USA Gymnastics - Nov./Dec. 2012 - Vol. 41, #6

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

SHAPING a Champion Gabby Douglas

_________________________ Highlights from the Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions

_________________________ Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

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U.S.A. $3.95 • CANADA $5.95 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 • VOLUME 41, #6

GABBY DOUGLAS POSTER INSIDE!

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CONTENTS Publisher Steve Penny Editor Luan Peszek Graphic Designer Jeannie Shaw

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

FEATURES

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10 Kellogg’s® Tour of Champions

The Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions is traveling the country, hitting 40 cities and entertaining audiences everywhere it goes.

Check out the great photos of our top gymnasts on the Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions.

16 Healthy Holiday Eating USA GYMNASTICS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Peter Vidmar

20 2012 National Gymnastics Day

Vice-Chair: Paul Parilla Secretary: Gary Anderson Treasurer: Jim Morris National Membership – Women: Tom Koll National Membership – Women: Steve Rybacki National Membership – Men: Yoichi Tomita National Membership – Men: Russ Fystrom National Membership – Rhythmic: Brooke Bushnell-Toohey National Membership – Trampoline & Tumbling: George Drew National Membership – Acrobatic Gymnastics: Dr. Jay Binder Advisory Council: Mike Burns Advisory Council: Ron Ferris Advisory Council: Carole Ide Athlete Director – Women: Terin Humphrey Athlete Director – Men: John Roethlisberger Athlete Director – Rhythmic: Jessica Howard Athlete Director – Trampoline & Tumbling: Karl Heger Athlete Director – Acrobatic Gymanstics: Michael Rodrigues Public Sector: Bitsy Kelley Public Sector: Frank Marshall Public Sector: Jim Morris Public Sector: Mary Lou Retton

CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: In order to ensure uninterrupted delivery of magazine, notice of change of address should be made eight weeks in advance. For fastest service, please enclose your present mailing label. Direct all subscription mail to USA Gymnastics, 132 E. Washington St., Ste. 700, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Unless expressly identified to the contrary, all articles, statements and views printed herein are attributed solely to the author and USA Gymnastics expresses no opinion and assumes no responsibility thereof.

On the cover:

Holidays can be tough when it comes to healthy eating. Read a few tips on how to stick to a healthy eating plan, even during the holidays.

Gabby Douglas and Tour photos

by John Cheng.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. ET, 43,901 gymnasts and fans nationwide joined together to turn upside down to celebrate USA Gymnastics’ annual National Gymnastics Day. This year’s event more than doubled the participants in the 2011 handstand world record effort. Check out some of the great photos that were submitted!

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24 Shaping a Champion

Gabby Douglas and Liang Qiao, known as Chow, spent countless hours training in the gym prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. The duo proved golden as Gabby earned the Olympic All-Around Gold Medal and a place in history books.

36 We Care Campaign for Parents

This article talks about the campaign’s commitment to personal safety and educating parents on the grooming process used by child predators.

DEPARTMENTS 6 30 40 48 49 50

EDITORIAL GYM UPDATE EVENT RESULTS FACES IN THE GYM EVENT SCHEDULE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

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USA GYMNASTICS is published bimonthly for $19.95 per year in the U.S., $32 per year in Canada or Mexico, and $45 per year in all other countries. USA GYMNASTICS is published by USA Gymnastics, 132 E. Washington St., Suite 700 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 237–5050, www.usagym.org. USA Gymnastics is the sole national governing body for the sport of gymnastics. A not-for-profit organization, USA Gymnastics selects, trains and administers the U.S. Gymnastics Team, including the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team. Contributions and support are always welcome and are tax-deductible. ©2012 USA Gymnastics. All rights reserved. Printed by Sport Graphics, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA.

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The year 2012 will be remembered for a long time! The Olympic year well-attendwas filled with outstanding performances by our athletes, well-attend heighted educational opportunities for professional members, and height ened interest in gymnastics participation following the Olympic Games excitein London. We look ahead to 2013 with great optimism and excite ment. The Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions, wrapping up on Nov. 18, has helped keep awareness and interest in gymnastics at an all-time high.

Here are a few of the highlights from the year: • AT&T American Cup. In keeping with tradition, the Olympic year started at Madison Square Garden, where Jordyn Wieber and Danell Leyva won the prestigious titles.

• Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships. The USA brought home 63 medals in men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics before record crowds at the event held in Everett, Wash.

• World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships. For the first time in history, the USA hosted the 2012 World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships and the World Age Group Competition, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. • Busy June. June was loaded with the Visa Championships in St. Louis and both the USA Gymnastics Championships for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling and the U.S. Olympic Trials in San Jose, Calif. John Orozco and Wieber won the all-around crowns at the Visa Championships, and a few weeks later, Gabrielle Douglas and Leyva took top honors at the U.S. Olympic Trials. In addition, Savannah Vinsant and Steven Gluckstein earned the right to represent the USA in trampoline.

• Olympic Games. For the first time in history, the USA participated in all of the disciplines at the Olympic Games since the addition of trampoline. In London, the USA won a total of six medals: the Fierce Five capturing the prestigious women’s team gold; Douglas, women’s all-around gold; Raisman, floor exercise gold and balance beam bronze; McKayla Maroney, women’s vault silver; and Leyva, men’s all-around bronze medal.

Also, Vinsant became the first U.S. gymnast to advance to the trampoline finals.

• National Gymnastics Day. Nearly 44,000 people participated in the National Gymnastics Day celebration to “Turn the World Upside Down.”

• Education. USA Gymnastics University continues to grow, and the new “Clubs Care Campaign” is providing valuable information, education and resources toward promoting a safe environment for our athletes.

• Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions. The 40-city national tour has rave reviews and has provided our fans and members with the opportunity to celebrate our athletes’ successes this year.

