Competitions / Training Camps Report

Gym Momentum Monday April 2nd

April 2, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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)

Gym Momentum Coach Waiver

Gym Momentum Gymnast Waiver

Meet Stephen David, Gym Momentum Tumbling and Trampoline Coach

March 26, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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

March 26, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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.

Have a great week,

Tony

Meet Don McPherson, Gym Momentum Bar Coach

March 20, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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

March 20, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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

March 19, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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 Coach Waiver

Gym Momentum Gymnast Waiver

Upcoming USAIGC/ IAIGC Training Camps and Workshops

March 14, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

As Education Director for USAIGC/IAIGC I look forward to working closely with established USAIGC clubs as well as introducing the program to clubs interested. I have 2 goals for up coming clinics.

To educate gymnasts and coaches on technique, progressions and training plans
To introduce clubs to the USAIGC programs

I will tailor each clinic based on the needs of clubs attending. There is no such thing as just a basic clinic. I want to make sure clubs attending get the information they need and want. As USAIGC/IAIGC is an international organization I will be doing clinics through out the world. I currently have 2 clinics set up for this spring in Europe. I will be setting up more this fall.

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A CLINIC? Contact me. Tony@Gymmomentum.com

May 6. Hull, UK

Sutton Village Gymnastics, Potterill Lane, Sutton Village, Hull HU7 4TF

TEL: +441482707794

info@svgym.co.uk

Cost: £30 per coach

May 11. Kaiserslauter. Germany

Gymfinity International Merkurstraße 14A 67663 Kaiserslauter. Germany

Phone: (0631) 311 60042. International: +49 631 31160042.

ande.silberman@gymfinityinternational.com

FOR INTERNATIONAL CLINICS- CONTACT THE HOST CLUB DIRECTLY FOR REGISTRATION.

North American Clinics

June 3. Utica, NY

VALLEY GYMNASTICS 1307 Champlin Ave, Utica, NY 13502

(315) 736-4400
valleygymnastics@yahoo.com

11:30 -12:30 check in
clinic 12:30-4:30
Q and A 4:30-5:30

USAIGC Clinic Registration

SEPTEMBER 16. Sewell, NJ

RAINBOW GYMNASTICS, 800 Hollydeli Court, Sewell, NJ 08080

856-582-9697
mclrainbowgym@verizon.net

TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED

USAIGC Clinic Registration Form

CLINICIANS: USAIGC EDUCATION DIRECTOR TONY RETROSI,
Clinic Goals: To Educate Gymnasts and Coaches on technique, progressions and training plans.
Fee structure. basic 4-5-hour clinic
-$250 per CLUB. 1 coach and 5 gymnasts.
-$500 per CLUB- 2 coaches 10 gymnasts.
-Additional gymnast or coach is $50 each.

Educational Director: Tony Retrosi
Based on the number of gymnast’s additional staff will be added.

Wendy Bruce (92 US Olympic Team), currently coaching and is a Sports Psychologist.

Daniela Silivas 92 Romanian Olympic Team: Currently Coaching.

RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW:

USAIGC Clinic Registration form

PAYMENTS SENT TO:
Gym Momentum 23 Whittier St, Dover, NH 03820

Gym Momentum Monday 3/12/2018

March 12, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

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 Training Camp Info

Hotel Info

Training Camp Entry

Gym Momentum T-shirt Size Form (Every Gymnast and Coach will receive a T-shirt)

BROCHURE

Have a great week and HAPPY St. Patrick’s Day!

Tony

Gym Momentum Monday 2/19/2018

February 19, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

I love the Winter Olympics.

There seems to be so much more comradery than in summer games and certainly more than pro sports. I am an Olympic Junkie- At one point I had the TV on a US hockey game, my computer streaming a cross country ski race and freestyle skiing streamed to my iPad. (To my complete embarrassment they all happened to turn to CURLING just as my wife walked by. She now thinks I have an unhealthy appreciation for this sport). When an athlete in any of the sports finished, there was sincere congratulations from other competitors. There was an interview with one of the skiers who hung in for a silver medal. They asked her if she was nervous watching the person who eventually took bronze compete seeing if her score was going to be better. She said, “nervous? I was cheering for her. She’s a great skier and I wanted her to have a great run.”

Watching and listening to Men’s Winter Cup in Las Vegas was AWESOME. Listening to the men cheer for each other at Winter Cup when some one rocked a routine or cheer encouragement when they had an error made me smile. That is the spirit of sport. That is what I’d like to see at more women’s and girls meets. We have all been to a meet where an inexperienced coach tells the girls they are coaching to not look or speak to other competitors and certainly do not cheer for them. I remember standing next to a coach and watching her pump her fist in delight when a competitor from another team fell on Beam. This wasn’t the Olympics, this wasn’t even a State Championship. This was a Level 6 at an Invitational.

I am a very competitive guy. I do not like losing BUT, I want to beat you on your best day. I have had medals and trophies that I do not feel I earned because a better gymnast happened to fall. My best memories are of competitions where I may have placed 5th or 6th- But there were simply 4 or 5 better teams or individuals.

