THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 1969 60c

OLYMPIA MAT MFG. CO. INC. SAFETY - BEAUTY - HANDLING EASE - SERVICE

NEW V211 - 40' x YMPIA'

~R THE BUDGET MINDE ~ ~---.------------...: ----------

5.00 (Delive'red) _______ -!._J

Olympia Gymnastic Mats were used at the final USA Olympic (men's) trials at UCLA. Also Final USA Olym­pic (women's) trials at Long Beach, Calif. National United States Gymnastic Federation Championships, NCAA finals, Pasadena National Invitationals, Cali­fornia State College Gymnastic Championships; Calif. Women's State J.c. finals, L.A. City High School finals, and the United States Gymnastic Championships and the 1 st Annual World Cup at Long Beach, Calif.

OLYMPIA MAT MFG. CO., INC. 9051 Del Mar Avenue Montclair, Calif, 91763

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

COACHES; Mail thi s coupon - f o r further in f o rmation and FREE Olympia Grip Exe rciser .

OLYMPIA MAT. MFG. CO. INC. 9051 Del Mar Avenue Montclair, Calif. 91763

Name

Address (School)

City ........ .. ..... State . ......................... Z ip .............. ..... .

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

SAFETY TRAINING

PADS

A-169-W UNEVEN PARALLEL BAR TRAINING PAD Ideal for practicing hip circles. Only 15". Long enough to pro­vide ample protection yet will not interfere with hand position.

TEAM 9.50

A-170 BALANCE BEAM TRAINING PAD Added protection in learning backward rolls, hand stands, and other skills . Covers 16' 5" beam.

TEAM 49.95

A-170-1 Same as a bove except 5'5 " in length for partial beam covering.

TEAM 19.95

A-170-3 Same construction as above except in three 5'5" sections which will cover all or part of beam as required. Sections are se­cured with velca clos ure.

TEAM 59.50

A-169 PARALLEL BAR PADS Ny-O-Lite filler with bonded Powerhyde cover and velcro fasteners . Lightweight padding allows bar to flex , yet gives complete protection for beginners as well as advanced performers attempting d ifficult routines. Set of four, fi ve foot sections.

TEAM 59.95

notes FROM THE

editor:

COllEGE AND UNIVERSITY DATA: During the past 10 months we have included a GYMNASTIC QUESTIONER with our renewa l statements. This GYM POLL is designed as a reader evaluation of our MG articles and special features. We also included a couple of new subject ideas we were considering for possible future publ ication in the MG .... To date we have had several thousand of these MG GYM POLLs re­turned (along with MG renewals), and by far the most popular request has been for more information on col­leges and universities (where, facilities, cost, student aid, coach, program, record, etc.).

Beca use of this overwhelming interest we have had to change our plans a bit on how we can present this effec­t ively in the MG. Therefore along with our idea of present­ing data on a few colleges across the nation in each edi­tion, we would li ke to go one step and make up a chart to be publi shed in our December (or January) edition. This chart wil l li st all of the schools and data possible. To do th is we need the help and support of all t;,e coaches and their respective institutions. Coach ... if you would li ke to have your school listed in our MG College Data Chart, PLEASE f ill in the information sheet below (we are sure your Athletic Dept. P.R. man would be glad to do it for you) and rush it to our offi ce so we ca n be sure to incl ude your school 'in our report. If you wish, drop us a postcard today and say .. . "Data coming from our school, please hold space for US."

MODERN GYMNAST COLLEGE INFORMATION SHEET

Name of College: Location: Size (No. of students): Tuition:

In-state Out-of-state

Additional fees: Housing Other (specify)

Academic Strengths: (Li st a few of the departments for which your college is noted, e.g., bu siness, engineering, zoology, etc.)

Gymnastic Program: Athletic Conference May fres hmen compete on varsity? Affiliation : NCAA College, NCAA University, NAIA Coach No. Years as coach Record (dual meets only) Honors (be brief) Assistant Coach Is trampoline a part of the program? Does gymna stics have its own room for workouts?

Financial: Total No. scholarships for gymnastics

Number of full scholarships Number of partial scholarships Average number of scholarships available each

year to new gymnasts Other sources of aid:

m THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE

CG Official Publication of the United States Gymnastic Federation

CONTENTS

VOL. XI OCTOBER NUMBER 1 0

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR .... . ... .. ... . Glenn Sundby 4 CHALK TALK .. .... ..... ... . ..... ... ... .. ..... .. . ........ ... 6 MACCABIAH GAMES ...... ..... Isadore Wasserman 6 "Y" NEWS ........ ... ..... .. ....... ... ... Robert Hanscom 7 GYMNASTICS IN TEXAS ..... .. ..... .. . Buddy Gurganus 8 MG INTERVIEW: KEN McCANLESS .... ... Dick Criley 9 USGF REPORT ... ....... .. .. ......... .... ... .. Frank Bare 10 CANADIAN REPORT ... ...... .. ... ...... .... . John Nooney 11 SANTA MONICA GYMFEST ... ....... ...... .. Dick Criley 12 RESEARCH AND FITNESS IN GYMNASTICS

... James Bosco 13 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSH IPS .... ..... Andrezej Gonera 14 MG CENTER PHOTO .. ...... ...... .. . .... Michail Voronin 16 ANYONE FOR ALL AROUND

... George Tonry, Millman 18 1970 WORLD GAMES COMPULSORIES

... Barbara & Chris Weber 22 JUDGING BY JERRy ... . .. ....... . .... .... . Jerry Wright 24 TUMBLING TOPICS .. ... ... ... . ... ... .. ...... . .. Dick Criley 25 SCOREBOARD .. .... .... ... .... .... .... ....... . .. .. . .. ...... 26 SPECIALIST PRIMER ...... . ... .. .... . ..... ... Ken Sakoda 27 LETTERS .. .... .. .. .... ... .. . .. .. ... ... .. ...... .... ... ...... .. 28 MG GYM CALENDAR ... .... . ..... ... .......... ... .. ..... .. . 30

COVER, Featured on the October iss ue is Seymour Rifkin, 1969 Ill inois State High School AA Champ and also 1969 Moccabiah Games team member.

PUBLISHER-EDITOR GLENN SUNDBY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS-TECHNICAL DICK CRILEY, FEATURE KEN SAKODA, LAYOUT

ASSOCIATE EDITORS· Feature

A. Bruce Frederick, Educat ion; Dr. J ames S. Bosco, Research; Jerry Wright, Competition; Frank Bare. USGF; John Nooney, Canada; Robert Hanscom, YMCA; Andrzei Gonera , European; Gerold George, Dan Millman & Don Tonry , AA I nstructional; Bill Roetzhe im, I nstructional.

THE MooeRN GYMNAST magazine is published by Sundby Publications. 41 0 Broad wa y, Santo Monico , California 90401. Second Cla n Postage paid a t Sa nto Monico, Ca lif. Published monthly except bi-monthly June, JuIV. August, a nd Septembe r. Price $6.00 per yeo r, bOe 0 sing le copy: Subscription correspondence, The MODE RN GYMNAST, P.O. Box 61 1, Santo Monico, California 90406. Copyright 1969© 011 rights reserved by SUNDBY PU BLICATIONS. 4 10 Broadway, Sonta Monico, Colif. All photos ond manusc ripts submiHed become the p roperty of The MO DERN GYMNAST unless 0 return request and sufficient posta ge o re include d .

CREATIVE GYMNASTICS Port-a-Pit, well known manufacturer of Olympic

quality landing surfaces for pole vaulting and high jumping, and creators of Fa-T-mats and crash pads, now introduces a dynamic new line of creative gymnastic equipment.

Typical of the many products of Port-a-Pit's creative engineering are: octagon spot trainers in four sizes; fold­ing and extra large Fa-T-mats; three section urethane

foam vaulting horses; incline mats and an inclined tram-' poline protectQr( pad.

Top quality urethane foam, custom covered with specially constructed hypalon coated nylon, guarantees long durability and economy.

Learning is accelerated as tension is removed by assurance of a safe, soft landi!lg.

For a complete new catalog write or call:

POR1i1iT P. O. Box C • Temple City, California 91780 • (213) 444-6900 or 283-2568

THE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL LIAISON ~OMMITTEE National Association of College Gymnastic Coaches (NACGC)

Gym Master Company Research Grant and

Nationa l Gymnastic Clinic (Sarasota) CHAIRMAN: Dr. Hartley Price. Florida State University: Tallahassee, Florida ANNOUNCEMENT: Four Research Awards will be offered this year. GYMNASTIC RESEARCH AWARDS for 1969· 70. I. The C. H. McCloy Honor Research Awa-d of the

National Gymnastic Clinic - Sarasota - $100. (President - Frank Cumiskey. RFD Westwood: New Jersey). Decided at Sarasota. Chairman. Dr. Hartley Price

2. Two Honor Research Awards of the NACGC (National Association of College Gymnastic Coach­es) - SIOO each. (President - Frank Walcott, Gymnastic Coach, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts. a. Western Award USGF National Western Clinic

(Chairman, Dr. G lenn Wilson) . Decided at Tuc­son.

b. Easter Award - USGF National Eastern Clinic (Chairman. Dr. Hartley Price). Decided at Fort Lauderdale.

Also at the Gvmnastic Clinic at Tucson Arizona: 3. The Gym ~Iaster Company Research Grant

Chairman - Dr. Glenn Wilson. University of Arizona: Tucson. Arizona ).

CRITERION OF COMMITTEE: The committee wishes to stress that studies that

benefit a large group rather than a small group will be favored. PROCEDURE OF CANDIDATES:

Candidates cannot submit their outlines to both clinics. A choice must be made. I. A prospectus of the problem must be submitted by

November 30. a. Studies for consideration for the Honor Research

Awards of the National Gymnastic Clinic or the N ACGC (National Association of College Gym­nastic Coaches) Eastern Award (USGF National Eastern Clinic) must be submitted to Dr. Harley Price, Florida State University, by November 30. The prospectus will then be passed on to the sub­committee of the Research Award Committee in order to decide the winning candidates. It will facilitate matters if several copies of the prospec­tus are sent to me.

b. Studies for consideration for the NACGC West­ern Award and the Gym Master Grant at Tuc­son. Arizona. must be submitted to Dr. Gle nn Wilson. University of Arizona. Tucson. Arizona.

2. The Prospectus of the Research:

6

a. The candidates should include the following points in their prospectus: (I) Outline the problem (2) Stat.e in hypotheses , (3) I ndlcate the methods to be used (4) Report the bibliography that was used in approaching the problem (5) Justify the research

b. The deadline for the prospectus for this year's award will be: Nov. 30,1969.

c. I ndicate the progress that has been made up to date on the research.

d. The members of the subcommittee will decide what candidate will receive the award after study­ing the prospecti. Therefore. the prospecti should be very complete.

e. Each recipient of the award is expected to publish his study in the Modern Gymnast or The Re­search Quarterly of the AAH PER.

CLOSEOUT - MEN'S GYMNASTIC PANTS

1968 MODEl Imported Gym Pants, Not Seconds or Re­jects: White - Sizes XS S M L XL -All-way stretch nylon - originally $13.00 now $8.25 - Exlan (orlon) & cotton, orig­inally $6.00, now .. ' $4.00

UNIVERSAL-RESILITE (formerly Olympic·Resilite)

12 North Cottage St. Valley Stream, N.Y. 11580

$1,000 SCHOLARSHIP WARD MEYTHALER, 1969 All-American Gymnast from Iowa State University (1969 N CAA Ring Champion) with a 3.8 g.p.a. in political science , was among the 80 N CAA Se­nior athletes across the nation to receive a $ 1,000 Postgraduate Scholarship for the 1968-69 academic year. ... FRANK CUM ISKEY received a Service Award for 1969 from the New Jersey Gymnastic Association ... on the same evening DON WEIDER won the mid­night handstand contest to become the " 1969 NJGA Handstand Champion" defeating de­fending champ WILLY WEINHOLDT. ... TROY RICHARD WOLF blessed the home of DICK & LIZ WOLF on the first of August (Conditioning for Competition Wolf) .... DAN BUR KE is the new varsity gymnastic coach of Long Island University's Brooklyn Center.

JAPANESE COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS The Japan NCAA Gymnastics Championships were held in Tokyo on 7/26/69. (The top win­ners. both men and women, Kenmotsu and Miss Oda, participated in the 1969 1st U SG F World C up) . Following are 'the results: Men Women I. Kenmotsu I. ada 2. Ohara 2. Inouye 3. Tsukahara 3. Mizukawa

REPORT ON THE MACCABIAH GAMES By Isadore Wasserman

Just returned from Israel and one of the most exciting gymnastic events I 've ever witnessed ... the eighth World Maccabiah games. I went as manager of the U.S. team, a nd I don ' t know when I ' ve enjoyed any position more. Twenty­eight nations were represented , and the gym­nastic talent was outstanding.

The U.S. Maccabiah Games Committee se­lected five men and two women to represent this nation in the games this past summer. Mark Cohn, the 1965 a ll-around champion , once again took top honors by winning the 1969 championship and go ld and silver medals to boot. Barry Weiner of Temple placed first in the high bar and floor exercise events and after several excellent performances wound up in third position in the all-around behind Dow Loufi of Israel. Fred Turoff, newly crowned ring champion In the America C up event in

Mexico, could only manage a fifth in the all­around event but garnered a gold in the rings and vaulting competitions. Joe Lito.v of Penn State, unfortunate ly suffering from a bad case of bronchitis, and a newcomer with fantastic potentia l, Seymour Rifkind , just out of high school in Skokie , Illinois , rounded out the team. Seymour will attend the University of New Mexico this year.

Our two girl gymnasts, Laurie Siegel and Marilyn Pearson, were unable to compete be­cause only two countries were represented. Nevertheless they earned gold medallions by participating with the winners of the men 's competition.

The I sraeli team was the best group of gym­nasts in the country ' s Maccabiah Games his­tory. Once again the P-bars gold meda l evaded our gymnasts when Dow Loufi a nnexed the title , nosing out Fred Turoff by 1/ 10 point. One of our most pleasant experiences as a team was going out on the town at the invitation of the I sraeli team and officials. Our congenial hosts brought us to Jaffa, where we were wined and dined and treated to an excellent show.

The meet's closing ceremonies were held in the Ramat Gan Stadium before an overflow audience of 50,000. Mark Cohn was honored to be chosen flag bearer, and the U.S. and Israeli gymnasts performed for the huge crowd. It was a fitting climax to a most impressive series of games .

International Gymnastics Learning Center

Muriel Grossfeld , 1956, 1960 a nd 1964 United States Olympic teams , 1968 United States Olympic Team Coach: Don Tonry, 1960 United States Olympic Team , 1962 Na­tional All-Around Champion , and Abie Gross­feld , 1956 and 1960 United States Olympic teams, 1966 United States World Champion­ship Team Coach , were having a discussion on where to go on Christmas week. They had made it more than a IS-year habit to go to one of the Christmas clinics; first as gymnasts and in recent years as highly desired instructors and program directors. Part of their discussion centered around programming and the kind of clinic they would really like to do. They very naturally came to the conclusion that the only way to accomplish their goals would be to join force s and create their pwn clinic.

One big question they had was why do gym­nasts go to clinics? They felt the answer to this question was to learn gymnastics and not just to get a good suntan ; so the idea ofa Christ­mas Week Clinic Dec. 28 , 29 and 30 in the north crystallized.

