Focus Fun Fitness & Friends

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Spirit Elite Inferno Gets Bid for World Championships

Our Spirit Elite Cheerleading program has broken another barrier within it’s road to success.
Success is “progressively realizing a worthy ideal”.   This is a definition that fits our culture.  We establish goals and are most always looking for ways to improve and I sincerely hope that we enjoy the journey.
OUR SPIRIT ELITE STEPS UP AND MOVES FORWARD
SPIRIT ELITE level 5 Inferno has qualified for the World Championships to be held in Orlando Florida the last week of April.  We are very proud of the commitment and hard work of our head coach Karrie Tumelson nominated as Coach of the Year candidate by Jam Brands in 2010 and has given leadership not only to the level 5 squad but also to over 240 competitive athletes on 12 competitive squads. 

The Spirit Elite coaching staff consists of Karrie Tumelson, Ricky Schulte, Jessica McCammond, Heather Koch, Josh Newberry, Jessica Rchie,  Courtney Vaugh & Jordan Conner.
Of course we are very proud of our young athletes and the families that support them.

Best wishes Spirit Elite!

To learn more about Spirit Elite visit us at www.spiritelite.net


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

How Much Exercise Do Kids Need?

Borrowed from Flipping Education flippingedu.com  


How Much Exercise Do Kids Need? 
With childhood obesity, asthma, and type 2 diabetes rates on the rise, kids are more susceptible than ever to life-long health problems. As children progress through the stages of development, providing exercise opportunities for an active lifestyle--typically in the form of play.

History
Physical education (PE) has been a part of school curriculums since the mid-1800s, evolving over time to include more lifetime fitness activities. More recently however, the amount of activity in schools has decreased, with recess and PE being reduced or eliminated to devote more time to other academic requirements. Kids also used to get more exercise walking or riding their bikes to and from school and doing household chores that provided physical activity. The advent of multimedia distractions--such as cell phones, video games and the Internet--have also contributed to a less active lifestyle.

Misconceptions
A common misconception is that fitness and play do not affect academic progress. However, according to a study published in the January 2009 issue of the "Journal of School Health," students who are more physically active and at greater levels of fitness are more successful in the classroom. Another misconception suggests that kids get enough exercise outside the school day, even as the rates of watching television rise (over three hours a day on average) and after-school programs fall victim to budget cuts.

Types
To meet developmental needs, all children need to spend time improving strength, developing flexibility, and training their cardiovascular systems. With the exception of organized PE classes, children get the bulk of their exercise during play. Kids are more likely to exercise when it includes activities they enjoy such as tag games, sport practices, dance classes, or climbing on playground equipment.

Benefits
As stated by the American Heart Association, increased physical activity in kids decreases their risk for heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. They are also more alert, confident, and focused at school and at home. In addition to the physical benefits, emotional wellness and relationships are improved when kids have the opportunity to participate with others in fitness activities.

Solution
According to the National Association for Sport & Physical Education, children ages six through twelve need to be engaged in physical activity for at least an hour per day. Organized sports and games, special interest classes such as dance or martial arts, and family activities including walking, racket sports, and swimming enhance a child's social and cognitive growth as well. Healthy and happy children will be more productive and achieve more as adults.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Gymnastics Term of the Day

Back Walkover:
Back walkovers can be performed on floor or beam.  It is taught in the lower levels of gymnastics on floor and in the higher levels of gymnastics on beam.  There are many progressions before performing a back walkover (e.g. bridge, bridge kick-over, back bend, back bend kick-over)

In a back walkover, the gymnast starts in a standing position, then:
  • Lifts one leg up and arches back until his/her hands touch the ground
  • Pushes off the leg on the ground and shifts his/her weight to his/her hands
  • Passes through a handstand position, with legs close to or in a split position
  • Steps down from the handstand
(courtesy of about.com)

Here is video from YouTube that shows you how the back walkover is performed on floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzCqy-R9oo (courtesy of expertvillage).