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. Each Clinic will have 2 goals-
- To educate coaches and gymnasts on technique, progressions and training plans.
- To introduce people who are not familiar to USAIGC/IIAGC to the program.
I have preliminary dates in June in NY, and NH. In September I will be in NJ and looking at the fall in Germany and possibly Italy.
The fee structure I am working with is for a 4-5 hour clinic with time after for follow up Questions and Answers. Depending on the number of attendees and location there will be additional clinicians. I do not want to overload the clinic and then dilute the results.
$250 per CLUB. 1 coach and 5 gymnasts.
$500 per CLUB- 2 coaches 10 gymnasts.
Additional gymnast or coach is $50 each.
If this is something you are interested in hosting- please let me know. USAIGC is looking into growing the program and educating the gymnastics community.
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”. I feel that USA Gymnastics is at war right now. And Truth has been a casualty. Nothing is ever as BAD (or as good) as it seems. If you read (and believe) everything on social media, it makes each one of us look like horrible people because we coach gymnastics. USA Gymnastics is a great organization. There are some wonderful people in all aspects of the program. USAG has worked hard on rebuilding the organization and will continue to work to make gymnastics in the USA better and safer than another olympic sport.
It will be a LONG road.
I personally think they need a better PR firm (I will be posting something on this later this week.) because behind the scenes I know they are working hard.
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.
USAIGC/IIAGC is not going to be the right choice for everybody. USAG is going to remain the NGB and be choosing the Olympic and World Championship Teams. Because of this, USAG will have a higher level of competition.
There are 6 Competitive Levels with training hours. (Not including warm up, stretching and conditioning. Just SKILL TRAINING HOURS). Rules and Policies
- Copper 1: Practice time up to 4 hours per week. Requirements: 5 As. NO B’s. Vault- Handspring to Flatback on Mat stack. Like Xcel Bronze. or Level 2
- Copper 2: Practice time up to 5 hours per week. Designed for 2nd year USAIGC Copper Level Gymnasts as a more challenging level with additional skill opportunities and options. Requirements: 5 As. NO B’s. Vault- Handspring to Flatback on Mat stack. May perform Front and Back Handsprings on floor. Like Xcel Bronze. or Level 2/3
- Bronze: Practice Time up to 6 hours per week. 6 As ( Bs ok too) like level 5/6 or Xcel silver. Vault Rules- NO saltos. Vaults only up to full twist.
- Bronze Diamond: Practice Time 8 hours per week. Gymnasts who have score a 35.80 two times during their competitive season prior to their state/ regional championship. 6 As ( Bs ok too) like level 5/6. or Xcel Gold or Platinim Vault Rules- NO saltos. Vaults only up to full twist.
- Silver: Practice Time up to 10 hours per week. 5 As 2Bs no Cs! Just like level 7 or Xcel Platinum no Cs
- Gold: Practice Time up to 12 hours per week. 4 As 4 Bs SV from 9.9 xtra C +.1. Level 8
- Platinum: Practice Time up to 15 hours per week. 3 As, 4 Bs, 1 C. Like level 9. College value parts more than 1 D permitted.
- Premier: Practice Time up to 16 hours per week. 3 As, 3 Bs, 2 Cs. College rules like level 10 college value parts.
Mandatory Move Up Scores: Any Gymnast who scores a 37.85 TWICE in the same competitive season must move up to the next competitive level.
For an in-depth look at all the USAIGC/IIAGC Rules
In the end, you will have to do what is right for your gym, your gymnasts, your clients.
The World/National Championship element to USAIGC is very attractive.
