Spring into trampolining

We had a great week – busy and fun-filled. We have also had some visitors, which has been very pleasant.

I am involved in a programme of trampoline coaching sessions for Full Circle Education, an organisation that tackles issues faced by young people who have problems at school by using sport as part of their social inclusion project. I have been commissioned to help them work as a team and I look to build a good rapport with these young people and we talk about trampolining as a sport that has benefits for a healthy lifestyle. It was nice for me to reconnect with a young lady whom I had previously coached, and I am glad to say that she hadn’t forgotten all that she had learnt! We are looking forward to future sessions, and I have promised to demonstrate a bounce roll for her next Monday – a move that I haven’t done for a long time, but have spent the week practicing!

On Monday we started a new Bounce programme, but were two people short due to illness. We started our first programme in November last year and, up till now, all the attendees have been women. But Tom joined us last week. I asked him how he felt surrounded by women, and he said he loved it! We were also very impressed at how well he did, and he was surprised at how challenging the programme was.

We were also joined by a surprise visitor – my other daughter. She is also a trampoline coach, and said she came to get some ideas for how she can incorporate conditioning exercises in her trampoline sessions. It was quite the family affair – both my daughters and myself are trampolining coaches!

We had a very quiet ‘Bounce away the Monday Blues’ session, but my daughters and I used the session to practice some new moves, and they both helped me with my bounce roll. We taught Becky how to do a backdrop using a parachute. She thought it was fun, and very effective learning tool. We use it mainly for children’s birthday parties, but think it has many more uses than we first thought.

One of my very dear friends, Lorna, who is afraid of heights, came to visit me for the first time since we started the club on Wednesday. There was a very good atmosphere and she was impressed by what she saw. On Saturday Chloe, one of our volunteers, helped progress our planning for the London Youth Games. We are hoping to raise some money by asking local businesses to sponsor the squad. We have already had some support, but need more in order to ensure that the squad gets the support it needs. Saturday was also the last week of our current Bounce programme. New one starts next week, together with a new Wednesday programme. Still some places left – so get cracking to join the fun.

I was pleased to hear that Sarah, a loyal attendee of our Bounce programme – from the very first one, also reads my blog – glad someone does!!!  She said she enjoyed it and that it is good to know what is going on in the club.  Thanks Sarah, and all you others out there….

Have a great week,

Anne-Sonia & Chanelle
www.greenwichbouncers.co.uk
Greenwich Bouncers….. taking you to new heights!

Happy Mother’s Day

I hope you had a happy Mother’s Day, whether you are a Mother yourself, or you made your Mother’s day for her.   My daughter made me dinner and gave me a beautiful ‘special Mum’ pendant, so I had a great day!  I also made contact with other Mothers in my life – my friends!

Monday was the last week of our February ‘Bounce’ programme.  It ended with a very intense session.  At the end we took measurements and revealed that everyone who participated lost at least an inch around their bust, waist and hips!  A very satisfying result!  This means that we have proven results that the ‘Bounce Your Way to Fitness!’ 6-week programme really works! 

Our Wednesday session was brightened up by a visit from my other daughter, Natalie, who is also a trampoline coach.  She breezed in, performed a few somersaults and had a fun bounce, and then left – all within about 15 minutes!  We are still working hard towards preparations for the London Youth Games, practicing routines and improving performance of the squad.

Saturday saw the launch of our children’s Trampoline Birthday party events with our very first party.  The birthday boy and his friends had a great time and his family had very positive things to say about the party.  I have coached many birthday party events for other organisations, especially at Leisure Centres, but this is the first (of many, we hope) that we have hosted as Greenwich Bouncers.

Have a great week,

Anne-Sonia & Chanelle  

www.greenwichbouncers.co.uk

 

London Youth Games Preparation

As time is pressing on, our attention this week has been focussed on preparation for the London Youth Games – we have started picking the final squad of 8 trampolinists to compete – 4 in the main squad, and 4 reserves.  We have had tryouts this week and have had fun playing around with the routines and encouraging hopefuls to practice their somersaults as well as memorising the compulsory routine! 

This also means that we are thinking of creative ways of fund-raising so that all the costs do not have to be borne entirely by the parents.   Chloe, one of our Volunteers, is using her skills to help us in our endeavours.  We spent some time this week brainstorming and have come up with some good ideas.

