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Concur with BlairBob... Video is an awesome tool for both the coach and gymnast. As BlairBob said too, make sure they are not reaching for their knees. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see. While they may take off with a nice set, they have a tendancy to throw their head back and drop...

I've been teaching flairs with pretty much the same method that I teach mushroom circles. I have them do flair drills: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full on the floor mushroom. I don't let them move to the next spot until they show mastery. Once they have a good mastery of the drill, I have them a...

Really from what I've seen you won't be able to find a used mushroom much cheaper than about $150-$180. Typically a gymnast will buy one and may use it through their level 4 and 5 years, and then sell it. I know American Gymnast (www.american-gymnast.com) sells a new mushroom (Gym Trix Ultra...

For my boys level 4 and 5, I typically have them get beginner grips as their first pair of grips. They can use them for both rings and high bar if needed. However, I really think it all depends on how the gymnast is swinging. If he is swinging big and powerfull, go with seperate high bar and...

I like to finish practice with something fun also. Here are some of my favorites.... "Drop of Death" - Essentially it is jump & stick. Each level gets increasingly higher, and the gymnast cannot move up until he passes the previous level. The winner gets tramp time, the losers get strength...

From what I've seen most men's programs do not have event coaches, but a head coach and an assistant or two. I think the event coaches work out better for the girls programs since there are a greater number of girls coaches out there, and girls programs are typically a lot larger than the mens...

Personally, I teach it as a 3/4 (baby) giant. The goal for my guys is to do giant-power down. In other words I want a giant that goes close to hand stand and then the gymnast allows their hips to come down to the bar to a support shape as they would if they had done a cast, back hip or free...

Awesome video! Lots of great stuff there! Thanks!

I've never seen this technique before. I have found that having the gymnast place the first hand fingers pointing out, and the second fingers turned pointing back toward where their feet are coming from helps to get their feet to come directly over their head as well as facilitate a good push...

GT, it sounds like the second example you are talking about is a Piatti. The same Tkatchev action but initiated from a free hip. I was teaching this to a few of my guys last year because I didn't want to teach them a chinese tap yet... Some of the drills we used included: - using a tramp bar...

I teach my boys to do a straddle headstand press first. Once you can do a straddle headstand press and straddle back down, you can use a panel mat to help you. Or position yourself against so that you can use the wall to help you out (hands just a little away from the wall, as you begin to...

I think the big thing to remember especially when coaching levels 1-3 (boys or girls), is that these are developmental levels and it is very important to keep it fun. There is no reason it can't be fun. It doesn't have to be fun all the time, but the goal I think at these levels is to keep...

I always tell my kids that their grips are for HB or R, and not to use them anywhere else. This keeps them from using them anywhere else. As for rubbing of the fingers in the holes of the grip is normal, especially if they are new grips and the gymnast just isn't use to them. As for the size...

I just wanted to see what everyones thoughts were on using trampoline (including Tumble Trak) for training. I know everyone uses them, but to what extent? What do you think their training value is? What you do on them? Etc... I mainly coach boys L4-6 and our developmental guys, and I use the...

I concur with blairbob and ryantroop... To train the snap down portion of the RO or handspring, I like to set up a stack of mats or a block to about waist height and have the gymnast do snap down drills. Hands on the mats, jump from the floor until in a handstand, once in hand stand snap feet...

I drive a tumble bus during the school year. The inside of the bus we have was designed and outfitted by our staff some time ago. The bus has auxiliary generators to power the a/c outlet and the air conditioning units. As for equipment on the bus, it is the scaled down preschool equipment...

As promised I just finished editing my circle progression video. This video is just a snapshot of the progressions I use. There are a few more progressions that are not included. The video is posted at: YouTube - popeye0681's Channel I hope it helps out!

Hey everyone, I know I promised to get those mushroom circle progressions on video this week, but things have been crazy, and my camera has been on the fritz. So, if everything goes well I'll have them posted Sunday or Monday for you. Sorry about the delay.

Thanks for everybody's ideas and thoughts. I've talked with numerous parents and sent out to them a reminder of the gym rules and standards as well as coach's expectations. This was received with positive feedback from the parents, and most of them have talked with their boys. Things are on...

Unfortunately, separating them and sending them out doesn't have much effect. As gymcarl has mentioned, rewarding good behavior and work ethic works, unfortunately only to a point with the L8s and 9s. The L6s and 7s still want to please, and when faced with a reward they will work hard...