Finding Our Rhythm - Week 1 Back at Tumbling
- geoff862
- Nov 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 18
Reflections from a coach’s notebook
Why I’m Starting This Journal
I’ve decided to start sharing a coaching journal — partly to help me remember how I taught and why, but also to track what my athletes have achieved, their reactions and where we can go next.
Then I thought: why not share it? Maybe athletes, parents, and fellow coaches would like a peek into what’s bouncing around in my head once a session ends.
Session 1: Easing Back In
No one rated themselves a 10/10 today — which makes sense. It’s late on a Friday, and we’re just coming back from the holidays. My first thought was take it easy! The last thing we need is an injury.
But after six weeks of working through the prerequisites, should we really do another light session? Well… yes, but not entirely. Some athletes were nailing their competition tumbles, while others needed a few adjustments.
I found myself talking about the spokes of a wheel — what happens if one bends — and ended up grabbing a pen and paper. I couldn’t draw a perfect circle (which was quickly pointed out!), but it made the point: if the four spokes of your “cartwheel” aren’t straight and strong, it won’t roll smoothly — if at all. A bumpy wheel makes for a bumpy ride.
The message landed, at least partly. I’ll keep revisiting it in different ways, and the tumblers will need plenty of practice to make it really stick.
Session 2: Building Familiarity and Momentum
The second group took a while to adjust to training mode, but once they did — they achieved! Level 3, here we come.
We saw great progress with front tucks, and the back tucks are improving bit by bit. This session was all about building familiarity — simple drills and repetitions — but when things are new or rusty, that’s exactly what’s needed.
Consistency is key. Next week, I expect the start will be smoother, which means we can dive into Level 3 skills sooner and spend more time refining the foundations.
Takeaway
Progress doesn’t always look spectacular — sometimes it’s about patience, clarity, and those small, steady wins that keep the wheel rolling smoothly.
Thanks for reading! Till next time.
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