Artistic Gymnastics: A Comprehensive Guide to Performing and Teaching Skills for Beginners and Advanced Beginners (Championship Series)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent presentation of practical gymnastic techniques
Review: This very comprehensive presentation covers all gymnastic events, for both men and women.It can't cover everything, no one book could, but it is stunning in the breadth of its coverage.If you have looked for a practical book on gymnastics as a gymnast, a coach, or a parent, you know just how limited the selection is. Those few books that make a serious attempt to get across more than a minimum amount of information frequently use stick figures or other line drawings to save money. Money may be saved, but a great deal of detail and useful information is lost as well. Photos just do the job so much better. This book is the best I've ever seen in that regard. It's 400+ pages are crammed full of photos, easily numbering more than 1500, intelligently done and beautifully presented from a coach's perspective. It is an excellent source for any trainer or coach and could easily help an intelligent gymnast to gain a fuller understanding of what s/he is doing and why. Beyond the photos, the written commentary is just as practical and comprehensive, to the point of including practical tips for spotters. In a nutshell, this book has no competition in its class. If you're in the market for a book that serves as a tool that you can use every day as opposed to some sort of vague "resource", buy this one. The only reason I didn't give it a "10" is a male gymnast's natural dislike for a perfect score AND my desire for more, more, more! - Bob Adams