Raise the Bar Blog Post

Parent communication can be tricky. There are usually only a handful of coaches, a lot of kids, and even more parent questions. One of the biggest things that has helped me is having systems in place to ensure clear communication and expectations—so everyone stays on the same page. A system I’ve used for years is what I call our Stoplight Sheets. One of the most common (and often controversial) topics every season is deciding which athletes are ready to move up a level and wh

Pre-season is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the perfect opportunity to focus on foundations, build strength, and set the tone for the upcoming competitive season. Every year, I refine my focus based on what my athletes need most. This year, these are the five main areas I’m prioritizing in our training. 1. Handstand Shaping You can never do too many handstands. They’re the foundation of nearly every skill in gymnastics, across every event. It’s not just about hol

A busy gym can look impressive from the outside. Athletes are moving, coaches are giving corrections, drills are happening, music is playing, and everyone seems to be doing something. But being busy doesn't necessarily mean we're being productive. As gymnastics coaches, it's easy to measure a good practice by how much we got done. How many skills did we work? How many drills did we get through? Did everyone stay moving? But I think the better question is: What actually improv

One of the easiest traps to fall into as a gymnastics coach is chasing skills. We see the skill an athlete needs, we know what they need to compete or move up a level, and naturally, we want to spend as much time as possible working on it. More reps, more drills, more attempts. But sometimes the fastest way to get the skill isn't to spend more time doing the skill. Sometimes, we need to take a step back and build the athlete first. Skills Are the Result, Not the Starting Poin

Conditioning is easy to turn into a numbers game. How many reps? How long? How many rounds? But as gymnastics coaches, we should be paying attention to much more than whether an athlete finishes the set. Quality Comes Before Quantity The goal of conditioning isn't simply to get athletes tired. It is to build the physical qualities they need for gymnastics. That means the quality of the movement matters. If an athlete starts with great body position but gradually loses their s