Posts by Gymfinity
Check your Charities
This year I will ask anyone that wants to get me something for the holiday to make a contribution to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital instead. If they were going to spend $1 on me, or $100, I will ask that it go to someone who can use it. I am the most fortunate man in…
Read MoreWorking for the Holidays
As I was driving to the gym the other night I had an interesting conversation with my 5 year old son, Owen. I thought it summarized many of the issues I have with the commercialization of the holidays; the barrage of commercials that make you feel that you are less if you don’t have more, the…
Read MoreGREAT JOB at STATE
Our compulsory teams and coaches return from Milwaukee and the State Championship 2009. At the time of posting, my level 3 results are not available online, but all results are available at the host gym, Altius Gymnastics, web site by clicking here. For our Level 4′ Top 1o’s: Jamie F. 10th Bars, Hannah B. 10th…
Read MoreGymfinity Community Service
About 6 months ago, I met with our team parents about hosting our annual meet. Every year we have a different theme to unify the whole meet and decorate. As I sat with the parents that night someone suggested a food drive as a theme, and someone else said it could tie in with a…
Read MoreCoaches Talking about China Vs. the U.S.
I recently got a very interesting e-mail from a blog friend that compares China’s to the Canadian system (He’s Canadian). I found his observations, provided from another friend, were very interesting; so I sent them to all of Gymfinity’s team coaches. One coach responded. She is an amazing student of the sport and her knowledge about…
Read MoreGymfinity’s Home Meet Rocks
This weekend we hosted the “With A Star On Top” gymnastics invitational. We thought it would be a small meet but it turned into a meet of over 350 gymnasts with almost 1000 spectators. Big. Our team parents group was amazing. This meet was organized and operated by parents and it went off without a…
Read MoreProof: tough love is a good thing
A recent study shows that the principles of “tough love” lead kids to be more successful throughout life. The study done by a parenting “think tank” says that a balance of warmth and discipline improves social skills more than a laissez-faire, authoritarian or disengaged upbringing. We’ve said it (and lived it) for years, but finally there…
Read MoreThe People with your kids
Along with the “boy he got lucky on the weather today” comments the halls were flooded with the conversations about why Mr. Brunner was up there. When asked me I said “because he believes in you kids.” I applaud his dedication and his daring, I give him a lot of respect for following through; that’s a lesson to…
Read MorePoking fun at the past
Here is a pretty funny spoof on (former) eastern block coaches who have immigrated to America and become gymnastics professionals. (WARNING: THE VIDEO DOES HAVE ONE BIT OF INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE) The video title mentions Marta Karolyi by name but there are more than just Marta out there. British comic Tracey Ullman is poking fun at coaches who, through neglect,…
Read MoreOne for the Dads
OK, I cannot assume that only the fathers are into football, in fact my wife knows more about football than I do, but I had to get your attention with a snappy headline. This last weekend the Packers got beat by the Vikings and that is a particularly sore spot with most Wisconsinites. In fact,…
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