Wednesday

A rainy day here at camp, we had morning practice from 8:45-12:15, lunch, open gym workout from 1:45-3:15, lots of naps, evening workout from 6:30-8:30, dodge ball until 8:50, an ice cream party for our team, and then some more dodge ball...now bedtime. 
Still haven't been able to get the videos uploaded but I will; although it might not be until we get home.  I'll try to compile a list of skill that the girls are doing and get them on here by Friday. 
Also, the bear showed up in camp this morning, Tricia had a VERY close encounter and might have some video of the bear that we can get on here.

Warrior Challenge

Sorry for the lack of updates about camp, we have been crazy busy between practice and the nice weather. We had another nice day so the girls spent a lot of time at the waterfront and other outside activities.  The girls have to attend afternoon open gym at least twice this week so that will be tomorrow and Thursday (and the weather is supposed to be a little worse anyway).  I'll take my computer to camp during that time and hopefully get some videos and pics uploaded.  Tonight after evening practice we had the camp-wide "Warrior Challenge."  We had a team of 11 of our girls, me, and two others compete in a ridiculously long difficult run with challenges that finished on the slip and slide into the lake and a swim under the dock.  We didn't win but we did great and just finishing was an accomplishment, especially for me. I think I'm going to give a prize to the girls that competed because it was so tough.  I'll have more info on this tomorrow (if I can move).

Sunday at Lake Owen

The first day went pretty well.  The girls just settled in and did a bunch of nothing while the parents and coaches had their meetings.  At 1:00 we had our VIP time with Mohini Bardwaj (2004 Olympian).  We were shown our banner that will hang in their gym and had our picture taken for their brochure.

Then we had check-in at 3pm, then dinner, then evaluations at 6pm.  The did what they are capable of for the most part.  The girls will get their groups tomorrow but at first glance they seem ok.  First workout is at 8:45am.  Also, Dakota wanted to stay in the dorms with the girls so that is where she is.  She is the smallest and youngest kid here.  We'll see how she does.  Not much else to report from today...tomorrow is when the fun/work starts!

Lake Owen 2011 Arrival

We have successfully made it to Lake Owen Camp 2011 with twenty girls and one more will be here tomorrow.  I have no phone service and internet services isn't that fastest but I'll do my best to keep everyone updated.  Registration and group assignment begin tomorrow at 3pm.  Not much going on until then.  It is nice here but MUCH cooler than back home.  Most of us showed up in shorts and a light shirt or tank top and it is currently 46 degrees.  Tomorrow is going supposed to be 72 and sunny. 

Gymnastic Parenting by Doc Ali

This is a video by Alison Arnold, whose mental training we have been using at the gym. She works with lot of athletes of all levels and is very experienced on this topic. I highly recommend this video to parents of any athlete but especially parents of a gymnast. Let me know your thoughts:

Pink Ribbon Invite This Weekend

This weekend our level 5-9 girls will be competing in the Pink Ribbon Invite hosted by KGDC at the Swinney Rec Center at UMKC.  On Saturday night there is a "finals" session.  The top 6 junior and top 6 senior girls for each level 8-10/elite get to compete in finals in up to 2 events.  The 8 & up kids compete on Friday so we'll know Friday night if anyone makes it.  The meet is pretty tough and there is no guarantee that any of our girls will make finals but they very well might and I'm sure would love to have your support.  It is also a great opportunity to watch some excellent high level gymnasts from all over the area compete.  This session is supposed to be fun and low stress.  The girls are scored more closely to college rules than USAG rules (which means much higher scores) and a college atmosphere with lots of cheering is encouraged.  The girls also get to be "spot-lighted."  Each girls gets a little bit of fun information read from their bio before they compete and only 1 girl/event competes at a time while the next event warms up.  It moves really quickly and has been fun the last couple of years.

If we have any girls qualify and anyone decides to go watch, I think it would be cool to have a spirit section with signs, painted faces, or whatever crazy stuff to cheer them on.  I will warn you though, they make everyone leave and charge separately for this session.  Your regular admission will not cover this session and I think the girls not competing in finals will have to pay to get in.  They stretch at 6:00 and stretch starts at 6:30.  I'll update Friday night with more info.

November newsletter from WellBodyKC

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wellbody has started working with the Kansas City youth Tri-athlon Team. WE CONTINUE TO GROW and remain passionate in helping Kansas City's young athletes!