This past year has been marked by incredible participation at many levels of the sport, and we wish a happy and festive holiday season to all of the athletes, coaches, judges, club owners, and everyone connected with USA Gymnastics!

See you in the gym

Steve Penny President and CEO USA Gymnastics

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received

USA GYMNASTICS

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE THANKSGIVING

Office closes at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and will remain closed November 22 and 23.

CHRISTMAS

Office will be closed Monday, December 24 through January 1.

Office re-opens Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

USA GYMNASTICS NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

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THE MAGAZINE’S MISSION STATEMENT

USA Gymnastics Gymnastics, a bimonthly magazine, is a benefit of membership from USA Gymnastics. The mission of USA Gymnastics magazine is to communicate with gymnasts, parents, coaches, judges, volunteers, clubs and fans of the sport in order to promote the programs, people, events and services of USA Gymnastics.

VISION To inspire and enable our members to achieve excellence in the sport of gymnastics and in life.

THE ORGANIZATION’S MISSION The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics.

CORE OBJECTIVES

n Build the base n Promote the sport n Achieve competitive success

USA GYMNASTICS SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS

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Photos by John Cheng.

Nastia Liukin demonstrates the silks.

The Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is traveling the country hitting 40 cities and entertaining audiences everywhere it goes. ®

®

The costumes, lights and production, combined with a star-studded cast of gymnastics champions, produces a gymnastics tour like no other.

The photos say it all, so take a look at the glitz and glamour of the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions . ®

®

John Macready introduces Gabby Douglas.

Chris Brooks and Josh Dixon show their flair.

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Mary Sanders flies high above the floor.

The Fierce Five™

Aly Raisman is golden on floor.

Acro pair Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues.

Kyla Ross on bars.

Rhythmic gymnast Julie Zetlin

CONTINUED...

Trampolinists Steven Gluckstein and Savannah Vinsant.

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The men show their strength.

Athletes make themselves available for autographs.

McKayla Maroney

Jake Dalton

Sabrina Vega Anna Li

John Macready and his little stars in Los Angeles

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CONTINUED...

USA GYMNASTICS NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

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Mary Sanders and John Macready.

Jonathan Horton and the boys.

Nastia Liukin

Elizabeth Price Gabby Douglas

John Orozco

Jordyn Wieber

Sarah Finnegan

The bus!

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John Macready dressed in red!

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Lindsay Langford, MS, RD, CSSD – Sports Dietitian

Tips for Healthy

Holiday Eating F resh baked breads, cookie decorating, and the cheddar popcorn tins…it’s that time of year again! With each year’s holiday season, we’re accompanied by numerous “unclean,” calorically-dense food choices.

According to The American Council on Exercise, the average adult consumes 3000 calories at their holiday meal; yes, one meal let alone the whole day. In return, you may notice leotards fitting a little snugger or even a decrease in gymnastics performance due to poor holiday food choices. Here are six tips to keep your diet in check during this holiday season.

© Artem Mykhaylichenko/123RF.com

Lindsay Langford, MS, RD, CSSD – Sports Dietitian

1.

BUILD THE RAINBOW: When sitting down to a table full of food, be sure to add “color” to your plate. Foods that are rich in color are generally rich in nutrients.

From reds to purples– antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin/minerals fill these foods to provide high quality fuel. See how many colors your plate can represent.

2.

DRINK UP: Often times those hunger pangs are more likely due to dehydration than true hunger. Be sure you drink at least 8 oz. of water, 30 minutes prior to meal time to help prevent overeating.

During your meal, skip the sodas, sweet tea, or lemonade. These are drinks that contain high volumes of sugar that add a lot of calories, but won’t help you feel more full. Stick with water, unsweeted tea, or lowfat milk.

3.

PLEASING PROTEIN: Lean protein sources such as turkey, chicken, or fish can be a great way to please your palate. Protein sources take longer to digest, helping your stomach have the feeling of fullness. By making one quarter of your plate skinless turkey breast, you will find yourself less tempted by the dessert table.

4.

FOOD MODIFICATIONS: With each traditional holiday food, you can always chose a “healthier” counterpart. You may think of it as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The best choice is obvious, but which one will you choose? Here are a few food

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Tips for Healthy

Holiday Eating Lindsay Langford, MS, RD, CSSD – Sports Dietitian

4 Roasted turkey breast instead of fried chicken 4

Baked sweet potatoes instead of brown sugar pecan sweet potato casserole

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Fresh green beans instead of green bean casserole

4 4

Whole wheat roll instead of white roll

bypass holiday desserts, but limitations should be set. If you follow tips 1–5 you’ll be very satisfied with a small slice of crustless pumpkin pie, fresh fruit and whipped cream, or an oatmeal raisin cookie.

As the holidays quickly approach, focus on these holiday eating tips and continue with your training as much as possible. Take a second to realize that food is fueling your performance and don’t let a little slip become a slide. Eat well to feel well this holiday season.

Crustless pumpkin pie instead of pecan pie

5.

SLOW DOWN: The turkey won’t waddle off your plate, I promise! Slow down when you eat. Enjoy conversation, take breaks between foods, drink plenty of water, and put your fork down between bites are all great tactics to help you slow down when eating. When you slow down and truly savor your food it allows hunger signals to register. When you plow through a meal as if it was the last supper, you generally don’t feel as full and eat way more than the body truly needs.

6.

LIMIT DESSERT: An average slice of pecan pie is more than 500 calories with 20–30 grams of fat. Now you see how the average Thanksgiving meal is more than 3,000 calories? You don’t have to completely St. Vincent Hospital and St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis, Ind., are official service providers to USA Gymnastics Call 317-415-5747 or visit sportsperformance.stvincent.org

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© Eugene Bochkarev/123RF.com

substitutions to make your holiday favorites lower in calories.

