If you ever thought that team practice before competitions was hard, just imagine the increase when practicing for the State Competition. Little Z wanted to practice every day. We had three weeks between her last competition and State. She was practicing hard at the gym and was working on her beam and floor routines as best she could at home.
Then I found out that other girls had been taking private lessons in addition to regular team practice. Could we afford it? Not really. Did she "need" it? Probably not. Did we think it would be helpful? Definitely, if for no other reason than from a mental standpoint. Little Z had some issues throughout the season with not being able to get a bad routine or fall out of her head. We figured if we could have someone work with her one on one, then it could help that aspect of her competition. So we set up three private lessons for her--essentially one a week until competition.
Z's first private lesson was after open gym on a Saturday. I was a bit nervous having her do it after she had been goofing off/working out, but at least she was warmed up. The lesson actually started 1/2 hour before open gym ended, but since they were working on beam, that was perfect. Beam has been Z's nemesis since the beginning. While she was always nervous that she would fall on her half-turn, she never did. She would fall on other things--her handstand, her split leap and her dismount--but not the half-turn. The coach worked with her to get up her confidence and she seemed to start enjoying beam a bit more since she wasn't quite as nervous. She also worked on bars a bit during that lesson.
The other two lessons were on Wednesdays--a day when Z didn't have practice. One lesson ended up being entirely on bars, which I thought was a bit odd since Z normally does well on bars, but I could definitely see the improvement. She also did work on floor and more on vault. I had hoped there would be more on beam, but there wasn't.
Z definitely said that she felt the lessons helped and it seemed like she had more confidence, but the tell tale would be her performance at States.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Competition # 5 . . . Disco-Tech
This competition was the last one before the State Championships. It was being held at a gym about 15 minutes from my sister's house, so we went there the night before to get a good night's sleep and then head to the meet. In addition my sister and her daughter were supposed to come watch. Unfortunately, my niece didn't make it.
Little Z and I had been to this gym once before to watch her old team compete, so we knew the layout and where she would be competing. We got there in plenty of time and she started warming up with her friends.
It is always fun to watch the girls march in before competition, but this time was even better. Because of the theme, the girls had glow in the dark necklaces on and the lights were turned out with a disco ball turning. The girls had a great time!
Z started on bars at this meet. She did really well, scoring a 9.200. Despite the high score, she placed fourth.
On beam, I was watching and she seemed to get a little lost at the very beginning of the routine. As a result, she ended up going overtime and fell once. Her final score was an 8.250.
Then on to floor. Once again, I loved watching her. I know I'm the mom and biased, but I really do think that she has a pretty floor routine and have been told that by other people. She scored a 9.325 and tied for second place.
Vault was last and she seemed to be doing well in warm-up. Then, right before she competed her coaches put another mat on the landing area. I was very confused--although I knew she had competed with a higher mat before, she hadn't practiced with the higher mat. Her score of 8.875 showed that there was something not right. After talking with the coaches later, they indicated that they had put the additional mat because she had been over-rotating during the warm up and they were trying to fix the landing. I've learned to trust the coaches--although I wasn't happy with what happened, and neither was Z, we knew they were looking out for her best interest.
Little Z scored 35.650 on all around and placed 7th. Another meet with plenty of medals to bring home and show daddy.
Now the girls had three weeks to prepare for the State Competition. Our team had ten out of our eleven girls on the team qualify for the State Championships. We knew that States was going to be much more competitive with the top girls in all of the Northern part of California. Time for some more practice!!!
Little Z and I had been to this gym once before to watch her old team compete, so we knew the layout and where she would be competing. We got there in plenty of time and she started warming up with her friends.
It is always fun to watch the girls march in before competition, but this time was even better. Because of the theme, the girls had glow in the dark necklaces on and the lights were turned out with a disco ball turning. The girls had a great time!
Z started on bars at this meet. She did really well, scoring a 9.200. Despite the high score, she placed fourth.
On beam, I was watching and she seemed to get a little lost at the very beginning of the routine. As a result, she ended up going overtime and fell once. Her final score was an 8.250.
Then on to floor. Once again, I loved watching her. I know I'm the mom and biased, but I really do think that she has a pretty floor routine and have been told that by other people. She scored a 9.325 and tied for second place.
Vault was last and she seemed to be doing well in warm-up. Then, right before she competed her coaches put another mat on the landing area. I was very confused--although I knew she had competed with a higher mat before, she hadn't practiced with the higher mat. Her score of 8.875 showed that there was something not right. After talking with the coaches later, they indicated that they had put the additional mat because she had been over-rotating during the warm up and they were trying to fix the landing. I've learned to trust the coaches--although I wasn't happy with what happened, and neither was Z, we knew they were looking out for her best interest.
Little Z scored 35.650 on all around and placed 7th. Another meet with plenty of medals to bring home and show daddy.
Now the girls had three weeks to prepare for the State Competition. Our team had ten out of our eleven girls on the team qualify for the State Championships. We knew that States was going to be much more competitive with the top girls in all of the Northern part of California. Time for some more practice!!!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Competition # 4 . . . Teddy Bear Classic
With a name like the Teddy Bear Classic, who wouldn't want to attend that meet?
I knew this was going to be another tough meet--it was in the Bay Area, with larger teams and as a result more experience. On the bright side, I had also promised a trip to the American Girl store since it was so close. Also, since it was close to our old home, I had a friend who was coming to watch and I was able to drive around and show little Z the home she never knew.