Sarah, one of our members’ Mum, has been successful in her application to take part in the ‘Recruit into Coaching’ a Sport England funded programme for volunteers who wish to assist in coaching young people in their local community.  She is very excited about the programme, and is looking forward to developing her trampolining as well as her coaching abilities.

I ended the week feeling poorly – I’m coming down with a bad cold – hope it doesn’t turn into flu!  The only consolation was the beautiful weather we had today – I had a lovely walk round Greenwich, taking in the sunshine.

To all Mums out there – enjoy Mothers Day on Sunday!

Anne-Sonia & Chanelle
www.greenwichbouncers.co.uk

 

International Women’s Day

As part of International Women’s Day, we were delighted to participate in the event arranged by Samuel Montagu Youth Centre in Kidbrooke, London yesterday, Sunday 8^th March 2009.  There were lots of activities and information provided for young women by the Partners of the Centre.  Everyone enjoyed the trampolining – we taught basic moves to some who had never been on the trampoline before as well as some girls who have trampolines in their back gardens and grew in confidence after being shown ways to improve their technique.  Chanelle and I had fun trying out some of the other services on offer as well – I had a mini-facial and had my eyebrows shaped by threading!  Chanelle had a manicure and we both enjoyed the street dance session – I used muscles I didn’t know I had!

The food was delicious and plentiful – and best of all everything was FREE!  Looking forward to the next event hosted by Samuel Montagu!  Will keep you posted…

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.  More details are available from: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/iwd_2009.pdf.

March is designated as International Women’s month, and many more events will be held throughout the month.

This week we had a film crew from Footpath films (www.footpathfilms.co.uk) take photos and video of Chanelle for a promotional campaign for the summer university school holiday programme, also being held at Samuel Montagu in August, where Greenwich Bouncers will be providing four full weeks of trampolining! … and maybe Chanelle will have a new career as an actress!

Also this week, I participated in helping GCSE students in four Greenwich Schools prepare for their GCSE moderation by helping them write and tariff their routines.  At Plumstead Manor, their inter-form competition went very well, with the top spots in years 7 and 9 going to girls who attended the after school trampolining sessions coached by yours truly!

Have a sporting week!

Anne-Sonia & Chanelle
www.greenwichbouncers.co.uk

 

 

 

Is it March already?

It is the third week for the Monday Bounce programme.  Chanelle introduced three new moves for the participants:  seat bounces tucked and piked as well as tucked back bounces.  This group are mostly quite fit already.  We had fun doing the crab, everyone seems comfortable with this, but not me!  I have poor upper body strength, and it shows!

For the Saturday Bounce programme, we have two ladies that were with us from the pilot and for them it is week 14.  We completed 3 sets of tucked and piked seat bounces as well as some pilates-inspired upper body exercises.  These consisted of swinging and balance moves on the trampoline, and are designed to improve pike shapes as well as creating an intense stretch.  As our 11am class was very small, consisting of only three participants, we decided to join them on their run after a short somersault workshop.  We also did this because the Centre was preparing for a boxing tournament that was held in the afternoon.

We now have three volunteers that are going to be helping out at our club and we were visited by two on Wednesday, Lorraine and Magdalene, and Chloe on Saturday.

I am now in the 5^th/6^th week of the Schools Sports partnership funded programme for Blackheath Bluecoat, Thomas Tallis, Plumstead Manor and Eltham Hill Schools.  Most of these schools are preparing for inter-form competitions in their respective schools and I spent most of the week helping the students with their routines – writing and developing as well as tariffing them.    Good luck with your competitions.

Talking about competitions, we are still on the look-out for talent to participate in the London Youth Games on 20^th June at Redbridge Sports Centre.  We are holding try-outs throughout the month of March.  If you can front and back somersault and are interested in taking part in this prestigious event, get in touch with us at the club.

Don’t forget International Women’s Day next week, on Sunday 8^th March.  Samuel Montagu is hosting a variety of exciting events for women and girls of all ages, including trampolining.  Best of all, it’s all FREE!  Check out the website for more details.

Have a great week,

 

Anne-Sonia & Chanelle

www.greenwichbouncers.co.uk