The September 2017 Squad Camp was attended by 34 gymnasts from across the country. It took place at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center, September 20-25.
The purpose of the development squad is to provide elite training opportunities as professional development for coaches working with skilled young rhythmic gymnasts. To this end, the experts and staff worked directly with coaches to ensure they understood the techniques being taught and specific areas of recommended work for their athlete(s).
This Squad camp provided an opportunity for gymnasts and coaches to receive expert instruction from world-class experts, including Russian National Team Coach Yana Arintseva and National Staff Lana Lashoff, Brooke Toohey, Galina Burns, Sonya Yankova, Tara Savino, and Amanda Scully.
Each day, athletes had training sessions focusing on ballet, apparatus handling, strength/conditioning, sport performance, and mental training. Yana Arintseva and Galina Burns instructed participants on a variety of apparatus and body preparation exercises, emphasizing proper basic technique. They also assisted the gymnasts and coaches with their own personal body and apparatus difficulty elements. Doctor of Physical Therapy, Amanda Scully, worked with the girls on a conditioning program with yoga, Pilates, and cardio, developed specifically to target areas of weakness seen in US rhythmic gymnasts. Tara Savino worked with the athletes and coaches on mental training in sports psychology to improve performance in practice and competition. Sonya Yankova inspired the athletes to both work hard and enjoy ballet. Brevet judge, Brooke Toohey, gave feedback on the girls’ choreography. Camp coordinator, Lana Lashoff, make sure the camp ran smoothly and lent a hand at all stations, ensuring it was a valuable, successful experience for all.
The camp included gymnasts born 2004 and younger by selection from JO Championships, Open Championships, and video submissions. Full selection procedures for the rhythmic squad camps can be found by clicking here.
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Interested in attending a USA Gymnastics camp with your athletes? Look for the 2017 Open Camp Information to be released soon! The 2017 Open Camp will be held December 7-11 at the National Team Training Center in Houston, TX.