On Saturday September 17, 2011 OTW gymnasts  kicked up into a handstand to help break the world record for the most handstands performed simultaneously. Each year, USA Gymnastics celebrates National Gymnastics Day to build awareness of the sport and support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. National Gymnastics Day seeks to promote the value of physical fitness and good nutrition for everyone, regardless of age, gender and ability level. Since 2001, gymnastics clubs across the country have raised more than $1.4 million for Children's Miracle Network. 

2011 was deemed the "Year of the Handstand" by USA Gymnastics because it leads into an Olympic year - 2012 - and the handstand is a basic gymnastic skill. Some variation of a handstand is performed on every gymnastic apparatus, and many tumbling skills pass through a handstand position during their execution. This year USA Gymnastics encouraged its member clubs nationwide to celebrate National Gymnastics Day by joining together to break the world record of 2,402 simultaneous handstands set by Australian gymnasts in Melbourne to promote the 2005     
                               World Gymnastics Championships.

In support of National Gymnastics Day and local gymnasts, Governor Lynch signed a proclamation declaring September 17th Gymnastics Day in New Hampshire. Along with Governor Lynch, the Governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada and Texas proclaimed September 17, 2011 as Gymnastics Day in their respective state. 

The OTW gymnasts gathered at 12:45 p.m. to warm up. Coach Paul and Coach Becky relayed the count-down from the USAG website and gave the go sign for the handstands to commence at precisely 1 p.m. ET. The Optional gymnasts headed for the balance beams and performed their handstands there. The gym floor was covered with participants as well.  Isabel joined in from the Scout popcorn sales booth at Derryfest.  LaNaya joined in while on break from her studies at Winona State University.  Her form perfect as usual.  Lt. Col(s) John Hess from Hanscom Air Force Base also joined in.  His form...well let's just call it freestyle! The longest handstand was held for over a minute by Nicole on a balance beam. The shortest handstand which between us looked more like a frog jump was done by Coach Paul.  He swears he is going to practice and beat Nicole next time.  LOL! Coach Megan held her own, but Coach Sharon really shined with perfect form and pointed  toes.  Once Nicole hit the floor, the coaches entered the headcount on-line and everyone waited to hear the results. Early Sunday morning USA Gymnastics posted the results. Over 20,478 gymnasts from more than 300 gymnastics clubs nationwide had joined together and broken the world record and brought the title back to the US. The OTW gymnasts were thrilled to hear the news at practice on Monday.     

 Congratulations to our world record setters! Way to go!

Compulsory Clinic - September 11, 2011

Some of the Level 4 - 6  Team attended a pre-season clinic in Pelham, NH on September 11, 2011.  The girls practiced routines and received feedback from Judges and Coaches.

Olivia, Siera, Jenna, Krystiana, Alexi, and Tatyana

taking a break from the action.    

NH Gymnastics Day Proclaimed by Governor Lynch

Ask and you shall receive.  Today is one of those days where that usually not so simple proverb is simply true.  A couple of days ago I asked Governor Lynch to proclaim Saturday, September 17, 2011 NH Gymnastics Day in conjunction with USAG's National Gymnastics Day.  Today I'm thrilled to be in receipt of a proclamation making it so!  Unfortunately, the Governor is unable to join our handstand kick-up on Saturday, but he did wish us the best of luck breaking the world record.

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I love Off the Wall Gymnastics because it helps kids:

1.      Learn the fundamentals of movement and develop coordination.   Gymnasts do well 

            with both static and dynamic balance and learn early to fall without injury.

2.      Develop flexibility. Gymnasts are among the most flexible of all athletes.

3.      Develop strength and power. Pound for pound, gymnasts are among the strongest Olympic

            athletes.

4.      Gain self-esteem, confidence, and a positive “can do” attitude. Gymnast are the first at 

            school to volunteer to do things in front of the class.

5.      Learn to listen, follow rules and directions, and be polite.  Gymnastics classes are a

            controlled environment where Coaches are polite and respectful and expect the same of

            their students. 

6.      Learn social interaction with peers and competitors. Gymnasts learn cooperation,

            teamwork, sportsmanship, perseverance and much more!

7.      Develop a strong work ethic.  Some gymnastics skills are HARD to master.  Gymnasts learn

            to set goals and follow through to achieve them. 

8.      Develop skills to enhance other sports and maintain a healthy life style.  Fitness is CRITICAL

            to the current and future health of children.

9.      Overcome fears. Some parts of gymnastics are very challenging. The key is they are 

            “attainable challenges”. To face a challenge and then accomplish it, is a wonderful part of

            gymnastics and it happens all the time!

10.    Exercise their minds! Focus, discipline, determination, and problem-solving are all part of 

           the gymnastics experience, and are incredibly useful skills for the classroom and life!

11.     Gymnastics is GOOD FOR KIDS AND INCREDIBLE FUN TOO! 

Summer 2011

Just before our summer break OTW had a Fun Meet scheduled (AKA Trophy Day) for the recreational program and the Boosters were finalizing plans for the Banquet. Session 1 of the Fun Meet kicked off as scheduled at 1:00 p.m. on June 11th. The Boosters had lots of food and leotard donations and there were lots of parents on hand to help with set up/tear down, the Head Table, and the concessions. Additional donations included a great selection of tie-dye gymnast tee-shirts handmade and donated by the Pacunas gang and a really cool jelly bean dispenser donated by Nicole’s Dad for a raffle. Everything was organized. The spirit of cooperation was fantastic! The gym was full of competitors and their extended families. The Team girls were doing a great job of Judging routines and running scores to the Head Table. Concession sales were steady and all was going well as the first session was winding down……… and THEN, well suffice it to say a plumbing issue caused the second session to be rescheduled to the following weekend. So that meant another busy weekend for the girls and parents! The banquet would be Friday the 17th and part 2 of the Fun Meet would follow practice on Saturday the 18th.  

 

The Banquet kicked off Friday night at 6:00 p.m. as scheduled. It was great to see almost the whole Team and their families in attendance! The other great thing is with the exception of the sound system, everything from the food, to the paper goods, to the yearbook was donated this year! That was really AWESOME - and we have a lot of people to thank! First thanks to Karen J. for organizing the banquet and getting us a discount on the sound system. Also thanks for donating the paper goods and making sure everything was ship shape when the door was locked at the end of the night. Thanks to Jeannie

for taking the team pictures for the yearbook and a huge THANK YOU to Deb F. for taking on the production of the yearbook. Thanks to Audrey for providing the materials for the year book covers and bindings. Also thanks to the gang that helped collate and bind the yearbook. Thanks to this gang for also helping to organize and tag the leos for the Fun Meet sale. Tons of thanks to Nicole for helping create the yearbook template, organizing a couple thousand pictures for the slideshow, designing the Caveman CD cover (tribute to Coach Paul), and for LightScribing and burning the CDs – she was VERY busy and I am very thankful for all her help! Thanks to the Mermets for their donation of tons of awesome pictures and the projector for the slideshow……and thanks to Guy for being such a good sport when the clerk overinflated the “W” in our “O” “T” “W” balloons. Thanks to Isabel for the beautifully decorated and delicious OTW cake. Wow – what talent! I’m jealous! Hopefully, I didn’t miss anyone and hopefully everyone had a good time! I know the girls definitely enjoyed themselves!

As for Part 2 of the Fun Meet, fortunately we were able to round up enough help to make it a success as well. Thanks to everyone who pitched in and bailed us out – no pun intended! LOL!

Wow, where did the summer go?  Next week the kids will be back to school and back to gym.  Yikes!