This session is designed to help the Women’s Program community understand all the rule changes that were approved at the 2025 annual committee meetings. You’ll hear directly from members of the Administrative, Technical, and Development Program committees as they walk through the key updates — including changes to the Rules and Policies, the Development Program Code of Points, the Compulsory Book, and the Operating Code. These updates will take effect for the upcoming 2025-2026 competition season, so this is a great chance to get clear on what’s new.
Tumbling is the basis for all the other events. It is extremely important that kids develop good tumbling basics from the very beginning. This lecture will cover shaping, rolling, handstands, round-offs, and walkovers. We will discuss the proper technique, strength, flexibility, and drills for these skills. This will be a live lecture with demonstrators and videos.
This is a great lecture for both judges and coaches. We will look at different leaps and jumps, from the basics (split leap/jump) through more advanced (switch ½, tour jete) and discuss what deductions they will incur. We will show drills that will help the athlete develop the strength, flexibility, and body awareness to complete the leaps and jumps without these deductions. We will also discuss how developing proper techniques at the lower levels will help athletes be more successful with more advanced dance elements in the future.
This is a great lecture for both judges and coaches. Is it connected or isn’t it? Should the deduction be for rhythm or was it not connected? What are some common errors that cause connections to be broken? Many times when coaches question an athlete’s start value it is due to a broken connection which means a special requirement or a bonus connection is not awarded. It is important that coaches understand how these acro series are evaluated. We will look at backward connections (back walkover-back handspring), forward connections (front walkover-cartwheel), swing through connections (handstand-cartwheel), counter connections (front aerial-back handspring), and side-back connections (aerial-layout step-out). We will show drills to fix the technical errors that led to the broken connection. We will discuss how to develop strong beam tumblers and how to help gymnasts work through their fears on beam.
This is a great lecture for both judges and coaches. Is it connected or isn’t it? Should the deduction be for rhythm or was it not connected? What are some common errors that cause connections to be broken? Many times when coaches question an athlete’s start value it is due to a broken connection which means a special requirement or a bonus connection is not awarded. It is important that coaches understand how these dance and mixed connections are evaluated. We will look at some common beam connections and discuss why the connection wasn’t given and what errors led to the broken connection. We will then show drills to help fix the problems that led to the errors that caused the broken connection.
This lecture builds on the skills covered in Tumbling Basics. We will discuss how to teach front and back handsprings safely and with proper technique and how to determine when a student is ready to begin learning handsprings and what prerequisites are necessary for safe and successful learning. We will then move onto the progressions for front and back saltos and how important technically correct front and back layouts are.
A flipping vault is not the right choice for every gymnast. Flipping vaults take a lot of time to develop safely and then a lot more time to be ready for competition. In the Xcel program, when you look at risk vs. reward, a twisting vault is most likely the smarter choice. In the Dev program, a twisting vault may be the smarter choice for first-year Level 8’s. We will discuss the technical differences between flipping and twisting vaults and why it is important for the coaches and athletes to understand those differences. We will show and discuss many drills and techniques to develop Handspring 1/1, ½ – ½ , and ½ – 1/1 vaults.
This lecture will be great for those of us who absolutely love coaching beam and for those who don’t! I’ve coached beam from pre-school age through elite for more than 35 years and have done everything the wrong way to learn how to do it better! We will be breaking down beam acro skills: handstands, cartwheels, back walkovers, front walkovers, and back handsprings. These skills are the base for all the acro skills and series that come after, so it is so important to teach them with correct technique. We will discuss the lead-ups, strength, and flexibility necessary to complete these skills and I will show lots of drills to help you be successful (and love) coaching beam!