Competition Tips For Parents, Athletes and Spectators

We are just entering our competitive season here in Northern Ontario.  Our first meet sees us travelling to Kitchener in Southern Ontario at the end of January.  You can already tell things are starting to get a little more serious around the club and you can actually see the girls getting more and more excited with each passing practice.  I thought it may be a good plan to offer some tips for attending competitions to all those first time moms and competitors this year.  Here are some great tips and tricks for competition day:


Make sure you arrive at the meet ON TIME!

Judges, competitors,and organizers are not going to wait for you to arrive if you are late.  It is sad, but true the show must go on.  Follow these suggestions to make sure your gymnast has every chance to compete.

1. Plan to stay overnight.  This will eliminate any travel or weather delays and ensure your gymnast is well rested. 
2. Have everything organized the night before, know how long it takes to get to the venue and the registration and start times.  
3. Check and double check with your coaches.  Is there a time they want your child at the venue for?
4. Timing is key!  Give yourself plenty of time to get ready, eat a good breakfast and take care of any housekeeping items before heading to the venue.  
5. Be sure your gymnast is rested and has a good dinner the night before the meet and a good breakfast on meet day.  (Meets can be very, very long!)
6. Do your gymnasts hair before you get to the venue, there is nothing like fighting for mirror time with 30 girls!  Dress in warm up and leo's instead of changing where there may be frustrating line ups that can cause delays.  
7. Avoid discussing the meet on the way to the meet.  You don't want to be the coach, encourage your child to just have fun.  
8. Do not allow your child to sense your nerves.  

Make sure you pack all of the meet essentials!


When attending a meet you need to make sure your gymnast has what she needs in her gym bag and you have what you need in another bag.  Once you drop your gymnast off she is no longer your responsibility and you will not be able to talk to her so having what she needs is important.  Here is a list of parent needs and gymnast needs:

Gymnast

1. A gym bag with her initials or name on it
2. A warm up leo and her competitive leo
3. Grips and wristbands for bars as well as any braces
4. Hair accessories
5. A drink (water preferably) and snacks. These should be healthy and finger foods.
6. Warm up suit with name
7. Personal items like hairspray, deodorant, athletic tape etc

Parents

1. Camera with no flash or video camera
2. Snacks and drinks
3. Money for goodies and souvenirs
4. Cell phone to let people know how your gymnast is doing
5. Activities for other children
6. Tylenol
7. A book or puzzle... there is a lot of waiting
8. Cushion for your seat

In my next post we'll look at what to expect on meet day!