One of the benefits of training camps is that when gymnasts train together, they have the opportunity to gain respect for each other. They become “team mates” in the sense that they have spent time together working for a common goal. They get fired up when a gymnast gets a new skill and they get to hear the cheers when they get a new skill. When they travel to a meet and their are teams there who they were at at training camp with, they are excited. Excited to see a friend, excited to show off their progress and excited to see their friends progress. Few things in our sport feel as good as that.

March 7-11 is Gymnix International in Montreal. Gym Momentum coach Chris Lakeman will be there coaching the Jr Team from Germany. Jeremy Mosier ill be coaching his team from Alberta, Canada. A few years ago Rob Murray’s gymnast representing the USA won the SR International AA and one of his juniors won FX. GOOD LUCK to all of you who will be competing. I will be there. Let me know if you want to get together.

We already have a few NEW clubs signed up for camp and a few returning clubs. It is going to be Exciting!

Gym Momentum Monday 2/12/2018

February 13, 2018 by Tony Retrosi Leave a Comment

For the past few months I have been sending out a weekly e-mail/ newsletter to Gym Momentum Camp Attendees, Gym Momentum Camp Staff as well as friends and those who have expressed interest in the Gym Momentum Community and/ or camp. Yesterday someone asked me, “Why don’t you also post those on line?”

Thinking about it- I really should. So here is GYM MOMENTUM MONDAY for the week of February 12, 2018.

I will continue to be sending out the e-mail on Monday and will be posting here Monday Night or Tuesday. If you are interested in receiving the e-mail let me know.

Happy Monday Everyone!

From everything I saw on Social Media over the weekend it looked like lots of great things going on at competitions.

Last week I took my mom on a cruise. Something you may not know about my mother is that she was also my first coach.
As I was packing for my cruise I was thinking about all coaches who I had an opportunity to learn from.
My mother, Denise Edmonds, who gave me the love of the sport.
Coach Bean, who challenged me to work harder than the next guy.
Don Tonry, who taught me the science behind the sport.
Kip Reed, who made practice fun.

With them in mind I started the Facebook Community – Thank You to My Gymnastics Coach and the #thankscoach on twitter. There was even a small article written about it in International Gymnast

Without taking anything away from the victims who were abused in our sport or ANY sport- I want to take some time to say THANKS to the great coaches out there. Whether it is a class coach, a developmental team coach, JO, USAIGC, Xcel or Elite Coach- THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO!

You are the first ones in and the last ones out of the gym on a daily basis. You plan your classes or practices. You schedule competitions. You spend weekends on the road in hotels at competitions. You are a role model for al those around you. I know you take all these duties seriously and I know very often parents will NOT thank you. So the least I can do is to recognize your efforts and Thank You.

At Gym Momentum Camp– all the staff takes their duties very seriously. We know that in the course of a long weekend we are not going to teach every gymnast a new skill. Our goal is to work with each coach so that they learn not just the technique but also the progression and plan. The hardest thing for a coach to know is, “what’s next?”. Gym Momentum staff have been their before! We want you to learn from our mistakes and our successes.

Now that I am getting all the entries in for Gym Momentum Camp, I get to pick out leotards and T-shirts. I always try to get a good motivational saying on the back for the gymnasts. The coaches I can have a bit more fun with.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what you would like on the back of shirts this year? Shoot me an e-mail. Let me know.

My next e-mail should have a photo of what the leos will look like this year. There will be order forms for the leos and T-shirts on the website at that time. Since every gymnast and coach gets a shirt- the T-shirt form is already up.

I was down at Yellowjackets the week before last and I know their gymnasts are looking pretty good! I’d love to hear from the rest of you.

Some of you may know that I have taken on a position with USAIGC / IIAGC. I will be their Education Committee Chairman. Organizing weekends for clinics and running clinics through out the North America, The Caribbean and into Europe. I have preliminary dates in June in NY, and NH and looking at the fall in Germany and possibly Italy.

If this is something you are interested in- please let me know. Chris Lakeman- I already signed you up for the one in Germany.

In NO WAY am I giving up on USA Gymnastics. Paul Spadaro, the president of USAIGC, is a lifelong friend. He wants to grow the organization and needed an educational coordinator. I will ALWAYS work to make gymnastics (and coaches) better, smarter and safer. Regardless of the organization.

Paraphrasing from Hiram Johnson, a politician from California in 1917, “The first casualty of war is TRUTH”. USA Gymnastics is at war. And Truth has been a casualty. Nothing is ever as BAD (or as good) as it seems. Although I do not agree with everything he says, Mike Jacki posted something on Facebook the other day and I reposted it in Gym Momentum. It’s long but worth the read.

DON MCPHERSON- Any insight on this?

Enjoy your week. Check and double check your schedules so I know I will have you at camp!

Have a good week! Good luck at your remaining competitions.

Tony