5 Affirmations for Gymnasts (that are actually effective!)

“Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!” Here’s a confession: I think affirmations are kind of silly. Sure you can get yourself pumped up by repeating phrases about how great you are or how awesome you day is going to be. And maybe that will provide just enough activation energy to get you to […]

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Becoming a Gymnastics CEO: Chief Encouragement Officer

My friend Tony Restori is a smart guy.  Also, not a bad dancer.  But that’s another story. Tony’s company  Gym Momentum features Tony as a speaker, hosts amazing camps and is where you can read his wise blog. This morning, his blog “Become a Great CEO in the Gym” was one that I immediately forwarded to […]

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25 Hard Things Gymnasts Need to Do

  Stop making excuses. Be accountable for your own behavior. Listen, really listen, to coaches’ corrections. Don’t let teammates take your focus. Do the entire assignment. With maximum execution. Show up and work hard, even when you don’t feel like it. Admit when you don’t understand. Be comfortable with not knowing. Keep going when you […]

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12 Ways to Keep Gymnastics Fun for Your Child

The number one reason kids quit sports: it was no longer fun. Of course, some of sports no longer being fun is natural. Children’s passions and interests change over time. What a child enjoyed at 7 may not appeal at 11. And, as a sport gets more difficult or time consuming, a child may discover […]

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Lucky Gymnasts

Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it.” I totally agree. It’s also been said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. For sure. But luck is also a state of mind.  It’s the gratitude that you have for […]

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Is It Worth It?

Is it worth it? This is a question that comes to mind in many parents and athletes. It’s a valid question. Essentially it is a re-evaluation of goals and actions. It’s normal, even a good idea, to re-evaluate your goals in gymnastics. Including the goal to continue for another season.   Re-evaluating our goals allows us […]

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What Makes a Master Coach?

Photo: Laura Stone / Shutterstock.com In the education community, they use the concept of the master teacher to differentiate someone who has mastered the fundamentals of teaching, going above and beyond to provide an exemplary environment for their students and who are capable to teach other teachers how to perform at higher levels. Master teachers […]

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17 Signs You Were A Gymnast as a Kid

As we head into the Olympic year, those who did gymnastics in their childhood get especially giddy and sentimental of their youth spent in a leotard, elbow deep in chalk while dreaming of being the next Olga, Nadia, Mary Lou, Shannon, Carly, Nastia or Shawn. In addition to the discipline and host of wonderful life […]

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15 Ways to Motivate Your Athletes (Backed by Science)

“She’s just not motivated…” “He could be so good if he was just motivated…” “I can’t motivate her to work…” These are sentiments that I know many (if not all) coaches come up against at some point in their career: the unmotivated athlete. Too often, when a gymnast lacks motivation, the first solution the adults […]

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