T
TeamDad
Does your gym have coaches that are always leaning against walls, columns/stacked mats or sitting during practice?
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My dd used to go to a gym where the coaches did this. They rarely ever got up off of their seats, and only did so when spotting was necessary. I didn't like it, but dd was happy there, so I didn't complain.
Later, when we moved to a more successful, competitive gym, things were very different. The coaches never sat down, in fact I beleive there was a gym rule to that effect. Needless to say, dd loved the coaching at that gym, and she did very well there.
I think if they want the girls to work hard, the coaches should be equally dedicated and working hard at their coaching, which means they stand near the gymnasts and are engaged in the workout. I think this shows respect for everyone at the gym.
Are you having a prob w/ lazy coaches at your dd's gym?
Well, I don't think anyone should be sitting intensively during practice. It seems like I need to spot constantly anyway. But sometimes I might sit if they're doing some sort of timer thing and I'm trying to watch from further back to see what's up rather than step in. We have stuff all over the floor, it's not always an ideal set up, so it happens. Or if there's conditioning and there's not a good place to stand. You definitely shouldn't always be sitting, although on the other hand I'm not sure I'd even notice leaning against walls or stacked mats or something, unless it meant they were never spotting or coaching. Especially at the optional level where more independent basics were done, my group was usually split in two among track/floor and the coaches would kind of stay in the middle, spot as needed, and be watching two stations. It was pretty effective and not a problem I'd say.
With lower levels at this point in the year there's honestly very little I don't step in for that's an "on level" or "higher level" skill for that level. Many of them just don't have the consistent shaping or basics yet for me to stand back. With bars, when they first start swinging. However, I often spot handsprings (front/back, well drills anyway) from my knees and might sit back in between kids or while giving an instruction, so I suppose that could be interpreted as sitting constantly through the rotation from the viewing area. If we're on low beams, for instance, I'm probably sitting in some way, whether spotting or not. I'm not really concerned about that. If a parent has a problem with the program, they should speak to the director who can evaluate whether the workout is being structured effectively or not.
My dd's coach last year went one step further. He not only would sit during some practices but would also answer e-mails and text on his blackberry. Thankfully, she doesn't have him anymore. Her coaches now never sit.
For example, something as simple as back foot in line with the beam on a cartwheel (a L4 skill) was causing her to crash on her L7 beam dismount because her back foot was turned out and her hips rotated was going un-corrected. Crashing on the dismount can lead to fear issues....etc. Needless to say, this was overlooked by a leaning coach and corrected by a coach at a gym with a no leaning or sitting policy.
sometimes we sit and observe. sometimes not. you must have a problem paying for someone sitting?
and by the way, how successful your gymnasts are has nothing to do with how often we sit.
only what comes out of our mouths via our brains...not our feet.