- Arrive on time. Warm-ups usually begin one-half hour before the contest begins.
- Try not to bring small children who are not entered in the contest. They get bored very quickly. The bleachers can be dangerous if a child is left unattended even momentarily. They also tend to want to walk out on the floor and join the performers.
- The upper-middle-center section of the bleachers is reserved for the judges during Team Competition. Do not sit there until after all of the teams have twirled.
- Do not get up and walk in front of the judges while any team is performing. Do not allow your children to do this. This is one of the rudest mistakes you can make. The judges will remember who you are. Wait until after the team has twirled, then move quickly to your destination. You will have plenty of time.
- Food and especially drinks are not allowed in the gym. Try to eat and drink outside the gym
- It is a terrific goodwill gesture to patronize the host’s snack bar and raffle. The contest entry fees do not cover the costs of running a contest.
- Do not disturb a parent who is trying to watch her(his) child’s category. You may cause them to miss a score. Make sure your children abide by this rule too.
- Never take flash pictures. Your twirler can be disqualified for this offense. The flash can cause a twirler to have an accident. You may take video pictures from the stands, not on the floor.
- It is your responsibility to make sure that your child is in the right lane at the correct set. If your twirler misses his/her turn, he/she will not get another chance!
- Do not allow your twirler to practice at the ends of the gym. This really disturbs the judges. Usually there is a practice area where they can go. However, always know where they are so that they do not miss their set.
- Try to keep negative comments about the judges and your child’s competitors to yourself. This can be very difficult! You never know who can hear you and it really does not help your child or your club. We must all practice good sportsmanship and remember that we are here for the children. We want to teach good habits.
- Do not approach a judge and question a decision. That is never done. It is up to your coach to communicate with the judges at another time.
- When you leave, please clean up all of your papers, cups, cans, etc. It is usually the parents in the contest promoter’s club who have to clean up the gym.
OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR PARENTS
Should Your Child or Team Be Twirling in the Beginning Division?