BOOK Review by Renee Hendershott "Judging and Coaching Women's Gymnastics", Bowers, Fie, Kjeldsen , and Schmid is now available for $8.95 from National Press Books, Palo Alto, California. It is beautifull y and correctly illustrated by Diana Atti e Seeman . Carolyn Bowers opens with a discussion of the responsibiliti es of judges in relation to U.S.A. Teams, and to competitors .... .gives you something to think about if you take judging lightly. Miss Bowers also has done the chapters on dance as related to floor exercise and beam in which she explains the importance of using correct ballet technique and yet how the gymnast must bring " flair and excitem ent to the routine by unusual modification of dance movements". I would like to have seen more discussion on the achievement of style, thru use of selected modern dance and character moves, what the judge should look fo r in these areas ... but ... really this would take another entire book. Many ballet moves are explain ed. She tells us how they should look, technical errors the judge will notice (in the terminology of the judge) and, in a separate chapter explains how to judge floor exercise. For the gymnast there are pointers on increasing one's score, and for the coach .... .pointers on how to prepare one's gymnasts for floor exercise. Kitty Kjeldson explains a philosophy of coaching in which she gives an argument for specialization at the high schoollevel. ... a good article to show your administ rator when you can ' t get enough time in the gym! In later chapters Miss Kjeldsen explains in easy terms how gymnastics is interrelated with the laws of Physics. She makes these laws "Live" by applying them to a few basic gymnastic skills. This chapter would be very valuable to the coach in analyzing what is wrong with various tum~ling skills being performed by his/ her gymnasts . . She later joins Mrs. Fie in a very helpful discussion on the mechanics of vaulting, judging the event, comparison of differences to be expected in bent hip, horizontal, layout and vertical vaults .... something we have not seen so well organi zed before .. .and th e judging of lower level vaults .... not well covered in the FIG Code. Miss Kjeldson ends her contribution with a helpful chapter on coaching psychology in which she discusses various types of problems arising on gymnastic teams with gymnasts of different personalities. Miss Fie covers general judging techniques for both compulsory and optional routines. She explains the difference between our national system of judging compulsories and the new international system instituted in the last year. . She also covers the balance beam event, showing the characteristics speci fic to beam, a detailed analysis of selected beam movements, specific penalties and deductions, composition and coaching hints to increase th e individual score and list of difficulties. This is a very . detailed and excellent presentation. Aside from writing the section on uneven bars which , incidentaly is one of the weaker sections in the book .. .(lwould like to have seen a more complete discussion on good composition on bars and many more examples of good and bad amplitude. Many judges just do not recognize poor amplitude on bars ...nor do they really understand good
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compo sition ) ... Andr ea Schmid has w ritt en th e introduction to the work which embodies th e whole purpose of th is volum e .... " To serve th e dual purpose of evoking ideas and practical suggestions for tea chi ng and coaching gymnastics, and to clari fy th e proper judgin g techniques and to encourage a uniformity in officiating wom en' s gymnastics events through o ut the country ." I would venture to say that this book comes closer than any I have seen in accomplishing this purpose!
Gymnastic Skill and Record Manual, by Steve W . Whitlock 18103 Santa Barbara, Detroit Michigan, 48221 ...price unknown ...A manual which affords an opportunity for planning and recording the progress of individual gymnasts from novice to elite perform ers. This manual is meant to enable the gymnast and her coach to evaluate past performance, coordinate present training, and to plan for future growth and
development. There are long lists of basic, medium, and superior moves with space to record achievement or readiness next to each skill. Then ther e is a glossary of term s commonly used in gymnastics su ch as " jam" , " press ", " progression " etc. whi ch many person s new to gymnastics are not familiar with . Th e second half of the booklet consists of many blank forms which can be used for recording workout programs for each event, individual ex ercise program (place to record exe rcise, number of repetitions) sheets for recording the competitive routine you are using for each event, and, finally blank sheets for recording your competitive record with pla ces to record date, name of meet, and scores you made on each event. M any successful gymnasts have used a system of recording and organi zing things such as this one. It might be very useful to you .
UNEVEN BARS - FRONT HIP CIRCLE by David Reeves
Execution: From a stretched front support (1); fall forward retaining the stretched position in order to gain momentum in the forward rotation (2) . At a,position at / or slightly below the horizontal, ' pike sharply. (3a-3b) This shortens the circumference of the body, thus increasing the speed of rotation. Simultaneously with the pike, loosen the grip and tuck the hands around the bar, reaching toward as much of an over grip on top of the bar as possible (3b). A slight bend in the arms will help acheive this. As the circle approaches position (4) a strong pull on the arms will be felt if the circle has been well 'whipped' . This is the moment to begin forcefully straightening the body, like a kip. The kipping action completes the circle, which should end in a free front support (cast off the bar) (5) . Hints: (A) In the beginning, height on the bar in the starting position is the most importa"nt part. Push up so that you're ' standing on your thumbs', with the bar well down on the thighs.
This may result in a slight pike at the hips, but as long as the chest is held high (slight upper back arch) you w ill be in a stretched position . Also, start as upright as possible (1 )... don 't start in position(2) . The further you fall before the pike, the more momentum you will have . Keep the head in a normal upright position throughout the circle. Starting w ith the head held up high and then throwing it down on the pike only serves to further disorient you during the circle. (B) The pike should be a smooth whip to a tight piked position, not a sudden jerk. (C) Tuck the hands around the bar, don't release and reg rasp, as this generally ruins the timing of the whip and results in the old Front Belly Circle ... and what you want is a Front HIP Circle. (D) Attempt to straighten your arms on each circJe you try . This will encourage you to finish the circle high on the bar and thus be able to attain the free front support (cast away) position, at which point you have the fTI'we .