Is this acceptable?

[flippersmom]

There is too much going on at DD's gym to even go into.

But here is one senerio of what is going on:

You have a new L7 who has a front tuck off beam, had competed it at a meet at end of season and had received over a 9 on beam. At a practice, she has a moment of fear on cartwheel backtuck dismount with a different coach than usual on beam (partly due to trust issue). The coach she is with is Head Coach, she is usually with owner (out sick) who is a high level coach, but is stepping back some from coaching to run business. She gets yelled at and humiliated for not doing it, told to run a mile. After a while, girl in tears, head coach asked if she would like to come back and try. Girl says no, because she is embarrassed and in tears. Head coach tells her to keep running. Girl ran well over 25 minutes. Girl is not on elite path, or even aiming for a level high than 7 right now. Just loves gym and is/was excited for L7. Is this right? Do other gyms do this?

Yes, girl is my DD.

 

[bogwoppit]

Okay that is not acceptable. Your dd did great in that one L7 meet with her front tuck, she doesn't need to be punished for her fear of the bt. That will not help her get over it. Humiliation has never been a great motivational tool in the gym.

Time for a chat with the coach, they need to know how they are making Flipper feel.

Tell Flipper that Bitty Bog says "hi"!

 

[Coacharella]

Yikes. This makes no sense..

Was this your DD's first time trying cartwheel back tuck d/m?

I cannot understand why this coach would react so harshly..as a coach myself.

As coaches we should not only embrace moments of fear, but anticipate them proactively. In response to your question, my gym does NOT do this.

 

[gymmomntc2e6]

that is pretty over the top for a fear issue. Nope, my DD's gym does not do that. HC has sent a girl out of practice for crying on beam. Fear of BWO (that she had done alone on high beam 6 gazillion times) with HC spotting her.

If she had done something wrong I can see running a few laps. DD's HC has sent girls to run laps (usually 10) for goofing off too much or standing around & doing abosultely nothing.

 

[NOG]

Humiliation and punishment is never acceptable for being afraid to do a skill. Gee, I wonder why she doesn't trust that coach . Now she is humiliated, and exhausted - NO she's not going to try to throw a skill (with a coach she has no trust in) after all that especially! I agree with Bog - time for a meeting

 

[coachmolly]

No. Totally unnecessary. I can see working the cw-bt dismount for future progressions, but considering she has a perfectly acceptable dismount already, I would not push the issue and would not use humiliation as a means for dealing with the situation. It won't make the problem any better, and could quite possibly just exacerbate the issue. If they wanted to push the issue, insisting she learn a cw-bt, I think a much more productive method of dealing with the situation would have been going back to the basics until she felt comfortable again, even if it took more than one practice! Maybe I'm just an idiot coach, but I see no correlation between 25 minutes of running and improved confidence on beam .

 

[NOG]

No. Totally unnecessary. I can see working the cw-bt dismount for future progressions, but considering she has a perfectly acceptable dismount already, I would not push the issue and would not use humiliation as a means for dealing with the situation. It won't make the problem any better, and could quite possibly just exacerbate the issue. If they wanted to push the issue, insisting she learn a cw-bt, I think a much more productive method of dealing with the situation would have been going back to the basics until she felt comfortable again, even if it took more than one practice! Maybe I'm just an idiot coach, but I see no correlation between 25 minutes of running and improved confidence on beam .

Now that sounds like a much better way of handling the situation.

 

[MdGymMom01]

UGH--I am so sorry you guys are going through this. And, NO this is NOT acceptable. Fear happens and punishment and humiliation will not make the fear go away. If this type of practice is common (humiliation and punishment for fear and not attempting skills) at your gym, then I would be concerned--very concerned. I am hoping that this was a one time incident and that the coaches have better and more positive and productive ways of dealing with fear. I hope Flipper is feeling better. Tell her to not let it get her down. (((hugs))).

 

[gymgurl]

well personally i think that is ridiculous this girl obviously has difficulty with this particular skill and making her run for 25 minutes or however long it was is getting no body anywhere, she's not progressing and to be honest whether the gymnast can do the skill is really not affecting the coach. If she has her front sault (which i assume is allowed) why can't she stick to that?

I have had fears for particular skills and have been yelled at but thats because my coach knows its what gets through to me where as with another gymnast she will sit their and work through slow progressions should that be the best way for that particular girl. This I believe is one of the most important parts of being a coach is doing what is best for each gymnast and be it yelling at them or working up to it.

 

[mariposa]

Not acceptable. And it was downright mean and uncalled for. I think a talk to owner would be in order.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

if it walks like a duck...not acceptable.

 

[Ingwe]

Not acceptable! I would ask for a meeting ASAP. Humiliating a child (or even an adult) is never the answer. It will not help her get over her fears any faster. UGH! I am so sorry that this is going on.

 

[gymjourneymom]

Not acceptable!!! Some coaches & their supposed "coaching style" just make me sick!!! Tell me how humiliating a child is going to help her get over her fear???? That is the most twisted line of thinking in the world!!! If this child even has the courage to step back on the beam after that abuse I applaud her!!! She is a bigger person with more character then that coach will ever have!!!

 

[bluesocks]

Think about a time when you have been embarrased or humiliated by someone. Did you want to work with that person again? I did not think so. Humiliating a person is the best way to discourage someone.

Now, think about a time when you were afraid but felt supported by spmeone around you. Did you want to spend time with that person again? Of course! That person was patient and kind when you needed it.

Just my thoughts on the issue.

Blue

 

[Midget's Dad]

Oh heck no. Totally not acceptable.

 

[cher062]

NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

After my gym drama with coaches, ower etc at old gym I'm not putting up with anything anymore. If I even see the littlest thing I'm calling the coaches and owner on it. No more wait and see for me. If I saw this I would be right down to the office insisting to talk to the coach or owner right then and there and if they don't come right away I would pull DD off the floor myself. No more punishments are going to be allowed for my DD. Encouragement YES, Punishment and being forgotten NEVER.

(ok you can see this is a soap box item for me now so passing the box to the next perosn)

 

[flipper's fan]

Sounds a lot like a coach I know and avoid. He drove a very nice child I know out of the sport. Other people I know left his new gym because of him. The owner needs to know what is going on. Tell your DD to hang in there! So sorry for her.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

not to mention that all that running defeats and degrades the anaerobic system of energy.

 

[cathiann]

I'm hoping you talk to the coach today--that is totally not acceptable.

 

[gym law mom]

I certainly agree with everyone else. This running punishment accomplished nothing except create a real enviornment of distrust. I would be curious to know if this coach has done that in the past with other gymnasts. Its not acceptable and there is no reasonable excuse for it.

We had something similar at our 1st gym. My gymmie was working on yerchenko timers. Coach yelled at her that her timer looked "scary" and bansihed her to the far corner of the gym to do rope climbs while the others continued to vault.

It certanly is time for a talk with the coach and owner.