The care and training of a young gymnast

I wish I had started this blog a while back. At that time I had no clue my youngest daughter would have the drive to be a gymnast. I just knew I couldn't contain her energy and needed an outlet for it's release. Hopefully this blog will be helpful to others that have a kid interested in gymnastics.

As I am a single disabled parent, money's been tight and this sport is not cheap. The commitment of financial resources, time and energy for the parent can be as demanding as the physical demands placed on the athelete.

This blog is created for all the unsung heroes behind that future medalist, the parent.



Showing posts with label TIGAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TIGAR. Show all posts

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Secret US Classic 2012 - 5th grade continuation


Today's the day for the US Secret Classic.  Polina Shchennikova of TIGAR competed today as a Junior.  She placed 2nd on bars with a 14.4,  and finished 9th overall.  Not bad, Polina!  Here's her Uneven Bars Routine (courtesy of USA Gymnastics):



Simone Biles scored a 16.05 on the vault (Wow) and won the All Around with a score of 58.15. Here's that FABULOUS vault (courtesy of USA Gymnastics):



Polina's little sister Alyona  placed 1st on bars during the HOPES Compulsory Session at the Secret Classic. 

This evening the Senior Elite girls competed for a shot to the VISA Classic.  It was also Nastia Liukin's debut back to the sport and it was a great comeback  (courtesy of Universal Sports)



Meanwhile, Emily graduated from Elementary School on Thursday and here's the video (courtesy Aunt Jean McCawley):



Emily spent the night at her best friend Megan's house so that she could kick back and relax.  It's been alot of work in the gym lately and she really needs this break.  We're off of the gym schedule for the entire week.  I don't think I'll know what to do with myself.  I just might get my car cleaned out and my house clean for once!

While at Gymnastika yesterday, more future x-TIGARS are coming to see what Gay has to offer.  I don't know exactly what's happening over there, but obviously it was a bad business move on TIGAR's part.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Saluting all Gym Moms...

Proctor and Gamble decided to make this series of videos, to acknowledge what we as moms go through daily to support our childrens' dreams and aspirations...

I just love this line from the below video "Olympians -  they weren't born that way, they're raised that way..."




For all of those naysayers that would like to believe that what we are doing, as the mother of a dedicated child in any disclipline is living vicariously through their child...

lets not forget ...the late night hand washing of the exhibition uniforms, the waking of the athlete, preparation of the morning meal, the early morning hair braiding, stocking the snack bag with healthy food to get her through another grueling practice... the checking of the school homework... the endless daily driving... to the gym, to the school, to the gym, back to home... and before transporting to each destination, making sure to prepare a healthy "in-transit" meal, carrying their exhausted body out of the car to bed at the end of a grueling day and asking your little champion after every practice "Did you have fun today?"




So to clarify - we as mothers dedicate ourselves to our children, fear for their safety, we are there to shore them up when they feel defeated, pray to God that we have the strength to continue in their quest whatever it may be, and cry with relief and pride that we are privileged to witness their shining moments ... no matter what path we end up being dragged down by our future medalist.  As mothers we will continue to do so as long as we live and breathe. We love them and are in awe of their accomplishments, drive and dedication.

Here's a great article  The Role of the Gymnastic Parent

Here's another great article http://voices.yahoo.com/what-takes-gymnastics-parent-537025.html

Saturday, November 26, 2011

15 Days Until State Championships

Well, Emily has another tough private today.  I know she's motivated, but she's really just frustrated.  I can't say as I blame her - I should have stepped in mid season and said something - but I really don't know that much about this sport. 

Emily is having trouble getting her kip back - and this is really not a good thing heading towards State.  The root cause?  My thought is she is not being properly conditioned to perform the bar and vault routines.  Svetlana and I realized yesterday that Emily can no longer perform one decent press handstand. Could it be that Emily grew and lost her center of gravity?  Sure, but had she been instructed to be more rigorous in her upper body strengthening, she would have easily overcome that growth spurt.  Emily has lost alot of her upper body strength.  Last night I put in a request to change her bar and vault coach for next season.  I am not sure it can be accomplished, but I'll give it my best shot.

