Tag: Coaching
What’s Your Bar Angle?
What’s my bar routine missing? What are the biggest deductions I’m getting? This is a very common question for Level 6-10 bars. What’s the answer? Often, it has to do with bar angle deductions. Angle deductions are deductions that are taken during almost every bar routine. At Level 6 and 7, the deductions taken are […]
Preview of 2021-2029 Compulsory Skills
It’s officially time for the new compulsory routines! As of August 1, 2021, the routines have changed. The old routines from 2013-2021 are no longer allowed in competition. With these changes, the level system will still stay the same. There will continue to be five levels of compulsories and five levels of optionals. Level 4 […]
Is This Beam Series Connected?
The acro series on beam – it’s a requirement that can make or break the routine! If the series is not connected, it’s an automatic 0.5 off the start value for the routine, in addition to any execution deductions, balance errors, or falls. But what is necessary to consider a series connected? For a forward, […]
Making Sense of Composition – Level 10 Beam
What skills make up a great Level 10 beam routine? At Level 10, the requirements are much more rigorous than other levels. Judges have deductions available, called composition deductions, to reward gymnasts who perform higher level skills. In 2018, those deductions became a LOT more specific… and a lot more confusing. Modeled after the collegiate […]
Making Sense of Composition – Level 8 Beam
This article has been updated to reflect the 2022-2026 Code of Points. What are the ingredients for a great Level 8 beam routine? Gymnasts need a combination of strong acro skills, dance skills, and a big dismount. Judges have deductions available, called compositional deductions, to separate gymnasts of different skill levels. In 2018, those deductions […]
What’s New in 2019-2020
The optional season is officially in full swing, so I thought this would be a good time to review some of the changes and updates for this season. There are several changes to the Level 6/7 vault deductions, along with updates in several other areas. General: Video review is now allowed for spotting deductions and […]
To Inquire or Not to Inquire?
Inquiries… the only allowable form of communication between coaches and judges. I’ve been on both sides of the inquiry process – as a coach who strongly disagreed with a score given to one of my gymnasts, and as a judge filling out the form and trying to be fair to the gymnast, while still upholding […]
Breaking Down the Level 4 Floor Routine 2023
This post has been updated to reflect the 2021-2029 compulsory routine changes, and was updated again in July 2023. Compulsories, by their nature, are repetitive. You might wonder, how can I catch the judges’ attention during the same old-same old Level 4 floor routine? Once, I was coaching Level 4 at an early-season meet and […]
Breaking Down the Level 3 Floor Routine 2023
This post has been updated to reflect the 2021-2029 compulsory routine changes, and was updated again in July 2023. It’s time to polish up those compulsory routines! Today we will look at the Level 3 floor routine. This was always one of my favorite levels to coach, because the kids are just learning to compete, […]
