Men Worried my coach is not strict enough

[Planched]

I just joined mag after doing t&t in Canada for about 1.5 years and a 2 year Break and I am training with level 5 and 6 for the past couple months in so cal. My coach is planing to have me compete lvl 7 next year as I am in 8th grade right now. I am pretty much caught up in floor and vault (I only did tramp but learned tumbling from camp) and I am not so far off in other events as I am a fast learner, But this bring me to my concern. I love gymnastics and I started very late so I am worried that my coach is not being strict enough with conditioning and getting skills. I know what you might be thinking that he is not as strict with me as I just started but he is like this with the other boys in my group. He makes us only try a couple times to do the conditioning (15 sec l-sit, 2 min plank, 30 sec toe touch hang to 1 min l-sit hang, 5 sets of 5 pull ups etc.) he also lets us sit out on training a skill if we are injured (a bad rip and like-so) witch is normal but I think that after a couple practices he should have us training at full intensity again. Maybe I am just not used to this and this is normal but I think that having a strict-ish coach is important if you want to get good at your sport.

 

[raenndrops]

"he also lets us sit out on training a skill if we are injured (a bad rip and like-so) witch is normal but I think that after a couple practices he should have us training at full intensity again"

It depends on how often you practice and how fast you heal. It USED to be that a lot of coaches were just the opposite, to the point of literally ruining gymnasts.

"He makes us only try a couple times to do the conditioning (15 sec l-sit, 2 min plank, 30 sec toe touch hang to 1 min l-sit hang, 5 sets of 5 pull ups etc.)"

At some point, you encounter the law of diminishing returns. 5 sets of 5 pull ups = 25 pull ups. Is there really a point in doing more pull-ups in practice when you could be doing skills?

Your coach seems to consider that gymnasts are young people ... pre-pubescent boys up to practically men. In men's gymnastics, a lot of things usually get better and easier AFTER puberty.

 

[Coach Kate]

If you feel like you want to be pushed more or have goals that you feel your coach is not helping you achieve, I think it would be worth asking for time to have a conversation about that - maybe before or after practice one day next week. It's best to give them a heads up so they can plan to stay late or be early and know what you want to talk about. As simple as, "Coach, is there a day next week we could spend some time talking about my goals and training?"

Come up with some concrete goals for yourself - for this season, and long term. Ask what steps you need to be taking in order to get there (if you don't already know). It will also give them an opportunity to explain their training philosophy and how they put together workouts.

One of the most valuable tools I was given as a young coach was learning how to do long term planning. It helps build routines, skills, and the conditioning it will take to get there. Hopefully your coach knows that too and you can work together to be your very best!