I truly believe this is the best program in the Denver area for Emily.  I just hope my email of concerns to the gym owner last night is addressed.   It's not just my daughter that's having issues - it's pretty much the entire team.   This Level 5 team seems to be going backwards in their skill progression on Vault and Bars.  They're progressing on Beam and Floor, but losing points on bars and vault.  I reviewed last years' level 5 girls' State results and it's glaringly obvious at this point.  Two different coaches.  One for Beam and Floor, one for Bars and Vault. I trust that management will take a hard look at the issues I've mentioned in my last email and make changes.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Emmy Mae!

Thanksgiving 2011.  I give thanks for all of my blessings today.

Emily has been taking a few private lessons with her coach Svetlana Stabourova.  Emily would like to try to improve her Bars and Vault technique before the State Level 5 Championships in two weeks.

There was a coaching change at TIGAR mid-year.  Her old bar and vault coach Yevgen, left TIGAR due to issues unrelated to gymnastics. Losing Yevgen was a shock to Emily's mindset. She really misses him.   Mac Whitely started coaching the Level 5 girls in May and Emily has not been won over to Mac's coaching style and it shows in her vault and bar scores. 

I sit back and wonder if I am doing the right thing by Emily every day that I take her to the gym.  She loves gymnastics, she's got the perfectionist attitude.  She wants to win.  It's really all that's on her mind. I don't know much about this sport, but I do know what works for my child, and Svetlana knows how to get Emily past her difficulties where Mac doesn't seem to be having an impact.  One of the parents at the gym, who has a daughter that's not doing very well this season, stated to me that "not one child from this gym will ever make it to the Olympics or use these skills anywhere else".  I beg to differ.  I refuse to believe that statement.  I believe that there are at least 7 girls at this gym that have the drive and potential to get to the Elite level with the right coaching, as long as they don't mentally flame out or suffer a major injury.

I really feel that the discipline and drive to succeed instilled in this sport, can only benefit my child throughout her life.  When I was young I showed horses.  That was my passion as a kid.  It was alot of work and dedication.  It served me later in life and gave me the self-motivation and drive I needed to be able to survive this life on my own.  I don't want my girls to have the mindset that their husbands will take care of them financially - life doesn't always work out like that and you  have to survive somehow - will my girls have that ability?

I believe that all 7 of the girls mentioned before will be successful in their own right in whatever they choose to do because of the values of hard work instilled in them now, with gymnastics competition.  If Emily wasn't doing well and her school work was suffering, I don't know if I would continue to support her in this sport - but this kid's test scores are 1% of the nation academically. I am not bragging but stating a fact that this one's a freaking genius when it comes to school and it's very time consuming for the teachers to keep her challenged.  Gymnastics seems to only compliment Emily's day and make her much easier to deal with.  When there's a break in her routine, she becomes a little tyrant. I am still working on that one, not sure how to temper that without breaking the spirit in the process.

As a parent, this isn't my first rodeo - but... I still question every decision that I make with Emily. I questioned every move I made with Annie and every move I made with Kathleen.  Anne's 25 now, graduated from College and in a successful marketing career and engaged to be married next June.  I want to believe that I instilled self-confidence in my girls by supporting them in their efforts. 

With Annie's theatre and singing though, there was a point when I sat down and gave her a reality check. In our heart-to-heart I pointed out that less than 1 percent of the population would ever be famous for their acting or singing talent.  I told her she needed skills to survive this life and that she should pursue a passion that would allow her success in this life,  I was lucky.  Annie is a pretty smart cookie and understood clearly what I was saying.  She chose technical journalism.  Annie is a fabulous writer.  I am glad she chose that route. She also still pursues her passion, in community theatre, but it isn't a main source of income.