The three Olympians coach in New Haven, Conn. , at three separate facilities. They all pos­sess the finest of facilities and equipment de­signed for training gymnasts at the highest level. Don Tonry's facility , Yale University, was chosen as the natural location for the first I nter­na tional Gymnastics Learning Center. Yale ' s

l. to R., Joe Lilow, Penn Slote; Seymour Rifkind, Univ. of New Mexico; Lourie Seigel, Miomi, Fla.; Mark Cohn, Caplain, Temple; Marilyn Pearson, W. Hartford, CI. ; Fred Turoff & Barry Weiner, Temple. Isadore Wasserman, Mgr.

I I gymnasiums (in the same bu ilding) and swim­ming pools make it an ideal choice for program­ming a participation clinic at all levels.

Plans so far include a topnotch staff (includ­ing the Olympic pianist). classes a t all levels in all events (including dance) , teaching compulso­ries , help with compulsory interpretation and styling , concepts in major areas -like twisting, routine composition , international innovations, etc .; demonstrations in all events at all levels: films (Abie probably has the largest co llection of international gymnastics films in the coun­try , including not just finali sts in the O lympic G ames and World C hampionships but the top 20 or more in all events); a panel session, rec­reational svimming and a "ge t-together" dance for clinic participants - complete with a musi­cal group.

N ew Haven's three gymnas iums and their typewriters are buzzing with preparations for what these three dynamic coaches are deter­mined wi ll be the outstanding gymnastics learn­ing experience of the year.

"Y" NEWS 1970 YMCA CHAMPIONSHI PS

Plans for the 1970 N ational YM CA C ha m­pionships for men and women to be he ld in Oklahoma C ity, Oklahoma, on April 17- 18, are a lready in process. As they are planning to host and conduct the C hampionships a ll other " Y" s should be planning to participate. Think about it now. For informat ion write to Mr. Bill War­ren , Gymnastic Coach , Northside Branch YM CA , 10000 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Okla­homa C ity, Oklahoma.

1969 ILLINOIS YMCA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Held at Decatur YMCA

Team Winners: N orthwest Suburban (NS) - 577 , Decatur (0)-468, Evanston (E)-272. Age Group Winners were: ( 10 & under) Tim Slottow (E) , AA, PB , R & SH; C raig Marter (Park Ridge) , H B; Kark Seitz (NS) , V; Doug Zahour (NS) , FX ; Howard Sizek (Canton) , TU ; Jon Gram (E) , TR. ( II & 12) Bob G ran eN S). AA, R, FX ; Mark T rippel (E) , PB , V , SH ; Eric Perry (D ), HB ; C harles Travis (D ), TU ; Jevene Meader (E) , TR. (13 & 14) Kurt Demoss (Mc Kinley), AA, V ; John Molleck (Peoria) , HB , PB ; John Yockey (NS), R ; Rick Slottow (E) , SH ; John Glowicki (Strea tor), FX , TU , TR. ( 15, 16 & 17) Tom Valentine (NS), AA , HB , R, SH; Denni s Bossert (NS), V; Paul Hunt (D ), FX ; Jim Habben (Streator) TU , TR. There were 83 competitors in the meet.

BANGOR "Y" MEET "The Bangor YM CA recent ly hosted the

Firs t Annual Age G roup Gymnastic Meet -the first to be held in the State of Mai ne. T he meet was run by Tim Rice, Coach of Gy m­nastics at the Bangor Y. There were over 60 competitors from teams from Brewer, Rum­ford , Bangor, Fredericton, N .B., and Dart­mouth , N .S.

"The events for the meet were floor exer­cise, side horse, parallel bars , high bar, vaulting, trampoline, still rings, and all-round. All age groups competed in all events.

"T he Bangor Y team won the 15 and under age group and the 13 and under age group. The Dartmouth Gym C lub, coached by Jim Hoy le, won the 15-18 year old age group.

"The meet was a big success and a giant step further in the promotion of Gymnastics in the N ortheast area of the country ." NOTE: T he MG cannot print YM CA Gymnast ic news if we do not receive it! So get on the ba ll and send a ll your "Y -NEWS" to: Robert Hanscom

(MG " Y-News" Editor) Director of Phy. Ed. YMCA

104 Pleasant Street Marblehead, Mass. 01945

Gym Moster's FOLDING STILL RING FRAME For years it's been the choice of gymnastic coaches throughout the country who demand performance, durability and quality. Completely portable . .. the entire frame can be moved on permanently attached non-marring rubber wheels when fully assembled. When in use, wheels fold up and base lowers firmly to floor. Requires no installation, moorings, floor plates or tie-downs.

It Stores Itself! The base assembly folds to provide its own storage area for the uprights and top section. Entire un it can be easi ly moved on its own wheels.

Write for our fully illustrated catalog on the

complete line of fully proven Gym Master

gymnastic equipment.

THE WORLD'S GYMNASTIC EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS

~~?![~~o~~

8

FRANK ENDO

SHOES # Tl-2 (as illustrated) _. # Tl·3·A All -leather shoe

with rubber sole .. # TL-4 Ladies ' gym shoe

Ny lon wfleat her sole . . # N B Nylo n booty

witt-. leather sole Sizes 1·6 . Sizes 7·12 .

LEATHER HANDGRIPS # A-Good (most popu lor) . .. # B - Better (one-piece) . . . # e - Best (exira strong) .. .

lompwick hondgrips (S·M·l)

PANTS Cotton/ acry li c stretch . Ny lon stretch ponts

White _

Off·white ..

... $2.75 pro

. _ 4.00 pro

.. 2 .00 pro

. 2 .00 pro o . 2 .25 pro

. . $1.50 pro 1.75 pro 2 .25 pro 1.50 pro

.... $7.50 pro

14. 25 pro 10 .00 pro

With toe -pc .• odd 75c ext ro .

SUSPENDERS 1/9" e lasti c w/chrome dips. Adjusta b le

and detac hab le . Comes in white, blue or red .. . .... __ .$3.00 ea.

WOODEN RINGS Meets all specifications . .. . . $22.50 pro

CHALK Block or powde r . ...... Lowest prices

1968 MEXICO OLYMPIC FILMS

Super 8 - in color Complete winning and runner-up optional routines on all Olympic events. Taken at 24 fps and edited from 2000 feet of film taken from choice locations. Highly edu­cational. No rentals.

Men's - 400 ft. .............. $32.00 Ppd. Women's - 400 ft. ........ $32.00 Ppd.

Order from: FRANK ENDO 12200 SO. BERENDO AVE. LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 90044

We stock all items for immediate del ivery postpaid . Write for FREE brochure.

1969 WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL (Super 8 - in color)

See fhe greafesf raufines ever execufed in fhe U.S. of fhe I sf USGF World Cup Invifafianal Meef held in Long Beach. Calif. Champions like Cerar. Ken · ma"!su and Nakayama can be seen in semi·slow mofion (24 fps) execufing eXfremely difficulf roufines greafer fha n fhey performed of fhe Mexico Olympic Gomes.

Men 's . .. ... 300 ft .... . .. $29.00 Ppd. ORDER FROM:

1969 WORLO CUP FILM BOX 777

SANTA MONICA CALIF. 90406

Members of fhe Son Jacinfo College Varsify Team during on informal workout

GymnastiCS On The Grow In Texas

By BUDDY GU RGA N US Gy mnas tics is on the frow in Texas and the

answer appears to center around a nu mber . of factors. Two of these are: age-group gymnastics and collegiate participation.

C hildren no longer wait until high school be­fo re experiencing their first ex posure to gym­nas tics. Through the YM CA's, private studios, and grade school participation they a re busy learni ng gymnas tics from tots to teens and on through college. T he tumbling tots start at age four and learn basic skil ls in tumbling, tramp­oline, double balancing and strength stations. These tots appear before the public in various performances. At the age of seven , as soon as they learn routines and begi n to show prom­ise, they a re viewed for a posi tion on the com­petitive team at the Y) The sixty boy-girl team of the Houston Y compete In age-group com­petition through the A)A)U) and Y)M)C)A) Many of the boys and girls from this program have graduated on to the coJlege teams of Texas. This year, so far , the Houston Y team has at· tended and won trophies, prizes and plaques at the Midland Meet with its 400 competitors , at the Ft. Worth Meet with 444 contestants , to local Meets and to the Dad 's C lub YM C A)

There are a minimum of 100 teams and clubs of this type throughout Texas.

Many private dance studios have gymnastics in their prog ra ms. For events such as F loor Exercise and Free Calesthenics , dance studios are well equipped for providing train ing, move­ment , warm-u p techniques, as well as polishing up the other events (pointed toes , straight legs). Although mo s t of the dance sc hool s a re not equipped with apparatus, they do possess mir­rors , practice barres , and light training devices, all of which a re essentia l to perfecting move­ment. Obviously, a ll of this equipment is futile without know -how from the teachers , but a n ever increasing number of teachers are attend­ing clin ics and workshops to widen their knowl­edge and stimulate their inte rest in gy mnastic techniques. This knowledge along with their backgrounds in dance can be extre mely valua­ble to Floor Exercise training where about two· third s of th e routi ne is dance and one-t hird tumbling.

G rowth at th e c ollegia te leve l is be s t ev id ­enced by the st~ti s tics of the 1969 Texas Colle­giate Gymnast ics C hampionships held at San J ac int o Co ll ege March 28 , 29. Thi s was the fourth a nnu a l of s uch competition in Texas. There were teams from Odessa College, Un­iversity of Texas , Sam Houston State College, Texas A & M , Abilene C hristian Co llege,

Sou th Plains and San Jac into. This was the first time that four women's teams competed. There were 227 entries. The tea m results were: Men­Odessa I st , Texas 2nd , San Jacinto 3rd, A & M 4th, Sam Houston 5th. Women's- San Jacinto I st, Texas 2nd , South Plains 3rd, Sam Houston 4t h. San J ac int o w ill a lso host the 1969 Gu lf A.A.U. Gymnastics C hampionships wit h close to 1,500 event entries.

San Jacinto College, under the direction of Coach Pat Yeager, sponsors a Tumbling and Gy mnastics C linic for students and teachers in th e F a ll a nd Spri ng. There a re 30 to 40 ot her c linics like this throughout the state plus a N a­tional C linic every C hristmas at Corpus Christi . T hrou gh th e e ncourage ment of Mr. Ye age r many high schools have sta rted gy mnastic pro­grams. One of Texas' largest univers ities, the U of H is also expanding its program. These facts point out th a t Texas su re ly ra nk s hi gh in the nation, in participation , if not yet in top quality. Yet through increased participation and compe­tition, quality is bound to improve. Increased interests at the college level has heightened the programs in age-group gy mnastics. Gymnasti­call y, we a re on the grow and predictions indio cate that age-group gy mnastics will soon be a major factor in producing nationa l and interna­tional champions from Texas.

ZWICKEL A Distinctive Line

of Men's. and Women's Uniforms

WE HAVE MOVED

OFFICE: P. O. BOX· 309 JENKINTOWN. PA. 19046

SHOWROOM· SHOP: 1128 EASTON ROAD ROSLYN. PA. 19001 PHONE: 215·885·2868

ZWICKEL GYMNASTIC TAILORS

~~ ~~~~OOW~~I: Keith McCanless by Dick Criley

Keith, a senior at the university of Iowa, graduated from Willowbrook H.S., in Villa Park, Illinois. He has won the 1967 and 1969 NCAA Sidehorse Championships and placed second in the 1967 USGF Championships.

(Editor's note: Keith was interviewed at the NCAA Championships in S eattle this past April jllst prior to the aJtemoon cOl1lpetitions to determine the team chal1lpion. Wit h him was 10IVa teal1lmate, Bob Dickson.)

How did you get started as a specialist in gymnastics? (Laughing) I was scored of the other events. I started late, as a sophomore in high school. I felt that I was behind, so to cotch up, I just worked on side horse. What are some of the more challenging tricks you can do which you haven't put into your routine7 Wel l, there's pommel loops I do three pommel loops and then I do a bock moore downhill and then a bock moore uphill, then a pommel russian. I guess it's a total of about 9 tricks, depending on how you count 'em, on one pommel. How did you get started on the one-pommel work? Well, I just started getting strong ond figured I could muscle my way through it. (Background laughter from other Iowa gymnasts.) How does a side horseman start developing strength? Well, as Bob (Dickson) can tell you, I started going around with the all-around men, going over to the rings and parallel bars. I used to be on the high school track team as a weight man - I used to throw discus - so I worked out wi th weights. That's pretty much how I developed my strength. What distinguishes a side horseman from another specialist? You usually can pick a side horseman out. You know, the tallest one and the skinniest. Long arms, short torso, very long appendages. Then there's Bob there .... You know, I taught Bob how to work side horse. Every single meet, every time he went up, I alwoys told him to muscle it. (Dickson: My coach!) Every once in awhile, we get into a discussion of all ­around versus specialist and the emphasis placed on the all -around man. Isn't there still a place for the specialist? I've always felt that gymnastics should be run like track, where the individual could place as a specialist like in the Olympics. I doubt if it will ever be set up that way because the Europeans have control over everything. I think specia lists have been robbed in their scores because some of the 011 -around men have been given ... well, their routines aren't superior although they've been coming close. How do you like the format of nationals this year? I guess this is pertinent since you have to work again this evening. What alternative suggestions would you have?

No, I liked the old method with the regionals, be­cause the Big 10 has been cut out quite a bit. We've left a lot of guys bock in the Big 10 conference who are a lot better than the guys who qualified here. I think it should go bock to the regionals since some conferences are a lot stronger than others and regionals are set up to let the best guys come through.

As to this individual and team championship the some day, it's hard on the all-around man having to worm up all over again, particularly on his hands, but like the side horse men, we only throw one set so it doesn't matter. Bobby's got to go through a lot of sets. (Dickson: I don't really see any point in having two team championships. First, having to qualify for the top three and then having another meet for the top team. It's just too much. Although right now, we're kind of glad they 're doing it.) How has the team survived this transition from one coach (Sam Bailie) to the next (Mike Jacobson)? We have a great team as for as sticking together and working together. So we just break in the coach. Mike's in control. (Dickson: At least we let him feel like he is!) You've always had a pretty strong side horse team. What started all this? Ken Gordon started it all. He graduated when I was a sophomore. From the some school come Mark Siotten, so, when I sow what kind of side horse they hod there, I wonted to go to Iowa. I come right after Mark so we hod three good side horsemen. This started the boll rolling I guess, 'couse Ken Liehr come. Now we're going to try to get a boy from Illinois, at least we're working on him. I think he'll wont to come now. We've tried to set it up like Michigan with the trampoline, you know, a tradi­tional trampoline school. They've done wonders with it, always been tops with trampoline. Have you any words of encouragement for someone who might want to become a side horse specialist? (Dickson: Muscle it!) I'd soy one thing, even fooling around on other events like trampoline gives you on air sense, helps you know where you are. Of course there's rings and p-bars which help the strength. I can't soy any­thing about high bar; it hurts my hands. Do you have any hand problems on the side horse and what do you do for them? I don't have any. I built up a huge heel pod. You can usually tell what event a specialist works from the callouses on his hands. I do have a split problem; my hands crock and I tope 'em up. I always tope my left hand ... that's because I work pommel work. When you work pommels, there's more pressure on your hands. However, I don't think Ramsey has any hand problems and he works pommel work, too.

