My Hero Gabby

As coaches and club owners (and even team parents), it’s easy to become attached to kids who are not our own children.  In fact, despite having four children of my own, I constantly refer to JAG gymnasts as “one of my kids…” when talking to friends which is super confusing to others who don’t teach […]

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The Big Picture: The Perfect 10

   In gymnastics, the score of perfection once was a 10. When thinking about how to react to a problem or make a decision, that number 10 is incredibly useful. Television commentator and business journalist Suzy Welch, whose writings are carried in Oprah magazine and The Wall Street Journal, describes the method of 10/10/10 in […]

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A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Things That A Gymnast Needs From Her Coach

  She needs you to be happy to see her.   Nothing starts a workout better than a coach who enthusiastically greets their athletes. She needs you to show her she is more important than her performance. That means being kind to and speaking to her after a meet no matter the outcome. She needs you […]

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The Power of Yet

“I’m not good at this…” “I’m not good at this…yet.” It’s amazing how that small three-letter word—yet—changes the entire meaning and direction of the sentence. When we say we are not good at something, ending the comment there, we commit to a limiting belief and a fixed mindset telling ourselves that the trait is beyond […]

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7 Keys to Understanding Motivation in Your Young Athlete

“I just don’t know how to motivate her…” It’s a common lament of parents and coaches. The child who just seems to lack the joie de verve toward an activity, and yes, sometimes that activity could be gymnastics. Before concluding that an apparent lack of motivation means you as the parent or coach is doing […]

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10 Reasons Why I Love Aimee Boorman

She understands what an incredible sport gymnastics is for all kids.   Aimee says, “I love watching kids grow. Gymnastics is more about life than just being a sport.  It teaches you about respect, dedication, time management, drive…I could go on and on.” She puts the child before the gymnast. According to the The Los Angeles Times Aimee […]

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8 Lessons Gym Parents Can Learn from the Parents of the Final Five

Remember: fun is essential. What was the tweet Nellie Biles sent her daughter Simone just before she began her first day of competition? It was this: “Long terms goal is here/embrace the experience and have fun. I love you – Mom.”  Give her household responsibilities. Think Olympians are exempt from doing their part around the […]

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Four Awesome Moments from Olympic Team Prelims You Might Have Missed

With the U.S. Men’s Team exceeding expectations and the U.S. Women’s team proving that they are light years ahead of the competition, there was so much incredible gymnastics happening that the little moments can go unnoticed. The supportive parent: The proud coach: The good friends: The unity of being together.     Because in the […]

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Folklore and Feelings

  I came across this startling statistic: Humans can think of 60,000 stories and feel 300,000 emotions every day. With all of that folklore and feelings bombarding us, it’s a wonder we get anything done! Yet when we understand that we think of so many stories and encounter so many emotions in the course of […]

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Here’s To the Girls Not In Rio!

Gymnastics is not traditionally thought of as a team sport. Though those who train gymnasts, especially at the competitive level, understand that great teammates are the secret sauce that makes the journey of a gymnast a little smoother and a lot more fun. At the end of the week the Olympics kick off.  Five women […]

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