This is an important topic for any teacher or coach who is looking for additional information on how to create an exciting and productive learning environment in which to teach. This workshop will help an individual become a better instructor by presenting techniques on effective class management and dealing with student behaviors.
This workshop focuses on enhancing the coach-parent relationship. Discover practical strategies for effective communication, navigating challenges, and fostering a supportive environment for athletes. Topics include boundary setting, managing expectations, and understanding the parent perspective.
A safer confidence system for building air awareness and safe landings.
Find out how – and why! – to start a youth Acrobatics & Tumbling program in your club, and learn some fun, easy pyramids to try in your recreational classes.
Exploring the the Xcel world (for coaches and judges), and solving the mysteries of the program.
A heartening and insightful session that delves into the critical role coaches play in shaping the confidence of gymnasts. This presentation emphasizes how a coach’s support and approach can be the key to unlocking an athlete’s belief in their own abilities. It’s not just about perfecting routines; it’s about instilling a lifelong sense of self-assurance. With a blend of engaging stories, accessible psychological principles, and practical techniques, coaches are equipped to foster an environment where athletes grow in confidence, both in gymnastics and in life.
Drills and progressions for teaching the German Giant on High Bar.
Introducing activities for preschool gymnastics that are progressive, fun, and engaging for 3-5 year olds.
More than technique. Training your eye through skill examples. See the important stuff.
What traits do the best vaulters have in common? Learn about these traits and how to develop them in your athletes.
How to properly apply deductions on text, posture, footwork, rhythm, artistry and dynamics.
We will discuss handbook basics, culture and policies. The purpose of this presentation is to give you the basic information you need to develop a handbook (or to do a review of your current handbook) to provide you employees the information they need to bring your organization together.
We all know a gymnast (or many!) who struggle with a mental block. You’ve likely tried everything possible to help this gymnast overcome their fear, but nothing seems to be working—it is an incredibly frustrating process for both the gymnast and the coach. Why don’t the traditional approaches always work? What if there were a different way? In this workshop, we will learn acceptance and commitment-based strategies to help gymnasts work through mental blocks in a new, exciting way. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to
describe how fear operates; explain why acceptance and commitment strategies are helpful tools for overcoming mental blocks; and apply acceptance and commitment strategies to their work with gymnasts experiencing mental blocks.
The effects of movement on cognitive development, sequential learning, how the human brain learns and how to apply it to our sport training.
For an athlete’s long-term development, Skill Profiling, or choosing the right skill at the right time (level), is critical to overall success. A detailed presentation that includes specific Profile skills on the events and when they are to be taught.
Stations, stations and more stations for your back handspring learners!
Is it possible we overlook errors on basic skills in our desire to identify and evaluate the higher value parts correctly? Let’s find out as we have some friendly “BASE-IC” competition.
Fun and productive drills for your recreational vault rotations.
Important steps for developing a powerful employment team for any department in your company.
What to fix first – wrong hand position, or bent legs? Join us for some fun games, videos and discussion and learn to deconstruct skills, evaluate the common mistakes, and take the best approach to correcting those errors.
Learn about TeamGym and how to begin a program at your club.
Training load management in sports is defined as monitoring load (intensity and volume of training) and adjusting the load based on the athlete’s response to the training. Training load management has the potential to improve sport performance and reduce injuries in athletes, but this concept has not been tested in gymnastics. We have developed a way to perform training load and wellness tracking in women’s artistic gymnastics and have tested it in developmental and collegiate athletes. We will discuss our initial findings as well as how and why you may want to do this in your own gym.
Use whatcha got to run fun ninja classes!
Make the most out of your bar rotations with these creative side stations that will keep your athletes productive and engaged.
A look at the 2025-2028 Men’s Junior Development Program
Increase the safety of backwards dismounting – while increasing your knowledge of all possible safe progressions that do not include spotting.