1970 WORLD GAMES COMPULSORIES

$15.00 1 50 Ft. of Super 8 Film jn Color

For all coaches and gymnasts and judges that are anyway involved in competitions that are using the World Games compulsories, this film is a must! Taken by Roy Davis during the Japanese NHK CUP Competition, this film contains World Game Compulsory routines performed by Japanese greats: Nakayama, Kenmotsu, Kato, Hayta and Tsuka­hara. Send check or money order today for just $1 5.00. Order from: SUNDBY PUBLICATIONS

(World Compulsory Film) P.O. Box 777 Santa Monica, California 90406

JAPANESE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

450 Ft. of Super 8 Film in Color - $29.95

An important film for ellery high school (and college) gymnastic coach in the U.S.A. to add to his film library. Filmed by Roy Davis during his stay in Japan, this film is note­worthy when you consider that the 10th-place high school gymnast scored over 11 O. total AA with strict judging. Also included is a list of the names and scores of the gymnasts to help you follow the filmed routines. Send your $29.95 check or money order today! Order from: SUNDBY PUBLICATIONS

(Japanese HS Film) P.O. Box 777 Santa Monica, California 90406

KIDS and COPS The American Civil Liberties Union of

Southern California is distributing at no charge copies of a pocket guide for you ng people to help them ovoid hostile confronta­tions with low enforcement officers.

The guide outlines in summary form the rights of juveniles and the authority of po­lice to interrogate people on the streets. It also offers suggestions on how young peo­ple - who frequently believe they are vic­tims of unnecessary police actions - can protect their rights.

The guide was published for the educa­tion and welfare of young people by the Institute of Modern Legal Thought, Inc., and the Kolos Kagathos Foundation.

Copies are available at no charge from the ACLU, 323 W. 5th St., Los Angeles 90013; or from the Kolos Kagathos Founda­tion, P.O. Box 416, Laguna Beach 92652. Requests should be accompanied by a stomped, self-addressed envelope.

9

The United States Gvmnastics Federation P.O. Box 4699 Tucson, Arizona

USGF DIRECTORS REPORT FRANK L. BARE Executive Director

FIFTH GYMNAESTRADA Basle, Switzerland, July 2-6, 1969.

The 5th Gymnaestrada got under way in Basle, Switzerland , in early July. It followed a week of meetings by the F.I.G. , including the FIG Congress.

The Gymnaestrada itself, featured some 10,000 gymnasts. Many nations sent groups numberiQg more than 1,000 strong to represent their nation , others sent groups representing specific schools or clubs. No one sent a more representative group of trul y outstanding young­sters than the United States .

The SCATS ... the Southern California Acro Team from Long Beach , Calif., were there and did a great job for the U.s.A. I t should go without saying that the 33 young ladies from the LB area looked great as they performed their drills , and, in fact , they looked good in all three parts of their well-rehearsed and well ­performed routines. The tumbling drill was de­scribed by many as the best. One European told me that it was the type of routine that they had never seen, and they were very impressed.

Young Wendy Cluff and her teammate , Cathy Rigby , did a great job in their performances. Cathy was invited to take part in the feature evening show of the week ... the show of the World 's Best gymnasts. This year in place of two performances the clamor for tickets was so great that the hosts featured three performances. All three were packed.

The darling of the Gymnaestrada was our own Cathy Rigby. The public took to her great performances just as we do here in the U.S.A. She was a great performer and an equally fine example of American youth. She received loud and continuous ovations and also rece ived an invitation to go with the U.S.S.R. andJapanese gymnasts to take part in a demonstration in St uttgart following the Gymnaestrada. Reports reaching the U SG F Office indicate that at Stutt­gart she was called for three bows . .. by the appreciate German audience.

The SCATS team continued on from Basle and toured a number of countries making per­formances in Scandinavia, Central Europe and in general seeing a lot of sights as well as repre­senting the U.S.A. in an outstanding manner.

One of the Swiss officials who also served as a newspaper reporter for the event was Hanspeter Frey, who by the way was also the Chef de Mission for the Swiss team that toured the U.S.A. in 1969 . Hanspeter wrote to us fol­lowing the Gymnaestrada as follows: "Basle got its usual face back. Gone with the wind are the gymnasts, their smiles and the great spec­trum of rich colors .... " So ended the 5th Gym­naes trada, one which saw the U.S.A. at its best ever in thi s beautiful event.

The 1969 CONGRESS OF AMERICAN GYMNASTICS COACHES will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov . I , in the beautiful Denver Hilton Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado. The agenda is crowded with some interesting reports and looks li ke it will a lso

10

feature a foreign dignitary to discuss gymnas­tics in his home land with us as well as answer questions pertaining to their training, routines , etc.

The agenda will soon be drawn. It will fea­tUfe reports on the 1970 World Games ; the routines will be distributed and the film shown. The USGF Foreign Relations Committee will report on their six-year plan of inviting foreign teams (many on a home-and-home basis). The ISGF Technical Committee wi ll convene and plan the 1970 USG F Nationals and the 1970 WORLD CUP. The World Cup film will be shown. The U .S. Olympic Gymnastics Games Committee will meet at the Congress Site on Sunday , Nov. 2, 1969.

Write the USG F now for your early registra­tion and use the enclosed form for making your room reservation. But at any rate , plan on being in attendance at the Denver Hilton Hotel , Den­ver, Colorado, Nov . 1-2.

Congress Registration Fee: $ 10.00. Make checks to USGF , P.O. Box 4699, Tucson, Ari­zona85717 , U.S .A.

THE U.S. NATIONAL GYMNASTICS COMMISSION SPECIAL - BASLE, SWITZERLAND

At a meeting between representatives from the U.S. Gymnastics Federation and the Ama­teur Athletic Union , held in Basle before the President of the F.I.G. , Mr. Arthur Gander, a new decision was made concerning the ama­teur gymnastics program for the United States.

President Gander indicated his intentions to write the U.S.O.c. to inform them of the latest status insofar as the F.i.G. is concerned. It appears that now the U.S. National Gymnas­tics Commission, a coalition committee formed by mutual agreement during the Olympic Games in Mexico , will be recognized by the F.I.G. as the "governing body for American gymnastics. "

The commission, made up of five members from each of the two groups (USG F-AAU) , has had two meetings with one of those meet­ings coming after the Basle F IG Congress. It appears from the last meeting that the commis­sion idea can work under the new rule from the FIG and that under this interpretation it will be necessary to restructure some of the votes on the Olympic Games Committee.

I hope that each of you reading this report are aware that the commission represents the U SG F and AA U and that the commission is bound to discuss and act upon all items brought before it by any member of the Commission. It follows that if any of you feel a need to have some item brought before this group that you contact any member of the National Gymnas­tics Commission and request that it be brought before the group at the next meeting.

WOMEN'S F.I.G. CODE OF POINTS - 1969 THE OFFICIAL ... WOMEN'S CODE OF POINTS .. .• Published by the F.I.G. Will soon be on hand in the United States and ready for distribution. If you desire a copy or copies, plan now to order them well in advance of your clinic or meet or meeting. Price , $2 .00 (U.S .). Order from the USGF, P.O. Box 4699 , Tuc­son, Arizona 85717. U.S.A .

F.I.G. MEASUREMENTS AND DIMENSIONS BOOK

The Official FIG Booklet, containing the mea­surements and dimensions of men's and wom­en's gymnastics equipment. Complete with diagrams for all equipment. Price $1.50. Order from USGF, P.O. Box 4699, Tucson, Ariz. 85717 .

USGF INSURANCE PROGRAM As most of you know , there now exists a re­

quirement that meet promoters must provide acc ident medical insurance prior to receiving approval or sanction for many gymnasts to par­ticipate in their event. In some cases this in­surance has been extremely expensive, and in other cases perhaps it was an insufficient amount of coverage.

Now, the USGF offers you an athlete-regis­trat ion insurance program. Dated September I, 1969, to August 31 , 1970. This plan , specifical­ly designed for gymnasts , provides each Regis­tered gymnast , $1 ,000 accident-reimburse­ment insurance coverage (for any expenses, i.e. , doctor, hospital , X ray, surgery) as well as $1 ,000 Accidental Death Benefit. This cover­age will be applicable to the gymnast in pos­session of a valid USG F Registration Card when he or she participates in any meet or event sanctioned by the USG F. One year's coverage, including USGF N ews Service mailings is pro­vided this year at a cost of $6.00 per year. The Insurance and Registration year is from Sept. I to and including Aug. 3 1 of each year. The fee remains constant throughout the year, mak­ing the advantage for the team members sub­scribing to this service to register early and be covered for the entire year.

Some meet promoters have discussed making it mandatory that each gymnast desiring to en­ter their event to show a valid , up-to-date USG F Registration Card prior to having their entry accepted. It is a good plan with a good company and in one injury case experienced under this company during this spring the boy in question had a minor injury but desired to have the finest corrective surgery possible to insure a good future, and the company spent the entire $ 1,000 figure without the slightest hesitation or delay. I am hopeful that each of you will register your entire team at this time and help us to provide this much-needed cov­erage for your gymnasts when they participate in non-school events sanctioned by the USGF.

UNITED STATES GYMNASTICS FEDERATION GYMNASTICS MATERIALS LIST

1. F.I.G. Code of Points for Men. The Official Code of Points, containing rules, order of competition and all the "A·B·C" parts for men's gymnastics with illus· trations. $3.50. An absolute must for every coach, judge and gymnast.

2. F.I.G. Code of Points for Women. The Officia l publico· tion of the FIG. Contains pertinent rules, and the diffi· culty ratings for all ports of women's gymnastics by events. Vaults illustrated. $2.00.

3. Age·Group Gymnastics Workbook. Illustrated with stick figures. Graded rautines for boys and girls ages 6 through 18 years of age. Assigned values for all ports makes this a great teacher·classraom program for everyone. 94 pages. $3.00.

4. Measurements and Dimensions of Apparatus, the official FIG Publication contains all the official meas· urements for men ond women's apparatus including new supplement for new 8alance 8eam and Uneven Bars. $1 .50.

5. National Compulsory Routines for Girls. The USGF· DGWS Routines now being used nationally by every notional organization in the USA. Music, floor patterns, deductions for faults, all included. 48 pages. $1 .50 each.

6. Gymnastique Moderne. The rules, ond all the lotest about the newest of gymnastic events for women. Prepared by Mrs. Mildred Prchal, concerning the many aspects of this great new event. Potentially an Olympic event, deserves study by all concerned with women's gymnastics. $1 .50.

7. USGF News Service·Athlete Insurance Plan. For gym· nasts, of 011 ages. Provides gymnasts with news servo ice mailings for one year (September 1 to Aug 31) and includes special accidental medical insurance coverage for participation in any meet sanctioned by the USGF. $6.00 per year.

8. USGF News Service, for Coaches, Teachers and Admin· istratats. Periodic mailings announcing latest publico· tion s, routines for international or national events and all the up·to·date news of events. $2.00 per year.

9. Gymnastics Posters. 11 inches by 17 inches, male or female figure shown thereon, with your meet or event

Continued on page 30

CANADIAN

• REPORT by John Nooney 18 Lavington Dr. IP eston, Ontario

National Gymnastic Championships 1969

at the University of British Columbia , B.C. An excellent meet under the direction of Mr.

Vic Hartley and his many committees, Andre Simard , Qucbcc, and Jennefir Diachen , On­tario , are the new senior national champions , and Paul Bouchard , Quebec, and Nancy Mc­Donnell , Ontario, are the 1969 junior cham­pions.

SENIOR MEN A.A. Simard (I) Brooker (2) Mackie (3) The improved performance of Bill Mackie

was a highlight this year. Syd Jensen unfortu­nately was out with an injury. Bill and Syd are teammates at the University of Michigan. Dis­mounts were the bug bear again this year; it seems difficult for our boys to finish off cleanly. Is it conditioning?? Now that we have compul­sories and optionals following each other is that the gymnasts are too tired? Andre Simard made a very good comeback steady performances on a ll the apparatus ; his layoff did not seem to hurt him. I hope he will now become a steady member of the national team.

Barry Brooker shows much better control. This has been a very good year for Barry ; more international competition is necessary if our national team members are to improve. I can never understand why we don 't send our team south on a tour of the colleges. Our national team would get some very needed meets. It would be less expensive than going to Europe.

SENIOR WOMEN A.A. Diachen (I) , Hartley (2) , Theresa McDonnell (3)

It was a battle between Jenny Diachen and Sandy Hartley this year, Jenny coming out on top. That World Cup meet helped Jenny (very steady on B.B. this year). This was always Jenny 's downfall. Our girls have come along this way. This a lso goes for Theresa McDon­ne ll. This has got to be her bes t year. Canada has now some very good senior gymnasts and now needs to set up a tour for the girls abroad or in the U.S.A. Good competition is the key if we are to fight off C uba (we did it again this year at the America C up meet , but how long for , international competition is a MUST).

JUNIOR WOMEN A.A. Nancy McDonnell (I). Lise Arsenault (2). Sue Buchanan (3) .

N ancy Theresea's sister made sure this year she was runner-up last year to Janet Terry. No surprises in this division except I personally thought that Sue Buchanan looked very mature. Sue could be an outstanding gymnast. Maybe we should promote one of the juniors now????

JUNIOR MEN A.A. Bouchard (I) , Sedgwick (2) , Thibodeau (3).

What happened to Johnson, Howe and Briere, last year's winners? Bouchard and Sedgewicke looked good . Now that we have a national junior coach. These boys should get a training camp. I was surprised looking through some of the scores . Either our juniors were awfu l or the jUdging, but I was shocked at some of the scores some of the boys from the East received. Maybe our juniors are that bad ; if so,

Andre Simard, Canadian AA Champ

we better get cracking with training camps and a tour for them. General Comments

Many comments have been that we should separate our national championships from our annual meeting. Speaking for myself two years ago in Quebec I found it very difficult to judge and to attend meetings.

It is too much to ask a person. So I would like to see NO MEETINGS except those pertaining to the meet. Now with the new CANADIAN GYMNASTIC FEDERATION Almost a fact ; maybe we could think about that ???????

A lot of people work at the nationals every year: it takes time and money a nd hours of planning. A thank you to all offiCials .blg and small for an excellent nationa l championships 1969.

