Recent content by Susan

With hypermobility, she should be working on stability & not "putting on a show" if that makes sense.

Dr. Larry Nassar says that hypermobility (ie: connective tissue disorders) are much more prevalent in the gymnastic and dance community than in the general public, but did not offer any specific percentages. It can be an advantage or not depending on how strong the gymnast also is -- and how...

When kids get their kip for the first time, I have them do kips unassisted for a portion of the bar workout, then I spot them so that they can get straight arm kips. To a kid, learning a kip and a straight arm kip are almost like learning 2 separate skills.

Can I get some good ideas for teaching the regrasp of the bar to keep from peeling off on a kip that is coming out of a handstand? I have had her do it in slow motion, but she can't get it coming down fast. I know that some kids have no issue with this and some kids do. I'm working with a very...

This is for an aspiring L8 who broke her foot while on limited workouts due to a previous back strain in her mid-back. Her back is still a bit of an issue and she is now in a boot for 4 weeks. She is not allowed any weight bearing skills/conditioning for another week and then will be allowed to...

They will attempt to fix it if it's a sports-minded medical practice/PT practice. A pediatrician will not see any problem. She won't grow out of it if she can't correct it during gymnastics. She may in fact end up with an even more exaggerated turn out from continuing to use that position if...

Thanks for all the ideas. I am experimenting with all of them!

Can you explain this more? I took one of the gymnasts to the drug store to pick one out, and the one that fit the best (not perfectly, since it was an adult size) didn't prevent her head from going back very much (maybe a little). I didn't buy it, because I thought maybe a kid size would work...

When I have them do this type of game, they can see the fingers -- but only because they lean their shoulders back :( This is why they get frustrated, their saltos are better at this point with their heads whipped back. When they try to fix it, they end up with one that is long and low.

My coach explained this to me to help me get more height (I was not a head whipper). It worked for me too, but I haven't seen dramatic improvements when I explain it to my gymnasts! Glad to know that it also helped someone else though. When I adopted that technique, it felt like I was reaching...

Thanks for these ideas Gymsanity and dunno, I am successfully reminding the kids who just learned their tucks (4s and 5s) to keep their heads neutral with the foam under their chins and it works for them, but when I have the 7s try this, it increases their backwards lean. Instead of whipping...

I recently took over a group of poorly trained level 7s (technique was never stressed). Their back saltos are limited to tucks and layouts. They all throw their heads back. I have always found this to be difficult to correct once it's been accepted by another coach, which it was, so I am looking...

The way that you are describing the turn out, it sounds like a weakness that should be addressed by a good PT (one who knows gymnastics). It's not a blessing -- even for a dancer. I have an excellent turn out (did pointe ballet in college after competing in gymnastics as a child/teen), but I...

I'd like to have a pre-planned workout designed in advance for kids who are hurt. I'm talking about Sever's flair ups or a mild rolled ankle that needs to be be rested for a few days. For those who have already done this, please give some advice!

I'd like to start a discussion on how to keep the young talented kids (ie: the ones who start piling on the training hours young) from getting overuse injuries. I have a small group of them now and I'm toying with holding them back to Level 5 (next year's Level 4) even though they have most of...