Strong basics create good, lasting foundations. In this session, we’ll take a look at the basic skills and break them down into creative stations to add fun, foundational reinforcement.
This is the goldilocks approach to individualizing lesson planning: creating stations that aren’t too hard, or aren’t too easy – they are juuuuust right! Every kid’s challenge zone is different and you often have several different challenge zones to consider all in one class! In this session, we’ll learn how to tell when our gymnasts are outside their challenge zone, and how to adapt any station so that it’s juuuust right!
Learn how the exciting world of Acrobatic Gymnastics can boost your revenue by attracting new customers and offering more choices to your existing students.
Basic skills and progressions on P-Bars and Rings for beginner/recreational boys classes.
The landscape of our industry is in a constant state of flux, shaped by technological advancements, socio-economic shifts, and evolving employee and consumer behaviors. Trends include artificial intelligence, the growing importance of sustainability, corporate responsibility, global connectivity, and regulatory frameworks. “Navigating Tomorrow” equips industry leaders with the foresight and knowledge needed to not only survive but thrive.
Hello my little cheese balls, you think you know everything there is to do with a cheese? You don’t know Jack! In queso you didn’t know, a cheese can be used to sharpen your little muenster’s skills on all events, not just tumbling. Bars, beams, vault, even warm ups and conditioning! By the end of this session, you’ll be a certified “Cheeze Whiz!”
Learn how to identity nutrition and fueling concerns that negatively impact gymnast strength, power, focus, recovery, and adaptation to training. Learn how to safely and effectively communicate concerns about nutrition related performance issues with parents and gymnasts. Learn how to optimize gymnast performance through appropriate intraworkout nutrition + hydration policies
Focus on the essential core content that makes up a successful program. Learn how to keep the parent engaged with their child while allowing you to lead the class. The benefits of building an on-going relationship with these new families make Parent-Tot classes the most profitable classes in the gym!
Overview of common childhood disabilities, from ADHD and sensory sensitivity to developmental delays and Down Syndrome. Gain strategies for successful teaching and communication with all atheltes. Perspectives on inclusion vs. separate learning for athletes with disabilities.
There’s a lot involved in being successful in this business, including marketing, staffing, public relations, finance, etc. I’ve built the list of the top 10 things that will benefit new owners and experienced entrepreneurs.
This is a lecture designed to teach Yurchenkos from the very beginning to the end.
This workshop will explore unconscious bias and how it can impact decision-making in coaching, judging, and team dynamics. Participants will learn to identify and mitigate their biases through case studies and discussions. This session will help gymnastics professionals gain awareness of unconscious biases and acquire tools to reduce their impact, leading to fairer and more equitable practices.
This presentation will use a coach and judge perspective regarding various connections on beam: counter-acro, leap/jump, and gym-acro connections. Examples of what “breaks a connection” will be provided, along with multiple drills and strategies to improve your athletes’ skill connections.
The most waitlisted ninja classes in the country are the 3, 4, & 5 year olds! This means an opportunity for us to give parents what they want, and what kids need! This is for directors, owners, preschool directors, preschool coaches to learn about ninja, how its different, how it’s FUN, and how to integrate with existing preschool gymnastics classes the easy way, using what you have and *who you have in your club. Learn the planning steps needed before opening a new program, including space, equipment, staff, and curriculum!
Enhance your recreational classes with these fun, creative activities from the exciting world of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Your students will enjoy these new challenges while developing coordination, spacial awareness, and dexterity – skills that are beneficial to all gymnastics disciplines, and other sports as well.
Uneven bars skills, drills and progressions for school-age recreational classes.
Social media is the number one cost effective marketing tool. In this lecture we navigate the online world of social media. We talk about the benefits of engaging in business pages on social media. We learn how to effectively utilize the tools given us by social media; and, we learn how to deal with negativity and trolls on our social media pages.
The beauty of dance skills; looking at amplitude, split, completion and designated position.