C.NE. INTERNATIONAL TRI MEET TORONTO, CANADA

Yugoslavia - U.S.A. - Canada The Yugos lav ian tea m of M. Cera r, A. Keysell , M. Veratich and D . Anich scored 163,45 pts (Optionals only) to win thi s tri internationa l meet. Paul Tickenoff, D. Thor, R. Tucker a nd F Dennis of the U.S. team scored 162.00 p~ints for a very close second place. Canada's team of Gil Larose , Andre Simard , Barry Brooker and Syd Jen sen scored 157.75 for 3rd spot. In the All Round , M. Cerar 56 .65; Dave Thor 54.75 and M. Verat ich 54 .35. Yugoslavia Team Comments . . Miroslav Cerar was the big gun scoring a 9 .7 on H .B. and Side Horse. On the H .B. he ha d good giants , excellent flow , continu ity, a nIce combination and a good landIng. Melosh Vera­tich , D. Anich and A. Keyse ll were steady per­formers with few form breaks and were con-

Continued on page 28

Top, Dave Thor (USA) 2nd AA; M. Veratich (YUG.) 3rd AA; Gil Larose (Canada)

Tri Meet - U.S.A. - YUGOSLAVIA - CANADA

Name FX S.H. R LHV P.B. H.B. Total

U.S.A. F. Dennis 8.95 9.05 9.35 8.60 9.1 5 9.05 54. 15 P. Tickenoff 8.95 8.25 9.05 9.1 5 8.90 8.85 53.15 R. Tucker 8.75 7.30 8.10 8.65 7.80 8.70 49.30 D. T hor 9.30 9.50 8.90 9.20 8,40 9,45 54.75

Yugoslavia

A. Kissell 8.75 8.70 8.65 9.10 8.85 7.35 5 1,40 D . Anic 8.65 8.85 8.55 8.60 8.75 8.35 51.75 M. Veratich 8.85 9:15 8.80 9.20 9.10 9.25 54.35 M. Cerar 9.30 9.70 9.20 9. 10 9 .65 9.70 56.65

Canada

B. Brooker 8.05 8.10 8.85 8,40 8.80 8.65 50.85 A. Simard 8.05 8.35 8.55 8.95 8.60 8.60 51.10 S. Jensen 8.75 8.55 9 .00 8.85 8.90 4.00 48.15 G. Larose 9.30 7.10 9.15 8.90 9.30 8.80 52.55

Team score was decided in the top three scores of each team.

Rank

4 5

II 2

8 7 3 1

10 9

12 6

Team Total

162.00

163.45

157.15

11

7th ANNUAL SANTA MONICA GYMFEST

The seventh annua l Labor Day Gy mfest can be summed up briefl y: a lo t of new faces. This is not to say the Mo dern Gymnast was not aware of such Gymfest regulars as the Wolf brothers , Dennis Ramsey , Dan Kolb , Mark Davis, Norm Haynie and Don Ferre, but we were glad to see a new contingent of gymnas ts to he lp carryon the tradition. Some of the new faces : Gareth Burk, Tim Shaw, Bert Schmitt , Bruce Grable, Kerry Leeman, Don Locke, Ken Bailey, Pete Paulson and Bruce Boult. Also taki ng part in our act ivities was Yoshi Hayasaki of the University of Washington.

Once aga in we had visi tors from Southern Illino is, plus the whole team from the Air Force Academy with coaches Carl Schwenz-

12

feier and Orwyn Sampson . AF A co mpetitors included cadets Nardecchia, Alexander, So­lana , Kennedy, F retzs, C lau son, C hase, Pren­de rgas t, Eaton , Lowe and Oakeshott.

T he girls' open competition picked up again with a number of enthusiast ic entrants. How­ever, Sunday 's place in the sun was definitel y he ld by the daredevils engaged in stunts from the minitramp and di smounts from the swing­ing rings . I n the would-you-be li eve-depart­ment on minitramp - full-in , bara ni -out , dou­ble ga ine r, as well as the usua l double back (in­c luding one piked), double front and mUltiple front and back twisters. The swinging rings fea­tured dismounts rare ly if ever seen during the heyday of this event in its NCAA days - triple

-

fly aways , full-in , full-full , rudolph , layout -tuck double fl yaway - but top honors went to Den­nis Sherman fo r hi s 9.85 quadruple so mie dis­mount.

Thanks go to our cosponsor, the Santa Mon­ica Parks and Recreation Department ; to UCLA, Olympia Mat , and the SCATs for equipment ; to Dick C riley for keeping track of registrants and scores and announcing a ll at once ; and to our judges : Jerry Smith , Ray An­ders, Mike Grey , Martin Carranza, Frank Endo, Art Shurlock , Steve Lerner, Steve John­son, Mark Davis , Greg Friel, John C ros ley, Mrs. Ruhlman and Cathy Rigby.

RESEARCH AND FITNESS IN GYMNASTICS

MG "Research and Fitness in Gymnastics" editor DR. JAMES BOSCO wos omong 64 teachers who were HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED TEACHING by the California State Colleges Division of Academic Planning. The 18 California State Colleges represent the lorgest system of public higher education in the Western Hemisphere. Total enrollment for Califor­nia State Colleges exceed 185,000, and there are almost 10,000 instructional faculty members. Beside the $500-$1 ,000 honororium that goes with th is award, Dr. Bosco was also awarded a $2,500 ASEE-NASA Summer Faculty Fellowship for par­ticipation in the Stanford-Ames Aeronautics and Space Research Program (nice going, Jim).

THE EFFECT OF INSTANT REPLAY VIDEOTAPE TELEVISION ON

IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF SELECTEDTRAMPOLINESKILLS*

BY K. Nelson Butler, Ed. D.

University of So lith Florida Tampa, Florida

"Recip ient of the 1968 C. H. McClo y Honor Research Award.

The purpose of this investigat ion was to as­sess the effectiveness of the portable videotape televi s ion system in the le a rning of se lected trampoline skills. There are no substantive pub­licat ions to date which deal specifically with the acquisition of motor ski lls employing the instant replay videotape recorder in a normal physical education class situation. However, literature is available substantiating the idea that knowledge of results is desirable if effective motor learning is to take place . C ratty , ( 1964) in di scuss ing usual considerations of instruction and motor learning, mentions three stages, one of which is a task-complet ion phase and generally contains instruction giving knowledge of results .

Arps (1920) established that the amou nt of work and the rate of work was influenced posi­tively when the individual was informed con­stantly of his effort in pulling the finger ergo­graph. Research that has followed thi s study tends to support this early work in the area of knowledge of results. Trowbridge and Carson, (1932) in a study where subjects attempted to draw a four inch line with their eyes closed , supported the idea that a s light advantage in learning favored the visual check as opposed to an auditory check which was supplied by the experimenter. They added that the degree of

improvement was related directly to amount of knowledge provided . Bi lodeau ( 1955) hypothes­ize d that mu scular effic iency was increased because knowledge of resu lts achieved facilita­tive changes in the nervous system as well as to he lp the learner maintain attention on the task. Howell ( 1953) confirmed this report in a study of force and speed of limb movement in learning spri nt start ing.

Greenspoon and Foreman ( 1956) found. in studyi ng a line drawing task in which the sub­jects attempted to draw a line exactly thre e inches long. that learning efficiency was affect­ed directly as knowledge of their accuracy was delayed increasingly. Periods of 19. 20 and 30 seconds delay of knowledge of their accuracy were used and the most effective learners were those who obtained immediate knowledge of results. Bilodeau ( 195S) again , in studying the effec t of spac ing knowledge. found that learni ng to move a large lever a given distance was faci­li a ted by the number of times knowledge of accuracy was obtained and not by the various spacing of knowledge of results. Procedure

The subjects used in this study were male college students enrolled in two intermediate gymnast ic classes. The subjects were assigned randomly to either a control group (conven­tional teaching method) or an experimental group (v ideotape).

The selected activ ity involved the learning and practicing of two pre-established trampo­line routines. The first routine ass igned both grou ps included ski ll s which were fami liar but not necessarily acquired ski ll s to each member of the two groups. Both a pre-test (before train­ing) and a post-test (after training) score was taken on each subject performing this routine. The second routine given to both groups was more complex in its requirements and affo rded the researchers a further discriminatory base­line evaluation. Only a post-training evaluation was made on the second routine. The suhjects were judged by four experienced competitive gymnasticjudge~ who were completely una­ware of which group served as the control and which the experimental. The mean score of the four judges ' eval:Jation for each subject served as the criterion measurement.

The training program followed was limited to d period of 10 weeks with each group meeting twice a week . Course of instruction , time of day , length of class period , and number of times on trampoline a ll served as variables well within the boundaries of the researcher's control.

The experimental group experienced three stages of exposure to the videotape recorder. The first stage involved a n a ttempt to allow each subject to review his performance twice during a practice session. The second stage was to have the subject rev iew his performance only once a day but with more time given to details of the acquisition of ski ll re sulting in a more skillfu l performance. The third stage was an attempt to have those subjects who appeared to need the help most , review more th an tho se subjects who were progressing rapidly. Since this was one of the first systematic attempts to utilize for acquisition of motor skills the video­tape recorder in a normal physical education class situation, practically all aspects lacked re­finement and were exploratory in nature.

The data collected in this study were a na­lyzed in two general categories: within-group and between-group comparisons . The statistical treatments used in these ana lyses were twofold. First , a Lindquist Type I analysis of variance technique was employed to test the compari­sons of pre-test and post-test evaluations as well as furnish a between-groups comparison of the first routine 's criterion measurements.

A proposed null hypothesis of no significant difference between the pre-test and post-test evaluat ions in both groups was rejected . Table I indicates an F of 30.I S which is significant at the .0 I level.

A proposed null hypothesis of no significant difference between the groups was not rejected. Table I indicates an F of 3.S9 which does not exceed the .0 I level.

Based upon the st a tistical analyses of this study. it is readily observabl<; that while both the convent ion a l method a nd the ex­perimental method (videotape) had significant positive effects on the attai nment of the select­ed ski ll s. no difference was discerned between the two methods .

Owing to the s implicit y of the first routine a second routine was assigned both groups and a post-test evaluation was made subsequent to the treatment period. A t tes t was pelformed on the data collected from the judges' evaluation of the second routine. A proposed null hypothesis of no signific a nt difference between the two groups was not rejected. Table II indicates a calculated t of .43 which does not exceed the estab li shed .05 level of confidence. C oll clusiolls

According to the data collected and analyzed in this study the following conclusions appear tenable:

I. Both a conventional teach ing method a nd an experimental teaching method (uti li zing an instant replay videotape recorder) playa signifi­cant role in the development of motor sk ill abili­ty resulting in an improved performance ofa selected trampoline routine.

2. Both the experimental and co nventional methods of teaching trampolining. as employed in this study , played a significant role in improv­ing performance of the subjects: however, nei­ther method proved superior to the other.

3. Further exploration seems warranted in the use of instant replay videotape recorders for the acqu isition of motor skill s since it has been established that it does not hinder in the deve­lopment of selected trampoline ski ll s.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Arps, G. F., Work with knowledge of result vs. work without knowledge of results. Psychologica l Monographs, 1920, 28 , 125. 2. Bilodeau, E. A. , Motor Performance as affected by mag­nitude and direction of error contained in knowledge of re­sults. Journal of Psychology, 1955, 50, 103-113. 3. Bilodeau, E. A., Variable frequency of knowledge of re­sults and the learning of a simple skill. Journal of Experimen­ta l Psychology, 1958, 55, 379-383. 4 . Cratly, Bryant J.. Movement Behavior and Motor Learning. Lea and Febiger, 1964. 5. Greenspoon, Joel and Foreman, Solly, Effect of delay of knowledge of results on lea rning a motor ta sk. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1956, 51 . 226-228. 6. Howell, Maxwell L., Influence of emotional tension to speed of reaction and movement. Research Quarterly. 19 53, 24.22-23.

Table I Summary Table for Lindquist Type I ANOYA

Sums of Mean Source OF Squa res Squares F-Ratios

Subjects 30 34.359 1.145 Groups 1 4.066 4.066 3.893 Err (B) 29 30.923 1.044 Wlin SS 31 21.470 .692 A 1 10.736 10.736 30.188** GXA 1 .420 .420 1.181 Err(W) 29 10.313 .355 Total 61 55.829 .915

**Indicates significance at .01 level

Table II Summary Table for t Test

Source Mean SO OF Cal. t

Conventional Group I 6.55 6.69

29 .27 Experimental

Group II 6.42 6.53

13

INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS LEARNING CENTER inNew Haven Headed by Muriel Grossfeld, Don Tonry and Abie Grossfeld, is a nationally qualified staff selected to provide the best instruction at each ability level. Included are olympians, national cham­pions and top coaches to provide inspirational demonstrations as well as the very best in

INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS LEARNING CENTER 494 Fountain Street 06515

ENROLLMENT WILL BE LIMITED SO REGISTER IMMEDIATELY!

OLYMPIC GAMES 'N WORLD CUP PHOTOS By DON WILKINSON

Don Wilkinson whose photos have appeared in Modern Gymnast covered the Olympic Games photographically in color and black and white. He has produced a fully illustrated catalogue showing over 1,500 contact size black and white prints (with over 400 of Gymnastics). Also listed are the color transparencies taken. This catalogue, price $1.00 is now available from - DON WILKINSON, 1013 8th AVENUE, GREELEY, COLORADO 80631.

Cost of Slides -I to 9 slides 10 to 24 slides 25 to 49 slides

50c each 50 to 99 slides 47c each 100 to 249 slides

. 45c each 250 or more

........... 400 each

............. 38c each ................. . 35c each

Cost of Black and White Prints -5 x 7 - $1.00 each - set of 10 prints $ 900 - set of 25 prints $20.00 8 x 10 - $1.50 each - set of 10 prints $14.00 - set of 25 prints $32.50

11 x 14 - $4.25 each - .et of 10 prints $39.25 - set of 2S (price availablr on request)

CASH WITH ORDERS PLEASE

EIGHTH -v WI'J1SAW 1%9

Report by ANDRZEJ GONERA

CHAMPIONSHIPS On May 24th & 25th, 59 competitors from 21 countries took

part in the VI II European Championships held in Warsaw, Poland. This was a record turnout of competitors for the event (with al­most every country entering 3 men (this was a new rule,in the past only two men per country were eligible).

The level of the competition was high as was the new interest. Fifteen foreign countries had television transmission of the com­petition and more than 50 TV reporters and Journalists were on hand.

The first day the All-Around competition was held and the in­dividual event finals were held the next day. The apparatus (made in Poland) was installed on a podium as in the Olympic Games, which makes the viewing, judging, photography and performances a ll the more elegant.

Voronin of the USSR won the All-Around with 57.45 and his teammate Klimenko was second with 57.00 (he has improved on his leg form since Mexico). Kubica (Mikolia) of Poland, placed third with a score of 56.85 , followed by Cerar with 56.45 , Kubica (Sylvester) of Poland, 56.00 and Kubica (Wilhelm) of Poland with 55.65. Lisitsky of USSR missed on the Horse and only scored 8.45 and Menichelli of Italy, not fully recovered from his Achilles tendon break in Mexico, did not start.

I . R. Christow, Bulgaria 2. W. Lisktsky, USSR 3. S. Kubica, Poland

ALL-AROUND Results of the Individual Event Finals

Floor Exercise 19.20 4. M. Kubica, Poland 18.85 .5.M. Cerar, Yugoslavia 18.80 6. '!f Klimenko, USSR

18.65 18.65 18.50

Bulgaria's Christow was a surprise winner in FX, but he hod a difficult exercise which included a double somersault and he deserved the trophy.

I . M. Ceror, Yugoslavia I. W. Kubica, Poland 3. M. Voronin, USSR

Side Horse 19.50 . 4. G. Dietrich, E. Ger. 19.50 4. M. Kubica, Poland 19.45 6. M. Nissinen, Finland

19.20 19.20 19.05

All finalists' exercises were on a high level with Cerar once again proving he is a master of the Side Horse and Wilhelm Kubica gained prestige as he shored first place with Cerar (Kubica has great technique but his combination is not very original).

'1. M. Voronin, USSR 2. M. Kubica, Poland 2. W. Klimenko, USSR

Rings 19.50 4. W. Lisitsky, USSR 19.30 5. W. Kubica, Poland 19.30 5. K. Koste, E. Ger

19.20 18.95 18.95

All Ring finalists demonstrated great technique and force (all did straight arm giants to handstand). Perfection was the word for Voronin.

