February: Peace Out Meet

Peace Out Meet

When:      February 27-March 1st

Where:    At Xtreme Gymnastics in Lee Summit, MO

Meets are great opportunities for parents to watch with their kiddo that wants to do gymnastics, especially competitive. Come on out and watch these amazing gymnasts.This  will prepare you and your kiddo for what's ahead. Gymnasts work very hard and put on a great show.

Good luck to any gymnast competing!  If you are a gymnast or parent wanting the schedule for this weekend go to Xtreme's website. anybody who wants to post other great meet dates feel free! 

Thanks for reading!

Need A New Leotard!!!

Need A New Leotard!!!

CAGE Gymnastics in Topeka just got a new shipment of leotards!!!  We have all sizes and many new designs. Come by and see what we have. 

See you soon!!

Photo by SBD Sportswear; Kid Steals

From Fun to Full-Ride: Getting to Know Illini Freshman Becca Cuppy

From Fun to Full-Ride: Getting to Know Illini Freshman Becca Cuppy
By Amanda Wijangco

Link: http://www.gymnastike.org/coverage/252029-2015-University-of-Illinois-Gymnastics/blog/47293-From-Fun-to-Full-Ride-Getting-to-Know-Illini-Freshman-Becca-Cuppy

         For several years, gymnast Becca Cuppy simply loved gymnastics and lived for the moment. Once she got to level 9/10, she realized that she had a strong desire to compete in collegiate gymnastics and receive a full-ride scholarship.

That dream came true, and now Cuppy is a freshman on the University of Illinois women’s gymnastics team with a full-ride scholarship.

When she found out that she was being offered a full-ride, she was ecstatic, as it was something she worked towards for years.

Picture of Becca Cuppy

By http://www.gymnastike.org, Amanda Wijangco

Her love for gymnastics first began around the age of 8. When the Cuppy family moved to Akeny, Iowa from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, her father enrolled her in gymnastics.

“I always liked climbing around on jungle gyms, and he used to do it when he was younger, so I just wanted to be like him,” she said.

Her dad not only started her in the sport, but he helped her achieve her dream of obtaining a full-ride scholarship to compete in collegiate gymnastics. When she began competing level 9/10, her dad recorded all of her routines at every meet she competed at. He then uploaded them to YouTube, and she sent them to college coaches.

She mostly sent her videos to schools in the Midwest, specifically Iowa and Iowa State, as an Iowa native. In addition, she tried to garner the attention of Big Ten coaches, because she “really wanted to be in the Big Ten.”She got just what she asked for. After Landrus attended the Region 4 Championships and saw Cuppy’s YouTube videos, she offered Cuppy a full-ride to be a Fighting Illini gymnast.

“Illinois just had so much to offer,” she said. “It has such a beautiful campus and great academics and athletics. Both of those combined is really what I was looking for.”

After years of hard work in the gym and in the classroom, Cuppy is right where she wants to be, and Landrus couldn't  ask for more.

Gymnast Survey

       

SURVEY:

             This survey is for the everyday gymnast. Whether you are recreational or competitive this survey is for you. I want to get into the mind of a student. This is incredibly helpful when being a coach. Please feel free to post your answers to my blog. It will be greatly appreciated!

1. What were you most proud of at gym today?

Photo by: https://www.dukechironyc.com

2 .If you could pick one word for your attitude at the gym today what would it be?

3. What was the best compliment you received today?

4. What made you laugh the hardest at practice today?

5. What was the best thing a teammate did today?

6. Pick one word to describe today's practice?

7. What are you going to work on at the next practice?

8. Were you ready to leave practice today?

9. What would you have changed about practice today?

10. Did you understand your corrections today?

Thanks for your time!! 

Coaches: Must See Back Hand Spring Drills

Welcome back to Twist and Talk, 

This post is a great one for coaches training back hand springs. This video is helpful for beginners who are just learning the shaping of a back handspring. 

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOO3543UnWo

This video is fabulous for gymnasts who have learned a standing back hand spring and have moved on to round off back hand springs. I really liked how it focused on keeping toes down in the entry of the back hand spring. All my gymnasts want to whip their feet over as fast as they can causing real shape trouble.

Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSz_UuzxnNw&list=PL2CEADA0A593036CE

Thanks for reading Twist and Talk, I hope it helped!

Let Kids Be Kids

Hey everyone,

This post is going to be aimed towards parents of young gymnasts. As parents we often sit in the stands and think about how we can help our children. The answer is simple support them. When the

y are done they need a "good job" or "you worked hard" from mom or dad. As a coach I see many parents immediately start ripping them for things they witnessed while sitting in the stands. They have been coached for the past three hours they do not need anymore. When kids go home from practice they want to have fun, play games, hang out with friends, let them!! Parents always stop me after practice and ask what they need to work on at home. I tell them having fun! They are competitive athletes, they are also kids. Let kids be kids and enjoy the sport. If you never let your child get away from gymnastics, you will burn them out.

Thanks for chatting with me today. See you soon!!

Break A Leg

Gymnastics involves one huge thing fear! If you want to understand this sport you must understand this aspect and why it is always present. This is one sport were there is real danger involved. We train are gymnast to do skills, land skills, and fall during those skills safely. Yet, accidents still happen.

So why would a parent want their child to be a gymnast? This sport build life skills. To be able to mental commit to something so difficult and stick with it. Practicing long hours giving up time with friends and other activities. Being able to be a team mate in practice but stand alone in front of the judges.  Performing in front of hundreds or thousands of people is life changing. You will walk away a better person. Who can communicate as an adult and understand not only their body but their mind.

As a gymnasts gets older they understand the danger involved. As they progress so does the difficulty. Read this article that will go more in depth, this will give you a better understanding of fears in gymnastics. https://www.competitivedge.com/overcoming-performance-fears-and-blocks-gymnastics-0.

My Crazy Life: The Story of Alyssa Holloway

Hey everyone, my name is Alyssa Holloway. I would like to welcome you to my blog, I hope you enjoy!

This blog is about gymnastics from a coaches stand point. I have been coaching competitive gymnastics for seven years and love every minute of it. If you are a coach, parent, or gymnast you will benefit from this blog.

I will explain the sport of gymnastics, list drills for coaches or young gymnasts, and discuss problem areas in this sport that may benefit many parents of young gymnasts. I love feedback, so feel free to comment or post.

                                                    CAGE Gymnastics at Cupid Classic 2015 in 
                                                                  Kansas City. Photo taken by Alyssa Holloway (me).