Heading to the floor:
- When warm-ups are done, you’ll head to the floor. Sometimes there is a staff member who will walk your team to the competition floor. Other times, it’s close enough that you just head over to the “backstage” area.
- There are usually several teams in front of you at this point so take the time to have fun with your kids. I always do a final check of bows and shoes at this point also. I also peek and see where the teams are exiting off the floor and tell my team where to go when they’re done. This is a good time to do a quick team huddle. It can be loud, but it’s always a memorable moment for teams.
- Make sure you stay in order here too. I always stay with our teams until we’re next up. If you have tiniest consider keeping one coach back there until they take the mat. You can’t usually do this AND be in front for them, so just prepare for that.
- Whoever is playing music will head over to the music table when your team is on deck. Make sure your phone or iPod is on airplane mode and has the volume all the way up.
- When it’s time for your team to come on the floor, you’ll take the coaches’ spot. This is usually front and center, but it can vary at some competitions. Just watch where the coaches in front of you are going. On an elevated stage, you likely have a coaches’ only spot in front of the parent viewing area. On a ground-level floor, you should make sure you’re set back far enough that judges can see the front of the floor for your littles.
- Sometimes your kids can hear you counting and see you, and other times they can’t. I warn my kids they’ll need to know how to count on their own as they may not see or hear me at large events.
- When the team is done, meet them right where they end.
