#LifeLesson, a Parent’s Perspective

A couple weeks ago, JAG’s USAG compulsory level gymnasts competed in their State Championship. One of our Level 4 gymnasts, Madi, who placed first in the All-Around at Sectionals, had a very good chance at winning the All-Around at State. Pretty exciting stuff when you are 10 years old. But also for her family, her […]

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From “Grrr…” to “Grateful”

Each Thanksgiving is a time to stop and reflect on all of the people, things and opportunities we have in our lives for which we are grateful. But gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s also an attitude, an approach to how we think about what life hands us. Gratitude is all a matter of […]

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13 “Flip”pant Responses To Annoying Things Non-Gymnastics Parents Say

Because sometimes I know I wish I’d have thought to come back with comments like these when people would say annoying things to me about my kids’ participation in gymnastics, I share them with you.   Yes, sometimes it is better to take the high road. Heading into the holidays, some of these might come […]

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Gymnasts Salute: 16 Ways Being a Gymnast Made You a Successful Adult

  Someday she will perform her final cartwheel, back tuck or giant swing. There will be no more achievement ribbons to earn, compulsories or optional routines. No coaches wrangling kids into classes, and no judges in blue handing out scores. And the leotards will be tucked into storage or passed on to former team members. […]

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Nine Myths About Recreational Gymnastics Busted!

My child isn’t very coordinated so she should not do gymnastics. (You could also substitute strong or flexible for coordinated.) All the more reason your child should do gymnastics! Gymnastics works on those fundamental gross motor skills that all children need to develop to become physically fit. If my child isn’t going to be on […]

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Beyond Good Job and Nice: Better Ways to Positively Praise Your Athletes

I hate the compliment “good job!” The only one I might cause greater animosity is “nice!” No, I am not a scrooge (at least I hope I’m not). Though guilty of uttering these overused encouragements myself, I dislike them because they are vague and lazy. . They are the equivalent of the observational coaching that […]

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10 Tips for When Your Child Says “My Coach Hates Me!”

I knew something was wrong the second she walked out of the gym. The slumped shoulders and glum face told me that workout hadn’t gone well. The car door had barely opened when my daughter began sobbing, “Tom (not his real name) hates me!”  (Door slams.) If your child stays in sports long enough, the chances […]

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The Key to Having a Happy Relationship with Your Coach, Athlete or Parent

I once came across this quote: “Happy relationships depend not on finding the right person, but on being the right person.” And I immediately though how true this is for our relationships in the gym. If you are a parent, it is easy to point to flaws in the gym.  First because they exist.  Second […]

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The Hero Coach

Earlier this week, I wrote how gymnastics coaches are like superheroes–people with powers far beyond the range of normal human ability, who use these powers to protect the innocent and for the general good. Forget “like”–there are gymnastics coaches that ARE superheroes. This beautifully composed essay reflects on a gymnast named Emily’s first coach’s influence […]

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8 Ways a Gymnastics Coach is Like a Superhero

A superhero is a being with extraordinary physical or mental powers, far beyond the range of normal human ability, who uses these powers to protect the innocent and for the general good. Sounds like a gymnastics coach to me. So here are 8 ways a gymnastics coach is like a superhero: Superpower: Omni-linguist The ability to […]

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