I . W. Klimenko, USSR 2. M. Kubica, Poland 2. M. Voronin, USSR

Long Horse 18.65 4. S. Kubica, Poland 18.55 5. W. Lisitsky, USSR I 8.55 6. C. Guiffroy, France

18.52 18.35 18.17

All of the Gymnasts made a Yamashita vault except Lisitsky who did a Hetch with a full twist and Kimenko who did a Yamashita with a full twist (the level of the vaulting was just mediocre). . .

I . M. Voronin, USSR 2. M. Cerar, Yugoslavia 2. W. Klimenko, USSR

Parallel Bars 19.05 4. K. Kubica, Poland 18.95 5. R. Hurzeler, Switzer. 18.95 6. M. Nissinen, Finland

18.85 18.80 18.70

On this apparatus I bring attentiOn to Nissinen's double somi from a handstand and Hurxeler's Diamidov dismount and original composition.

Horizolltal Bar I. W. Klimenko, USSR I 9.25 4. V. Skoumal, Czech. 18.65 I. W. Lisitsky, USSR 19.25 5. M. Voronis, USSR 18.45 3. M. Cerar, Yugoslavia 19.20 6. K. Koste, E. Ger. I 8.1 0

Here, the level of exercises were normal except that Voronis made some big mis­takes .

I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. B. 9.

10. II. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.

RESULTS: AA: 20. TH UNE Wolfgong ARD 54,70 40. GJERSTAD Trigve NOR 53,15

WORONIN Michail URS 57,45 21. REINEMER Heiko ARF 54,50 41. TRANGBAEK Kurt DIN 52,85 KUMENTO Wiktor URS 57,00 22. DIETRICH Gerhord ARD 54,70 42. MIHAIUC Petre RUM 52,40 KUBICA Mikalaj POL 56,B5 23. UGARTE Cecylia ESP 54,10 43. lAI NE lasse FIN 52,35 CERAR Miroslov JUG 56,45 24. ADAMOV Georgi BUl 54,10 44. BENEDIKTSON Ole DIN 52,30 KUBICA Sylvester POL 56,00 25. ZOEV Stefon BUl 53,BO 45. GUNNEMANN Hans HOl 51,85 KUBICA Wilhelm POL 55,65 26. VRA TIC Milos JUG 53,BO 46. CARMINUCCI Giovanni ITA 51,85 GUIFFROY Christion FRA 55,65 27. KOSTE Kious ARD 53,75 47. GINES SIU Jose ESP 51 ,80 USICKI Wiktor URS 55,50 2B. AlUENT Peter SUI 53,75 4B. LIE TORE NOR 51,75 CHRISTOV Raycho BUl 55,30 29. SAPPINEN Heikki FIN 53,75 49. BERECZllstvon HUN 5l,50 HURZElER Roland SUI 55,25 30. FARSAT Bernard FRA 53,70 50. REITHMEIER Diter AUS 51,50 NETUSI l Mikoslav CHE 55,20 31. RUIZ CORRAL Juan Jose ESP 53,65 51. WilD Stonley GBR 51,35 NEHASll Vladislav CHE 55,10 32. SVENSSON Tommy SUE 53,55 52. KNIP Alex HOl 51,20 BERCHTOLD Metrad SUI 55,00 33. CIMNAGHI Luigi ITA 53,50 53. BALDUCCI Sergio ITA 50,95 HERCZEGH Belo HUN 54,BO 34. TIHANYI Endre HUN 53,50 54. RUSHTFORTH Graham GBR 50,55 NISSINEN Mauno FIN 54,BO 35. HAUSSLER Heinz ARF 53,45 55. LINDGREN Evert SUE 50,40 BRODNIK Jonez JUG 54.75 36. PAUNESCU Gheorge RUM 53,30 56. AUNTUNES de Abreu Jose POR 50,05 TEPASSE Helmut ARF 54,75 37. SMULDERS Cer HOl 53,20 57. BOOTH Michale GBR 48,30 JONSSON Christer SUE 54,75 38. INGVAlDSEN Therbjern CHE ~3,05 58. UlAMEC Heirich AUS 48,20 DEUZA Christian FRA 54,70 39. SKOUMAl Vaclov 59. OPRESCU Nicoloe RUM 47,50

Worth mentioning, Lisitsky's floor exercise, From 0 stond position, flik·floc, somi bock loyout, with 0 full turn (360), dismount to front leaning rest.

over bar with half turn (1 80°), straddle position, grosp horizontal bor. It is 0 variety of "Voronin" but more effective.

Herseler on the Horizontal bor, Giant circle forward, special temp, jump with hand

Ed. Note: We met Mr. Gonera in Mexico City at the Olympic Games and he mentioned he would like to send the MG some reports from Europe . . . here is his first one on the Euro­pean Championships with photos and com­ments. We hope our MG readers enjoy this report and if you ha ve any questions of our new MG correspondent in Europe, he can bl( contacted at: Andrzej Gonera , Archiwalna 9/45, Warsaw 21, POLAND. He speaks and writes in English}. Mr. Goner is a Graduate from the University of Physical Education in 'Warsaw , with a Mas­ter's degree. H e is working as a gymnastic coach for boys. He was on the National team from Poland at the World Championships in Dortmond and the Olympic Games in Mexico, where he placed 39th AA with 109.25 and his team placed 5th. H e is the V-ee champion of Poland in the AA and was the first to master from a support-somersault forward with quar­ter turn (90°) to catch hang on one bar of the parallel bars.

See following page for European AA Chomp Andrzej Gonera

Ope,ing Ceremonies for the 8th Eurapean Chompionships

15

ANYONE I!I EI FOR 1m13E3 ALL AROUNOD

GERALD S. GEORGE, Coordinator DONTONRY DAN MILLMAN

The " Anyone For All-Around" is a new MG feature series that encompasses teaching meth­ods and techniques , mechanical analyses , and descriptive illustrations and progressions for each of the six all-around gymnastic events . The series is designed for the performer, the teacher-coach, and the physical educator who is interested in a technical yet practical coverage of selected skills in all events.

Gerald George will provide a coverage of parallel bars and horizontal bar. Don Tonry 's area will encompass the side horse and still rings events. And Dan Millman, in his very own provocative style , will handle the floor exercise and long horse vaulting events.

We would like to invite a ll of the MG readers to send in any and all request s for particular skill analyses , teaching and coaching points, problem areas , etc. that you feel would help to clarify and facilitate quicker and more accurate learning and understanding of the various gym­nastic events. Our primary objective in provid­ing a series of this nature is to serve your gym­nastic needs. You are the very pulse of this op­eration. So let us know what you want to see and we ' ll do our best to present it in a most meaningful way.

For purposes of efficiency and convenience, please send your requests to the above men­tioned appropriate writer. This newall-around series is just another way in which the MG magazine hopes to give ts gymnastic family the most up-tocdate and vital information of inter­national trends and innovations in a wonderful sport - gymnastics.

iii Some Generalizations ~ About Free Exercise

By DAN J. MILLMAN Stanford University

KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid! It would be well for tyro gymnasts to brand this aphorism into their grey matter. All too often, the begin­ning , and intermediate , and even advanced gymnast will flail about the free ex area bounc­ing to and fro , alternating tumbling with 'convul­sive fits in every corner. These muscle spasms are littered freely about at every possible op­portunity, and called " trans itions. "

Granted, it is often difficult for the gymnast to tell the difference between his unique crea­tive expression and garbage; this writer was certainly guilty when competing.

Just remember that swing' s the thing! Our "swing" in free exercise is our flight , springs, leaps and kips. We should strive to give the illu­sion that we are free from gravity 's dull grasp. Franco Menichelli , it seems, was years ahead of his time , physically and philosophically. He had some mechanics problems, yet he personified the grace and explosion of the gazelle , the panther. Dynamism is what we want.

Often we can demonstrate this dynamic qual­ity by showing its contrast. Just as a cool drink

18

tastes so much better in an arid desert , we ap­preciate the flight in our exercise by dramatical­ly contrasting it with s udden and complete stops , or perhaps an intricate or complex gyra­tion or maneuver in one position ... then on to more flight!

A good rule to follow in composing a free exercise routine then , is to put a movement or transition in the routine only if you cannot leave it out; unless it measurab ly adds to the aes thetic effect of the routine.

We are all guilty of making up or learn ing a transition or movement which we consider " all our own. " We simply have to put it in ... we've become, psychologically speaking, "ego involved" in the trick. . Make up your routine , and cut anything that

gives away more than a .2 break , unless you can easily remedy the break. Cut anything that isn ' t vital. Then you have a lean, clean-cut routine.

That doe s n ' t mean we have to leave out all creative gems , not by a long shot. Just make sure they fit.

That doesn 't mean we have to have sterile routines , with no transition movements. Find a balance between steri lity and garbage.

Free exercise has been called the only event in gymnastics that can stand alone. The only event which develops a well-rounded bod y; strong, flexible , quick, dynamic. Free exercise contains more room for creativity than any oth­er event. It contains elements of the remaining five events. One can do side horse moves in free exercise, one can do ring moves, vaulting moves, and facsimiles of parallel bar and high bar moves.

A writer would find it impossible to "cover" the event fully , so varied are the movements. Yet in this column , let 's set a philosophical foundation for continuing study of the event.

Ifone ever thinks in poetic or naturalistic terms , he can liken the spirit of each event to a color , or an animal , or natural phenomenon. This " synesthesia," or mixing of sensory im­pressions is often enjoyable in reverie. In free exercise, the gymnast can imagine himself as a pa nther, on balance , ready to explode. The moods evo.ked on the rings varies from lightly explosive giants to slowly combusting cross presses. These analogies may seem pointless , but If they help to draw forth the elan, the dra­matic feel of the performer, they are worth­while. If the poetry, the magic, drama and im­agery of gymnastics doen ' t "reach" the reader, he should , to paraphrase Jerry George, take a Second Look - and a Second Feel.

To gain the full joy of gymnastics, the per,former must seek the emotional , philosophi­cal , and artistic feel of the sport. The happy ,

but not di sdainful pride. Otherwise we are just machines moving in circles.

Perhaps nowhere is this unabashed pleasure in movement reflected more fully than in free exercise. The pleasure can be mimicked ; but even in imitating joy, the performer will begin to feel the stirrings of excitement the drama of his performance.

Anyone doing double twisters , and mile-high tumbling-anyone who knows he's going to be above 9.0 , can be proud. The challenge is for the 5, 6, 7, and 8.0 performers to feel this pride in doing their best and selling their best. This is what distinguishes a true gymnast ; (no matter what his score) from a competent mechanic.

It is not altogether inappropriate to quote Peter Pan, who reminds us. "Think happy thoughts if you want to fly. " It might be added, think simply , clt:an , and dramatic. Mix in plenty of hard work , thought , repetition and basics. Stir to boiling, and f1y/

El The ~ Front Scissors

by Don Tonry Gymnastics Coach - Yale University

The front scissors is one of those skills that cannot be performed too high , providing that the gymnast can work out of it effectively. The F.I.G. rules tell us that scissors will receive a deduction if the hips are not stretched well above the horse (*" disengage the hips" - I would like to see that one). The F.I.G. assumes that if the performer has complete hip exten­sion, above the horse , that the scissor will be of the high type. Generally , this is true ; how­ever, we are seeking to execute far above the basic requirements of technical execution.

Many gymnasts , upon observing other per­formers execute this skill, a re so impressed with leg elevation that they do not realize that the hips are the key factor in attaining height and smoothness. Here is a short list of factors that should be taken into consideration while performing this skill: I. The initial thrust should stem from an ex­

tended hip position. See figure # I. 2. The shoulder that corresponds to the direc­

tion of scissors should be depressed (forced downward) in order to facilitate leg and hip thrust.

3. The direction of the thrust should be up and out in order to allow for stretch-away from the supporting arm.

4. Both legs must be thrown with a "follow

*F.I.G. gymnastics handbook

through" motion in order to gain maximum elevation.

S. Excessive piking (too much upward thrust) will tend to cause the hips to remain low, which will result in late extension during the descent.

6. Both hips should be fully extended well above the horse at the highest point of the swing. See Figure #4.

7. The hips should remain extended during the recovery phase. The second front scissors should be initiated from this position. See Figure #S.

8. There is approximately a 160-degree turn of the pelvis from thrust to recovery as indi­cated by the blocks below the illustrations.

9. Most beginners do not turn the pelvis enough , in the direction of the thrust , and therefore inhibit the use of the forward leg.

rmThe Position of the Head ~During Selected RingSkilis

by Don Tonry Gymnastics Coach , Yale University

During the next few months I will be writing about those skills and techniques that I feel to be of particular significance to the coach and the pelformer. I will attempt to analyze illus­trate and justify the prescribed techniq~e for each movement as I introduce it. I have chosen this route for a series of articles because this approach will allow me to randomly vacillate from one technique to another without having to follow a particular pattern. Most of the ma­terial that I will present is the result of personal experIence in conjunction with the experiences and WrItings of others. Perhaps in the future many of these " gray" areas of technique will be studied and analyzed through cinemagraphic research.

There was a time (not too long ago) when most gymnasts and coaches did not consider th.e position of the head, in relation to body alignment, as being a significant factor during the performance of a particular skill . Today with our Increased emphasis on stretch and technical execution we have discovered that the placement of the head can and often does either aidor impair a skill. Wh~t happens whe~ the head IS thrown backward while one is in an upper arm hang, a support or an inverted sup­port (handstand)? Generally , the result is simi­lar in all three positions: I. The cervical and lumbar areas of the spine

tend to curve concavely. 2. Optical orientation changes somewhat. 3. The body weight is shifted slightly and there­

fore must be accompanied by a compensatory movement of other parts of the body.

4. There is often a diversion of attention from one area of thrust to another area of thrust.

HANDSTAND When the head is raised:

I. The shoulders move forward causing an angle to form between the upper arms and the upper body.

2. The lower back arches in order to allcw the legs to overbalance because the chest has been lowered.

3. This position tends to be unstable because it allows excessive fluctuation in the trunk does not permit the body to be at its greatest length , which has functional importance on many skills, and is aesthetically unappealing, according to today's technical standards.

UPWARD SHOOTING SKILLS There is a tendency to throw the head back­

ward early during the process of "shooting" on the rIngs. Many coaches use optical cues in order to avoid this problem. The performer is often asked to watch his hips as his body rises

upward. Generally , when the head is thrown backward: (I) arm pull lessons; (2) the hip angle (thrust) decreases ; (3) the direction of the shoot becomes less accurate.

The head should be held forward long enough to allow the performer to see and establish up­ward thrust with direction.

1"1 On Vaulting The long Horse

. If we were consistent in formulating gymnas­tiC events, we wouldn 't have the long horse vault. All the other events are composed of II principal parts - I C, 4 Bs and 6 As. Indeed . while trampoline enjoyed a blief but glorious residence in the NCAA gymnastics scene, the rules of that event were changed so trampoline could be consistent with the other events. Yet long horse sits alone.

The status of vaulting lies somewhere be­tween an event and a trick. The "event " has been the object of emotions ranging from jest to indifference. While coaches will often ac­tively recruit rings , side horse or free exercise specialists, it is almost unheard of to recruit long horse vaulters. Somehow it doesn 't seem right to take a man on team tlips so he canjump over the horse once or twice, even though his 9.3 will certainly mean just as much as a 9.3 in rings or any other event.

