I’ve been pretty busy doing clinics here and there.  I have to say honestly, i have learned so much by working and speaking to different Coaches, Gymnasts & Gym owners !!!  It has been a very interesting stage in my involvement with Gymnastics.  Listening to their challenges, strengths and overall philosophies has been eye-opening.

I have walked into some Gym’s that have absolutely blown me away with their professionalism and will to improve themselves.

I have to point out how interesting it has been to watch and hear other Coaches teach and correct their athletes.  Definitely i have learned more in the last month than any other month in my career !!!!

i want to CONGRATULATE THE FIRST SUPERGIRL !!!!!!  You looked amazing !!!

-ET

In gymnastics it’s very common for us coaches to get a little impatient with our athletes when it comes to achieving skills.  Especially we feel this at the developmental levels and is not rare at high levels either.  When this happens our level of stress rises and so does the athlete, which usually carries it home.  Some parents start sensing and noticing this stress or “unhappiness”.  All of the sudden all three corners of the triangle are stressed out or involved in a tense situation.

I’ve always been on the opinion that in order to go fast in the development of a gymnast, we need to go SLOW.  Coaches need to make the athletes and parents understand that Gymnastics is a long term sport, especially if seeking to reach a high level of competition.  Strong basics and fundamentals are key to the success of any athlete in any sport.

The tap swings(on Uneven Bars) are a perfect example of something we need to take a LONG time on.  It doesn’t matter if a gymnast already has the correct body shape in the transfer between the hollow-arch-hollow….. it needs to be repeated many times so it can be strengthen and “recorded” in the brain.  This “recording” will be used infinite times during their careers on Uneven Bars.  So if the “recording” is weak or incorrect, then the gymnast automatically will recur to an incorrect or modified tap swing when learning giants, releases and especially when going into dismounts.

I lived an experience when I was an athlete that taught me a good lesson related to this topic.  One of my coaches made me do thousands of circles on the Pommel horse (without pommels)…walking it back and forth for a couple of years.  We did nothing  else.  The first two years after I learned a circle, thats all we did.  It really payed off, because when I was strong and technically ready, I learned most of the skills needed in less than a year !!!  It made a huge difference and I fell in love with Pommel horse.

We need to be very PATIENT and have clear communication with athletes and parents about the process of development and the importance of not rushing through.

No such thing as free time in my mind…….Decision, decisions, decisions !!

I am truly grateful for so many good people around……..it makes it easier to survive !

My step-daughter is trying to get into the school of performing arts in downtown Cincinnati (the one in MTV)….good luck !!  she is working so hard to prepare for audition this saturday, which reminds me a lot of what we try to teach as coaches.

Everything is about working hard and keeping your eyes on the goal.  Sometimes we get upset or anxious if one of our athletes is not moving forward or achieving what we intended.  Patience and organized systematic work is the key (at least in my mind)……im applying all these right now.

It is hard not being in the Gym !! …..good things to come.

ET

Yesterday (Jan 10) was my last competition together with the girls.  Even though some things didnt go according to plan, i was very happy with the outcome.  We ended on Bars and we had a couple of falls in the warm up.  Every single one of the girls showed how much character they have developed over the years by getting up and hitting their routines in competition….it was something i will not forget !!!

Well, this morning i started the “rest of my life”, closed a chapter and start a new one.  How it is going to be written??? …. that will be up to me now !!  EXCITING !!! …..  ive been cleaning bathrooms and dusting the house…

I have a couple of meetings lined up for this week……..

— i got some brownie-cookies from some of my gymnasts — they are DELICIOUS !!!!! Thank you.

ET

Im sure all of you (coaches) out there have been in the same exact situation im in.  Im leaving the Gym that has made me the person i am.  I love everyone i’ve worked with, the girls, the coaches, the parents and the Gym’s administration.  I only have the best to say about everyone that i have come in contact throughout the past 7 1/2 years.

It is very sad to leave but i know its the right decision.

Im really excited to keep Coaching….just not sure when, where and how……

I will start planning my next videos since i might have some time to do so.

Please keep supporting my DVDs !!!  THANK YOU TO ALL !!!!

Ill keep blogging and Twittering to let you all know my whereabouts.

ET

HI all, currently I am at “The Ranch”…surprisingly, it is SNOWING here !!!

Things are going pretty good.  My two athletes are doing good and we are getting some productive feedback.  It is also interesting to see all the other 68 kids.  It is such a nice experience as a Coach to see this young and talented athletes performing.  I love watching the different strengths and weaknesses of all.  It makes your brain get to work in many different way; ideas, thoughts of your own athletes and their weaknesses, how to improve certain things, what to do when back at the Gym, new programs, new conditioning, strengthening basics….etc… My brain is starting to get into overload of thoughts and information.

ET

The DVD Giveaway will be going on very soon !!!

Check it out !!!!…….subscribe to my channel and comment !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nunN6UE4xg8

ET

Im giving away a FREE copy of my favorite clinic “Creating Great Yurchenkos” !!!

Check for details at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nunN6UE4xg8

Good Luck !!

ET

Just came back from Forward Progress Camp (a Region 5 Training Camp).

This is a training camp where many gyms from Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Indiana come and train together.  Over 115 gymnasts took part in it, including 17 from our Gym.

We where close to Louisville, KY.  The facility was AWESOME…I love their set-up.  They have foam pit for every event which comes in very handy when introducing some new acrobatics.  I personally don’t like working into foam much, but it is good for acrobatic development off trampolines.

I was in charge of VAULT.  Getting straight to the point,  I LEARNED  A LOT !!!!!

Having all those Level 9 & 10’s do yurchenkos, Tsuks and Hands fronts really made me look a a lot of different weaknesses and strengths of many different types of kids.  On Friday we full Vaulted into foam and timers upu to resis.  On Saturday all I had them do was a bunch of different drills for the Round off’s and reaching back to the table faster.  Again, I think I learn the most, since I saw how those drills worked (or not) for different kids.  I hope that after this experience im able to help my own gymnasts better.

Now is time to look ahead to the next following weeks…..(Pre-Season)

-       Increasing Full sets

-       Getting full control and consistency of the new skills learned in the off season

-       TOP national Camp with 2 gymnasts

Elites are on the rise with their work….10 weeks away from first meet !!!

Im excited !!!

-ET

PS- Congrats to USA for Junior Panams !!!

Anyone out there has a good drill for twisting off the arms.  What i mean by this, is the take off (off the vault table) into the twisting (especially for Yurchenko Full)….i feel if i can find a good drill that would strengthen this part (not to twist early of the table), our Vaulter would be even better.  We have a good number of kids in our Team doing Yurchenko fulls (some are fantastic), and other need some help with the referred part.

Would love to hear from someone out there !!!  leave comment.

-ET