Peters’ Principle Works for Shelley Engel : Gymnastics: Coach stresses training in developing the skills of 14-year-old from Huntington Beach.

Don Peters, a coach who likes to apply reason to gymnastics, stepped back after the 1988 Olympics and took a hard look at the methods used in training young United States gymnasts.

He consulted peers in other sports, studied the systems and methods used in other countries, compiled statistical results, arrived at a conclusion, then set about to test it.

His prize subject, Shelley Engel, 14, of Huntington Beach has proved Peters right so far and hopes to continue when she competes this weekend in the senior division of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Classic at Marina High in her hometown.

A former women’s national team coach and the successful owner of SCATS Gymnastics in Huntington Beach, Peters’ theory is that too little time is spent developing the basic skills of gymnasts, and improving them. He says the average gymnast spends 70% of the time competing or in precompetition training and only 30% of the time developing skills.

“I used to wonder at international meets how the Soviets would suddenly show up with these star gymnasts that the world had never seen before,” Peters said.

“I would think, ‘Where did she come from?’ These gymnasts would not only perform basic skills well, but would do advanced tricks. And they continued to do these same tricks their entire career--they only improved on them.”

After spending a couple of years in development training, Engel finally started competing this year. In her four meets, she has earned high marks and rave reviews. Already, her complicated tricks and strong basic skills have set her apart.

Engel does a trick on the balance beam believed to be unique to her--a cartwheel followed by a side flip. The flip is a blind maneuver because Engel can’t see the beam when she starts it or is ready to land.

It’s so scary that her mother, Paula Engel, can’t watch it. But then, she gets so nervous when her daughter performs on the bars or the beam, that she usually closes her eyes or sneaks out of the gym.

Engel’s father was startled, too, the first time he saw it.

“I thought I was just going to see a normal beam routine,” he said. “It was very, very scary,”

Then there’s Shelley’s trick on the uneven bars--a pike front flip off the high bar, which she recatches, followed by a lay-out back flip to the low bar. Routine.

“I was kind of surprised people made such a big deal about my tricks,” Engel said. “I didn’t think they would. But I’m glad I waited and learned some tricks before I started competing. I think I was more confident in myself.”

A student at Marina, Engel goes to school six hours and practices gymnastics six hours daily. Her friends used to ask her why she practices so much if she never competes.

“I just keep telling them, ‘Soon,’ ” she says. “I always thought that Don’s thinking was right (about not competing too soon). But when I was in the newspaper here recently, some of my friends saw it, and they said they think it’s kind of neat.”

Peters had planned to have Engel compete at least a couple of times during the two-year development phase, but each time, medical problems prevented that.

The first time, one of Engel’s four cats had scratched her on the cheek while she was playing with it. Then, a few weeks later, she underwent surgery for removal of a tumor that had grown as a result of the scratch. Doctors said the tumor was a result of cat fever, but only after the growth had scared the daylights out of Engel and her parents.

Still, animals are Engel’s second love to gymnastics. She has 12 tortoises, four cats and feeds about nine others. Paul Engel hopes life for his daughter stays this unassuming.

“Regardless of what happens with Shelley in gymnastics, we would like to keep things low-key at home,” he said. “We leave gymnastics up to her. She can stay in it as long as she wants, or quit at any time. We support her thoroughly and are proud. But she’s what is important.”

Engel will compete as a senior Saturday in an attempt to qualify for the U.S. national championship competition, to be held next month.

Gymnastics Notes

Optional competition begins today for both A and B Junior divisions. Scores from Thursday’s compulsory competitions will be combined with today’s scores to determine the all-around winners. The B division will compete today at at 2 p.m. and the A division at 7 p.m.

Saturday, the senior compulsory competition will be held in two sessions, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Optional competition will be held Sunday, also in two sessions--at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.--to conclude the meet.