The New issue of The Gym Press - March 2008 Vol2 Is1

[Valentin]

Hi valued readers

I am proud to present the newest issue of TheGymPress. This is by far the best issue, with many contributions, and with all the new bells and whistles.
Hope you enjoy, and please leave feedback for articles.
Content of March 2008 Issue
Page 1-3 Using the “Understand Teach” model to coach a double layout dismount of the Asymmetrical Bars. By Rick McCharles
Page 3-6 Stretching Scientifically Part II: Stretching methods, the pros and cons to each method. By Valentin Uzunov
Page 6-8 Men’s Choreography - Its About Postural Alignment. By Nicholas Blanton
Page 8-9 Coaching and the Ringelmann Effect. By Warren Milburn
Page 9 DVD Review: Stall Bar Drills for Conditioning and Flexibility
Page 10 Acknowledgments

You can download the new issue from the right hand "Available Issues" panel. on www.thegympress.net
or --> Click Here to Download

[Valentin]

Hi

There was a small editing error in the newsletter relating to the source of an image.
This is the new link CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

[gracefulone]

I found the part about the Ringlemann effect absolutely fascinating!

[Valentin]

Hi

I completely agree, i had never even heard of this "Ringlemann effect " until Warren sumbitted the article. Might have to explore it further.
It does however explain quite a few things..Very cool article.

[gracefulone]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Valentin Hi I completely agree, i had never even heard of this "Ringlemann effect " until Warren sumbitted the article. Might have to explore it further. It does however explain quite a few things..Very cool article.

Yeah, like how entire teams can completely fall apart!

[kristilyn73]

I agree! After reading the part about the Ringleman effect. I think I am going to change some of my coaching stratgies. I may have each of my girls work independently in stations. Then I can pull girls aside to work with them individualy.

Also, I have seen meets where all the girls sit with their back to the Beam while each girl competes. I think there might be something to that!

[Valentin]

Hi

Interesting what you say about girls having their backs to the beam. I used to work at a club where when i first started the girls previous coach had kind of ingraned in them that scores don't matter. I found that a little hard to accept, having come from a club, where the girls would step over you to see their score. However there was a clear difference in attitude and way of competing between the two groups. I guess its not really accurate to make a comparison, but this year i am going to try to have them focus on performing what they know how, rather then looking at the scores and saying OK i need this, i better now do this this this and that, and i better stick etc...
Will be interesting.

Valentin

[Tuduri]

During competition, my dd's club also has the girls face away from the beam. I always assumed that this was meant to keep each gymnast focused on their own routine and not to dwell on the mistakes(if any) of another gymnast competing before them. I'm not sure we do this with bars or vault. However, I know it doesn't include the floor, as they always watch each others routines there. The beam is so nerve racking(at least for me, the parent)that I can understand the need to really remain focused and face away from the beam.

We only have four girls in my dd's level eight group, so perhaps the ringleman effect is not such a concern there. But there are aspects in group dynamics which can effect any group of athletes small or large, whether it is called the Ringleman effect or otherwise. In any sport you will find one or more individuals can detract from a team effort by affecting both individual performance and group performance. You may have a gymnast who has a bad attitude which affects the mood and performance of her teammates negatively. You may have another gymnast with little dedication to her sport who cheats at conditioning and doesn't give maximum effort in learning a new skill. Sometimes this attitude can be infectious and influence others to perform similarly. And you may have a grouchy coach who won't let his girls smile in the gym and find even a small pleasure in the 4 to 5 hours they practice each day. This can really affect their morale and kill any motivation to endure the long hours of training.
These and other variables can affect each athlete's performance and thereby affect the overall team effort. This is especially true in a sport where the athletes play together as a team. But it can also erode the spirit of each gymnast on the team who also competes as an individual athlete. From time to time, both the coach and athlete(s) should openly discuss these issues.

I also like coach Kristilyn 73's ideas on training;seems almost like a mini-private.

Scores matter, but the effort and hard work of the gymnast is more important, I think.

[lannamavity]

I don't know that the Ringleman Effect is so much something to avoid, as something to be aware of...and even use. The kids have to constantly be competing against eachother to some extent.

The number one rule to deal with it is NOT to become the gymnast's friend...and don't make life in the gym about anything more than gymnastics.

[Valentin]

Quote:
he number one rule to deal with it is NOT to become the gymnast's friend...and don't make life in the gym about anything more than gymnastics.

I dont know if this is so true..Personally i feel that you have to be friends with the gymnast, but you have to be a professional friend when at the gym. You and the gymnast are there to both do a job. The first and foremost responsibility of the coach is to teach i believe, but to do this the gymnast must trust you, and respect you. If they don't respect you then really its all in vain... and i think as a result most coaches turn to intimidation. The scare tactics are much easier, anyone can yell and scream and scare kids into doing what you want them to do, then to earn their respect and attention.
Have you ever seen a realllllly mean coach with adult gymnasts? i know i haven't, but i know for a fact many of the best gymnasts and coaches create strong ties with each other. Kyle Schewfelt is very close to his first coach for example (check out his blog if you want..very cool), so are the Hamm Twins, and many of Russian Gymnasts with Arkaev.