Gymnastics can be a mentally challenging sport. The pressure to perform and the fear of injuries can take a toll on an athlete’s mindset. However, with the right techniques, gymnasts can reset their mindsets and perform their best. The goal of this presentation is to identify and address any negative thoughts or beliefs that may be holding gymnasts back. I will also address the importance of focusing on the present moment and not get caught up in past mistakes or future worries. With the tools presented in the presentation, we can help gymnasts flip their switch on their mindsets and achieve their goals.
Progressions for Elite development on floor.
Using a collection of success stories from business teams, I will discuss the building blocks of the best business teams. From accounting to cleaning and teaching to scheduling, the need to understand and share are critical. I will also weave in the need and methods of accountability including sweaty palm conversations and personal reflection.
This interactive workshop gives examples of 25 of the very best songs for Recreational and PreSchool gymnastics classes, Birthday Parties and Camps. The music is a combination of old favorites, newly cut popular songs, and new versions of classic children’s melodies. Many of these songs have original choreography which will be demonstrated. The audience is encouraged to participate.
Class management doesn’t start in class- find out the simple ways to stop wild behavior before it starts.
The most important part of class is the first five minutes and the last five minutes. This is when parents are paying attention. It is your opportunity to make a good first impression and leave your student’s wanting to come back. Don’t blow it.
Xcel and Dev are more like fraternal than identical twins. They are a lot alike, but with their own personalities. Learn how to recognize all the ways they are the same, and when to know the important differences. Great for both coaches and judges!
Topics covered in this session include mission, philosophy, safety, training, behavior management, curriculum and lesson planning.
Must do’s in preparation for the Olympic Boom. How to prepare your staff, programming, website, and customer service before the games begin.
Fun and creative ideas for using props in preschool and recreational classes!
Guiding judges through the process of evaluating a broken routine or unusual circumstance.
For over half a century, Kids First has grown every year, recessions and Olympic cycles be darned. It has never suffered a down year. This topic is a collection of the most important lessons I have learned in my 50 year career.
Learn why athletes start freezing up, and what they need most when it happens. We’ll talk about the most effective way to reduce fear, common misconceptions, and why “quick fix” strategies actually make things worse. I’ll share the mistakes I made as a compulsory and optional coach so coaches can learn the power of their language and examples of what not to do. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap of the most effective way through a confidence dip, plus resources you can share with parents to reinforce confidence-building language at home.
Drills and progressions to build strong tumbling from the beginning.
Get hands-on spotting practice on a variety of recreational-level skills on Bars and Floor.
Uneven Bars: Pullovers, Back Hip Circles, Swings and Regrips, Squat-Ons.
Floor: Cartwheels, Back Walkovers, Front Walkovers, Backward Rolls, Handstands, Back Handsprings.
Space in this session is limited! Reserve your spot by signing up at the Congress Registration Booth beginning Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Individuals must be present and show their Congress credential to sign-up.
Session attendees aged 18+ must be U110 SafeSport Trained to participate in hands on spotting activities.
Many coches are afraid or unsure how to work with and spot athletes with special needs. This opportunity will help coaches to feel comfortable by providing guided, hands-on spotting practice that focuses on specialized spotting techniques tailored for the unique considerations of special needs athletes.
Space in this session is limited! Reserve your spot by signing up at the Congress Registration Booth beginning Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Individuals must be present and show their Congress credential to sign up.
Session attendees aged 18+ must be U110 SafeSport Trained to participate in hands on spotting activities.
Focus on the amplitude of dismounts on UB and BB from A to E! Evaluate a range of dismounts and discuss minimum to maximum deductions.
From neck to hips, hands to upper spine, learn how to increase dynamic movement and maximize available range of motion for all joints and body parts. Will be a very active and hands-on lecture spread out in the presentation room! Will include specific and tangible lists and videos of exercises for coaches to implement. Make artistry beautiful and dynamic!
