Injuries are one of the toughest challenges for gymnasts—especially at the optional level. These athletes are used to long hours, steady progress, and chasing big goals. When an injury forces them to step back, it can feel frustrating and isolating. As coaches, we play a crucial role in helping injured gymnasts stay connected, productive, and positive throughout recovery. Here are six strategies to keep athletes engaged during practice, even when they can’t train at full capa

The Importance of Pre-Season Gymnastics Mindset Training A few years ago, at the start of pre-season gymnastics mindset training, I wanted to try something different with my athletes. Instead of diving straight into skills, drills, and routine work, I set aside a quiet afternoon in the gym for a confidence and mindset session. No routines. No timed warm-ups. No pressure. Just spotting blocks as tables, folding chairs, and a scatter of pens, markers, and stickers across the ma

A few years ago, I was trying to figure out the best way to encourage athletes to keep pushing for progress on their beam training and skills. Have you ever noticed athletes getting stuck in one place with no forward movement toward the high beam? What I always try to highlight with my athletes is the small wins. As coaches, we sometimes get too caught up in whether they "have it on high beam or not"—it's a black-and-white mindset. But I knew I needed a way to celebrate the i

At Raise the Bar, we offer more than just custom training — we’ve created three Standard Strength Programs designed for coaches who are ready to jump in and start making progress right away. Each program is delivered immediately as a PDF file with linked instructional videos. This allows you to learn the movements before introducing them to your athletes. Standard Gymnastics Strength Plans for Coaches Overview of Our Programs Our Standard Strength Programs are tailored for co