First Competition as a coach? Has anybody tips for me? We are a small program in germany and it's the first competion for all the kids and none of the coaches were at a competion as a coach before. What are things you have to think of before leaving? How do you stay organized during a competition? How do you do that all the children stay in place and are focused?
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Get on your computer and make a roll sheet similar to what teachers use. As your athletes arrive, check them in and once they are checked in they cannot leave. I've found it to be very helpful and seeing as it can sometimes be tough to get the parents to leave and let us start stretching and things (sorry parents, love ya tho)...getting their child "checked in" has started being like a little light in the back of their heads like, "oh, I actually don't have to stand here and watch while 28 other girls stretch". :p
And just like someone already said, make a schedule ahead of time and email it to your team, or print and hand them out. On the schedule we always include meet time, compete time, and awards. We include a section in between the awards that says meet at "X" time to go to awards together, which is normally 30 minutes before awards and has a location to meet at (given that we've been to the comp location before). Although the parents normally keep these and the kids don't usually see them, we rehearse what time we will meet for day two, or what time we will meet for awards so that the kids hold themselves accountable and are not late to meet times.
If you can find it, check out the scoresheet and scoring grids for the competition beforehand. Knowing that grid back-to-front makes it easier to contest a deduction or bad score within the allotted time frame after competing. And to go along with this- there is always a floating judge that will talk to you about the score if you don't understand something on it. Don't be afraid to talk to them, they are there to help you and are usually super nice!
If y'all wear specific makeup and hair, have someone do a sample of it, snap a picture of it and include it in the schedule that you share with the parents/athletes. Some parents need more guidance than others with makeup, hehe. :D
All of my athletes have a big/little sister. They have lots of fun with this and get each other adorable little "good luck" gifts at each comp, but they don't know that it's secretly just a way to keep the team organized. Walking to warmups? Link arms with your sister and walk in a straight line. Need to go to the bathroom and the entire team isn't going together at that moment? Grab your little/big and go together. Plus it's been a great leadership opportunity for my older kids to rub off on the younger ones.
Don't wear the kids out in warmups. I've seen some teams do full outs on the big mat, and then the kids are exhausted. Before we go to warmups we find a quiet place, have the kids that are not stunting spot a stunt group, and warm up each elite stunt one by one. This way if we are pressed for time in warmups they have already essentially warmed up the toughest part of their stunts. When we get on the two-panel mat, we warm up all stunts, usually twice. Rod mat, we count through jumps as a team and obviously the tumblers warm up. And once we get to the big mat, I tell them if anything they just warmed up didn't feel right, do it now.
Overall, just keep the mood light! I like to bring a portable speaker and play music while we stretch, while we walk to warmups, etc. After all, they are just kids, so singing along to a Miley Cyrus song helps them forget they are about to go on stage. :)
