LSU Gymnastics Team Prepares for Fall Practice Sessions, Competes in Rec Centers Ropes Course

The LSU Gymnastics team will begin fall practice sessions on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 in preparation for the 2012 collegiate gymnastics season. The LSU Gymnastics team got a head start on developing teamwork by attending and competing in the Ropes Course held at the LSU University Recreation Sport & Adventure Complex in conjunction with the Rec Centers Challenge Program.

The gymnastics team had to learn to communicate throughout the Ropes Course and to guide and encourage fellow team members who were sometimes blindfolded while working their way through the rope course. On other events the participants were not allowed to speak while on the course and relied on team members for assistance and guidance in order to make it through the rope course event.

The purpose of the drill was for the gymnastics team to learn to work as a team, encourage one another and to help one another through the different skilled tasks of the Rope Course and form a trust in one another. The Rope Course consisted of both individual efforts as well as team efforts.

Phillip Ogletree, Assistant Coach for the LSU Gymnastic team had this to say about the Rope Course, "It was a great experience for the team because it provided them an opportunity to have fun and develop chemistry and unity in a challenging way."

The gymnastics coaches like the Rope Course Challenge because it gives the freshman a chance to get to know the other girls and feel like a part of the team. One part of the course allows for the freshman to guide the upper class team members through the Rope Course.

The Rope Course offers different levels of difficulty and challenge on an individual level and team level. LSU gymnastic coaches also use the Rope Course to teach the team how to focus on the elements of challenge presented at the time and also the long-term goal.

There will be lots of new faces of freshmen on the team, but knowing how well Coach Breaux recruits, they will all be great athletes with much to contribute to the team.

Ashley Lee is the only returning senior on the team this year.

The LSU Gymnastics team will open the 2012 season at the Cancun Classic to be held at the Hilton Cancun Resort in Cancun, Mexico on Friday, January 6, 2012. The Lady Tigers will next host SEC rival Auburn in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 7:00 Central Standard Time.

The LSU Gymnastics team is coached by D-D Breaux, Head Coach; Bob Moore, Assistant Coach; Phillip Olgetree, Assistant Coach; and Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, former Tiger gymnast and volunteer coach.

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LSU Sports - Gymnastics Takes Part in Team-Building Ropes Course