2008 GAT Workshop with Brandi Lewis
by Brandi Lewis, M.Ed.
Region 3 Administrative Chair
WOGA Acrobatics, Head Coach
Just wanted to share a little about my latest opportunity to share Acrobatic Gymnastics with the Artistic Gymnastics community! Lorna Spellman and I attended the Gymnastics Association of Texas (GAT) Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, over Labor Day weekend. Lorna ran the Texas Acro booth in the exhibition hall and I was able to present 2 different lectures on coaching acrobatics and starting a pre-team program.
We had lots of interest in the sport and we even had kids watching the videos Lorna had at the booth trying to do the skills they were seeing on the tv. It was great! Even better, was the fact that the booth was right next to a photographer, so every time the kids were successful in a skill, they wanted to go over and have the photographer take a picture of it!
We had about about 15 clubs interested in getting more information about acrobatic gymnastics, and we were able to distribute the pre-team handbooks to those coaches! The handbook was a great tool to have access to!
During one of the lectures, I went through the handbook, explaining the terminology and led a "round table" discussion with the coaches, making sure that the instructions and pictures were understood by all. I wanted them to be able to go home, pick the handbook back up, and easily implement the skills they saw into their preschool and recreational programs!
I followed up with the clubs after GAT was over and have already gotten requests for clinics to be held at a few different clubs.
Hope things are going well for you as well!
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| Alex Douglas explains acro technique to the coaches at the GAT Convention. Brandi Lewis, Melody Barnett, Meagan O'Brian, Britney Westra & Andy Thies wait in the background. Photo by Chris Westra. 9/3/05 |
2005 Acrobatic Gymnastics Displayed at GAT
Through the follow through of Texas Acro promotion, Alex Douglas was hired by GAT to speak this year at their annual convention. The convention was held September 3rd and 4th at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. Two sessions were requested by GAT. The first session was to be a workshop on acro technique. The second session was to be a lecture on the sport.
For the workshop, Alex brought several props for demonstration, and created a workbook for the participants to take home with them. Several athletes also came to demonstrate skills for the convention. Andy Thies, Britney Westra, Meagan O'Brian and Melody Barnett from Texas Sports Ranch demonstrated skills, along with Brandi Lewis from Highland Park High School (formerly from Trevino’s Acro Team), and Molly Swope with Liina Francis from Boerne Gymnastics School.
GAT gave us a room that was way too small with way too low of a ceiling to perform acrobatics in. Therefore we took the workshop out to the atrium of the hotel. That worked out much better since it brought the workshop to the coaches. Many sat at tables to listen to the explanations, while many watched from afar. Regrettably, the hard floor caused a bruise upon Liina’s foot, which caused the two to sit out most of the workshop. Texas Acro is grateful for their attendance and thank them for participating. Of course, at the end of the workshop Rumen Latchkov and Vladimir Vladev demonstrated their world championship skills to an amazed and delighted audience. But many thanks need to be given to Texas Sports Ranch for providing L9 gymnasts Andy Theis & Britney Westra and L8 gymnasts Melody Barnett & Meagan O'Brian who performed most of the stunts.
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Molly Swope and Liina Francis demonstrate a stunt at the convention. Watching in the background are Brandi Lewis, Britney Westra, Maegan O"Brian, Andy Thies and Melody Barnett. Photo by Chris Westra. 9/3/05 |
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Alex hands the GAT bags to L9 Mixed Pair gold medalists from Texas Sports Ranch, Andy Theis, Britney Westra and their coach Anna Smirnova while Jodie Trncak stands in the background. Photo by Lorna Spellman. 9/3/05 |
The workshop covered biomechanic technique to acro stunts, proper grips and holds, correct posture, the use of props, and using leverage to your advantage. The bulk of the workshop was demonstrating sample stunts from the different families of acro movements to help the coaches understand what the main movement vocabulary is for creating competitive routines. This work book is being made available online and can be found in the coaches section of the website.
After the first session the convention awarded all the gold medalists with a certificate and dinner at their banquet. All the athletes attending the workshop were gold medal winners at this year's National Championships. All the other athletes who won a silver or bronze were also given a certificate, but not the banquet.Alex Douglas, as the State Director, was asked to hand out the certificat to the acrobats.
The second session began with a specially created DVD demonstrating the history of modern gymnastics and acrobatics, and comparing the two disciplines, then concluding with a survey of the USAG Acro Junior Olympic program. This was held in the original room assigned to us and had a much smaller crowd, mostly from Group Gymnastics and former acrobats. The DVD was followed by a more detailed explanation of the JO program. Very positive results were gained from the workshop. The coaches participating expressed interest in further training in acro, and the GAT coordinators of Cheryl Jarrett and Vicki Bounds gave a thumbs up!
The DVD is also available for purchase from Texas Acro. If you would like a copy, contact the AD Productions for purchase details.