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 I just can't win anything at competitions. I just can't place in anything at competitions. I had a comp on Sunday, 2nd last comp for the year. I got nothing, my team came 8th and I did really bad there. For example: My floor score was 13.05/15.4 I had 2.35 points deducted off it. My bars score was 9.95/14.0 I had 4.05 marks taken off it. My beam score was 11.15/15.4 I fell twice and I got 4.25 deducted off it. My vault score was 13.2/15 I had 1.8 taken off it. So why do I get these bad scores? Why can't I get 14.5's on floor like the other girls do? Why can't I get 14.65's on bars like the other girls do? Why do I pike my vault and don't pop off the vault when the other girls do? How can I fix this? I do strength at home but I still get these same scores, they are so bad. As this was a big competition, they only gave apparatus placing's to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. And in the all around they gave out trophies to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd all around. I would really love to win some medals and trophies but I don't think that is possible at the moment! Please give me some advice! I really need help!
Answer Hi Ellen,
I'm sorry to hear you are so frustrated. It seems like you really need to communicate your frustrations with your coach(es). You have posted many questions, and they are all good ones, but I think you need to be asking your coach how to improve. Without actually seeing you, at this point it is very difficult to help you other than to say I can see your heart is truely in the sport, don't give up. But talk to your coach.
