Darke County Meet-SUCCESS!

42 Monarchs went out today and did an awesome job at our first competition of the season!  It was a great start to the 2013-2014 season.  

It was a long day, but a huge success.  The girls went out and showed their new routines off!  In the two short weeks since the mock meet, there was a ton of improvement.  All of that hard work is paying off!  All of the coaches are really proud of how the girls performed today and they should be proud of themselves as well.  They rocked it!
 
On top of tons of personal accomplishments, we also took several team awards.  

• Level 3's took SECOND
• Level 6's took FIRST
• Level 7's took SECOND

With our first competition out of the way, it's time to start looking towards our next competition which is THIS FRIDAY/SATURDAY!  It's right back into the gym to continue working skills and routines so that we can go and rock it again at Kettering!  Keep up the hard work everyone!

"We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

First Meet!!!

The girls have been working hard all summer and now our first meet is finally here!  I hope the girls are feeling confident about their routines and prepared for Saturday!  Unlike past years, Friday will not be a gimme day.  The girls have to show their skills the first two practices the week of a meet in order to compete (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday).  If they do not show their skills on their practice days before Friday, they will not compete that event.  Friday is going to be for cleaning up skills and relaxing before our first meet.  Even if girls show skills on Friday that they did not show earlier in the week, they will still not compete that event.  The final decision about what the girls are competing will be made on either Wednesday or Thursday (NOT Friday)  If the girls have any questions about what they are competing, have them talk to their coach:)

With our first meet so close, here are a few reminders for the meet:
1) Make sure your gymnast shows up ON TIME (or early!) for their session.  Leave a little early just in case:)  Have them get everything together the night before so they aren't running around looking for things in the morning.
See schedule below

2) Make sure they show up with their BLACK duffel bag.  They should have a water bottle, grips, floor music, a small, healthy snack, and one small good luck charm.  They might also want to keep some hairspray, bobby pins, hair ties, tape, or nail polish remover in there as well.

3)When they arrive at the meet they should be in their competition leo with their full warm-up on and meet hair (All hair must be pulled back with no whispies.  Use hairspray:)

4) Parents, it is usually helpful for you to keep your gymnasts coat and shoes with you since their meet bags are not very big.

5) Once it is time for your gymnast to warm-up, you are not allowed to talk to them again until after the entire session is over.  If you have to give them something (waterbottle, snack, ect.) get the attention of one of the coaches and they will give it to them although it is easiest if you they remember these things beforehand:)

*One way to help reduce first meet gitters is for the gymnasts to do mental sets.  It only takes a couple minutes, but makes a huge difference.  Do them before bed, on the way to school, on the way to the meet, or whenever else you can find time:)

Good luck everyone and HAVE FUN!  SUCCESS come on MONARCHS we're the BEST!  1,2,3... PC!  Can't wait to see everyone at the team dinner tomorrow night!

Below is the Darke County schedule in case you don't know when your gymnast needs to be there:

SESSION 1: Level 3’s (60 gymnasts) BE THERE BY 7:45AM FOR WARM-UP!
Modified Capitol Cup Bar Settings:8:00-8:15 AM
Coaches Meeting:8:10 AM
Warm Up first event:8:15 AM
March In: 8:50 AM (earlier if possible)
Awards immediately following in the Youth Gym

SESSION 2: Levels 4 & 5 (69 gymnasts) Modified Capitol Cup BE THERE BY 10:15AM FOR WARM-UP!
Bar Settings & Stretch (in racquetball room):10:30 AM
(Please be here for early stretch)
Timed Warm Ups: 11:00 AM (Approximately –earlier if possible)
March in: 11:45 AM (earlier if possible)
Awards Immediately Following Competition in the Youth Gym

SESSION 3: Levels 6 and up and Xcel (45 gymnasts) Modified Capitol Cup BE THERE BY 2:00PM FOR WARM-UP!
Bar Settings & Stretch (in racquetball room): 2:15 PM
Timed Warm Ups: 2:45 PM (Approximately –earlier if possible)
March in: 3:30 PM (earlier if possible)
Awards Immediately Following Competition in the Youth Gym

Jasmine

Mock Meet

Congratulations to the 2013-2014 Monarchs Team/Level Captains!

Team: Emily Engle and Sarah Voit
Level 6/7: Ally Boback
Level 5: Julia Deuitch
Level 4: Claire Fischer and Sophie Buisson
Level 3: Ava Karle and Megan Haarlammert

 All the gymnasts did an awesome job at the mock meet this past weekend! Obviously there are still some things that need work, but I think we're headed in the right direction:)

    It's going to be a crazy first meet due to the new routines and how many girls we have competing this year.  Hopefully the mock meet helped better prepare the girls (and parents!) for our first meet which is less than 2 weeks away!  

     As crazy as the first meet is going to be, we'll at least be marching in in our full uniforms because the warm-ups are finally here!  We're still waiting on the leos to come(fingers crossed) and then we'll sort and handout warm-ups, leos, and under garments all at the same time.
     
     A few things to keep in mind as our first meet approaches:

-each gymnast needs a small black duffle bag to keep all of their things in during the meet.  This does not have to be a Monarchs bag, but they do need to have one to keep grips, waterbottle, a small snack, a small good luck charm, and warm-ups in.
-gymnasts MUST be at all practices the week of a meet(next week) or they will not be allowed to compete

Be on the lookout for more detailed information about our first meet in the near future:)

With meet season approaching, the girls are going to be super busy between school, practice, and competitions. As always, make sure they are getting enough sleep and eating healthy:)  

Jasmine

Routines, routines, routines!

 Just a quick reminder to make sure you are checking the calendar on the website.  It is up to date and has all the dates you need to know!

Our mock meet is a week from Sunday!  I know the girls are getting really excited because this is what they've been working for all summer.  Routines still aren't where they should be, but we're getting there.  We're doing our best with the space and time we have.  The girls should already be aware, but if the coaches feel the girls aren't comfortable enough with their routines, they will scratch that event regardless of whether or not they have all their required skills.  We don't want to send anyone out there if they aren't ready.  If they want to be ready they have to practice at home.  We simply do not have enough time during practice to get the routines down really well.  

If you are unsure of how your gymnast is progressing feel free to talk to any of the coaches.  We are all more than willing to let you know how they are doing.  Same for the girls.  If they have any questions about how they are doing or if they are really frustrated with a certain skill, make sure they are talking to the coaches too!  The more the gymnasts communicate with the coaches, the more productive we can be:)

Today all the girls voted on team and level captains.  There are still some girls who need to vote, but we'll let everyone know the results before our first meet.

Make sure the girls are still properly fueling their bodies and getting enough sleep!  

Keep up the hard work!
-Jasmine

"There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."