21/07/2018
This comes from an interesting and continuing discussion about USAG, changes, other organisations available for all types and levels of competition. Just thought it was worth sharing,
Like I’ve told many people upon returning to coach in this country, I saw a few countries where there were different ways, organisations and levels to compete in. It doesn’t mean you hate the countries overriding organisation, but not all clubs are aimed at the same goals, ie Olympic, world, glory. Fact is the more ways and organisations there are to keep kids, teens in the sport where they can stay active, enjoy the sport for recreation or compete in a fun friendly environment, the better off we all are. For instance in the UK , as I’ve said many times, there are kids who do 1 to 3-4 different types of competitions for different reasons. One is of course, through the governing body but those same kids can also compete through a grading system, a fun motivational competition that is more relaxed, another one that is geared towards those who don’t excel in bars or beam called vault and floor teams, and too many others to mention. At the time I left, there were talks and discussions about some of the Olympic and national members not happy with BG and they eventually started a different organisation where they could still compete but were no longer under certain umbrellas that they disagreed with. There is/ was a lot to be learned in the BG, UK, SYSTEM that I thought USAG would do good to adopt, not knowing some things were already starting to come into place. One for instance was the coaches certification process. When I left USAG, there was no such thing, any old John or Jane Doe could coach, but there, you have to do comprehensive study in all areas of coaching including safety, spotting, ethics, philosophy, psychology, etc... and I’m glad to see the University program now available for USAG. The problem I can see with that though, is, that anyone can still come in and coach at any gym. In the UK, You CANNOT EVEN BE ON THE FLOOR TILL YOU HAVE BEEN VETTED BY EXTENSIVE DBS, ( background check) then you can only coach if you have passed one of 2 options, you are studying for the level 1 test and are shadowing or volunteering help with little ones to one day soon take it, and if you have taken it. Next , you may only put “ hands on” and spot certain levels if you have passed level 2 or are working through another coach ranked higher than you to learn verbal cues, hand placement, drills etc, then it gets tough, to coach the next level which is basically anyone involved with working higher level kids, competing towards higher level gymnastics. At that level, it’s a 3 part, intensive test, done over a long period, not just attending a clas or hands on or lecture. It’s literally 3 different tests working on 3 different areas of coaching. The next step afterwards is just as tough but not only do you have to have been coaching and having shown excellence in what you do but your gymnasts as well because you must bring a kid with you that you have taught, coached, spotted etc and after the usual testing, lectures etc you must have you kiddos perform 2-3 of 5 skills at each event, ( high level skills at a national level) and you don’t know which ones will be drawn, but you have to show and tell how you drill, lead up to , spot and assist the skill and then the gymnast does all that as you explain, then shows the final product. AT ALL EVENTS! So it’s not just enough saying you’ve coached this level and that, as they say, the proof is in the pudding, relying on what and how you’ve trained them, they are part of your testing. So all the mental, physical, emotional,blah blah blah.... that you have had to learn back in the earlier levels is seen first hand in the performance of that kid. That level also allows you to have National ranking, accreditation to train and compete girls for that level. The highest level is 5, after the 4th one I just mentioned. When I arrived it was still available for anyone who had passed 4, but now it’s invitation only. It’s International accreditation and there are many factors to be able to do it but I saw one flaw with it. Some of the “old foggies “ who had been around a long time who were at some point, National or International level before some of the more recent updates kept their level, not having to show anything like continuing education, new skills, spotting, techniques etc so some, not all, were still back I. The old days where things were trained and taught differently and are now changed in lieu of injury prevention and dangers to the body by overstressing, or pushing certain physiological and kinesiological aspects of a skill and body in the wrong direction as has been proven to cause long term effects to the body. I know I went off on a tangent as I sometimes do, lol, but I don’t get a chance to say all the things I’d like to often because I’m so busy nowadays, im lucky to hit a few topics on fb. This one happened to bring out some of the things I had been discussing before I decided to coach in the USA again with people like Derek May, Doug Hagenow, don McPherson, oh gosh so many I can’t remember but some said I should share a lot of this with USAG. I really never did, unfortunately, pursue it bc everything happened so fast and a month long trip to consult at a gym, a few trips and meetings about different gyms and what areas they could improve on and many job offers, it just seemed pointless as I am again a nobody in usag, the grandfathering in had lapsed and I am now starting over from scratch with these tests and courses that are now in place as I work my way back up to this “status, or accreditation “ for coaching things I’ve been doing since the early ‘90’s. I was taking a much needed hiatus from the world of gymnastics in Italy after experiencing some awful things first hand ( somewhere);) and as I was, I kept seeing the updates on Nasser and getting texts from old teammates and friends who were finally coming forward and I felt a sense of relief at that and a sense of dread for the system. Would it fail, would the world look upon the USA differently? What would happen. I had not intended to move back to the USA, I only came bc of a family crisis and death. And while there I saw and heard things starting to change. Everywhere, in many aspects of the old system. I learned many lessons in my years abroad, especially after I went into remission from cancer and being away from the sport and coming back to it, and the changes in many areas, but the things I learned have opened my eyes to the real prize we should all be focused on. The gymnast. The kid who loves to flip cause it’s fun, the joy in doing this sport. That said, I agree there should be other avenues open for many different reasons, affiliations, goals, and what they, the gymnast, can do and still enjoy what they are doing. Not the gold medal waiting around for 1 in a million shot every 4 years, or the pressure of having the country depending on you to bring it home. Wish we could rewind back to the days when it wasn’t expected, but a delight to achieve it. Btw, this is in no way an opportunity to “advance “these other avenues of competing, as this article started with. AAU, USAIGC, and many others have been around for a longggg time. But some clubs or gyms only think there is one way to fame and glory, through the USAG AND USOC! What a load of 💩! My personal experience, other countries aside, has been that my “fame and glory”came from not how many level 9’s and 10’s Or elites, TOPS, I had trained but from how they turned out in later in life. As adults. Remember, these kids grow up and what lessons did you teach them? To win at all costs? To push through an injury bc they HAVE to get that medal, score, glory for them? Or you? To shut up and put up, keep quiet about things that they shouldn’t bc of the possible repercussions they would experience? And what lessons did they learn through you having you as a coach? Remembering how kids learn a lot about the world they live in by the examples set before them by the adults they have entrusted their all to, did they learn bullying, yelling and screaming and throwing fits and equipment bc something didn’t go their way. Or maybe they learned disrespect bc you didn’t agree with, say a score, and bad mouthed the judges, or another team and maybe even another gymnast. Once they leave your gym and gymnastics behind as THEY ALL WILL ONE DAY, what do you want them to remember and learn from as they enter adulthood? Point is, there are many ways to achieve success and many options available to do this. So why not promote other avenues or organisations where they can. I think USAG seems to be on the right track and will come back stronger than ever but it’s not for everyone. And it’s definitely not perfect but no organisation is. There are flaws in every organisation and as one article I believe was mentioned here about people jumping ship from USAG to other organisations thinking that it’s better, safer, etc. Well at least USAG is making changes, in every aspect. In conclusion, do what’s best for your gymnast and club. That can include doing more than 1 type of organisation and competitive platforms, but the number one goal is keeping our kids safe, happy and doing this sport because it’s fun, isn’t that why they walked in the door to begin with.