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O

n Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m.

ET, 43,901 gymnasts and fans nationwide joined together to turn upside down to celebrate USA Gymnastics’ annual National Gymnastics Day. This year’s event more than doubled the participants in the 2011 handstand world record effort. Gymnasts and other participants documented their involvement by posting photos on the USA Gymnastics Facebook page to show how they turned the world upside down on National Gymnastics Day. “Last year more than 20,000 gymnasts and fans nationwide broke the world record for most handstands performed simultaneously,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “We are thrilled that so many

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joined in our celebration of gymnastics and the incredible success of our athletes in London, as well as raised funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.”

Each year, National Gymnastics Day builds awareness of the sport and supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Money raised benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in each club’s local community. Since 2001, gymnastics clubs across the country have raised more than $1.7 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The clubs have until Nov. 9 to submit their fundraising efforts for this year.

Stay tuned for the next issue of USA Gymnastics where we will announce the winning clubs and individuals raising the most money for Children’s Miracle Network.

Save the date for next year’s National Gymnastics Day – Sept. 21, 2013!

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Shaping a

Champion

By Kevin Loughery Photos by John Cheng

L

iang Qiao, affectionately known in the gymnastics world as Chow, landed in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, at 8 p.m. a few nights following a very eventful Olympic Games in London. His star pupil, 16-year-old Gabby Douglas, who originally hails from Virginia Beach, Va., was still coming down from her inspiring all-around gold medal performance and the Fierce FiveSM stood atop the gymnastics world as Olympic champions.

As a coach, there wasn’t a whole lot more Chow could have asked for at the XXX Olympiad.

There was, however, plenty of work to do back at home for Chow and his wife and co-coach Liwen Zhuang, which is why he was back in the gym 12 hours after touching down on American soil.

Three months later, not much has changed.

“I have not taken a break yet,” said Chow, who coached 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist Shawn Johnson as well as Douglas at his gym, Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute.

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“I love the sport. Really I do. I felt bad for my other kids that I’m teaching. I’m not teaching only Shawn and Gabby; I teach many other kids. I felt guilty not being there every day with them, so I jumped in right away to get back to teaching again.”

A former gymnast for the Chinese national team-turned-coach, Chow’s system is relatively standard for gymnastics coaches nationwide—take a student when she is young and develop her into an elite athlete.

The case for Douglas, though, was a little different.

In an uncharacteristic move for the veteran coach of more than two decades, Chow took on Douglas two years ago with hopes of helping her achieve her dreams of making the Olympic Team.

“I told her you have to follow my direction and not question anything so we aren’t wasting too much time,” Chow said of early instruction with Douglas, who moved from the east coast to join his gym in 2010. “She takes directions

really well.”

The move was not easy for Douglas, leaving family and friends behind in Virginia to chase a dream from America’s heartland with a coach who relentlessly tested her spirit.

When asked if she thought she’d become Olympic Champion one year ago, Douglas said, “No, I can’t imagine it. I had such a hard time with my hamstring injury at the 2011 Visa Championships, and I was home sick.

I came back to my faith and relied on Chow and Li. They kept pushing me to be better and in the end it all paid off.

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2012 OLYMPIC ALL-AROUND CHAMPION

GABBY DOUGLAS

Photos by John Cheng.

Shaping a Champion They believed in me.”

Though difficult at times, it turned out to be a move that changed the landscape of the U.S. women’s program for the better.

Gabby at the Olympic Games with her family.

“Gabby has always been an extremely talented child, even beginning with the TOPs program,” said USA Gymnastics National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi. “She definitely flourished under Chow’s tutelage. She had good physical abilities and excellent basic training and Chow was able to take it to the next level.”

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...continued

Early unfamiliarity soon turned to a working relationship that yielded incredible results.

Under Chow’s guidance, Douglas made the 2011 World Championship Team where she helped the U.S. to team gold. She climbed the national ranks, earning national and international medals and creating competition with the best elite gymnasts in the country.

“I’d say Chow and Li definitely whipped me into shape,” Douglas said of her coaching tandem. “During those months leading up to the Olympics, it was definitely hard-core in the gym just pushing every single day.”

Douglas’ workload in the Iowa gym was a regular daily regimen of training from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., with extra practice time on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

“That was our preparation for the Olympic Games, trying to put in some extra time with her because we did not have much time,” said Chow. “It was a lot of work that needed to be done.”

Douglas is now an Olympic Champion, reaping the fruits of her labor on a seemingly endless media and publicity circuit and spending 10 weeks on the road with fellow gymnasts with the Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics Champions™.

Despite her newfound fame, she said she plans to return to her coaches in Iowa for more training.

“I told her to enjoy these moments because she deserved it,” said Chow.

“But I am certainly missing her and hope she will be back soon.”

For Douglas and predecessor Johnson, Chow’s work ethic proved to be the gold standard, and there is no sign of him stopping any time soon.

With a new crop of young gymnasts in training now, the future looks very bright.

“I think you need to be connected with your athletes and understand what their capabilities are, knowing what their potential is,” Chow said. “There repetiisn’t any secret other than lots of repeti tions and lots of hard work.”

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More Gym Update on page 32

2008 OLYMPIAN HAGERTY MARRIED IN NEW MEXICO 2008 Olympic team bronze medalist Joey Hagerty of Albuquerque, N.M., married Ashley Van Orren in Corrales, N.M., on Sept. 1.

2004 Olympic team silver medalist Brett McClure served as Hagerty’s best man at the ceremony, which was held at the home of the bride’s parents.