The potential for picking up 9.3s , or what­ever , gives us at least a pragmatic reason for working vaulting. It's the easiest event to build scores on. I t's obviously not as difficult learn­ing one 9.0 vault as it is learning a 9.0 ring or free exercise routine. Yet few teams have three or four good vaulters. Few teams ever vault three times a week.

Many proposals have been made to try to inject more life into long horse vaulting - to make more room for creativity, proposals have been made to change the reuther board for a mini-tramp. to eliminate the fault zones, to raise or lower the horse , to give much more credit for originality. Other coaches have espoused that the vaulting event is simply a carry-over from the bull vaulting event in an­cient Greece and should now be eliminated or replaced with the trampoline.

Is there a good reason to retain the vaulting event? This writer didn't think so previously but has changed his mind. Here is why: Arthur Gander, technical chairman for the F.I.G. , has stated that each gymnastic event has a purpose for eXisting and that purpose is the well-round­ed physical and mental development of the gymnast. Obviously , a rings specialist is not I~kely to receive full leg development nor par­IIcularly good kinesthetic development. Free exercise seems to be the only event that could probably stand on its own for total develop­ment. So what does long horse add?

Vaulting adds three very important mental and physical qualities to the gymnastics spec­trum.

First, vaulting is the only event which has a long, fast. aggressive run towards a challeng­Ing obJective. Pure aggressive attitude (or the lack of it) may be brought out here more than anywhere else in the sport.

Second, and perhaps most important , the fact that we are only performing one movement instead of II is vaUlting's greatest strength rather than its weakness. For only here must we concentrate absolutely on one perfected movement from start to finish While we want to perfect each trick in a routine, we often tend t~ work the roy tine as a whole (good). yet some­times lose Sight of perfecting each internal movement. Vaulting forces us ; reminds us to do this.

Third. vaUlting's most exciting climax is a

rock solid. super-human appearing landing after a difficult. high flight. The unique tempo of a fast , light run, an explosive takeoff, some­times somersaulting flight , and BOOM' Per­fection. Other events have the landing but not in such a dramatic combination of run, flight and landing.

Vaulting in America has suffered in recent years because we have practically ignored the event, which can be excitinl!. Who remembers Mitchell ' s mile-high front over or Frank Schmitz ' 9.8 front with a full? These gymnasts knew how to go up rather than simply over. And they stuck. The name of the game is to fly!

Before you stick. you should fly , and to fly you have to run. To run, you must be aggres­sive; you must get angry! To quote Jerry George, you must. like the hen in the middle of the road , lay it on the line'

The author has several suggestions how to make the event more exciting, challenging and unique.

I. Allow a mitigating or leniency factor of.S for oliginal or double** vaults.

2. Instead of deducting 1-2 for step or hop. 2-3 for several steps or hops and 3-S for falling on hands with support or on back. . deduct 3-S, S-7 and 7-1.0 for same faults! Then we 'll see some practice sticking. The event will be­come more ofa man 's event'

3. **This suggestion may be vehemently re­jected by many who may feel it is too extreme , but here goes: Allow one and only one vault. Reasons: I) The philosophy of one perfected movement will go double here ... let's make 'em lay it on the line. The vaulters will then prac­tice enough to be very sure they can consis­tently do that vault cold and not have another chance. After all , do we want to legislate in fa­vor of inconsistency or against it? Isn't that why a second try at the compulsories was elimi­nated? Gymnasts with correct mechanics a-e consistent. There will be coaches who reject this suggestion because they picture two of their vaulters blowing the single vault ... but coach. the other team has to come through. too!

2) The crowd doesn't have to sit through a vault: watch the man walk back and wait and wait. then take another vault. (Since when does making a man do two vaults instead of one make him " versatile" ?)

3) The nerve-splitting, heart-rending sus­pense' Can you imagine the " last half of the ninth - bases loaded" feeling when the last vaulter is up in a close meet and one man has already blown? This is what gymnastics should be all about if we want to attract spectators' Let's make long horse one of our most exciting events instead of a deficit.

This column is actually supposed to go into the mechanics of vaulting. Next issue of the M.G. we will begin the mechanical aspects. Yet this discussion of the philosophy of vaulting was necessary to give us a general direction in which to work. Philosophy determines rules and organization, which in turn determine me­chanics . This is true in any gymnastic event. and it is true for the sport as a whole. That is one reason the NCAA rules committee is now discussing the possibility of beginning a Gym­nastics Philosophy Committee to discuss the directions and outlooks for U.S. ' gymnastics. To cite a quick example: one way to do smooth. fast giants on the high bar is by simply shorten­ing the radius by bending the arms or bending the knees. However, our philosophy of high bar and of gymnastics, in general, is that the body is to look smooth, flowing and with clean body lines. Thus, our philosophy determines our me­chanics of straight legs and piking slightly on the bar to shorten our radius rather than bend­ing knees or arms.

So gymnasts , think about what the event is all about in general before getting up to throw tricks.

19

~ Parallel gBars Re: From a Handstand Position - SWING THROUGH to an Inlocated Support Posi­tion

Illustration A assumes an extended hand­stand position with all-body segments in a di ­rect straight-line relationship. The for-down­ward push against the bars depicted in Illustra­tion B serves to offset the gravitational line to­ward the intended direction of movement.

The progressively decreasing shoulder angle in addition to the slight and scarcely observ­able forward lean across the upper vertical line is revealed in Illustration C-D-£-F-G-H. This slight forward lean serves not only to insure a controlled descent but also to aid in shoulder girdle extension , a consideration necessary to the proper utilization of the oncoming "bottom­ing effect" of the pendulum swing.

The circular a rrow depicted in Illustration I points out that , from the actual initiation of the skill to its final phases , the arm regions are pro­gressively rotated in an outward direction in proportion to the body's pendulum swing. This action serves to allow the greatest possible anatomical range of movement relative to the shoulder girdle. Such a consideration is of prime importance in realizing a total and complete pendulum swing.

The leg-trunk angle remains in a direct straight-line relationship from the beginning phase of the skill and continues through Illus­tration 1. This rigid fixation of the leg-trunk region in addition to the extended arm seg­ments will aid the gymnast in attaining a true perpendicular "bottoming effect" from the pendulum swing. The very slightly tra iling leg region occurs momentarily at the exact bottom of the swing. Double arrows depict the direc­tion of this "bottoming effect. " The recoiling action both of the bars and of the aforemen­tioned depressed shoulder girdle drives the leg­trunk regions in an outward and upward direc­tion.

Illu strations K-L-M-N-O-P-Q relate the reactionary phase of the upward pendulum swing. As the shoulder angle progressively in­creases to its maximum anatomical range of movement , there is a very slight and scarcely observable forward lean of the shoulder-arm regions. This is accomplished by a steadfast and proportionate back-downward push against the parallel bars. Observe that there is also a very slight " foot lead" realized in Illustration Q. Such a consideration allows for a potential force necessary to proper execution of any of the sequentia lly related skills.

A final point in the Swing Through is that its execution should be of the nature such that a proper returning downward swing would be impossible. The double arrows depict the mechanically correct resultant of the afore­mentioned " bottoming effect" of the pendu­lum swing.

10 1 Horizontal Bar

HORIZONTAL BAR Re : From an Overgrip handstand Position -FREE HIP C I RC LE - to an Overgrip hand­stand Position

Illustration A assumes an extended hand­stand position with all body segments in a direct straight-line relationship. The tota l body unit is so positioned th a t its gravitationa l line li es s lightly to the side of the intended direction of movement.

The initial movement phase of the Free Hip

20

Circle, Illustrations B - C, is characterized by decreasing the shoulder angle with the corre­sponding forward lean across the upper vertical line. A vigorous for-downward push against the bar serves not only to insure a controlled de-

Gymnastic Classics© Volume 2 - Porallel Bors Sect ion A - Swing Series Number 1 - From 0 Handstand Position -

SWING THROUGH - to on Inlocated Support Position

~ - Copyrigh t

© Copyright

scent but also to retard the natural tendency of the gymnast to position himself too close to the bar at the onset of the skill.

Sl ightly prior to reaching Illustration D , there is a s light but observable hip angle decrement.

Gymnastic Classics© Volume 1 - Horizontal Bar Section C - Hip Ci rcles Number 1 - From on Overgrip Hondstand Position -

FREE HIP CIRCLE - to on Overgrip Hondstand Position

@ ~ Copy righ t © Copyright

This " foot lead" action , in addition to the illus­trated " lock-set" maintenance of the shou lde­angle , places the gymnast in an ideal position to best ut il ize such potentia l force in coordina­tion with the acce lerat ion realized in the de­scent.

As th e gymnQst continues through Illustra­tions E - F , the aforementioned shou lder angle position is steadfastly maintained while the hip angle continues dec reas ing to a point such that the lower as pec t of the legs a ppea rs to be in close proximit y to th e hori zont a l cross-ba r. Since the centrifugal fo rce is increasing to the point such that it significant ly tends to cau se the gy mna s t to be pulled away fro m the ba r , the aforement ioned shoulder angle position is now maintained by a proportionate for-downward pu ll toward the bar.

T he " bottoming effect " of the swing is real ­ized in Illustration C. T he bar bows downward slightly and then, as the body begins to ri se up the circular swing, the ba r recoils to its original position. This reco il ing action serves both as a timing cue and as an empetus for direct ing the body to the desi red position, i.e., an Overgrip Handstand Position.

Illustrations H - I - J - K depict the progres­s ive body posi tio n s of the ascent. Bot h the s hould e r a nd hip a ng le s vi go ro us ly increas e both s imultaneously and proport ionately to the upward circular swing. Observe that the feet prescribe a path identica l in nature to the uppe r vertical line.

Beca use of t he v igo rou s s houlder a nd hip angle increments, the gymnast wi ll sense a fee l­ing of " weightlessness" almost as if the body were being pulled up and away from the bar. It is at th is time, Illust rat ion K , that the slip-grip action of the hands is realized. The wrists a re a rched onto the top of the bar to provide sup­port for the oncoming body weight.

I ll ust ration L revea ls that the aforementioned v igorou s s hou lde r a nd hip a ng le increment s have continued to and not through the extended Overgrip H andstand Position. All body seg­ments are again in a direct straight-line re lation­ship and the gy mnast is now ideally posit ioned to perform any of the sequentially re lated skills.

NOW AVAILABLE MEN'S GYMNASTICS JUDGES CORRESPONDENCE COURSE If you are a prospective judge, planning to

officiate at meets, you will f ind the "Men's Gym· nastics Judges Correspondence Course" will be a great help to you as 0 supplement to practical judging. Rules and regulotions for each of the six events are all listed under the individual event for easier studying and memorizing . . . (eliminates "hunting" for a penalty applying to a particular event).

Also included is the list of vaults and their values, ABC ports, and a suggested method of judging. A test and answers are included in sep· orate sealed envelopes. Study at your convenience and test yourself when you feel you are reody. Use this course as a preparation for taking an official test.

If you are already a judge, you can refresh your memory by just turning to the event you are to judge and glance at the penalties listed under the event. Coaches and gymnasts may also find it convenient to have all the penalties listed under each event separately for quick and easy refer­ence to deductions for errors.

This course has been compiled by Helen Sjursen and edited by Frank Cumiskey, FIG judge ­USA.

Order through Helen Sjursen, 46 Poplar Place. Fanwood. N.J. 07023. Cost $3.00 plus 1 B cents postage and handling. Checks payable to Helen Sjursen must accompany order.

SPECIAL OFFER

The MAGIC of GYMNASTICS

THE MAGIC OF GYMNASTICS is the first contemporary readings text on the gymnastic market! It consists of a compilation of articles submitted by some sixty-five nationally and internation­ally known teachers, coaches, and physical educators. This classroom text deals with the broad spectrum of the total gym­nastic curricula fo r both boys and girls of all levels.

• Designed for Teacher, Coach, and Professional Student! • Includes Teaching Methodology for all levels! • Kinesiology, Physiology, and Psychology of Gymnastics! • Covers the Current Available Literature in the Field! • Elementary, Secondary and College Level Physical

Education Gymnastics! • Competitive Gymnastics at all levels! • Exhibition Gymnastics! • Lists Current Equipment and Supply Companies!

- THIS ANTHOLOGY IS A MUST FOR EVERY GYMNASTIC LIBRARY -

Take advantage of this special pre-publication sales offer. Simply fill out the following order blank and include a check or money ader of $5.00. Order from:

SUNDBY PUBLICATIONS Box 777 Santa Monica, California 90406

• ••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••• Please reserve my copy of the upcoming hardbound text THE MAGIC OF GYMNASTI CS. Encl osed you will fi nd a check or money order of $5 .00.

NAME ______________________________________________ __

ADDRESS ____________________________________________ __ Street

Ci ty Stote Zip

ORDER NOW!!!!! THIS INTRODUCTORY OFFER IS LIMITED!!!!!

21

COMPULSORY EXERCISES FOR THE 1970 WORLD GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

NOTE: As we have not to th is date received the Official FIG drawings and text for the 1970 World

FLOOR EXERCISE: 1. Sa lta backw., arched dive roll , head kip 2. Roll bockw. to hondst., 1/4 turn, roll over 3. l i B turn, cartwheel, lIic Ilac, bockdive w. V2 turn, roll

over 4. Straddle jump, Jop. jump, straddle cut to bock lean ing

support, V2 turn to lront leaning support, stand 5. V. turn to 1/1 turn, 1/1 turn into side scale (Hold) 6. V4 turn to straddle stand, body wove 7. Slowly press to handstand with straight arms and

bent body (Hold) 8. Farvv. roll, handspring on one leg, handspring to stand 9. Tour jete, cartwheel with turn to stand

10. Roundoff, Ilic Ilac, bock salta tucked

SIDE HORSE: 1. Moore over pommel 2. Flank bock, kehre in 3. Flank bock, leg over to two scissors lorw., leg over 4. Reverse circle, leg back to two scissors rev., leg bock 5. 1 V2 circles 6. T ramlat (T ravel down and kehre in) 7. Circle. Moore B. Flank bock, kehre out 9. Fla nk back with V4 turn, circle (loop), Schwabenwende

(loop V2 turn).

22

Championships to be held in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia we are publishing this semi-official text and draw­ings prepared by Barbaro and Chri s Weber of Ames, Iowa ... . If there are any changes in the

Official FIG text we will make note of it in the MG when we receive them.

The numerical order of tricks corresponds to the illustrated figures.