Congratulations to the seniors who signed athletic and academic scholarships- this is just another example of your hard work paying off- wellbody celebrates with you and your family, friends, and coaches!

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TOP 10 List for November

1. Dark colored sodas (even if they are diet) are OUT!      

Milk, water, Gatorade, Powerade, (and occasional light colored, non caffeinated colored soda like Sprite) is IN

2. Lots of stretching before exercise is OUT!                      

Warming up with jogging/jumping/pylometrics is IN with stretching at the END of practice.

3. Energy drinks with creatine, taurine, caffeine have always been OUT! (DUH!) (We might see these drinks outlawed in the next 5-6 years, don't be a part of it with your kids!)

4. Carb loading is "on the way" OUT!                                  

Carbs still important before competition and PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN is IN!

5. Calorie counting (for active adolescents) is OUT!         EATING, EATING, EATING for muscle strength, bone strength, and a healthy immune system is IN!

6. Max lifting with open growth plates has always been OUT!     Sets of 15 repetitions with weights that can be done with good technique is IN! (even if in gradeschool as long as being watched by a trained coach!)

7. Old school medicine is OUT!                                             Massage, accupuncture, YOGA, functional PT is IN! (at least in the beginning- surgery and medication may also be necessary in certain cases)

8. Old Concussion guidelines are OUT!                              

New Concussion guidelines are IN! (see below)

9. Therabands (in many cases) are OUT!                            Functional rehab for preventative injury to ankles and ACL/knee are IN!

10. Summer is OUT! (too bad!)                                             

THE WINTER SEASON IS IN!!

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Concussion Guidelines- Have we swung too far the other way?

Definition:    A concussion is the temporary alteration of base line neurologic status from an impact or whip lash injury (the athlete does NOT have to lose consciousness).

http://www.wellbodykc.com/?page_id=415

New Guidelines:      About every three to five years- someone re-addresses an already approved policy and changes it! Concussion guidelines were the topic this year in sports medicine, neurology, and orthopedics. Many youth sports organizations, colleges, and even the NFL have re-done "rules" for return to competition/practice. In three to five years- will things swing back to a more relaxed position? Time will tell.

With the recent tragedy of a Spring Hill football player's death (that appears at least now to have been concussion related), coaches, athletic trainers, and sports interested physicians must remain on the athlete's side (of safety) and not get "caught up" in the excitement of the "big game", the "enthusiastic parent", or the "play for anything" (but possibly naive) athlete. As we learn more about concussion- the guidelines will most likely change again- but when it comes to the head/brain/neck- wellbody will remain following recommendations offered by current national policy.

The Old Guidelines Suggested:
1. It was sometimes ok to return an athlete to play if symptoms from a concussion resolved within 20 minutes while at a game/competition/meet

2. Return to play was based on symptoms, on field examination,  whether or not there was loss of consciousness, and number of concussions that season

3. Exam and recommendations could be made by an athletic trainer- and often was made by a coach or parent

The New Concussion Guidelines Recommend;

1. NO return to play the same day as a concussion- even if "ok" in 20 minutes.

2. Return to play is based on symptoms, sleep, school focus, physical exam by a medical provider, symptom score list test, and total number of concussions in career (not just one season)

3. Three concussions in an athlete's life should trigger a discussion on break from the sport (one season, one year, forever depending on the case)

4. Exam and recommendations should be done by a physician or NP/PA that is comfortable with the diagnosis/evaluation/expected recovery of head injury, no longer an ATC alone (*an ATC remains the most valuable first responder and decision maker for recognizing concussion), and NEVER a coach or parent

5. School and other activity may need to be missed (not just the sport) while an athlete is recovering.

6. Consideration for all athletes in contact sport to have a pre-head injury evaluation before the season starts (along with the state mandated sport's physical) to have individual base line information to consider if an athlete gets a concussion during the season.

The bottom line is:    recurrent head injuries in a child with not yet fully mature neurons (compared to an adult in the NFL for instance) increases the risk of another concussion, second impact syndrome (death from a second concussion before a first concussion is completely resolved), and potentially chronic neurologic trouble (such as ALS and dementia pugilistica).

When it comes to head injury, neck injury, and concussion- a coach, parent, teacher, ATC, or physician can always be sure they made the correct game time decision if they take the approach of SAFETY FIRST!

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Wishing our patients and athletes a safe, healthy, successful season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Goldstein

wellbodykc.com