To SPOT or NOT????

[gymnastmom96]

Lately at meets, I have noticed the different coaching styles, in particular to spotting gymnast. Our coaches are not spotters (except when really needed). Her coaches let us know up front their beliefs regarding spotting. I agree with them. - They do spot on new skills and problem skills.

I see coaches out on the floor spotting during the meet - even in optionals! I don't get that. If you have to spot a child during a meet, maybe they should scratch that event.
My dd would rather stand on the beam in the same position for 5 minutes and cry trying to get her nerve up than ask for a spot. I have seen her coach offer and my dd declined.
Any ideas?

[bogwoppit]

Our coaches will stand by the vault at a meet, just in case someone has a crash, my big DD was once saved from a nasty splat by her coach. I was a very happy Mum. But, they only let girls vault who can consistently do it at the gym.

They also will stand between the bars for the younger ones who are mastering the squat on jump to the high bar, out girls need it here for the level 4 equivalent, sometimes they miss or fall over the bar.

I have never seen a coach spot on the floor, the deduction is not worth it, at our gym if you don't have the skill you do not compete the event. On beam, bars and floor they would take the deduction. But remember we do not have compulsories in the same way as USAG, we can always add in an extra A somewhere.

In the gym they spot on new skills, or if a girls is returning from injury and feeling a bit nervous. I know there is a lot of variety from coach to coach with spotting, whatever works is good I suppose.

[gymnasticsbabie]

i love getting a spot haha. I only like it on somethings on bars and on floor. I hate getting spot on beam though. at meets I usually get my first double back spotted and the I'll do one by myself.
I dont know that it is healthy to stand there and cry rather than asking for a spot. I chose life, so i get a spot for safety reasons. If im not sure about something I would rather get spot on it first and get the feel of it.

[gymjourneymom]

Our coach as doesn't believe in spotting at competitions...and I agree with this approach. The gymnast needs to "own" a skill both mentally & physically, in order to progress. So "forcing" a skill in a meet with a spot, doesn't help the gymnast "own" the skill by herself... it's not the same personal accomplishment for the gymmie. It may get her thru the meet in the short haul...but not the best help in the long haul for her development as a gymnast. We had experience with this last year. DD had a mental block about going backwards on the beam...wouldn't go for her BWO(although she could do it beautifully!). DD would stand there(for an eternity) in the "go" position & not "go" until the coach put her index finger in the small of dd back?!? Not really even a spot(LOL!). But it was all mental. If the coach would have done this in meets, dd would have probably become dependant on it. Instead dd didn't compete beam until she "owned" the skill & could do it both mentally & physically without a "spot". Long story short(well maybe not so short)...the 1st meet dd competed beam...took 1st on beam & 2nd AA. She owned the skill & it was beautiful memorable moment for her(one the most important life lessons she has learned so far), the coach(who has the patience of a saint!) & the team(who supported her all along). A real personal best moment Would it have had the same impact & meaning to dd if the coach "spotted" her at meets...I think not. In the end, this wasn't just about a gymnastic skill...it was a life lesson about trying hard & not giving up Knowing she has the power within herself...it's something she will use in every aspect of her life Can you tell I'm in awe of her What helped my dd was a the undying support from her coach & team. Everyone kept it positive & supportive...("You can do it, your the boss of the beam!")...DD learned positive "self talk" & visualization....(got a DVD from gymsmarts.com on fear/ CD on visualization on e-bay) it took months...a million BWO...until 1 day SHE did it...on her own. Now she's working on BHS, I honestly never thought I'd see this day! Best wishes to you & your DD. Hope you find something useful in my long winded reply

[gymgymgymnast08]

I can see what you mean like gymnasticsbabie said getting spotted for the first one or whatever but if you need a spot during the routine you obviously shouldn't be doing it but I mean if you usually do it and suddenly at a meet it looks like you are going to hurt yourself I can see the coach jumping in and spotting it. I like my coach to like stand close if I'm learning a new skill but usually its more scary to have them spot! Just throw it over the pit first!

[gymjourneymom]

Me again! Just checking....why does your dd say she can't go for her skill? Is this a mental block or does she not physically have the skill yet? In either case... spotting during practice &/or privates is just what she does need....as long as it's done in a positive/supportive manner. She should not feel "stressed" about asking for or accepting a spot during practice...that is her time for learning correct??? I just don't agree with spotting a skill in competition that the gymmie doesn't "own" yet. Can you schedule some private lessons with the coach your dd feels the most comfortable getting spots from? Maybe she doesn't want to get help in front of her teammates??? #1...she needs to be & feel safe doing the skill. #2 she needs to feel comfortable accepting a spot to attain #1. My dd is very "strongwilled" & there is only 1 coach in our gym that she felt "comfortable" enough with to accept her help. Others lost patience with her & told her to "just get over it"...those coaches made the whole process take much longer Sometimes it just takes the right personalities to click! My dd's coach is an angel Wish I could lend her too you,LOL! But then again... her style might not be right for your DD. Hope your dd finds her angel too. Keep me posted

[Gymmonkeymomma]

Our coaches have spotted the smaller kids on vault and bars. At her last meet, little DD was saved by her coach on vault. She had 1 foot on the springboard, and the other foot slipped off the front of the springboard, she had enough power to get up into the handspring but not enough to get the 2nd flight. If coach had not caught her, she would have slammed her head/neck on the vault table. As it was, she caught the back of her head on the way down.

The other day at practice, I asked her why she had coach spot her standing back tuck and she said "because I wanted her to" (coming from a 7 yr old).

My older DD would never ask for a spot.

I have been to meets where the coaches practically carry the level 4 girls through their BHS on floor or cartwheel on beam.

[KBT]

Back when I used to coach, I always stood there for things like bar dismounts and releases for safety. All my girls were competing elements they were able to do safely on their own, but you never know in a meet - different equipment, extra adrenaline - I like to be there just in case. I'll also spot skills in warm-ups for the same reason.

I coached a lot of high school gymnastics and sometimes we'd let kids do skills they couldn't do without a spot in meets. Things like backwalkovers on beam. It was mostly to get them exposure to competing and to get used to doing their new skills under pressure.

[cheekygirl93]

wen i was a gymnast, in competitions we would get a spot for the first tsukahara and then wed do it on our own. the spot was onli like our coach standing ther having an arm out for support. we onli got a spot because u dnt no wat the vault was going 2 b lik, so it was a sfty thing. but it didnt help me once wen i slid my hands on the vault, tuck tsuking and landing on mi head!!hehe luckily it didnt hurt!

[Kayleigh]

My coaches pretty much decide on their own if someone should be spotted or not. For example; one of the girls on my team has some problems as far as arm bending goes, and her shoulder flexibility isn't all that great. During meets, she would get spotted on her BWO on beam because she just wasn't physically capable of doing it herself. But on the flipside, there's someone like me, TERRIFIED of doing my flyaway (they still scare me). About two weeks ago, my coach Dave stepped away and said, "You're on your own. You can do this, you don't need me there. I never even touch you." So after working up the nerve, I did it. And I'm actually really glad he stepped off.

Basically, they know what they're doing. If a spot is absolutely needed, they will. If they know you can do it by yourself, they won't spot. In optional, if you can't do the skill, you don't do it. That's why some of our 8's don't throw Tsuk's yet.