RINGS: ». I I I ~ I 1 . Raise to stra;ght inverted hand 'I' I, I 1. ' \ j 'I ; I, I 2. Kip to "L" (Hold) . ill ;) ~ 3. ~~d~lrHgrd)ss to handstand with bent orms, straight i! & ~ l!: ,,: ~ ~~ 4. Swin g forw. lower to hang, straight body rnlocate 0 FO ,j) IS==f '--------..) 5. Backuprise, drop to bent inverted hang " ~ • 6. Di slocate, shoot to handstand (Hold) dl ~ U .; v 7. Swing forw. to hipcircie backw., lower to back lever tJ '

(Hold) n 8. Ra ise up to straight inverted hong \ I 9. Stra ight body in locate Ui '

10. Bent body inlocote into piked saito forw.

I It ii i 0 ,~ '; I Ii:

c:~ ;; '\ 7 \~( f n (f 1\ \(0' 1 \ . , '\';\ ~

~~~1~, . '~ ,~ LONG HORSE

1 . Cartwheel with V. turn

PARALLEl BARS : 1 . Baskel to forw. swing in hang 2. Glidekip 3. Back Stutzkehre 4. Shoulderstand forwa rd ra il 5. Backuprise straddle cut catch to "L" (Hold) . 6. Siwoly press to handstand with bent arms, strOight

body (Hold) V2) Handstand pivot forward 8. Forw. Stutzkehre to upper arm hang 9. Frontuprise

10. Salta forward.

HIGH BAR: I . Vault over bar 2. Kip, V2 turn reach under swing bockw. to . 3. Handstand, swing forw. and upnse with V2 turn IIlto

str~ddle "L" position 4. Drap back, stoop thraugh, kip 5. German giant 6. Slowly press to handstand with bent arms, straight 7. Hipcircle gripchange to handstand . 8. Giant swing farw. and V2 turn to giant swrng backw. 9. Crosschange giant to handstand, giant sWing forw.

10. Swing forw. to backuprise, hop-chanqe straddle off.

~ ~

~- ~ - ! ;?

~ -, 23

Stick figures and interpretations are prepared by Barbara and Chris Weber, Ames, Iowa, from the official release of the 1970 World Championship compulsories for men. Signed and dated by Arthur Gander, President of the F.I.G./ I. e. February 21, 1969.

JUDGING bYJERRY By JERRY WRIGHT

Concerning the 1968 Code of Points: I, A surprising contradiction in the code of

points concerns the Basic Score. The su­perior judge, to the FIG, is something of a dictator , but the basic score takes aW,ay some of this dictatorial power. Whenever a judges conference is necessary, the superior judges score is added to the average of the two mid­dle scores , and this is divided by two to ar­rive at a basic score, Changes are made with

"A" 1·7 was B

V·7 was B - Com

VIII·4 was B

24

The F.I.G. indicated that an official version of stick figures, taxation of values and movies will become available by summer 1969 with regard to the Pre·World Champion· ship held in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, on September 24·27, 1969.

the latter figure in mind , 2. The new code speaks of good posture when

one is assisted onto the apparatus. There can be a deduction of .1-,3 if the gymnast does not have proper leg and foot form when being lifted. It is not known by this writer just what the exact reason is for this rule except that presumably the routine begins when the performer leaves the ground.

Judges in General: I. Protests: Should a coach wish to protest any

aspect of a dual meet he should bring his feelings to the attention of the superior (head) judge (head judge is supposed to be appoint­ed prior to the beginning of the meet by the host coach). I would suggest that either the judges association or the judges themsel ves select the head judge. A protest could in­clude any aspect of the meet: judges scores , equipment , safety , etc. Championship Meets: In championship meets a coach may protest to the superior

"8" 1·8 was C

VII ·8 Was C (should be B+ A?)

VIII·2 New

Just $15.00 lor 150 It. Super·8 Color lilm 01 1970 World Games Compulsories. Available Irom Sundby Publications, P.O. Box 777, Santa Monica, Calilornia 90406

judge about judges scores and then protest to the rules committee (all championship meets should have a rules committee), All other protests should be brought first to the attention of the rules committee.

2. Falling from the Apparatus : I would suggest that a gymnast should be remounted by the end of his 30 seconds, but that it would be permissible if he were merely ready to re­mount at the end of the time', The coach is encouraged to talk to his gymnast after a fall to insure the gymnast is all right. However, if a gymnast does not make a clear effort to be ready to remount after 30 seconds, his routine may be terminated. Listed below is the fourth in a series of ar­

ticles concerning the A-B-C parts of the 1968 Code of Points. This series is offered simply to emphasize the major changes in the code. The word new simpl y means that the A-B-or-C part is li sted for the first time or was not listed in the 1964 code. Other notes should be self-ex­planatory.

"e" 11·3 Listed here as C but on page 115 #5 as B

111·6 New

XII-5 Slight change - "L" added

XIV-4 was B ~ could beA+A

~lJ= XVI- l New - Unusual

j I I ~ t d ~ IF ~

,

XVII-l 0 Was B

~ XVIII-5 New - effe'ctive mount?

~\~~ ~~ XVII 1-6 New

VIII-5 Was (

~t~~Jsjr~ gJ r XII-5 " L" added

XII-8 New

~~);.~~ XIII-5 Was (

~lU=

XVII-II Was(

~JJ~~I

VII-6 New

VIII-3 New

~!yJ\y VIII-6 New

XIII-3 New (easy U

~~~L

XVII-9 New ,should be at least ( + B.

L~}~~

/--; J TUMBLING TOPICS - -~ ~ 4, The front roll, front somersault. (A + B = B

,\ \ ( b DICK CRILEY ~ /1 \';~ \ the roll and the actu!ll somersault calls fOI as ~ (tr . .. _./--:: rg /~ ~ ' \~ difficulty) . The action between completion. of

B Y - , /i--V ~ -; \ /--\, \ much vertIcal extension as pOSSIble wlthrn the

~f (,lrc ~ .. ~, If' \\ I p~ continuit~ofthemove,Notere.achofth,earrns, .' Ifr((~ ~/ 1 /'~ ! 'i,' ~\ head posItIon, upward propulsIOn of hips and

(~t::: I / - . i d~~~~ ( J initiation of somersau lt with arms and head. ~ ~~r(OI I 'j _ it - -~ .. ~, <::,\,C{\,,~ \1) · The novice will tend to leap forward out of the §:?t~5,, ?i;: I;;s~--v, ·~L ~~~ ~' UJ--------" =-= roll and to execute a lo~g, dlvrng: roll and -- ._- U_'~'I!I_ I--'.!....!"~ ) u, ", , ~-~ J /" , ,,---:::,- should be counseled to stnve for height and a

Cartoon used with permission of the Saturday Evening Post. fast tuck. Next: Roundoff, back handspring,

})

25

IOWA'S 1st NATIONAL CHRISTMAS

GYMNASTICS CLINIC DECEMBER 20 - 23 COE COLLEGE, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

MASTER STAFF OF CHAMPIONS DICK MULVIHILL OUTSTANDING U.S.A. WOMEN'S COACH

MU RI EL GROSSFEL 1968 OLYMPIC COACH

LINDA METHENY 1968 OLYMPIC TEAM, 1969 AM. CUP TEAM

MIKE JACOBSON - Clinic Directol ASSISTED BY HIS 1969 N.C.A.A. CHAMPIONS

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

PROGRAM • 4 Full days & nights of gymnastics

JACOBSON Clinic Director

• A program designed to help every gymnast on all levels of gymnastics

• Up to date interpretation of all World Championship Compulsories

• Demonstration & active participation of compulsories • Over abundance of apparatus-More individual

instruction • Special Coaches sessions - Individual help

REGISTRATION LIMITED· REGISTER NOW! Deposit: $15.00 per person must be paid in advance Clinic Fee: $30.00 total fee includes: Instruction, Admission to Exhibition of stars & free gymnastics memento

Make check payable to: Iowa Gymnastics Clinic c/o Mike Jacobson University of Iowa, Field House Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Registration - Dec. 20, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon

For hotel and motel special clinic rate information and clinic schedule, contact Coach Jacobson at above address (Off ice Phone: 319-353-4596 - Home Phone: 319-351-6365).

26

THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE In Southern California for 13 years it

has almost been assumed before the fact that Pasadena Ci ty College would go on forever winn ing meet after meet . after all when you've hod I 3 years of competition without a single defeat the possibi lity of defeat seems remote. Well. for Coach Jerry Todd (PCC) the 13th year proved to be unfortunate indeed. From out of nowhere Long Beach City College, until now ra ther obscure gymnastica lly, rose to beat Pasadena not once but four times during the season! The fourth time being at the crucia l state finals, the score LBCC 114.5 and PCC 96. Long Beach City College is now at the top of the heap so long exclusive to Jerry Todd's team.

The question in everyone's mind is why LBCC? The answer is Coach John Draghi. Coach Draghi come from Baldwin Pork High School two yea rs ago to the LBCC campus. He left the CIF High School Con­ference after chalking up an unprecedent­ed seven straight victories as the CIF chomps. Draqhi did in two short years at LBce what no one else has been able to do in I 3 ... pretty good for a beginner at college coach ing!

Among the outstanding members of Coach Draghi's team are Jim Jennings, who placed first AA at the state finals and was named the league gymnast of the yea r, and Gary Albiiz, who took the still ring championship at the finals.

Kentucky State HS Championships (received too late for HS edition), L to R, Danny Belvins (Bryon Station) and Chris M iller (Iroquois) Co-All-Around Champs in Kentucky State HS meet. Team Totals, Bryan Station, 95; Iroquois, 81 ; Pleasure Ridge Park, 18; Lafayette, 5, and Thomas Jefferson, I .

MG SCOREFlASHER FOR OCTOBER

Nothing odds closs to a gymnastic meet like a lineup of attractive scorefloshers. They are not only" a pleasant addition to the scenery, but they are also very func­tional ; with their help the judges get their scores up foster, and as a result the meet can move along foster and therefore be more exciting to the spectators ... so let's have more scoreflashers!

In its uridying effort to upgrade the image of gymnastics, the MG is taking this space to promote the scoreflosher and her continued use.

Featured this month is pretty Diane Boehm of Son Gabriel High School. The photos were taken at the CIF finals where Dione and a crew of girl s flashed scores for the judges. Dione will be attending Mt. Son Antonio Junior Col lege this fall and hopes to find a ca reer in Fashion Coordi­nation. She was a varsity cheerleader, homecoming princess and letterman's queen at Son Gabriel H.S. Her favorite sport .. gymnastics, of course.

THE SPECIALISTS' PRIMER

See the gymnast. He is a specialist. S-P-E-C-I-A-L-I-S-T Watch him closely, He may not be around for long.

See how hard he works out. Work, work, work. He spends his whole workout on one or

two events. He is st riving towards perfection. HE sets the pace for his event. HE can do tricks the Al l-Around man

cannot do.

See the Coach. HE is crying. Cry, cry, cry.

He is crying because his gymnastic team has been reduced to a handfu l of AII ­Around men.

He is crying because hi s specialists who used to score 9.4s and above were phased out of gymnastics.

He is crying because the school superin ­dent wi ll not spend money on a sport that caters to on ly a handful of stu­dents.

Cry, cry, cry.

See how worried he looks. Worry, worry, worry. He is being phased out of gymnastics. O-U-T.

HE is being replaced by the Al l-Around man.

He is told that international competition must be "the" goal.

He is told that he must shope up or ship out!

NATIONAL GYMNASTICS CLINIC FORT LAUDERDALE, flORIDA December 26-30, 1969

CLINIC DIRECTORS:

For Information Write: Mr. Dick Holzoepfel Room 20 1 AOB University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Mr. Russ Porterfield Gymnastics Coach University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma 73069

Mr. Bill Meade Gymnastics Coach Southern Illinois Univ. Carbonda le, Ill inois 6290 1

Ernestine Corter Gymnastics Coach Women's P. E. Dept. Clarion State College Clarion, Pennsylvania 1621 4

Sharon Pirkl Physical Education Dept. Moline High School Moline, Illinois 61265

Mr. Chic Cicio 17432 N. W. 47 Court Coral City, Florida 33054

MR. BILL MEADE - Southern Illinois University MR. DICK HOLZAEPFEL- University of Iowa MR. MIKE JACOBSON - University of Iowa Master Instructional Staff:

'Men:

Fred Dennis-Illinois High School Coach and Olympic Team

Fred Drlofsky - Michigan High School Coach and Olympic

Team

Russel Porterfield - Oklahoma University Coach

Fred Sanders - North Carolina University Coach

Roger Gedney - Western Illinois University Coach

Dale Hardt -Illinois High School Coach and NCAA Champion

Chic Cicio - Florida Coaches Association

Women: Women: Ernestine Carter - Clarion State College Coach, Olympian,

World Champion Sharon Pirkl-I llinois High School Coach Judy Gedney - Western Illinois University Coach Jacki Uphues-Judge, 1968 Olympics, Delegate to Inter-

Gymnastics Fed. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. "Hutch" Dvorak - Georgia Southern Coaches

To assist the teaching staff, members of the Southern Illinois and Uni­versity of Iowa (NCAA Champs) vars ity gymnastics teams will be on hand. Program: Classes will be open to teachers, gymnasts and coaches. Instruction on the apparatus for both boys and girls will be offered at all ability levels. Special sessions will be offered for those gymnasts working on the com­pulsory routines. Up to date films will be shown, and classes held in the iudging of gymnastics as well as discussion of new teaching and training

Highlights of Program: 1 . Judging Classes 2. Coaching Classes - New techniques for training and

coaching. 3. Gymnastics in the Physical Education Program for

teachers. 4. Classes for all ability levels for both boys and girls. 5. Training in the current compulsory routines. 6. Competition for men, women and Florida High School

boys. 27

Continued from page 11

sistent. I was not impressed with their vaulting (I feel they were overscored). F.X. was also fa irl y weak. Marion Yemetz was their coach and handled his team well. Cerar's scores of 9 made the difference between winning and losing to the U.S. team. U.S.A. Team Comments Dave Thor excellent. I feel he was underscored on his second vault. His H.B. routine very good and that excellent double sommy dis­mount (high above the bars) was tremendous. Side Horse was , as usual, very good. He blew his lead over Cerar on the P.B.'s; also had trouble on the still rings and with his levers (appeared tired to me, maybe he needs a rest).

Paul Tickenoff also impressed me (poor on s ide horse) good vaulter and P.B .'s. Arman­do Vega has a real prospect in Paul. Fred Den­nis is a good Ring man but his routines need changing . . . a very steady performer . . . re­liable and consistent. I am sure a year or two will make a difference in Fred . Richard Tucker is a bit of a sleeper, ve ry steady, lots of courage - I do not know who is coaching him but this boy has great potential and will be heard from in the future . Gene Wettstone did hi s usual good job coaching the team. Canada Team Comments N ot much change , as long as we have only 7 or 8 seniors to pick a team of 4 or 5 nothing will happen. Gi l Larose proved again he is Canada's top gy mnas t. G il , the top scorer for Canada, excellent F .K and P.B. Andre Simard thi s year's na tional champion, scored we ll on L.H.V. Barry Brooker gave his usual steady performances (Barry has improved , very few breaks) . The performance of Syd Jensen was a disappointment to me ; Syd was hurt and did not compete a t the N ationals . I wonder, was he ready for this meet ? He looked so good last year.

Putting Bill Mackie in was a good move (his scores did not count). It was a good idea to give Bill international experience.

Will y Weiler handled the team. (Will y has some definite plans to give our boys more experience.) I hope he will be supported. It must be fru stra ting getting the team a few days before a meet and expect him to do much other than to look at his team's routines and com­ment : so mething must be done to keep our national team together.

Judges T . Zivic and B. Bajin , Yugos lav ia: U.S .A., C. Weber and T. Muzyczko: Canada, E, Qrychen and J . C houinard . General Remarks The meet was very well run under the chair­manship of Tom Zivic, York University (Mats. etc. a ll supplied by York) . It was a pleasure to see Frank Bara and Jackie Uphues up here in Canada. I believe it was Frank's first visit. Attendance was about 3,000 but we lost them because of the length of the meet - I am not so sure that we should not have had two events running or that we should have started earlier. We must find some way to speed up our com­petitions. That 5 minutes warm up before each event sure slows things down.