With Kathleen (19)  I tried to instill the importance of her pursuing her own passion and not allowing others push her into a direction of their choosing.  There's been alot of parental interference with Kathleen's dad.  If I say white, he'll accuse me of saying black.  It's been a difficult road with Kathleen due to parental polarization and alot of negative energy that I can finally put behind me since she's turned 19.  Kathleen seems to be doing just fine now that she's her own person and can make alot of her own choices. Her dad still tries to control her, but she's 50% me too, so I have faith my headstrong nature resides in her.  Kat's still a bit unsure of what she wants to pursue as a career.   I will continue to support her emotionally as much as she will allow.

With Emily... well this is a difficult one.  In my heart I want to believe that this child is the one in 1%.  She's as smart as a whip, and determined to win it all.  If anybody can do it, I truly believe that this one will never stop reaching for her goals.   Emily is much more work emotionally than either Annie or Kathleen.  She's a handful and a half.  I never know if I am actually getting through to her.  She's got both Kevin and my headstrongness.  She's got her dad's charm and she has his same ability to get under your skin as he did. You'll either love her or she'll drive you nuts. 

I just pray she stays healthy in mind and body and doesn't get beat down by what life can throw at you.  I pray I can financially figure out how to get this kid to her goal as long as she's willing to continue the dedication of working at it every day.  I pray that she performs well at the Level 5 Championships and I pray that I am making the right choices by this child. I pray that she goes into this State Meet with the confidence and ability to grab her brass ring.  I am not willing to have a pessimistic attitude when it comes to Emily's future.  I believe this child has what it takes in this sport.  I will continue on this track with Emily and pray for her continued successes.  Annie, Kathleen and Emily are my legacy upon this earth and they have always made me proud.  I love my girls and thank God every day that he allowed me to guide these three beautiful young ladies through the first part of their life journey.  I just hope they don't hold it against me when they pick my nursing home!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

TIGAR Gymnastics Cartwheel Carnival

Emily's first 'home meet". She did well for her second meet of the season. Scores were Vault 7th place with a 8.75, 

 Bars 8th place score 8.6,



 Beam 1st place with a 9.4


and Floor 1st place 9.35.



She placed 2nd All Around. I've put her videos up on YouTube. We did not film the awards ceremony as I was running concessions throughout the entire meet and my soon to be son in law stood in for me as videographer. He did a GREAT job with my lousy little Vivitar cheepo video camera. Here's the YouTube of her floor routine: and here's the video of her beam routine: http://youtu.be/iSSqBPatWIc

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Aerials Fall Festival, Colorado Springs

Today was Emily's 1st competition as a Level 5 gymnast. Her scores were 8.45 on Vault (6th place), 8.05 on Bars (5th place), 8.95 on Beam (2nd place) and 9.0 on Floor (2nd place). She was placed in the Age Division "Junior B" with a total of 18 girls competing at that level and finished All Around 3rd place. The TIGAR 4,5, and 6 girls did fairly well in their first outing of the season. We've got a huge crop of Level 5's. It's almost embarrassing, but really kind of fun when you hear the parents screaming from the stands when they step out on the floor... I found a site called www.mymeetscores.com and discovered that my Emily is listed twice, once under the proper spelling of her name Emily Boyet, and then again as Emily Bpyet which lists the information from the CGI meet in February 2011. So I tried to find someone to contact at mymeetscores.com, but their "help" page has no help options. So I wrote CGI to see if they could fix it... we'll see what happens. I noticed that there are alot of misspellings on this site. Searching for Elizabeth Leduc for instance, will bring up at least 4 different spellings and scores for the same individual. It would be nice to be able to consolidate the scores on this site, without anyone monitoring the entries, makes this site pretty much "garbage out" and not at all easy to decipher if you're looking for your kid's scores on line. Somebody somewhere, hear my plea! Fix what ails MyMeetScores.com! I am sure Lizzy's parents would appreciate it, I know I would... Maybe you all should reference the kid's USAG #, but not print it on the site? That would be the easiest check. I don't think their USAG member number ever changes, but hey, what do I know?