If you’re a gymnast (or a parent of a gymnast), we are sure you’ve wondered what you could to in your floor routine that will stand out with the judges to improve your score. Take these tips from the youngest judge in North Carolina, at age 16…me!
Do you have all the skills required at your level
You can check out our website to see all of the required skills for each level, to make sure that you have all of the skills and elements required for you specifically.
Overall artistry of routine
Judges are looking for variety in the choreography, quality of movement and of expression. This is a way to distinguish the great dances from the good dancers. Judges want to see that a gymnast really performs the movement instead of just going through the motions.
Overall dynamics of routine
This is one way that judges distinguish the great routines from good routines. They want to see that the routine looks effortless and that the gymnast is able to make the difficult look easy. Keeping your energy maintained throughout the routine is also another aspect of this.
Were all of your connections connected – tumbling pass, jump series, etc?
If they weren’t, judges will either take a rhythm deduction or they can take a connection break deduction – this will affect your overall starting value.
Height of your jump series
Judges are looking for height in your jump series – they want to see you get off of the floor or beam.
Did you get to the required angle for your split jump/leap?
Achieving the required angle for your split jumps and leaps is important. Judges are looking for the lowest part of the leap and they judge from that point.
Did your tumbling pass get height?
Judges want to see each of the skills in your tumbling pass accelerate and if your tumbling pass ends in a salto, they want to see that it got height.
Form on each of your skills – straight arms, legs, were legs together?
Judges evaluate each of your skills performed – were your arms and legs straight? Were your legs together? Were your toes pointed? Deductions in this area can really add up in your routine.
Did you get height in your leaps?
Judges evaluate the hight in your leap. Make sure you’re really punching off of the floor and getting up in the air for a big, beautiful leap.
Were your legs evenly split in your leaps?
Judges look to make sure that your legs are split evenly in your leap; if one leg is higher than the other, they’ll take a deduction.
We hope this helps!
Gymnast: @mayaistumbling