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MIKULAK HAS SKILL ADDED TO 2013-16 CODE OF POINTS he FIG approved naming a pommel horse skill after the USA’s Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./University of Michigan, because he was the first gymnast to compete the skill at an official FIG competition. He performed what is now known as the “Mikulak” during the men’s qualification round at 2012 Olympic Games in London, and the skill is included in the FIG’s 201316 Code of Points for Men’s Artistic Gymnastics that was published last week. The “Mikulak” is valued as a D skill on a scale from A to G. ”The pommel horse skill was something where I just pushed an old skill to the limits, and just made it more exciting and a little bit more interesting,” said Mikulak, who is back at Michigan and preparing for the upcoming collegiate season.

Check it out at: usagym.org/Mikulak

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JOHNSON COMPETES ON THIS SEASON’S DANCING “DANCING WITH THE STARS” 2008 Olympic balance beam gold-medalist Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, is one of the all-star celebrities appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” during the show’s 15th season, which began on Sept. 24 on ABC. Johnson is partnered with Derek Hough.

Thirteen celebrities are returning to the show to compete for the Dancing with the Stars title, including Apolo Anton Ohno, Bristol Palin, Drew Lachey, Emmitt Smith, Gilles Marini, Helio Castroneves, Joey Fatone, Kelly Monaco, Kirstie Alley, Melissa Rycroft, Pamela Anderson, Sabrina Bryan and Johnson.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SEPTEMBER 3, 2012

ESSENCE OCTOBER, 2012

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VANITY FAIR OCTOBER, 2012 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS SEPTEMBER, 2012

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BRENNA DOWELL WINS MEXICAN OPEN total of 57.100. She also had the top score on every event except for the balance beam, where she was second with a 13.95.Dowell’s winning event scores included a 14.55 for her Yurchenko double full vault, a 14.55 for her bar routine that included a Shoposhnikova half and full twisting double layout dismount, and a 14.05 on floor which included a front handspring double front pike for the first pass.

Photos by Jon Soo Hoo, LA Dodgers

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In the men’s all-around competition, Whittenburg finished sixth in his international debut with a score of 84.900. He took second on floor with a 14.95 and was fourth on parallel bars with a 14.55. His other scores included a 13.85 on pommel horse, 13.80 on rings,14.85 on vault, and 12.90 on high bar.

WOMEN’S ALL-AROUND Brenna Dowell USA Yessenia Estrada Mexico Anna Dementyeva Russia Georgia Rose Brown Australia Chiara Gandolfi Italy Marta Pihan-Kulesza Poland Jessica Gil Colombia Alexa Moreno Mexico

57.100 56.150 54.750 54.300 53.350 52.600 50.850 49.600

MEN’S ALL-AROUND Oleg Verniaiev Ukraine David Belyavskiy Russia Sergio Sasaki Brazil Jorge Hugo Giraldo Colombia Daniel Purvis Great Britain Donnell Whittenburg USA Luis Sosa Mexico Loran Anderson Canada Mattia Tamiazzo Italy Axel Elias Mexico

89.000 88.900 87.300 87.250 86.800 84.900 81.650 81.150 80.800 75.800

Photos by John Cheng.

The USA’s Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./ Great American Gymnastics Express, won the women’s allaround title at the 2012 Mexican Open in Acapulco, Mexico. Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./Ultimate Gymnastics, Inc., was sixth in the men’s all-around.

Dowell had an all-around

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ATTENTION, PARENTS!

commitment to Personal saFety: understandinG the GroominG Process

by Rosemary Wooden Webb and Jennifer Wooden Mitchell, Co-Presidents, Child Lures Prevention, education partner of USA Gymnastics

USA Gymnastics is proud to launch the We Care Campaign specifically designed to educate and support parents in the prevention of child sexual misconduct. Visit usagym.org/WeCare to learn more about creating a safe environment for all children.

Parents should Watch For common GroominG techniques •

Befriending the youngster and his/her family to slowly gain trust.

•

Giving gifts, money, trips, and/ or performing special favors for youngster.

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Promoting the notion that the relationship with the boy or girl is special.

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Encouraging harmless secrets, laying the foundation for future sexual secrets.

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Taking pictures/video of the child.

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Communicating with the boy or girl excessively – texting, emailing or calling.

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Desensitizing the child through nonsexual touching, “accidental” touching of privates and/or walking in on bathroom or dressing time.

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Testing a child’s boundaries by using inappropriate language and/or telling dirty jokes.

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Playing body contact games with children – tickling, backrubs or wrestling.

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Making alcohol/drugs available to the youth.

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Introducing pornography to initiate sexual interest or normalize the behavior.

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Offering to babysit, including overnight trips or sleepovers.

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I

n today’s world, you as a parent take your child to gymnastics practice and want to have confidence that you have chosen a safe and healthy environment where your child can learn, train, excel and have fun.

Thus, a safe gymnastics environment must include a commitment to the personal safety of all participants. While prevention of child sexual abuse has historically been the role of parents, educators and healthcare providers, best practices now dictate that all child-serving organizations take an active role in inappro decreasing the likelihood of inappro-

priate behavior or sexual misconduct occurring within their organization.

While child sexual abuse can be a difficult subject to discuss, it is one that cannot be ignored. Knowing that one in four girls and one in six boys experiences some form of sexual exploitation before turning 18, all adults have an important role to play in helping to preserve the health and safety of children and youth. We all must be better informed to protect our children.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?

It is forcing, coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act, including sexual contact.

It also includes non-contact acts such

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ATTENTION, PARENTS!

...CONTINUED

commitment to Personal saFety: understandinG the GroominG Process as exhibitionism, voyeurism, exposure to pornography, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone, Internet or electronic means, or, of course, in person.

WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?

Abusers come from all walks of life. Ninety-five percent are known to the child; both men and women offend, though men offend more often. Notably, juvenile offenders (abusers under the age of 18) are responsible for more than 30 percent of child sexual abuse.

