AboutPam Rafe-Borges Expertise I can answer questions about technique, choreography, skill values for both Women's USAG JO rules and NFHS rules. I have been in this sport for 35 plus years as an athlete and a coach. I have been a judge for 15 plus years.
Experience I have been in the sport for 30 plus years, as a gymnast, coach, choreographer,pre-school gymnastics instructor, and official.I was the gymnastics director for 10 years at a summer day camp
Organizations I have a USAG level 10 judges rating. I am also a NJSIAA judge which uses the NFHS rules.
Question Hello, Here is my problem, when I practise my routines at my gymnastics club they are really good and stuff but then when I get to the competition and I start competiting, I get really, really nervous and stuff up. Like for example, I'll fall on beam or my legs will be bend in my backflip on floor. I'll have no repulsion off the vault, etc. How can I get to the competition and do my routines like I do in practise without getting so nervous? Because it is stuffing me right up! My other question was how can I have my routines good enough to get good scores? I have never gotten a placing at a competition and I mean NEVER! The awards either go 1st-8th place, 1st-6th place, or 1st-3rd place. I have a competition on the weekend and I want to get something from 1st-3rd on Floor and Beam and in the All Around. To do this I have to get scores of 14.5 or higher, my only problem is that at all the comps I've been to this year the highest I've got was a 13.35 and that was on vault. Btw, we are scored out of 15. And on bars I'm scored out of 14.0. How can I fix up my routines and get good scores so that I can win something on floor, beam and the all around?
Answer Hi Ellen,
I like to tell people that there are actually 5 events...vault, bars, beam, floor, AND competition. Learning how to compete is an event by itself. Some people are a natural at it, others have to work at it.
Without knowing you, it's hard to tell you what you should focus on to improve. It is different from person to person.
However it sounds like trying to focus less on the competition and the judges is a good place to start. What you have to realize is the judge's job is to score that one rountine. They don't care how you do it in the gym or warmups...just that one moment. A score is simply their opinion based on a set of rules.
I would start with small goals in a routine...not bending your knees on your back flip...breathing more on both floor and beam...feeling your toes together when you kip...scoring a little bit higher than last time as a result of any or all of the above...Small goals.
You need to put the focus back on what you are doing and not on who is watching you.
I hope that can help even a little bit...Good luck this weekend!!!
