Coming of Age, or "My Life is So Hard Because I'm Thirteen"

I knew this day would come.

Or, should I say, "these days." Suddenly they're all turning thirteen. It's an epidemic. "My birthday was Sunday." "Mine is in ten days." "Mine is in May."

Hold up. Slow down. Why do all the hormones and the boy woes and the eyeliner and the stomping-off-to-get-water have to happen to all of you simultaneously?

So it's not really "all." Just a few girls. But I've seen it approaching. They are getting taller, some a little heavier. They sigh more when you give them a correction, get frustrated easily. Tears. Tears. Tears. Moaning and groaning. Repeat.

I know which girls I can push and which I can't. You can be harsher with some, in both tone and assignment. Make them start over (again, again) and they'll be frustrated, but it won't end their day. Raise my voice. They might get a little cranky, but they'll make visible attempts to improve. Others don't need a harshness with their push. They'll keep working.

The sensitive ones (so far, two of the freshly-minted teenagers) are another story. When I push, there are tears. Outbursts and red faces. In the end, inactivity. The sensitive ones are freakin' stubborn. They won't budge. You know they'll be writing sad poetry in their journals, just like their coach at that age.

When I say nothing as they miss cartwheel after cartwheel on high beam or squat-on after squat-on on bars, skills they know how to make easily, there are still tears. But my blood pressure is lower. I'd call that a victory.

Seriously, though, I'm not sure how to handle these super-sensitive souls, besides pawning them off to Greg (which I do sometimes), giving them corrections that upset them for God-knows-why, yelling, speaking quietly, positively reinforcing, making deals ("do[insert number] of these and you can move on"), resisting the urge to send them home (though the threat rises on occassion).

Thoughts/sad poems/etc.?

NCAA links

(For Emeline, and the world!)

Kim Jacob, 9.95

Watch more video of 2011 NCAA Women's Gymnastics National Championships on gymnastike.org

Kayla Hoffman. Super, super clean.

Watch more video of 2011 NCAA Women's Gymnastics National Championships on gymnastike.org

And Megan Ferguson from Oklahoma, with a very cool beam routine, as well as crazy hands (this clip from another meet). She looks incredibly small. Turns out she's 4'11", a.k.a. barely shorter than me. Oops.

Alabama wins!!!

I've never followed college gymnastics too closely, but as I took a gander this season, Alabama impressed me the most. Clean and fierce. Kayla Hoffman is lovely and Kim Jacobs is a rock star on beam -- and just a freshman!

w00t!

working hard to get my fill

In my real life, whatever that means, I have a job that, apparently, my coworkers like to skip out on. Therefore, I'm chilling "in the office" on my laptop on this beautiful Friday, following the preliminary sessions of the NCAA Championships. Life is good.

Another treatise on motivation

(but not lack thereof -- at least, not today).

We have six weeks until the state championships. That's a long stretch without a competition. How do we keep the girls fresh and interested, not burned out, while still perfecting their skills on the way to States? How do we, the coaches, not get bored?

Here's what seems to work so far:

• Switching up events: Greg and I decided to swap events. I haven't coached the older girls on bars since the compulsory days. Alas, since they no longer need to be spotted for every skill in their routines, I can watch and crack down on connections, form, casts, the finer things in life. Meanwhile, Greg goes to beam to create tiny dancers. It throws the girls off a little. It's nice.
• Mixing in new skills: As flexibility in jumps and leaps continues to make me weep internally, those must be done every day. But new skills are at the end of the tunnel. "Practice back handsprings on the line," I say to quiet Christina, who looks surprised yet intrigued.
• Rearranging the order: If it seems like a process is working, I still like to mix it up and have the girls practice skills at different points in the workout.
• Prospects of glory: Because who doesn't like a pep talk about potential medals and trophies?

pobrecita Mustafina!

Even in pain, she looks regal.

A slice of awesome

WOWZA.