We drove down to the Bay Area the afternoon before the competition. Our first stop was the American Girl store. Talk about overwhelming. Two stories of AG dolls, clothes and accessories. And a hair salon (for the dolls) and a cafe. It was crazy. But little Z knew what she wanted--she had saved up money and gift cards and was prepared. She did go over budget a little bit, but it was my fault and I allowed her to get another outfit that had been on sale.
From the AG store, it was on to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. How I wish we had one of these in town. Little Z LOVED the salad bar and all you can eat. She was able to have what she wanted and know that it was healthy.
As soon as we checked into the hotel, we met up with some other families by the pool and just talked. It was nice and relaxing, especially since we knew the next day would be a bit much.
When we got to the meet facility, it was very different than anything we had been to before. The meet wasn't being held at a gym, and instead was just set up in an auditorium like setting. Very different, but also nice in a way because you could see all the events.
The girls started on bars at this meet. Bars is one of Z's best events and although her routine looked good to me, she scored an 8.950. I wasn't quite sure where the deductions came from, but she still had one of the highest scores on her team.
From bars it was on to beam. Unfortunately, this was Z's worst day on the beam. She just didn't have the rhythm down and seemed to be a bit off. Before her, two of her team mates fell on their dismount and unfortunately, I think that got to her. Z also fell on the dismount and had to do it again. I think that added some deductions, on top of the 0.5 from the fall itself. Her final score was 7.850. The first time she ever scored below 8.00 on any event.
Floor was next and luckily, I had been able to mention to her coach to make sure he talked to her before her routine. She was great--as she always is and scored a 9.375. Her last event was vault and I never know how they score that. Everyone thought that she was flawless and yet she only got an 8.975. No one understood that one. The all around score was 35.150--her second lowest AA score.
Despite the lower scores, she did still bring home some medals. She got 6th on vault, 5th on bars, 3rd on floor and 8th all around. In addition, each competitor got a teddy bear! At this meet, they were making the meet t-shirts on site. I was able to add a heart on the sleeve that said 9.0 club. She deserved it for her floor routine and honestly was so close on bars and vault that I couldn't figure out why it was lower.
Driving home was fun. We stopped to grab some lunch and drove around the old neighborhood. I got to show Z where her brother went to school and several of the old locations where we lived, including the house we lived in when I was pregnant with her. It was a lot more enjoyable of a drive since Z was not completely beating herself up like she had after the second competition. She told me that she had tried her best and that was all I expect of her. :)
I knew this was going to be another tough meet--it was in the Bay Area, with larger teams and as a result more experience. On the bright side, I had also promised a trip to the American Girl store since it was so close. Also, since it was close to our old home, I had a friend who was coming to watch and I was able to drive around and show little Z the home she never knew.
We drove down to the Bay Area the afternoon before the competition. Our first stop was the American Girl store. Talk about overwhelming. Two stories of AG dolls, clothes and accessories. And a hair salon (for the dolls) and a cafe. It was crazy. But little Z knew what she wanted--she had saved up money and gift cards and was prepared. She did go over budget a little bit, but it was my fault and I allowed her to get another outfit that had been on sale.
From the AG store, it was on to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner. How I wish we had one of these in town. Little Z LOVED the salad bar and all you can eat. She was able to have what she wanted and know that it was healthy.
As soon as we checked into the hotel, we met up with some other families by the pool and just talked. It was nice and relaxing, especially since we knew the next day would be a bit much.
When we got to the meet facility, it was very different than anything we had been to before. The meet wasn't being held at a gym, and instead was just set up in an auditorium like setting. Very different, but also nice in a way because you could see all the events.
The girls started on bars at this meet. Bars is one of Z's best events and although her routine looked good to me, she scored an 8.950. I wasn't quite sure where the deductions came from, but she still had one of the highest scores on her team.
From bars it was on to beam. Unfortunately, this was Z's worst day on the beam. She just didn't have the rhythm down and seemed to be a bit off. Before her, two of her team mates fell on their dismount and unfortunately, I think that got to her. Z also fell on the dismount and had to do it again. I think that added some deductions, on top of the 0.5 from the fall itself. Her final score was 7.850. The first time she ever scored below 8.00 on any event.
Floor was next and luckily, I had been able to mention to her coach to make sure he talked to her before her routine. She was great--as she always is and scored a 9.375. Her last event was vault and I never know how they score that. Everyone thought that she was flawless and yet she only got an 8.975. No one understood that one. The all around score was 35.150--her second lowest AA score.
Despite the lower scores, she did still bring home some medals. She got 6th on vault, 5th on bars, 3rd on floor and 8th all around. In addition, each competitor got a teddy bear! At this meet, they were making the meet t-shirts on site. I was able to add a heart on the sleeve that said 9.0 club. She deserved it for her floor routine and honestly was so close on bars and vault that I couldn't figure out why it was lower.
Driving home was fun. We stopped to grab some lunch and drove around the old neighborhood. I got to show Z where her brother went to school and several of the old locations where we lived, including the house we lived in when I was pregnant with her. It was a lot more enjoyable of a drive since Z was not completely beating herself up like she had after the second competition. She told me that she had tried her best and that was all I expect of her. :)
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