What You Want in Technique
Thanks to all the people who filled out the questionnaire from the September/October issue of Technique and returned it to USA Gymnastics. Also, congratulations to Jennifer Schuppe Botham, whose survey was randomly drawn to win the $100 USA Gymnastics merchandise certificate! Happy Shopping Jennifer Schuppe Botham.
The results of the questionnaires were very interesting. Some individuals want more high level skills broken down, while others want lower level skills. Some want more sport science articles and others don’t want any! And, of course each of the three disciplines wants less information on the other two!
In response to one of the biggest complaints, timeliness, We are happy to report that USA Gymnastics has applied to the post office for second class mail status versus bulk rate. If we’re granted this status, we expect this will speed up delivery of your Technique magazines. We’ll keep you posted!
Here’s a summary of the results:
1. Do you read Technique?
100% of the respondents read Technique.
2. If yes, what have you learned from it and can you give an example?
Mental aspects of gymnastics • good drills for each event • breaking down skills • updated information • corrections to JO supplements • technical updates • helpful hints • better teaching habits • creativity and having fun with the kids • updated skill values • safety courses • event schedule • sport psychology and injury training • judging updates • safe aspects of gymnastics as a lifetime enhancement • sport science articles • conditioning advice
3. Do you like Technique?
91% of respondents said yes.
4a. What do you like about it?
Coaches technique articles like the one on Stalders • minutes • nutrition and mental preparation articles • WTC reports • order forms for publications • calendar of events • articles by Ph.D.’s • interviews • membership option updates • skill progressions • practical research • recyclable paper • detailed and technical look • articles on motivation and higher level skills
4b. What don’t you like about it?
Not enough articles about former gymnasts • not on time (misses safety classes in my area) • changes–has to learn how to organize and retrieve.
5. What would you like to see more of in Technique?
Women’s judging information and tips • skill technique • progressions • class or recreational gymnastics • basics • successful gyms week of practice to see how they schedule their workouts • massage therapy techniques • better order forms for USA Gymnastics merchandise (easier to see, more things offered) • more information on teaching • Mommy and Me classes • aerials • college gymnastics information • resumes from coaches searching for positions • coaching tips • lower-level skills • judging tips • TV listings • teaching skill builders • conditioning • more advanced skills • more merchandise of books and videos for training Levels 8-10 • trends in the sport • equipment, skills, etc.) • information on what other clubs do, number of hours training, etc.
6. What would you like to see less of in Technique?
USA Gymnastics self-promotion • men’s gymnastics information • rhythmic gymnastics information • FIG rules • physiology/kinetic articles • stories on “big name gymnasts” • scientific data and graphs • long articles • skill technique • advertisements • minutes
7. Do you like having Classified Ads listed in Technique?
72% said yes
8a. If yes, do you utilize this section?
Yes, good source • I read it but not in the position to hire • just look through • yes • never a job listed in my area • I read for the future because I’d like to get a job after college • yes, last summer I was hired for a position listed in the classified section
8b. If no, why don’t you utilize this section?
I have no need to look for a new job • not looking for a job or to buy anything • no need yet • no, but it’s nice to know it’s there for immediate reference
9. How could Technique be a better tool for you?
Improve the timeliness • more pictures to illustrate articles • make it larger • provide on-going progressions • Q & A • tips on skills • dealing with issues that everyone has on burnout, recruitment from colleges, trends • more teaching videos available • more articles on judging, former athletes, gross motor development for young children, rhythmic gymnastics, info. for smaller clubs, safety of skills and equipment, information on spotting, motivational stories, coaching advice.
10 & 11. If asked, would you be interested in contributing information/articles/ideas to Technique?
90% of the respondents said yes and gave us a variety of topics from which to choose. Those who said no either had no time or felt they didn’t have the expertise to write an article.
12. What types of articles would you like to read?
Skill specific articles on double backs, double fulls, front tumbling, front handspring vaults, front giants, toe fronts and stretching • drills for intermediate gymnasts • training of basics • twisting skills • minutes of the WTC, Elite committee meetings, college rules • studies done on judging • spotting techniques for high level bar skills for gyms without trench pits and spotting belts • preschoolers and gross motor development on the playground and indoor motor games • advanced spotting techniques for vault and floor • dance training • teaching back tucks • proper conditioning • how to make the gymnast more confident on the high beam • proper conditioning for young athletes ages 5-8 • progressions for beginning Level 9 gymnasts who don’t have a pit • composition deductions for beam, floor, bars and execution deductions for Popa, Wolf and turns • how to motivate gymnasts Level 5-6 on how to do clean and exact compulsories • how to work with children who do not listen • working with mentally challenged children • how to teach heal drive on vault • gymnastics facility space awareness • mental training before meets • new equipment at meets • keeping gymnasts pumped up • bad attitudes of team members • helping athletes with eating disorders • correct visual “Q” points while performing certain skills • cheerleading programs • teaching the Tsukahara vault • roundoff entry vaults • getting more height on split leaps • teaching the free hip circle on bars • National Wellness Program for gymnasts • ideas on gym ownership • marketing • drills for compulsory gymnastics skills • what to look for in spacing out routines as a judge (most important spacers) • training philosophies of other gyms, real ideas • periodization know how • how to break into elite competition • average salaries for full and part time coaches • benefit packages that entice • statistical information on level mobility.
13. Do you like seeing ads displaying products and services offered by USA Gymnastics?
72% said yes
14a. If yes, have you ever ordered?
78% said yes
14b. If no, why?
No need • ads take up too much space • I’ll think it’s an article but it’s just an ad • prefer to see and feel before buying.
15. Do you like seeing ads displaying products and services offered by other companies?
75% said yes
16a. If yes, have you ever ordered?
80% said yes
16b. If no, why not?
Like to mail to and receive catalog • no interest for a judge • have not ordered yet but may • not financially feasible • not interested
Rank Technique as an important source of information by the following:
1=least important
2=somewhat important
3=important
4=most importantBelow is a ranking of the categories selected. Program Updates was selected as the most important!
Program Updates
Technical information on skills
Athlete training
Athlete wellness
Committee meeting minutes
National event information
Business information
Selection proceduresMany of you indicated on the questionnaire that you would be interested in writing an article for Technique. We’d love to receive your article! Please send it to Technique, USA Gymnastics, Pan American Plaza, 201 S. Capitol Ave., Ste. 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225 or fax to 317-237-5069.
This article appears in the January 1998 issue of Technique, Vol. 18, No. 1.
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