Over the latter part of the current cycle i have both listened to discussions and read articles about how the code of points has created a stage for hard, dangerous gymnastics. And, as a result, have seen many injuries to both domestic and world class athletes.
Although i tend to agree in the main i cannot help but worry about who’s error it really is. Last year a very wise coach said something to me that in an instant changed the way i coach gymnastics. He was watching one of my gymnasts perform a longswing full turn on parallel bars and he made the same mistake several times in a row. On turning to this coach i asked him to advise me on what to do as he had been making this mistake quite a lot during the skill. He looked at me and said that every mistake that my gymnast makes is MY MISTAKE. By that he meant that if my gymnast makes a technical mistake then it is because i haven’t done something right in his preparation. I now take every error personally and try very hard to prevent and correct them in my coaching rather than blaming the gymnast. If the skill is not 99.9% ready then it is not even contemplated in his routine.
Taking this theory in to account i cannot help but wonder as to whether all of these injuries are partly the error of the coach pushing the gymnast too far and too hard just to achieve (on paper) a great ‘D’ score. Would it really be unproductive to take an extra swing, lose a tenth in connection bonus or stick to a vault that is 99.9% consistent. How many ACL and Achilles injuries have we seen pushing for that extra somersault or 1/2 turn. Especially in the older juniors or younger seniors. For me the coach should be strong enough to say no to the system and do what is best for the long term development of the gymnast.
I understand that gymnasts get injured and accidents happen but surely clever coaching and preventative physio exercises will reduce the amount of injuries next cycle. Id rather see my gymnast have a 0.6 lower D score over a competition but compete injury free for the whole of their career than have a huge D score an injury themselves. The bonus and extra turns will be achieved when the gymnast is I) ready II) prepared enough. Just because a gymnast is classed as a senior gymnast on paper and in competition does not mean to say that they have a senior body performing the skill. This is something we need to remember.
Any thoughts?????
“He looked at me and said that every mistake that my gymnast makes is MY MISTAKE.”
This should be posted in every gym and repeated in every lecture about gymnastics. Or rather in any place where people are taught or trained.
Very true. And well put.
Couldn’t agree more and this statement fills me with confidence and back ups my own beliefs that “to go fast we must go slow”
Many times I have wondered whether the time spent trying to produce perfect basic skills is worth it….and whether I should sacrifice some of the time spent on basics to push harder and achieve new skills.
Of course there should be a balance depending on what training phase you are at with your gymnasts ie competition phase – perfection of routines or out of competition phase – skill learning.
I find it difficult to get this balance right sometimes as when I see a skill (basic) not being performed correctly or to the standard I expect then I insist that that particular gymnast spends most of their time correcting/improving there basics. (the one that immediately springs to mind with my gymnasts is a basic swing on pbars)
It’s frustrating at times having to watch gymnasts doing basic work and obviously can get very boring for them also but ultimately, without a good standard of basics these gymnasts will struggle to progress long term or successfully perform any particular skill in their future routines.
I always ask my gymnasts…… “if this building, the gym we train in didn’t have foundations in the ground would it be able to stand up as it does now?”
They can directly link this to their own gymnastics and understand that without solid basics to back them up how are they expected to compete cleanly and solidly in competitions or not injure themselves on skills they are competing/performing.
A frustrating dilemma at times as a coach but it is definitely acceptable and coaches should never be afraid to “take 1 step back to take 2 steps forward”
Hi
In principle I agree with