Gym Momentum Monday Newsletter March 5, 2018
This is an edited copy of what is sent out in a newsletter to Gym Momentum Training Camp STAFF as well as attending coaches.
Dear Gym Momentum Staff,
I hope everyone had a good competition weekend. This time of year can be rough with weeks and weeks with no breaks. Please know that I truthfully appreciate what you do.
There are a lot of “Experts” out there in social media.
You know who the real experts are?
YOU
- You are in the gym. You have produced some great gymnastics in a way that is ethical, that helps a gymnast grow as a person and is competitive.
- You plan your training sessions. You fail. You fix it and you try again.
- You have parents pissed at you at times and Parents who shower you with praise (especially when they are looking for a private lesson for their daughter).
- You work 7 days a week for 1/2 of the year. Your reward if you are successful? Another week or weekend away from your family. AND YOU ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT!
Thank you again for everything you do. Keep kicking ass.
Those of you who are bringing gymnasts to camp, please get me numbers as soon as possible.
BIOS and HEADSHOTS
Please get me a BIO and HEAD SHOT for the website. Some of you I already have one from last year.
Check and see if you need to do it; http://www.gymmomentum.com/gym-momentum-training-camp/
SAM, DON and STEPHEN- I know I need yours as you are NEW.
Tony
Dear Gym Momentum Community
As you know I do not often post things on social media. Everything it seems turns into a shouting match.
I make a point of not engaging too often on Social Media. It is a good place to SHOUT but really a poor place to accomplish anything.
I cannot tell you how many times I read something or seen something and start to freak out and start to write a response then I take a breath and erase what I have written.
The state of Gymnastics Education is a lot like the state of Politics in the country.
EVERYONE has a voice.
Lets think about what life was like 40 years ago.
In 1980 there was no youtube and I do not believe there was an internet.
If you had something you wanted to TEACH or a particular point of view you wanted heard there were really just a few choices.
- write and publish
- send information in the mail and try to book yourself clinics
- stand on the street corner yelling into a megaphone
Now with youtube and facebook all you need is a reasonable internet connection and you can subject EVERYONE to your point of view and your way of teaching.
The problem this has created is that there are many many “experts”. Looking at FB you see videos of someone’s GREATEST DRILL. It looks interesting, It looks easy , BUT does it work? Have they followed it through to see if it works? Are their unseen consequences? Will it create any long term issues or even have some unexpected long term benefits?
Now the REAL question- ARE YOU FOLLOWING THESE DRILLS WITHOUT ASKING QUESTIONS?
To achieve greatness in gymnastics you need to find a mentor and you need to find a peer group.
You will hopefully learn from the successes and failures of your mentors and you will have a peer group to discuss your ideas and track your progress.
Sometimes you are TOO CLOSE to see your progress. That is why it is important to have some gymnastics friends that you trust to make observations.
I am very proud of the coaches we have put together at Gym Momentum Camp Nearly ALL of our staff have International Coaching experience. That kind of experience is so valuable. They can help you think around a problem because they have been there before. They have been around long enough to see that rules change and skill selection gets tinkered with but they can see a clear path.
Gym Momentum Training Camp is about 1/2 full. Things are moving so fast that I have added Mr. STEPHEN DAVID a tumbling and trampoline coach out of Toronto.
This year All Coaches attending Gym Momentum Camp will receive 50% of membership in US Elite Coaches Association
I am headed up to Montreal for Gymnix International this week. Hope to see you there.
Tony
