Curriculum & Lesson Planning with Smart Moves with Jeff Lulla

Clinic description:

Published on Nov 17, 2014

This is the same live presentation Jeff Lulla has delivered at the USA Gymnastics Regional and National Congresses, Gymnastics Ontario Congress, Alberta Gymnastics Congress and at the GymCon Conference in 2014.
Here, at a staff workshop hosted by Fun & Fit Gymnastics, with club owners and staff invited from other Southern California gymnastic clubs, Jeff explains the importance of using a progressive curriculum and creative lesson plans built online with the Smart Moves teaching system to make classes fun, safe and exciting.

Region 3 Congress- Yurchenko vaults with Steve Arkell

Region 1 Congress, San Jose August 21-23

Justin Howell's lecture on Round-offs, last session on Saturday- filled up to standing room only capacity.

It's been quite a while since I've been to a Regional Congress. Long overdue for me. The last time might have been back in the SMGC days, when I was not interested in being a team coach. Speaking of which, I had lunch with a former co-worker; and also ran into these former SMGC students, now coaches:

 Rachel is now at the gym Lilly was at before she moved to Chicago.  Angie had a brief opportunity to work with Eddie Umphrey before Eddie gave up his head coach position to be with his fiancee at Airborne.

Speaking of Umphrey, I brought my cohorts over to Chainey's house for some dinner to meet the new addition.

 Prior to seeing them, I asked Chainey if he'd been working out.  He says he runs about "3 blocks" (direct quote) and does some push-ups.  That's about it.  So this is what he looks like as of yesterday:

 I used to get into arguments with people all the time back in college- people who were adamant in their belief that Chainey was taking steroids; or that he must lift weights.  Nope.  None of that.  The only weight he lifted was his own body.  Nor did he do a lot of extra strength training- mostly routines.   He's just a genetic freak of nature. 


I did a lot of videoing, in part to bring back and share with the staff back at home base.  Not sure how much I will share on YouTube and this blog.

My co-workers did not bring their video cameras; but I shared my digital camera (the Casio that can also film in slo-mo and back to normal speed all in one shot) and my iPhone 4 while I used my iPhone 5 (64 gb).  2 extra battery packs.  After each lecture, I'd have 45 minutes to dump the memory into my laptop and would recharge while filming the next lecture.


What kind of perplexes me is how many coaches- even if fairly new- seem unaware of so many drills and concepts that seem easily acquired through the internet.  I guess some coaches don't waste as much time as I do on YouTube; or run detective searches through blogs and social media for content.

I was disappointed that Neil Resnick was not present yesterday for his lectures. 

Everyone has something to offer, though; and I enjoy listening to anyone express their thoughts and views and share their ideas about anything related to gymnastics. 

Bar Basics with Tom Stevens

Swing Big links to a bars clinic by Tom Stevens:

Technique for connected front tumbling

Team Future Camp in Australia

Team Work Makes the Dream Work- Region 5 Training Camps

Structuring rec like team

Looks like part of a power points presentation:

Progression for Building a Strong Back Handspring

I like that Travis Rainer uses the octagon in such a way as to not allow the gymnast to simply be draped over it, in an arch.  One reason why I used to prefer the pac-man over the octagon was because it forced the gymnast to squeeze the butt and have an active shape change and active muscles in order to get it to move- not just sagging like a limp rag, coasting along like a passenger for the ride rather than being the driver.

My current preference these days, as far as unassisted, spotting devices is to use a simple spotting block to slide off of.  I might post a clip to better illustrate what I mean.  I'm probably the only one in the world who is doing it (and I swear, it's not because I'm crazy.  I only came up with it recently and think the results will validate and lend credibility, although it's only a drill with a specific purpose; and it alone isn't enough to acquire a backhandspring.  It is also technique-specific).

I also like Rainer's emphasis on the snap off the hands happening through the chest and shoulders and not piking in the hips.

Clinic with Dutch Coach Patrick Kiens

Handstand Clinic with Sebastian Melander

Hanging and Tapping

Great bar clinic by Nick Blanton at Louisiana Training Camp earlier this year:

IDP Clinic Bar Workshop (Progression to Full Out)

Turn and Push

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 17

This is the last part (Post-clinic, really):

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 16

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 15

Hmmm....no Pt. 14 either.  I wonder if at the time it was too long of a clip to upload; or if it was just a worthless short clip that detailed nothing.

Any-who....

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 13

Supplement what Wade advocates in this clinic with what Dr. Eldridge recently lectured on in regards to the knees together on landings. 

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 12

Vaulting Basics: Pt. 11