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.

Circling & Kip Trainers/Spotters

Of course, hand-spotting for shape-corrections and manipulating positioning is often desirable.  But trainer/spotting devices also have their uses.


Primitive method of a front and back circle trainer:

Another variation by Peter Soul of Integrity Gymnastics in Ohio.

I filmed this one at Aerials Gymnastics during the Bar Boot Camp clinic.  This was welded together by Tom Forster:

The divider placement between the legs is a great idea.


Some clips of the last year taken at my current gym of various aids:

Now here's what I'm excited about that inspired me to piece together this blogpost:

Credit is given to Alison Fowler of Wildcard Gymnastics for the idea of replacing the old school rope method with the ever-versatile theraband.

A couple of things I am liking about this:

1)  The theraband is probably less abrasive on the skin than unpadded rope

2)  Being elastic, the beginning gymnast cannot totally slack off, but must still work her muscles to hold her body to the bar, or she will fall away from it.

3) Even if the beginning gymnast completely lacks in physical strength- or especially if she does- she must exercise her arm strength to get back into front support; those more advanced can work on shape and technique.  There's value in no-cast backhip circles- driving the shoulders back rather than the head.

I haven't tested it out yet, but I'll do so tomorrow:  Seeing whether or not having the level 3s cast into hollow shape with the theraband wrapped on helps to condition them  with proper resistance (the restriction the theraband places  on cast height isn't that critical since there isn't a cast height requirement at level 3- just shape).

I have one pre-team kid who is just so physically weak but who so wants to become a gymnast- I think the theraband circle trainer was a great aid to her.  She was kept on the bar for a longer spell than she's used to, got to experience some circling, and had a great upper-body workout just to stay on or get back on.  Meanwhile, my arms were not killing me.  For those like her, I'm not worried about bad shaping and muscle-memory habits by allowing them to play with this.  She needs the general fitness, first and foremost; and the sense of fun and accomplishment.


Some example of kip trainers on the market:
Hip Kip Trainer
The New Kip Trainer Video

Structuring rec like team

Looks like part of a power points presentation:

Gymnastics = Play

Sometimes when I'm working with team developmental, I have to take a deep breath and muster patience.  I have to remind myself that in the midst of trying to build discipline and cultivate a certain kind of mindset, I don't want to kill the spirit of joy and freedom of self-expression in them.  Play in itself should always remain a vital component of movement exploration.

Hat tip:  JAG

I tried to teach my child with books.

He gave me only puzzled looks.

I tried to teach my child with words.

They passed him by often unheard.

Despairingly I turned aside.

“How shall I teach my child?” I cried.

Into my hand he put the key.

“Come,” he said, “play with me.”

(A verse by an unknown author at the entrance of the Louisiana Children’s Museum in New Orleans)

Play doesn't end with the end of childhood.  Play never stops.  Just look at some of the clowning around that takes place in collegiate gymnasiums all across the country.

What did one bean say to the other bean?