HOW DO ABUSERS GAIN ACCESS TO, AND CONTROL OF, CHILDREN?

Most abusers use a subtle and gradual process known as “grooming” on children and their families. Grooming is typically done over weeks, months or years to slowly lure and manipulate children into abuse. On the surface, grooming can appear quite innocent and may even give the perception that the individual works well with children.

Therefore, parents must become familiar with and watchful for grooming behaviors, as well as signs of abuse.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF ABUSE?

Physical signs of sexual abuse are usually not observable (especially to adults other than parents, guardians and health professionals), but may include pain, injury, bleeding, discharge or disease.

Behavioral and emotional signs are typically more evident in both male and female victims, and can include:

• Interest in or knowledge of sexual matters beyond the boy’s or girl’s years.

• Using sexual language or acting out sexually.

• Touching other kids sexually.

Any one sign doesn’t mean that a boy or girl has been sexually abused, but the presence of several gives reason to begin asking questions and consider seeking help.

The vast majority of professionals are committed to the safety and well-being of children. Those who abuse youngsters are the exception. As parents, you have an active role to play in your child’s personal health and safety.

It is important for you to know and watch for grooming techniques and signs of abuse. One-on-one situations involving your child need to be limited to times and places when the activities can be conducted within sight and earshot of other adults. It is important for your child to know not to keep secrets from you, even seemingly innocent ones. And when something doesn’t seem right, it’s important to report it right away.

Working together, we can prevent inappropriate behavior and sexual misconduct.

WHAT CAN I DO?

• Sudden withdrawal from close ties.

• Disinterest or sudden inability to concentrate.

• Uncharacteristically aggressive or disruptive behavior.

• Sudden change in eating habits; drastic weight loss or gain.

• Marked fear or reluctance to be at a certain place, or alone with a certain person.

• Repeated health complaints, i.e. stomach aches, headaches.

• Depression, lethargy and weepiness.

• Noticeable change in dress; may include baggy, dark clothing.

1. Learn about child sexual abuse, grooming techniques, signs of abuse and reporting procedures.

2. Talk to your child about appropriate vs. inappropriate behaviors and make sure your child knows he/she can talk to you if there is a problem or concern.

3. Talk to the staff at your child’s gym about the policies and procedures in place to prevent inappropriate behavior and sexual misconduct.

4.

Go to usagym.org/WeCare to learn more and access valuable resources

For the past 27 years, National Child Personal Safety Experts Rosemary Webb and Jennifer Mitchell have been leaders in advocating for awareness, transparency, prevention education and action surrounding child victimization. As moms to children ages 9-14, they are keenly in tune to the issues facing youth today and the importance of talking openly about them. ©2012 by Rosemary Wooden Webb and Jennifer Wooden Mitchell, Co-Presidents, Child Lures, Ltd.

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won 41 medals, including the 12 team division awards, at the 2012 Loule Cup and World Cup of Trampoline at the Loule (Portugal) Municipal Sports Hall in September.

THE WORLD CUP had events in trampoline, synchronized

trampoline and tumbling. Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, and Alicia Powder of Ladera Ranch, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, earned the silver medal for synchronized trampoline. Earnest also advanced to the finals for trampoline, where she finished sixth. In tumbling, Garret Waterstradt of Paxton, Ill./Irish’s Gymnastics, and Brittney Bernard of Bixby, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling, both placed fifth in the finals.

poline, under 13 girls; Carly Townsend of Foothill Ranch, Calif./ World Elite – gold for double mini and silver for trampoline, under 13 girls.

Photo by Champion Images.

LOULE CUP U.S. MEDALISTS TRAMPOLINE

GOLD: SILVER:

Under 13 girls Alyssa Oh, Rocklin, Calif./ Technique T&T Carly Townsend, Foothill Ranch, Calif./World Elite

Under 13 boys BRONZE: Joseph Isenberg, Martinsburg, W.Va./Flip Over Gymnastics 13–14 girls Madeline Barba, Foothill Ranch, Calif./World Elite

GOLD:

Junior men Cody Gesuelli, Middletown, N.J./ Eta BRONZE: Sam Chiacchia, Colorado Springs, Colo./High Country Gymnastics Academy Photo by Crissy Lafollette.

SILVER:

WORLD CUP U.S. MEDALISTS WOMEN’S SYNCHRONIZED TRAMPOLINE

ALICIA POWDER

DAKOTA EARNEST

SILVER:

Dakota Earnest, Plains, Texas/ Acrospirits, and Alicia Powder, Ladera Ranch, Calif./ World Elite Gymnastics

Photo by Champion Images.

THE LOULE CUP

featured competition in trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline for senior, junior and age group competition. The USA won 29 medals at the Loule Cup, including 11 gold. Three U.S. women won two medals each at the Loule Cup: Rachel Thevenot of Metairie, Texas/Elmwood, – gold for tumbling and bronze for double mini, under 13 girls; Alyssa Oh of Rocklin, Calif./Technique T&T – gold in tram tramRACHEL poline and silver for double mini-tram mini-tramTHEVENOT

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USA GYMNASTICS NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

CARLY TOWNSEND

ALYSSA OH

Junior women Charlotte Drury, Laguna Niguel, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics

GOLD:

Women’s open Audrey Ghanian, Holmdel, N.J./ ETA

GOLD:

DOUBLE MINI-TRAMPOLINE

Under 13 girls GOLD: Carly Townsend, Foothill Ranch, Calif./World Elite SILVER: Alyssa Oh, Rocklin, Calif./ Technique T&T BRONZE: Rachel Thevenot, Metairie, Texas/ Elmwood

GOLD:

Under 13 boys Patrick Lyell, Kenner, LA/ Elmwood

GOLD:

13–14 girls Hally Piontek, Warrensburg, Mo./ Kansas City Trampoline

SILVER:

