From Coach Mandi...

As we head in to competition season, here's a few reminders for athletes and parents:

1) The judges are scoring off of a pre-determined scoring rubric. There are pre-defined ranges of skill elements, mixed with the % of the team competing the skills, that determines a difficulty score.

2) Execution is critical. Doing a skill and executing a skill are two very different animals. One thing we hone in on is perfected execution. Everyone can "do" but can you do it well? Technique always wins out over difficulty. High range difficulty is only a 0.5 spread, but technique is a 1.5 spread. I'll take the 1.5 any day of the week over a 0.5. Sometimes you may "have" a skill that isn't choreographed due to the technique of the skill.

3) All routine positions are up for grabs. Just because you aren't in a spot now doesn't mean you won't be in November. Constant improvement is required. 110% every rep. Every stunt. Every pass. Every jump. Every motion. Earn your spot. Work hard outside of practice. Show up ready to show off your hard work.

4) Prepare for practice. Know your trouble areas and ask for help. Know your grips. Know your counts. Breathe your routine inside and out so that execution is the focus. .

5) Rely on your teammates. They are your sounding board, your family, your reliability, your rocks.

6) Admit to your faults so you can strengthen them. Let your strengths shine through and own your pieces of the routine.

7) Work on your stunting and jumps as much as you do your tumbling. We always see athletes in private lessons for tumbling, but what about your jumps and your stunts? Your stunts are technically worth more than your tumbling, but the focus on that area is less when athletes work outside of practice. Reps in stunts are CRITICAL. If you only practice in practice.....you know the rest.

Being on the outside or in the back of a formation does not translate to your abilities. Placement in a routine is often times dependent upon where you were in the section prior or where you'll be in the section after.

9) When you step on stage, you are a unit. A team. Not individuals. You all play a part of the puzzle.

FAITH in yourself and your teammates
FOCUS on your execution and technique
BELIEVE in the dream

-Mandi