Shaking out the wiggles

Even as a young kid, it didn’t escape me how the small group of boy gymnasts, some younger than me, were chiseled like little Hercules. It wasn’t exactly a sport boys were lining up to do. Football, baseball, wrestling – those were boy sports. Gymnastics, like ballet, was a girlie sport. At least in my young eyes.

But then I saw the Turning Point. And the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. And I gained a deep respect for men who had the strength and grace to engage in sports usually reserved for girls.

That’s one of many reasons I enrolled my son in gymnastics. He’s the only boy in his class, but next year he’ll be old enough to take the all-boy class. He loves it, but best of all, he comes home exhausted. And it’s nice to see my darling son sit still once in a while.

Post from: Blisstree

Gymnastics – Not Just a Girls’ Sport

More than their performances, I couldn’t help notice the great things that were happening to these girls as they interacted as a team.

One little gymnast came up to me before the meet and told me she brought little baggies of grapes for each of her teammates, and could she hand them out. Of course I said yes! After she gave each teammate a bag of grapes, she brought one to me. On the baggie she had written “Good Luck Grapes” – how cool is that?

Another gymnast told me she had brought a treat for the team and could she hand them out after the competition? Again, I was really amazed at how this group thinks of themselves as a group, not individuals.

It was fun to see them cheering for each other, consoling each other, giggling in line and generally being little girls – who oh by the way, just so happened to be tough as nails, hard working little gymnasts, too!

After the competition, the parents invited my daughter and me to join them for dinner at a local restaurant. About 15 families all converged on RedRobin (who were fantastic in handling us!) and continued the team building. All the girls sat at one table – so they could be silly, talk, and have their Mario Kart DS races (imagine 15 little girls all at one table with Nintendo DS games going – too funny!).

There was no negativity or comparisons – just a lot of positive energy, fun and a true sense of team!

I truly believe that youth sports can be such a great thing for kids – and their families. Especially when everyone involved keeps things in perspective and positive.

Post from: Blisstree

Team Sports Can Be Positive!

One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching, in my opinion, is watching these girls go from being recreational class students to “real” gymnasts in a year. They grow so much physically, mentally and in self confidence the first year that they compete. It is such a cool transformation to be a part of.

For many of the girls, this will be like a graduation ceremony of sorts as they move up to the next level after this competition. I always look at it with a tinge of sadness as I will no longer coach them. But there is always the excitement of what my next group will hold.

Here are just a few things that the girls learn the first year:

• Gymnastics is hard work
• But hard work leads to success and that is fun.
• Everyone makes mistakes
• But that is okay, because we were not born perfect.
• Sometimes you have to fall down in order to progress forward
• And you may have to fall down a lot.
• Success is more fun when you have team mates to share the experience with.
• Muscles are cool – especially when it comes to fitness testing at school and you beat all the boys in your class at chin ups.
• The more you perform, the easier it gets.

So wish us luck as we venture off to my favorite weekend of the year!

PS – Yes, that is my daughter in the photo. She is competing this weekend, too. It is a bittersweet weekend for me as this will be the last competition I coach her in. (But that is a post of its own one day)

Post from: Blisstree

Off to the State Meet