire Oceallag, Head Coach Acro-Tex, Austin, TX
Jame Parent, Vice President Tumbl Trak
Brian Korman, Owner/Coach Yellowjackets Gymnastics, Middleton, MA
Jeremy Mosier, World Champion, Owner/ Head coach Pegasus Gymnastics, Calgary Canada
Samantha (Sam) Amico. a graduate of Dean College, where she majored in Dance., Sam has been involved with gymnastics since the age of 7. She was a competitive gymnast for seven years and later on began coaching. She is currently a coach at Yellow Jackets Gymnastics.
Cara Gonzeles, Coach Acro-Tex, Austin Texas
Brian Pickard, Owner/ Coach Gymnast Gymnastics and Timeless Training
Chris Lakeman, Head coach – Kunsturn Region Karlsruhe Gymnastics (KRK gymnastics) in Germany.
Hildur Olafsdottir, Coach at Fylkir in Iceland. Part of the Icelandic National Team. Competed at multiple international events including several european championships.
Embla Jóhannesdóttir Coact at Grota in Iceland. Part of Icelandic National Team. Competed at multiple international events including European Championships.
AND MORE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Vladimir Zmudia.
Important Gym Momentum Forms
GYM MOMENTUM TRAINING CAMP ENTRY 2018
gym-momentum-t-shirt-size-form (Every gymnast and coach gets a T-shirt)
Gym Momentum Monday 3/12/2018
Good Morning to the Gym Momentum Community!
It has been an absolutely BONKERS week. My father had a triple bypass last Tuesday so I spent 2 nights sleeping in the hospital in Syracuse, NY before I drove up to Montreal for Gymnix International.
Of course, while I was away, New Hampshire received 20 inches of snow. Thankfully I have a good friend who takes care of the plowing while I am away. As a joke he left me a voice mail saying that he had rolled the truck over in a ditch. NOT FUNNY. I was in the car with Jeremy Mosier’s GRANDMOTHER when I got the phone call. Sorry Grams for my “colorful” language.
It was GREAT to see so many Gym Momentum people at Gymnix. Rene’ sorry we were never able to get dinner or drinks. Next time! There were many former campers up on the awards platform. Congratulations to the gymnasts and coaches.
I gave away ALL the Gym Momentum Training Camp brochures I had. There were a few clubs who have been there in the past that are looking to come back and a few new clubs looking to attend. I think gymnasts and coaches who have been there in the past are our greatest publicity. Gymnasts who excelled in the competition and then hung out with friends from previous camps.
This IS a meet that you should try to get to.
Chris Lakeman (Vault coach at Gym Momentum Camp and German National Team Coach) and I went out one night and he and I got talking about the state of gymnastics here in USA. I have been avoiding the controversy on social media. It is just too toxic of an environment. My general feeling is that If you are elected or are hired to lead any organization you are responsible for EVERYONE in that organization. Not just those who voted for you or on the hiring committee.
Right now I feel that professional members of USA gymnastics are not adequately represent at the national office. Everyone else seems to have a strong voice. The athletes, the industry members, Safe sport. But who is representing the professional members? If you are NOT in the USA- who is representing YOU to your National Governing Body? I would be curious to know.
As Chairman of the US ELITE COACHES ASSOCIATION one of my responsibilities is to represent professional members in the USA to the Advisory Committee and to the USAG Board of Directors. Unfortunately, many of you are not members and therefore have no voice. Because of this- I will be offering to ALL visiting coaches 50% off USECA membership This membership is good for the year. Because I already allow USECA coaches to attend Gym Momentum Camp for FREE- that means 2018 you receive 50% off membership, 2019 you can attend camp for free.
HERE ARE SOME QUICK LINKS TO SHARE WITH COACHES AND PARENTS AT YOUR GYM
Gym Momentum T-shirt Size Form (Every Gymnast and Coach will receive a T-shirt)
Have a great week and HAPPY St. Patrick’s Day!
Tony