Mastery of elements that utilize circles as root elements.
Expectations and comparison of various UB release moves.
Geared toward optional level coaches. How the basic drills improve the higher level skills, building into tumblings series and connections.
Fun and creative ways to make beam their favorite event!
An overview of the college recruiting process and what opportunities are available to gymnasts – Xcel, L 8, 9, 10 and Elite. A timeline of when to start the process and how to put together realistic goals for a positive outcome. We will go over information on how to market your gymnasts’ strengths and share with coaches why they would be a good fit for their team.
Drills and stations for developing strong kips and casts on bars.
For all Development and Xcel levels, to help make the monotony of routine season more engaging and less boring. Includes ideas from some of my favorite coaches across the country.
Learn how to set up a company file in Quickbooks specific to the industry. Find out what’s useful, and what’s not, within the program.
In order for parents to give their gymnast the best chance for longevity in the sport, it is essential that they have the correct information and in the best form of communication in order to make the best nutrition decisions for performance and recovery. This lecture will provide attendees with an empowering plan from and parent and coach perspective.
This educational lecture will explore traits and brain differences when working with children with special needs. When instructors can better understand the thinking processes of neurodiverse athletes, they can better set everyone up for success! Lecture will include: exploring neurodiversity, vocabulary, brain differences, perception, movement integration, how gymnastics can help support development in neurodiversity.
Have the best rec program around, with these 5 simple steps! A step by step guide on how to build a successful recreational program that will LAST, by implementing a tried and true system that works. Topics covered include class structure, coach training, ongoing education, spotting, key skills, and skill tracking.
An individual’s “goal orientation” dictates the way an athlete thinks of success and how to achieve success. This presentation will teach you about these orientations, and provide you with strategies to use these orientations to increase athlete’s motivation, perceived ability, confidence, and feelings of success.
In this session, we will explore opportunities to expand your program for gymnasts who learn differently. Coaches: learn how to implement a HUGS competitive program. Meet Directors: learn how to incorporate HUGS gymnasts into existing competitions. Judges: learn how to evaluate these very special gymnasts. Gym owners: learn how very special YOU are for offering these opportunities!
Once all the athletes have the skills, how do you ensure that they are ready and able to win?
We will bust all the myths about bracing! Wait, bracing causes my athlete to be weak….RIGHT?!?!? Teaser: proper bracing for the proper issue can make your athlete STRONGER! There is evidence that the use of tiger paws promotes poor biomechanics, decreased weight bearing tolerance, diminished performance and can contribute to increased pain. We will discuss: When is bracing appropriate? Who should brace? In what situation to brace? What brace to use for the most common issues (Ankle, knee, back, wrist)? How to know a brace is helpful, simple tests for the athlete to do to see if a brace is needed and best for them? When to stop using a brace?
This presentation will help coaches develop fundamentals of taps on bars and how to improve taps through drills and mastering of technique.
Review of Xcel judging challenges and general deductions that are applied inconsistently.
Recognizing and Rewarding Footwork, Posture/Body Line, Rhythm, and Artistry on Beam and Floor.
A simple and basic format structure for teaching recreational gymnastics classes that is measurable, replicable and fun for both coaches and athletes!
Creative Movement is a joyful way for children to explore movement while encouraging physical development, improved spatial awareness, fine motor skills, musical awareness, and more! This presentation gives ideas for numerous exercises that attendees can implement right away in their preschool and recreational classes.
Working with children with disabilities provides the unique opportunity to tailor lesson plans to meet individual goals that extend beyond gymnastics without the need to prioritize progressing through the sport above all else. Prior to enrollment in our program, all families fill out a “Participation Modification Plan” focused on goal setting. While many athletes will naturally progress through the sport, most parents desire a focus on building friendships, developing language skills, and gaining independence. To maintain happy athletes and happy parents, curriculum design for inclusive programs needs to include activities that reflect these individual goals.