13–14 boys Garrett Day, Bedford, Va./ Lynchburg Academy

Junior men Steven Harris, Chandler, Ariz./ Aspire Kids Sports Center BRONZE: Noah Orr, Phoenix/Air Sports Unlimited SILVER:

GOLD:

Junior women Madi Webster, Odon, Ind./ Tumbling Express

GOLD:

Senior women Kristle Lowell, Orland Park, Ill./ Branch Gymnastics

Open men BRONZE: Austin White, Newport Coast, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics

TUMBLING

SILVER:

GOLD: SILVER:

SILVER:

Under 13 boys Patrick Lyell, Kenner, La./ Elmwood Under 13 girls Rachel Thevenot, Metairie, Texas/ Elmwood Gretchen Schultz, Destrehan, La./ Elmwood 13–14 boys Quinn Ross, Reno, NV/Legacy T&T

13–14 girls Mandie DiMarco, Metairie, Texas/ Elmwood BRONZE: Isabella Rodriguez, Broken Arrow, Okla./Xtreme Elite SILVER:

SILVER:

GOLD:

Junior women Cheyenne Kelley, Broken Arrow, Okla./Oklahoma Extreme Tumbling Junior men Tyler Waller, Bloomington, Ill./ Gymnastics Etc.

BRONZE: Josh Browne, Gilbert, Ariz./Aspire Kids Sports Center

Champio Photo by

T

he USA

n Images.

More Event Results on page 44

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RHYTHMIC JUNIOR GROUP WINS

JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS The USA Rhythmic Junior Group won the Junior Pan American Championships in Cordoba, Argentina, in September.

The U.S. group based out of Minneapolis, Minn., at the Twin Cities Rhythmics, won the all-around and both event finals (five ropes and five balls). They scored a 21.825 for the rope routine and a 22.900 for the ball routine for a combined total of 44.725.

The members include: Kiana Eide of St. Francis, Minn.; Sofia Popova of Minneapolis, Minn.; Elizabeth Kourdaev of Maple Grove, Minn.; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill.; Tamara Iliyev of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Allyson Roytburd also of Brooklyn, N.Y. Brazil finished second with a score of 42.575 and Canada was third with 39.800.

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FACES IN THE GYM Mercedez Sanchez

Angel Leon

Sherman Oaks, California

Tucson, Arizona

Mercedez, 14, took first place in the all-around as a Level 6 at the 2011 Final Frontier Invitational as well as first on beam, floor and vault. She jumped to Level 8 for the spring season and is now training Level 9/10. She is coached by Chris Clark of Matrix Gymnastics.

Angel, 12, is a Level 8 gymnast at Gymnastics World Central and is coached

by Yoichi Tomita and Cory Morin. Angel took sixth place at the 2010 National Future Stars competition (10-year-old division). He’s the Region 1 All-Around Champion in Level 5, 6, and 7.

Kyra Lum

Nanuet, New York

Kyra, 10, is the 2012 New York Level 6 state champion on bars, beam, floor, and in the allaround. She received a perfect 10 on her floor routine during the state meet. She trains at Rockland Gymnastics with her coaches, Edgar Hatch and Anna Vasilevsky.

Trinity Thomas

York, Pennsylvania

Trinity, 11, of Skyline Gymnastics competed at the 2012 Level 9 Eastern Nationals and placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 36.85. She will be competing Level 10 in the 2012-13 season.

Josh Browne Gilbert, Arizona

Josh, 15, trains at Aspire Kids Sports Center and is coached by Jon Black.

Josh is the Jr. Elite National Double Mini Champion. He’s a member of the Jr. national double mini and tumbling teams. He won the bronze medal in tumbling at the 2012 Loulé Cup in Portugal.

Konstantine Partalas & Collin Davis San Antonio, Texas

Konstantine, 10, and Collin, 15, are a Level 8 men’s pair currently on the USA Acrobatic International team. They train at Acrobatic Gymnastics of San Antonio (AGSA) with coach Vladimir Vladev. Their goal is to compete in the World Age Group competition in 2014.

Would you like to be included in USA Gymnastics or the USA Gymnastics website for Faces in the Gym? Send a photo and a paragraph of information to: publications@usagym.org and we’ll select gymnasts to publish in each issue of the magazine and a few more to post on the website at www.usagym.org/faces

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USA GYMNASTICS NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

EVENT SCHEDULE

2012

NOVEMBER

10–14 11 15 16 17 18

JO National Team Training Camp (W) Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions

Huntsville, TX Boston, MA Washington, DC Pittsburgh, PA Hartford, CT Brooklyn, NY

2013 FEBRUARY 7–9

MARCH

1 2 14–20 22–23

APRIL 12–14 18–20

MAY

1–5 2–5 2–5 9–11 12 31–June 2

JUNE 7–9

Winter Cup Challenge (M)

Las Vegas, NV

Nastia Liukin Cup (W) American Cup (M/W) Acro Cup (AG) USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships (M)

Worcester, MA Worcester, MA Huntsville, TX Williamsburg, VA

Women’s Level 9/10 Regionals NCAA Championships (M)

Various sites State College, PA

JO National Championships (M) Portland, OR Level 9 East Championships (W) Battle Creek, MI Level 9 West Championships (W) Roseville, CA JO National Championships (W) Minneapolis, MN JO–NIT (W) Minneapolis, MN 2013–20 JO Compulsory Master Workshop – East (W) Orlando, FL

2013–20 JO Compulsory Master Workshop – West (W)

Reno, NV

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CLASSIFIEDS POSITION AVAILABLE GYMNASTICS DIRECTOR: CAMP TOWANDA, general interest, coed residential camp in northeastern PA….seeking qualified adult leader to run summer program. 4500 square foot enclosed facility equipped with competitive and recreational equipment including 12’x20’ pit…spring floor….tumble trak… beams, bars, trainers and more!!! Campers 6 to 15 attend the entire season from June 22–August 9…Staff begins by June 15. Safety certification and experience working with minimum level 6 competitors required. GREAT OPPORTUNITY for working parent to have their children attending camp while running our program. Competitive camp salary… Room, board included....Visit www. camptowanda.com…contact staff@camptowanda.com or call 845 679-2802.

