#TBT

What do you think of when you see #TBT? Chances are, if you are a teenager today (A.K.A. The technology age), and you have an Instagram or Twitter, you may think of "ThrowBack Thursday." However, if you happen to be a gymnast coached by Amanda Johanson, you will think of "Team Beam Tuesday."

On a usual day, we will have individual assignments given to us every day to complete, except for one day. On Tuesday, we must complete the assignment as a team. One at a time, each of us attempts the skill. Each time someone "sticks" or stays on the beam, we get a point, but each time someone falls, we don't get a point. If all of us sticks a round, then we only have to do it once and we have completed the assignment. If we don't make it, then we have to keep doing it over and over. A few times, it has taken less than five minutes to complete the assignment. On other days, we spend 45 minutes trying very hard just to complete a single round.


The only time I despise team beam is when I am put last. The person who goes last is the one with the most pressure. None of us want to let down our own teammates. If I am last, and everyone has stuck, then I know that I have to stick in order for us to make a round. That's the time when I start to doubt myself. That's also the time when I tend to do weird things, like miss BOTH my feet.

This should clear up a few details. A tally is a stick, an X is a fall, and a dot is a "didn't go." (There were a few names erased before the picture was taken.)

This week, we were not only able to get through a single skill of Team Beam (the usual task), but five skills: A huge accomplishment.

I personally think that Team Beam Tuesday is a nice twist to the usual individual assignments. It is an opportunity where we practice having pressure put on us and encouraging our teammates.

~Rose