In this lecture we will discuss: Taking an evidence based medicine approach to designing gross and fine motor development stations; Incorporating social skills for children with autism into gymnastics based lesson plans; Family based goal-setting and expectation management for children with disabilities.
Find out how – and why! – to start an Acrobatic program in your club, and hit the ground running with some great curriculum ideas for Levels 2-5.
Embark on a transformative journey crafted exclusively for gymnastics coaches, exploring the pivotal role you play in shaping the lives of young gymnasts. Join me in this empowering workshop to unlock the true potential of your coaching through the lens of positivity. Discover how your coaching style acts as a compass, guiding and shaping not just routines, but the very essence of the athletes you mentor. Explore the profound influence of positive discipline, uncovering its ability to mold resilient, confident individuals both inside and outside the gym walls. Through engaging discussions and practical insights, gain the tools and wisdom to ignite positivity in your coaching approach. By the end of our session, you’ll feel rejuvenated and armed with impactful strategies to lead from a place of positivity. Embrace the understanding of your immense influence, creating an environment where your coaching becomes a beacon of inspiration. Let’s navigate the gymnastics journey together, empowering you to cultivate not just extraordinary gymnasts, but also confident, resilient individuals ready to conquer life’s challenges with grace and determination.
Join us to discover ways you can align your marketing strategy to save time and money. These strategies can be immediately applied to gain greater virtual presence for your company to increase enrollment and visibility.
Fun activities that meet the developmental needs of babies and toddlers. Activities that keep babies engaged and parents feeling successful. It’s the little things that make a big difference in the world of baby gymnastics.
Judging criteria for Xcel UB routines through skill analysis.
The true test of an extraordinary teacher is the ability to effortlessly keep a class under control – focused, safe, and productive. The answer is to implement good teaching practices. This session will describe fifteen of the most tried and true tricks – and give examples for ways of implementing them into your curriculum.
While adequate nutrition is one of the most important foundations for a gymnast, getting the athlete, their parents, and the coaches on the same page, bought in, and actually doing it, can be a real challenge. Learn strategies to approach the topic of nutrition, foster buy-in, and get your team reaping the benefits of performance nutrition!
Presented along with the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) Gymnastics for All Committee.
We’ve all learned about the time proven qualities of great leaders.. vision, courage, creativity, competence… over and over. In this lecture, we are going to talk about leadership qualities specific to gymnastics clubs. And it’s going to be fun. We’re going to talk about how to lead a diverse staff – with lots of teenagers – because that is our reality. And how to manage time when you don’t have time to manage time. Also our reality. And as we are sorting the Lost and Found, how to determine what deserves our focus … and what does not and how to solve everything and everyone who does not understand this. And most of all, how we can be impactful leaders. We have tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many people. Join us as we talk about how.
Need more junior stuntman adventure guys who wish they could do superhero feats like the Hulk, Captain America, Batman and more? With a little imagination, story-telling ability, basic gym mats and Hollywood props on a budget, you can run your boys classes to exhaustion and have them bringing all their friends next time!
Let’s take a look at those twists!
Vault basics are tricky. They require coordination, weight transfer, balance, and power. This lecture will break down vault basics with stations that can be accomplished with equipment most gyms have on hand. Attendees will leave feeling more confident teaching vault to their preschool and beginner gymnasts, and return to the gym with knowledge and stations that can be immediately applied to their programs.
This session is designed for coaches and teachers; however, anyone is welcome. This session will take you through the steps of what you, as a coach, can ask yourself when you are struggling with getting corrections from your athletes. In the lecture, tools will be provided to assist the coach/teacher in working better with their athletes.
This presentation will focus on the various differences concerning “vertical” skills on beam for all Xcel Divisions. Multiple examples of skills and series combinations will be evaluated and discussed concerning value part and special requirement credit. In essence, we hope to “de-mystify” what counts and what doesn’t.