GIRLS TEAM COACH NEEDED. Champions United Gymnastics Academy in Central NJ is looking for GIRLS TEAM AND PRE-TEAM COACH. We are also looking for Part-/Full-Time instructors for our Recreational Program. Salary is negotiable and based on experience. For more information visit our website: www. champions-united.com or call (609)864-6810.

WOMEN’S HEAD TEAM COACH: TAGS Gymnastics is hiring in Apple Valley, MN. Full-time position to oversee training team levels through Level 10. Applicants must have strong leadership skills, high integrity, proven success Levels 9 &10 and/or Elite level competitors, strong spotting abilities, competent lesson planning, excellent communication skills with gymnasts, parents & staff, and most importantly a high regard for our gymnast’s safety. Established in 1977 – two locations, 3500 students. Applicants will be kept confidential, forward resume & references. Contact Julia 612-845-0665, jttags@mac.com, www.tagsgym.com.

HEAD OVER HEELS GYMNASTICS – NORWELL, MA. GIRLS TEAM PROGRAM DIRECTOR/GIRLS & BOYS TEAM COACHES. Are you a team player? We are looking for very committed team players to join our dedicated staff of coaches. We are a very successful and well-established program! Must have experience in working with all levels and be able to manage a very competent and enthusiastic staff. Duties to include: instruction of recreational classes, preparation of workout schedules and lesson plans and building a very strong competitive team program. We pay above minimum salaries for experienced coaches and offer a great benefits package. Annual salary increases are always given for jobs well done. If you are looking to be a part of a great team that will give you the flexibility and support to help build a more successful program, this is the gym for you. The position is now available. Please send resume along with work/salary history and references to headoverheelsgym@verizon.net.

SUMMIT GYMNASTICS ACADEMY, in Flagstaff, AZ is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, detail oriented BOY’S GYMNASTICS HEAD COACH. Applicant must have experience in both recreational and competitive gymnastics along with proficiency in spotting athletes. Must be confident in working with athletes of all ages, communicating with parents, and working effectively with the coaching team. Contact Kristi or Karen at 928-526-0644 or info@summitgymnasticsacademy.com.

RECREATIONAL/PRESCHOOL COACH in beautiful sunny Myrtle Beach, SC! – We are a well-established, family-oriented gym celebrating over 24 years in the Grand Strand. Applicants must be willing to work a minimum of 25–30 hours and 5–6 days a week. Shifts will consist mainly of afternoon & evening hours, so plenty of time to spend at the beach (only 5 min. away!) Our 18,000+sq ft facility houses separate instructional & team gyms to maximize teaching efficiency. We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and energetic PRE-SCHOOL/RECREATIONAL COACH with a flexible schedule to help with our “Olympic Boom” fall enrollment. Compensation based on experience & availability. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR COMPULSORY & OPTIONAL COACHES, so please be specific when sending resumes. The position is available immediately. Please send full resume, including: work history, character/job references & salary requirements to TerryAndDonsGymnastics@ gmail.com or send a private message to our Facebook page.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD, go to

www.2.usagym.org/classifieds

for all the details.

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USA GYMNASTICS NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2012

NORTHERN VIRGINIA GYMNASTICS FACILITY– Looking for experienced, motivated, and organized professionals to join our team. We have openings for the following programs: BOYS & GIRLS COMPULSORY TEAM COACHES, GYM MANAGER, RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS COACH, ACROBATIC COACH AND CHEER DIRECTOR. Applicants must be flexible, have a positive encouraging style and help motivate students to reach their personal potential. Part-time/full-time positions are available. Salary to commensurate with experience, qualifications and certifications. Please email your credentials to Info@LoudounGymnastics.com.

RECREATION COACH WANTED. Premier Gymnastics & Cheer Academy located in Morganville, NJ is looking for an enthusiastic & motivated Rec coach. We are looking for someone to not only teach beginner but also advanced gymnastics & tumbling classes. They must: • Enjoy working with children. • Be Positive, Dependable, Motivated, Friendly & Outgoing. • Have at least two years’ experience. We are offering: • Flexible Schedule, Currently over 12 Hrs. per Week Available • Base Salary + Competitive pay based on experience. • Brand new 15,000 Sq. Ft facility with new equipment. Check us out online at www.NJPremierGymnastics.com. Send your resume to Info@ NJPremierGymnastics.com.

HIGH POINT GYMNASTICS ACACEMY in NC is looking for a strong BEAM AND FLOOR CHOREOGRAPHER with gymnastics background and coaching experience. Must be J.O proficient at both compulsory and optional levels, and must also be willing to teach recreational and pre-team classes. Please send your resume to hpga@northstate.net. Call 336-869-3589 with questions.

FOR SALE WE OFFER A VARIETY OF HOLDERS THAT YOU DESIGN. Choose personalization, color, figures, hooks, font. Go to www.mymedalholder.com Team pricing and fundraising available. The perfect gift for your gymnast or athlete. They are perfect for holding medals, hats, leos, ect. Order early for the Holidays.

