NEW ENGLAND GYMNASTIC CLINIC 1971 by Kitty Kjeldsen, Clinic Directo r 800 gymnasts, 89 coaches, 100 staff members and 14 Master Teachers gat hered over Thanksgiving weekend to the University of Massachusetts for the 9th ann ual New England Gymnastic Clinic. The o ne acre wo rkout gymnasium, smaller lecture-demonstration gymnasium, several classrooms and dance studios were filled from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m . with enthusiasti c gymnasts and high quality teaching staff from all over United States and Canada. Besides lecture-demonstrations in every olympic event plus trampoline, the clinic offered special sessio ns in judging, psychology of coaching, conditioning and training methods, ca re and prevention of injuries, mecha ni ca l analysis, skill analysis, gymnastics moderne, ballet, modern dance and routine composition. An acre of gymnasium space with 4 uneven bars, 6 beams, 3 high bars, 3 ring rigs, etc. , provided co ntinuous workout opportunities, where eac h piece of apparatus was supervised by a staff m'e mber giving instructions all day long. Roomy dance studios offered continuous instruction in all phases of dance and gym nastics moderne. Master teachers engaged in lecture-demo nst ration s and problem solving sessions, where they worked directly with gymnasts and coaches on specific problems. Friday night, advanced students and staff members at the clinic participated in an exhibition in front of a standing- room only audience. Saturday night the clinic was climaxed by an advanced tumbling session, featuring Rusty Mitchell , George Hery and many double-back throwing clinic registrants and staff members. Master staff for 1971 included: Gary Anderson, Maria Bakos, Kathy Corrigan , Lois Datilio, George Hery, Ed Isabel, Mike jacobson , joe Massimo, George McGinty, Rusty Mitchell , Dan Pet erson , jackie St, jean, Greg Weiss and Margie Weiss. Members of the clinic working committee were : jim Tepper, co nference coord inator; Gerald Calkins, floor manager; Richard Aronson, in charge of the teaching staff; Frank Wolcott, in cha rge of special events; AI Bickum, clinic t rea surer; jeff Cardinali, in charge of equipment; Erik Kjeldsen and Virginia Evans, in charge of facilities; Ruth Fairfield and Marge Smith, wom en's program; Isi dore Battino and George j ess up, men's program ; and Kitty Kjeldsen, clinic director. (To the best of our knowledge , this is the first time that a clinic of this size and reputation in this cou ntry has been head ed by a wo man) Th e clinic committee is already making plans for the 10th Anni versa ry New England Clinic, alth oug h the site has not been determined. Due to the facilities, the 1971 clinic had to be limited to 800 participants and some kind of limitation wi ll probably also be put o n the regi stratio n for the 1972 clinic.
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Scenes from th e New England Gymnasti c Clini c
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