USGF 1968 Men's

OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC FILM Just $16.00 for

400 ft. 8mm (black & white) All the top final routines of the individual Championships from the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. ORDER FROM:

USGF Men's Olympic Film P.O. Box 717 Santa Monica, Ca. 90406

LETTERS

CIRCLES Dear Mr. Sundby:

I have fOllnd M.G. mostllseful in learning the proper technique in the analysis of the vari­ous skills . If possible I hope you will run an analysis on a velY important basic on side horse - double leg circles. Very little attention is given to side horse skills in your magazine, although horizontal bar skills are analyzed each month.

YOllrs truly, Paul SooHoo

New York (ED. For " High Doubles & Loops" see Art Shurlock's Question s & Pointers, July '64 MG. Also with our new " ANYONE for ALL­AROUND" feature sta rting in this edition, we should in time cover major skill s in a ll events.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST PIONEERS Dear Glen:

Thank you velY much for sending me the picture of several of the early Gymnasts of Washington State University and myself.

Th e sport of gymnastics owes these men and many others like them a debt of gratitude. These are a f ew of the stalwart pioneers in the spread of the sport of gymnastics throughout the Pacific Northwest area. It was theirdedica­tion, love of th e sport, willingness to stay to­gether under adverse conditions, to travel far to compete against gymnasts from other InstI­tutions and to present untold numbers of exhi­bitions, which made it possible eventually for a meet sllch as the NCAA to be held in the Pa­cific Northwest area .

(Kn eeling L to R : David Chilson, Gym­nastics Coach , Auburn; Matthew Brislmvn, Lawyer, Mercer Island. Seated: James SIIIIi­van, Gymnastics Coach, Bothel; Coach Hubert Dunn , Northern Illin ois University; R oger Richert, Architectural Engineer, Seattle. Stand­ing: George Gleason , Gymnastics Coach, Western Washington State College; Jake Mon­lux, Physical Th erapist, Edmonds; R ex Davis , Gymnastics Coach, Washington State Uni­versity.)

Most of these men were competing on teams which go back 18 to 20 years ago. Davis was captain of the 1953 team, SIIIIivan was his tearnmate.

It was a real thrill for me to be back in the State of Washington after an absence of seven years and to see these and many other former gymnasts . of mine as well as other former slll­dents and friends. It was good also to have a chance to visit with you. to receipt of the pictures.

Sincerely , Hubert Dunn

Gymnastics Coach DeKalb , II/.

ANKLE-WEIGHTS FOR BETTER HANDSTANDS Dear Sir:

Many beginners and even advanced stu­dents of gymnastics ha ve trouble with the velY basic move of gymnastics - "the handstand." I lioticed at the Olympic Tria ls many gymnasts had shaky handstands in Floor Exercise, Par­allel Bars, and especially on the rings. A hand­stand is a basic move and should be pracllced over and over till pel/ection is at hand. Wh en I first started learning a handstand, I had no way of finding my balance point quickly and efficiently. Most coaches start teaching the handstand to students by kicking up against the wall and then slowly move feet from wall and tlY to hold it; this method takes months of practice with little accomplishment. Don't get me wrong - nothing in gymnastics is done properly without months and even years . of practice and there is no quick method of dOlllg so, but to ha ve something to help learn the handstand efficiently and better is in order. In practice, I was using ankle-weights fo r de­veloping leg muscles for IlImbling, when I kicked LIp into a handstand (forgetting I had the ankle weights on) and fell over the first time.

I kicked up into one again and held it perfectly. I found my balance point right away, no swaying back andforth, or walking on hands to try to catch balance. Put the ankle-weights on, kick up against the wall then bring your feet away from wall; you'll find the balance point almost immediately, and when weights are off, the handstand becomes easier to hold. Pressing power increases and when weights are off presses become almost easy. Also use the weights on other apparatus. They develop strength , better balance, and improve co­ordination , especially in Free Exercise. It developes springs and somersaults tremen­dously and, when weights are off, moves look better, feel better and j/mv'mllch more smooth­ly . The people I' ve taught handstands to with the use of ankle-weights learned it faster, and they develop presses faster and effortlessly.

I sugges t five-pound ankle-weights for best average weight.

Sincerely, Steve Lamania

Palmyra, N.J.

AIRFOAM LANDING MAT • NEWEST GYMNASTICS TRAINING

AID FROM ATLAS

• 5' x 10', 8 inches thick, filled with POLYURETHANE FOAM.

• Covered with NYLOCOAT, a tough, tear resistant nylon supported vinyl.

• Designed with a smooth covering which prevents abrasions and mat burns.

• The combination of trapped air and Polyurethane Foam protects the performer on the roughest landings.

• Stocked in Seafoam Green, also available in a variety of school colors.

SCHOOL PRICE $145.00

NEW DISMOUNT LANDING MAT

5' x 10' x 4"

The new ATLAS Dismount Landing mat is the safety mat des igned spe­cifically for gymnastics_ It is fi lled with super shock absorbent Ensol ite® plus 3" of Polyurethane fo am_ When added together they give the best and safest landing surface which mee ts al l national and international reqiurements. The dismount mat is reversible - by using the Ensolite side up for a f irmer landing surface or the Polyu re­thane side up for a soft practi ce land­ing surface .

NYLOCOAT 1" ENSOLITE

~ 4"

3" POLYURETHANE FOAM

SCHOOL PRICE $155.00

@ Reg is tered Tra d e mark, Uniroya l, Inc.

Contact your sporting goods dealer today or write us for complete information

ATLAS ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT CO. Dept. M 2339 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63139

C.ontinued from poge 10

information in bold print alongside the figure. Allow three weeks for delivery from order date. Specify male or fema le. $1 5.00 per hundred.

10. Heavy Duty Travel Valets. Gold Bock, White Front, with U.S. Flog in color and USGF Emblem in color plus words, United States Gymnastics Federation in Black print. Men's or Women's valet available ... great for travel, every member of your team should have one. $4.00 each plus SOc moiling chorges (First Closs Moil).

11 . The newest USGF Pin. Americon flag on top, USGF Emblem in center ova l and letters USGF below. Ex­tremely attractive and beautifully mode, gold and red and blue. $1.00 eoch. (Discounts available for orders of ten or more).

12. Crests. Cloth, embroidered USGF Crest. The lost word in emblematic design. U.S. Flog on top, USGF Emblem in ovol in center and USGF letters below. Suitable for worm-up iackets, sport coats and blazers and very ottroctive. $2.00 eoch.

13. Decals. Suitoble for luggoge, outomobiles, travel bags, books, virtuo lly onyth ing. Long-wearing plastic decols are complete in color, with U.S.A. Flag, USGF Emblem and letters USGF below. Identifiable anywhere as 0 plug for gymnastics in the U.S.A. 50 cents each.

ORDER FROM: The United States Gymnastics Federation, P.O. Box 4699, Tucson, Arizona 85717 U.S.A.

30

Shreveport Gymnastic Supply

Company p, 0 , Box 5374

Shreveport, La. 71105

Suppliers of 1968 U. S. Women's Olympic

Gymnast ic Team 1968 World Trampoline Team

WHY WAIT FOR YOUR ORDER?

Our stock items are shipped the day your order is receiv­ed. We stock most gymnastic clothing items and accessories.

Send 'for our catalog

PORTABLE PARALLETTES Excellent for the home and gym. Handstands,

presses ond levers so essential are mav~s done on these parollettes. .

Extensively used by gymnasts and Olympians throughout Japan. Made of hardwood and stur­dily constructed for ' Iong use. Walnut finished and hond polished.

So. Cal.

75c

Price $6.00 per pro

Plus Postage

W. States Midwest

$1.00 $1.20

ORDER FROM: M.G. PARALLETTES BOX 777

Santa Monica Calil. 90406

East

$1.35

MG BOOKSHELF BOUND EDITIONS: The Modern Gymnast. All issues

published 1956-68, Hard bound Volumes 1-10 complete .... : ......... .. .......... ........ .. $1 25.00 Single Volumes bound, Vol. 8 1966 ............ ......... .. ... ........ $10.00 Vol. 9 1967 ........ ............ .. ....•.. .. .. $10.00 Vol. 10, 1968 .......... ............. ....... $10.00 Order all three for just $25.00

Unbound complete volumes, Vol. 8 .. .. .. ........ ... ...... .. .......... ..... $4.00 Vol. 9 ... ...... .. .............. .. ... ... ......... $4.00 Vol. 1 0 ......... ......... ......... .. .......... .. $4.00 Order three unbound volumes for just $10.00

MG 10 year index available free, just send self­addressed stomped envelope

BALLET FOR GYMNASTICS Manual # 1000 to accompany Class "c" record (Stepping Tones) ...... .................... .. . $3.00 Manual # 1010 to accompany Class "B" recanj (Stepping Tanes) ... .... ..... .... ...... .. ... ... $4.00 Special offer, 80th manuals ... ...... ... ..... $5.00

NCAA 1968 HIGHLIGHTS Regular $1.00. Order now for just SOc each

LET'S TEACH ROUTINES ...... ..................... $1.00 MG POSTERS:

Four color 20x24 uneven bar .............. . $1.00 Giant 2'x3' World Cup Poster .. ............. $1 .00 Gymnastics Moderne 16V2x23 ..... :. ...... .50 High Bar 1 6 V2x23.. . . ...... . ....... . .. .... ... .50

Special offer, All four posters suitable for framing .... ... ..... .. ........... .... ......... . $2.00

Order From:

SUNDBY PUBLICA nONS MG BOOKSHELF Box 777 Santa Monica, Ca. 90406

California residents add 5% sales tax

SEND FOR FREE COMPLETE

CATALOG OF TRAMPOLINE

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

SIDLINGER TRAMPOLINE CO. P.O. Box 2

Garland, Texas 75040

Indisputably the finest name in trampolinin g - since 1948

[,' ___ M __ G_G_y_m __ C_G_I_e_"_d_G_' __ JJ The following is a brief resume of events taking place in the United States or other nations that concerns American gymnastics progroms.

October 17-1 8-19, 1969. Pre-World Championships for men and women. Ljubjlana, Yugoslavia. Three-day event utiliz­ing world's games compulsories. U.S.A. wi ll send men's and women's teams. November 1-2, 1969. USGF Cooches Congress, Denver, November 8, 1969. United States Military Academy Gymnas­tic Clinic, West Point, New York. For cooches and gym­nasts (men only). November 20 to Dec. 2, 1969. U.S.A. invited to send three women gymnasts, two competitors, and one Coach/Judge for the fi rst Invitational or Elite Women gymnasts ... To­kyo, Japan, U.S.A. will ta ke part if the event takes place .. U.S.S. R., Germany, Japan, U.S.A. November 28-29 , 1969. NEW ENGLAND CLINIC. U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn. November 28-29. Midwest Open, Mt. Prospect, Illinois. November 28-29. Eastern Gymnastic Clinic, Abington, Penn­sylvonio. December 5-6, 1969. Gymnastic Workshop for Men and Women, University of Missouri. December 13. lowo Open Gymnastic Meet, U. of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. December 25·31,1969. Notional Gymnastic Clinic, Sarasota, Florida. December 26-31. Eastern Gymnastic Clinic, Fort Lauderdole, Florida. December 26-31. Ca lifornia Winter Gymnastic Clinic, Berke­ley, Ca li forn ia. December 26·31. Western Gymnastic Clinic, Tucson, Ari­zona. December 26-31. Texas National Gymnastic Clinic, Corpus Christi, Texas.

1970 March 5, 6, 7, 1970. Big 10 Championship, University of Minnesoto. March 7, 1970. North At lantic Gymnostic Chompionship, Westchester, Pennsylvania. March 12, 13, 14, 1970. Eastern Intercollegiote Chompion­ship, Syracuse, New York. March 14, 1970. Southwest Conference Gymnastic Cham­pionship, Texos A&M, College Station, Texas. March 19-21 , 1970. NAIA Gymnostic Championship, Stout State College, Menomonie, Wiscons in. March 19-21, 1970. Big 8 Gymnastic Chompionship, Konsas Stote Univ., Manhottan, Kansas. March 26-28. AAWW Gymnastic Championship, Univ. of Woshington, Seottle, Washington. April 2·4, 1970. NCAA Gymnastic Chompionship, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvonia. April 8-9-10, 1970. Championships of the U.S.A. Las Vegas, Nevada. . . April 17·18, 1970. Ncitional YMCA Gymnostic Championship, Oklo homo City, Oklohomo. Apri l 24-25, 1970. World Cup Invitational, Long Beach, Coli­fornio . April 25-26, 1970 . .. Second Annual WORLD CUP. Long Beach, California. International Judges Courses for Men and Women. Tenta­tively scheduled for Long Beach, pending approval bf FIG Officia ls involved. Course for all English-speaking women ... Men from Conado, U

. Men from Conada, U.S.A. and Mexico. October 22-27 , 1970. WORLD'S GAMES .. Ljubjlana, Yugo­slavia.

MG CORRECTION: The picture in the MG­NCAA Championship edition report of Ward Meythaler (1969 ring chomp) from Iowa State, is really that of Kirk Gardner of Kan­sas. Our apologies to both of these fine ring­men for the unintended mixup. G.S.

Write to Gymnostic Aides, Northbridge, Mass., for beginning, intermediate and advanced ring s, poral lel bors and side horse charts.

NEW! Side horse charts are now available. Six exercises ranging from beginner to high interme­diate levels have just been completed. Write to GYMNAS TICS AIDES CO., Northbridge, Mass.

Better Not Take Safety Standards For Granted When You Buy Gymnastic Apparatus Nissen doesn't.

In fact, most new safety and convenience features for gymnasium apparatus in the last decade have been developed by Nissen.

Who else would think of putting a Floating Counterbalance device in each apparatus upright to make height adjustments almost effortless? More importantly, the counterbalance prevents the parallel bar, for example, from suddenly dropping, possibly causing pinched fingers or bruised foreheads. Who else but Nissen would develop an almost unbreakable Perma-Wood top bar for parallel bars, fusing hardwood laminations together under extreme heat and pressure?

Noone insisted these changes ... except Nissen.

Heavier gauge materials, interchangeable parts so improvements or innovations will fit equipment in the field, streamlined, protrusion-free design - Nissen has engineered new safety into gymnastic equipment, on its own, without an outside organization requiring it.

Some equipment buyers take safety standards for granted. If you're

that way, your best bet is to buy equipment from a company that doesn't. Like Nissen, for instance. Nissen Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406

A floating ~ counterbalance is

installed inside each upright of Nissen parallel bars to keep the pistons at static tension. Only a slight hand pressure is required to raise or lower the bar.

·.'l

t·~·"'~

\ '.

~ '-

, ,. "_..

.,~ ..

" Whe

n Pe

rform

ance

Cou

nts

.",.'i~"",

~.

:

AM

ERIC

AN

A

THLE

TIC

E

QU

I P M

E'N

T '

CO

. B

OX

11,1

JE

FF

ER

SO

N. ,

IOW

A 5

.012

9 .,

. ' ...

~~

;.~:

.\v"

,,~ ••

.J~.

w.' ..

/Ol/

~ :~

·<'!:~W!d.,\

'f.li'''i.~~\..t;,

·"",';

'''''''

'';'

;'''

'~~1

·:,~--.*A;.;:t6~