HOLIDAYS ARE FOR MEMORIES! This year, stuff your favorite gymnast’s stocking with the perfect competition keepsake. A SCOREBOOK BY ANGELA is a colorful, spiral-bound scorebook that will be a memento to be treasured forever! The easy-to-use, fun-to-complete book measures 5.5” x 8.5” and features: Score sheets for 10 competitions; State, Regional, and National results pages; Special 9.0 clubs; Personalization (additional). Custom designs for Women’s, Men’s, Trampoline & Tumbling, Rhythmic. Specialized for USAG, Xcel, Prep Opt, JOGA, USAIGC, YMCA, AAU and more … Visit www.scorebooksbyangela.com for a special USAG discount! Coupon Code: USAGM1213. Questions? Email us at info@scorebooksbyangela.com FLOOR MUSIC. WWW.ORIGINALFLOORMUSIC.COM Looking for something unique and different in floor music? Something that NO ONE else will have? Original Floor Music is dedicated to your many years, months, weeks and hours of hard work and to the art you create when performing and giving it your all during your routines. Visit www.OriginalFloorMusic.com, listen and find something unique, new and different just for you. Our music tracks are sold once in a region, state or just to you. Free Demos ALWAYS – New tracks added weekly. The very best always use original floor music!

KLICK’Z GRIP BAGS. Get rid of the old boring drawstring bag and say Hello to Klick’z, a must-have for every gymnast this holiday season. This new and unique grip bag opens with a simple snap and comes in a HUGE variety of designs to choose from that your daughter will love. Hand-sewn with high quality fabrics, the Klick’z grip bag is the perfect gift for any occasion. Embroidery is also available, so visit Klick’z at www.myklickzbag.com and like our Fb page at www.facebook. com/Klickz and custom order your bag today!!! All Christmas orders need to be received by December 5th.

GK RISK-FREE PROGRAM: Get with the program! It’s better than ever, with a terrific assortment of NEW styles and fabrics and incomparable sales potential.

Plus, it’s easier than ever to order, sell and return your RISK-FREE garments.

We offer customized packages for your pro shop, meets and summer camp. You only pay for what you’ve sold and may return the rest, there is absolutely NO RISK!! If you haven’t tried us lately, it’s time you started earning extra profits with our RISK-FREE merchandise. Call 1-800-345-4087 for more information on how you can get started today! Email: customerservice@gkelite.com.

SCORE MASTER – Scorekeeping software interfaced to many different score boards: EliteScore, BetaBrites, TV’s & Projectors. Download team rosters from the USAG website. Features include: random draws, create rotations, assign #’s, the most comprehensive reporting and results can

go directly to your website. Supports: womens/mens, individual/team, artistic/rhythmic/trampoline, compulsory/optional. Download a FREE demo at www.Score-Master.com.

EDUCATION NATIONAL UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL (NUVHS) offers the premier high school online learning experience for athletes. With more than 90 online high school courses including advanced placement, we provide athletes the opportunity to achieve academic excellence through an active, engaging and cooperative learning environment. Our courses are taught by highly qualified teachers and our online format is fully interactive and accessible 24/7 with flexible start and end dates. Students are able to enroll anytime on a full- or part-time basis and can complete a full semester high school course in as few as four or as many as 16 weeks. NUVHS is accredited by WASC and AdvanceEd and approved by NCAA and NAIA. Additionally, NUVHS has been approved by UC “a-g” as an online provider. Call 866-366-8847 for enrollment information or visit www.nuvhs.org.

GYMCERT COACHES TRAINING PROGRAM: GymCert’s Training manuals, Safety Awareness Posters, article downloads & Online Certification for Recreational & Competitive Gymnastics Instructors Level 1 through Level 6. GymCert offers Boys 1 & Girls Spanish Level 1. GymCert is a MUST for staff training; cuts lesson planning time significantly; use to coordinate class progressions & skill training methods; quick & easy reference guide including Lesson Planning Forms & Class Evaluation Forms. Available February; NEW UPDATED “Skills & Drills” for 2013–2020 Compulsory Routines! The GymCert manuals provide concise instruction, clear illustrations, & several coaching, spotting & safety tips. Group discounts! Order @ www.gymcert.com or direct by calling 407-444-5669 EST .

GYMNASTICS; YOUR BEST MEET EVER! (NEW BOOK) “Gymnastics; Your Best Meet Ever!” was written to help Beginning & Intermediate level gymnasts focus on making each competition the BEST possible. Great book as a reference for all gymnasts. Fears are a major cause of poor performance. If the gymnast is able to face each fear & take specific action to minimize its effect on her performance, she will take a giant step toward winning in both gym & life! Preparation is the base that supports the ability to adapt to new & changing comp. scenarios! Author, Rita Brown; 2-Time Olympic Coach – Available @ amazon.com.

FUNDRAISING NEED A FUNDRAISER? How about 1200 thread count Sheet Fundraiser?

Since everyone needs linen, this has been a very successful fundraiser. You’ll make large profits by selling a great product at a great price. Here are a few success stories: Jasper Middle School Band (Jasper, GA) raised $4000+, Georgia All-Star Gymnastics (Woodstock, GA) to date have raised over $6000 and River Ridge Cheerleaders (Canton, GA) raised $9,450 in 3 weeks. Your customers will be impressed and coming back for more! Satisfaction guaranteed! NO start up costs! Get started today, email Mary @ marysmonogramming@gmail.com or call 770-893-8842.

PARENTS OF GYMNASTS RAISE YOUR DAUGHTER’S GYMNASTICS SCORES & CONFIDENCE. Do you need help understanding what the gymnastics judge is looking for in your daughter’s gymnastics routines? Visit www.JudgeGymnast.com. Here to help your child be successful by helping both you and her understand what the gymnastics judge is looking for and how the judge arrives at the score.

JudgeGymnast.com will provide valuable feedback on you child’s gymnastics routines so she can make adjustments to raise her score. Why guess at what she needs to work on? Register for FREE at www.JudgeGymnast.com. www.JudgeGymnast.com.

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