Enter your question in the form below.   Each week, John will respond to as many questions as possible on this blog.

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  • Coaching Strategy
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    …and more

 

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  • Thecoachwholovestocoach

    Hi John! I am a level 7 coach for the first time after many years of coaching compulsories. I have watched your tumbling drills video and used those drills throughout the summer. Now I am having trouble coming up with drills to make my girls tumble better while in competition season because the floor is constantly being used for routine practice. We spent the whole summer practicing and perfecting the skills to put into the routines and I see the girls starting to relax and not have the same form they did before we put the pieces together. The judges killed us on our tumbling this past weekend on height, form, and having their chest down in the landings. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    • Anonymous

      Hi Coach,

      Welcome to the frustrating world of coaching. The process your are experiencing is never ending in that skills can look fine when isolated outside of the routines, yet the minute you put a little dance in front or behind the skill, it seems to change the entire look. Patience, believe in your drills, progressions and techniques and simply keep plugging away. IT is kind of like watching grass grow…. you know there is progress there… it is just tough to see.

      One suggestion would be to make sure that the tumbling passes are incorporated into the floor rotation requirements. This is always tough because usually the floor coach is concentrating on the choreography. Set a standard that tumbling is just as important and make sure the kids are applying the proper amount of effort on their own. It is impossible to watch every kid on every turn so they will have to take on some of the responsibility for improving their skill. You way also want to introduce a mass/group complex warm up, where all passes are covered as a group going across the floor, prior to starting routines (coaches could then point of improvement areas prior to turning them loose on their idle time stations).

      We have also introduced separate tumbling rotations for our level 6 and higher… so that tumbling can get it’s due attention. Floor routines would be a separate rotation and concentrate on all the combined aspects of floor… dance, acro, presentation, endurance etc.

      Hope this helps

      John Geddert
      Twistars USA Gymnastics Club
      Region 5 JOPCC

      Blog: TheGymnasticsCoach.com

  • Kim Orisek

    My daughter is a 10 year old level 7 having just moved up in January. When her coach asked her to move up, I voiced my concerns about bars because my daughter did not have a free hip handstand or a giant. She can do a decent free hip. Coaches response was that she will have to work hard. My daughter has certainly worked very hard but think it was a bit too tall of an order to learn at least the giant in 7-8 weeks. She did quite well at her first meet at 7 getting a 36.45 with a crappy bar score(7.95). Then coach started really getting on her accusing her of not trying and saying “why are we even doing this if you don’t want to do the giant”. I find it hard t believe that many girls would thrive under the circumstances of constant negative reinforcement. Second level 7 meet she fell off the beam. This was the first time since starting team on level 4 that she has ever fallen off of the beam. Coach again was all over her. Since moving up to level 7, coach has completely changed how she treats my daughter. My daughter has always exuded confidence on the gym floor and coach seems to be draining her of that confidence. Hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back now, I feel like coach asked my daughter to move up to help her very small level 7 team scores with my daughters 3 good events. My question is… How do you know when it’s time to change gyms/coaches? I don’t want to make the mistake of waiting so long that my daughter won’t be able to regain her once abundant confidence. I am not a big fan of negative reinforcement and wonder will I be jumping from the frying pan to the fire? Is this type of coaching common in gymnastics? Thank you!

    • Anonymous

      Hi Kim,

      This is a very tough situation into which to enter my opinion. As I am sure you know, your coaches could very well have a totally different perspective on the situation (not that yours is not accurate), thus making it difficult to form an opinion and offer advise.

      As a parent I have always felt that I have every right to convey my concerns when it comes to the mental and physical well being of my children. You are certainly well within bounds to address your concerns. From that point you must make a judgement call as to what is in the best long term interest of your child’s health and happiness. Gymnastics is not life but it certainly can shape life (in a positive or negative direction). If you honestly feel that gymnastics training at your current location is having an adverse impact your child’s self image and self esteem, her confidence and her motivation to continue, then you must act accordingly.

      I always advise going to the source to discuss the concerns first. I would deal with this in a calm and professional manner so as to provide the best opportunity for mediation. Schedule a private meeting, perhaps outside of the gym setting. Placing your coaching staff or management on defensive with an attack mode approach, will most likely not result in any long term gains. Presenting your views, goals and concerns as a parent in a matter so as to be understood yet willing to be open minded also, is the best approach. Perhaps they have a plan (and a kick in the pants is part of their plan) that will eventually lead to a more nurturing and positive end to the season…. perhaps their coaching style is simply not going to work for you. Seek these answers and then after giving your current club as much opportunity to impress you as possible, make an inform decision.

      The bottom line is to take care of your child. Gymnastics should be something that contributes to her upbringing and if it is not, then I would certainly suggest a change of scenery.

      Hope this helps

      John Geddert
      Twistars USA Gymnastics Club
      Region 5 JOPCC

      Blog: TheGymnasticsCoach.com