It's the pretend thought that counts

Heading over to 1st rotation with the competing 7s today, the bars area needed some geographical clean up.  There was a heavy floor beam that needed to be moved out of the way and I lifted and moved one end, setting it down back in the beam area; as I walked over to move the other end, I sensed Erin's movement toward it as well.  I headed her off at the pass, saying, "It's okay, Erin.  I have it.  Thanks for the thought, though."

Zoe, standing next to Erin as I walk by them, and having made no attempt to offer me assistance in moving the beam, quips thusly:  "I saw that you got it."

Level 7 bar routines from last week

Cara:

Zoe:

Erin:

Sam:

Tessa:

Scorpion Spring

Erin has a GREAT handspring vault.

 This was not one of those....

Erin Unleashed!

Tuesday, Erin made giant flyaways by herself:


Wednesday, she made two routines in a row (then it sorta went downhill from there- but we won't dwell on that!).

This was her first one:


I'm also excited about her potential on vault.

I've been experimenting with having the board in closer for all the girls, to encourage stronger blocking.  Erin has been having trouble hitting the board in the right spot; but when she does, and comes in at angle (I tell the girls to collide into the table and not skim across it), the result is something like this:


 (Good usage of the slo-mo effect, Cam!)

Obviously, her body shape is out of alignment and that kind of segmentation affects the block; also, in my personal, non-professional judge's critique, she scoops into a slight hollow instead of staying open and extended (with eyes spotting the table longer). I want her to make her body stretch as long as possible and not shorten off the table.  Straight body or stretched position- not hollow and not arched off the table.

Some coaches seem to want their gymnasts to hollow off the table.  But I think it short circuits the follow through on the block.

Kort plans to let Erin warm-up bars at this weekend's meet in Vegas and play it close to the vest.  If she's ready she's ready; if she's not, she's not.  Safety is the number one concern and if she looks safe, she'll probably compete all 4 events.

Good luck this weekend, Erin!

Hardest Workers of the Week

For Level 9/10s

For competing 7/8s and new 7s

Kort's new motivation:  Picking the hardest worker on each rotation for each of the optional groups, every day.  Then whichever gymnasts in each group has the most nominations wins a prize at the end of the week.

This is the 2nd week.  "Hardest worker" might be a misnomer, because part of Kort's criteria is noticeable results and improvements; not just who is busting her butt, working hard.

Erin's New Rollercoaster Ride: Giants & Flyaways

I've known Erin for much of her gymnastics career but have not had the opportunity to really work with her much since we came to BGS.  When she first started doing her round-off backhandsprings by herself back in March of 2009, she described the sensation to her mom as "[It] felt good, like a rollercoaster ride."  I'm hoping she gets the same thrill and sensation when it comes to giants and flyaways.

Looks like I'll be working with her more often now that she is training to pass out of 6 and onto level 7.  She's already been having her floor choreographed by Coach Amy.

Today's workshop: