Monday, October 20, 2008

e-news... without Ryan Seacrest.

Ha.

I'm sorry, but HA.

The latest "e-news" from Gymnastics Australia's SMC (which can be found, in all its bright pink glory, here) features the following quote:

WAG E-News is brought to you by the National WAG Gymnastics Sports Management Committee and will provide you with the latest information on what’s happening around Australia and the rest of the World.

I like to think I'm a somewhat modest person, willing to give kudos where it is due.

But come on. I'm a university student, I worked a second job until March, I just completed a thesis, and yet I have done a better job keeping people updated as to what's going on with our team. Heck, I've done it more than once a week on some occasions. And I've never even set foot inside the AIS! I'm not even a committee, I'm just one short, pudgy person! "Latest" information? Your "latest" edition has no Beijing wrap-up or a preview of the upcoming National Clubs championships. Your first edition has been taken off the server. Nice job bringing Nationals back to Melbourne this year, but please don't treat the fans like we're not wanting information. Particularly in this post-Olympic, pre-World Cup period. Does "SMC" really stand for "Snail Mail Communiqué"? Lift your game, folks, we want frequent news updates. We don't want sporadic enthusiasm like some tipsy party-goer who has gobbled too many oysters to win a macho bet, gone and thrown up outside, sat on a bench for a moment to weep and watch his mates siphon vodka into a platter of kiwifruit stolen from the buffet, then come back onto the dance floor with renewed vigour like he had never left, high-fiving all and sundry with an enthusiastic "All riiiiiight! Let's do this!"

With all due respect, SMC friends, if you're going to give the impression that you're constantly "in the know" as the overseers of the national WAG program and all it encapsulates, at least do it right. Two months between drinks does not a news service make.

WAG E-News will be distributed electronically; however we’d like to know how often you’d like to receive it.

!?!?!?
AS OFTEN AS FREAKING NECESSARY, IF YOU IT'S NOT TOO TAXING FOR YOU!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What exactly is it that you would like to know?

Anonymous said...

Well now .... I'd like to know the following, in no particular order.

* Who has international assigments coming up?
* Why are more gymnasts not travelling?
* If the reason is injury, which gymnasts is injured, which bit? to what degree?, what is the prognosis?
* Do we have an 'international' invitation out for National Championshps in 2009 - if so, to whom? If not, why not?
* Is National Clubs going to be well attended, given its not a selection trial for anything. Or is it?
* Given that one of the Russian coaches( sorry can't remember which one) has left the VWHPC to take on the role at SASI, is he being replaced? By whom? When?
* When are we going to get the same sort of coverage for the sport that is offered by AFL football, easily the best supported, AND reported sport in this country?
* You guys have the info .... SHARE IT!!!!!!!!!!

Thankyou .. Ribbit

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't mind hearing about what the Junior National Development coordinator is doing.

I've seen numerous introductions of her, but all they ever say is who she is, not what she does.

A GA Bulletin reported that she had compiled and presented stats on Junior development, but that was it.

What did she find, what are the implications of what she found, what, if any strategies will be recommended or implemented.

Anonymous said...

I would like to know all of the above. I want pictures and links to competitions and results and be able to see them on video online. I want to know what our ex Olympians are doing now. Why is that the WA girls always seem to go to the overseas events? Gosh GA..... pick up your game.

Mez said...

Thanks for validating me, folks. I knew I wasn't alone in feeling in-the-dark.

Anonymous said...

Hey, definitely something on the Junior National Development Coordinator. I followed her around the rotations at the VWHPC a few months ago now and she was compiling a whole heap of different info and stats on the level 6&8 International girls. It was really interesting stuff and I would love to know some of her findings! She wasn't very impressed with some of them, but there were a couple of skills she was very pleased with, it would be great to see some results and get some advice on what we (as coaches) should be focusing on. I got the feeling that more emphasis on basic trampolining skills was needed...
I agree that the SMC stuff is incredibly behind the times Mez!

Anonymous said...

I hope that in future they include a report from AIS/GA Olympic Squad Camps and 2010 junior development training camps - who is looking good or has improved, interesting skills being thrown around, etc etc. That alone would make my day.

Anonymous said...

eta: and also some stuff about international 6 and 8 gymnasts would be good.

I'd love some more insight into that whole program - what judges are looking for and how they separate the gymnasts, how they decide on the 'pacing' of skill acquisition, what skill level the girls are to ideally have when reaching international 10, and whether GA is weighting more on skills or on form and technique.

Even some comments from junior squad selectors or Peggy on the calibre of the juinors (what is good and what could be improved)would be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Ashleigh & Lauren going to DTB & Marseille. Lauren to do AA and Ash to do beam and floor. Sore shoulder, so giving it a rest. Britt & Emily to Marseille. Tain was to go, but foot is not 100% yet. Georgia, Shona, Emma declined Marseille, resting and learning new skills. Georgia still has sore ankle, Emma still has sore foot--so both not full training. Shona healthy, looks good. Amber declined Marseille, new skills. Melanie Jones just had shoulder surgery, repaired a slap lesion, should be 12 week recovery. Dasha's ankle still healing. All gymnasts are at camp, all look good physically. Karina Brooks and Chantelle Turnbull are also at this camp, look like they have learned some new skills. GA has issued invitations for an international team to attend nationals in Perth, however no response as of yet. Victor Lutienko has accepted the head coach position at SA. No replacement at VIS, some reshuffling of groups has occured. National clubs is trial for Youth Olympic Festival, so should be well attended for juniors and below. Seniors are all recovering and Ashleigh and Lauren will be just arriving back in Australia after DTB & Marseille, so won't be at National Clubs. 24-2012 age gymnasts and 50-2016 age gymnasts will attend junior camps after the elite portion of National clubs at the AIS gym. National coaches will test skills and have national ranking in December for each age group according to IDEAL skills testing model.

Anonymous said...

Svetlana, Tiera and Zoe are also going to Marseilles so i doubt they will be at National Clubs as it as around the same time but are not going on National team but as VIS team

Anonymous said...

Thanks 'Source'. You have answered all my questions fully and frankly. I don't think you've breached any secrecy act, and I am very pleased with the response. Is there any reason why this sort of stuff isn't made public as a matter of course? Thanks again

Ribbit

Anonymous said...

I just sit here at the AIS and observe. It is public as far as I am concerned. I just keep my eyes & ears open. Time, I suppose is the limiting factor, who has the time to keep a formal newsletter?

Anonymous said...

I have just read the e-news and think that it's a great start. I would like to see one every month. To the anonymous poster who answered the long list of questions posted, thankyou. Very informative.