Floor Choreography For The College Recruit
Floor Choreography For The College Recruit
Floor Choreography For The College Recruit
I have a lot of club gymnasts and parents ask me what they should consider when putting their floor routines together to be recruited. Below are a few of the items I try to emphasize:
Music: Be sure it fits your personality. You should LOVE your music! Unique music is hard to find, but always a plus! If you use slow music, be sure you have the dance background to enhance this. You don’t want to get lost in the crowd. Often strong beats or unique catchy music attracts the coaches.
Performance: College is much different then club, you often have large audiences that come to see a “show” on floor. Coaches want to see you can perform your routine, whether it is slow or or fast. They want to see that you have potential to look out at the judges and the audience with confidence.
Unique: When I choreograph I try to put one unique fun “non gymnastics” move in the floor routine. Something that stands out and catches the eye of people watching your routine.
Skills: Depending on your level of gymnastics this can vary. Division 1 wants to see a good variety of dance “D” skills as well as “D” or “E” tumbling passes. They especially like the “D” tumbling skill in the last pass. The gymnasts that can twist and perform double backs have a big advantage.
Potential: College coaches are looking for the gymnast who has “potential” in all the above areas. Be sure you are clean and do not have a lot of execution deductions in what you perform. They realize you may not be at your highest ability in club for various reasons and they will try to imagine what they can do with your talent in the future. Be proud of your routine and do what you do, and do it well!
Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself and then do what it takes to make this a reality. Ralph Marstson
Jill Hicks is the founder of Jill Hicks Consulting! This is an advising business available to gymnasts and parents to help them through the recruiting process.
Music: Be sure it fits your personality. You should LOVE your music! Unique music is hard to find, but always a plus! If you use slow music, be sure you have the dance background to enhance this. You don’t want to get lost in the crowd. Often strong beats or unique catchy music attracts the coaches.
Performance: College is much different then club, you often have large audiences that come to see a “show” on floor. Coaches want to see you can perform your routine, whether it is slow or or fast. They want to see that you have potential to look out at the judges and the audience with confidence.
Unique: When I choreograph I try to put one unique fun “non gymnastics” move in the floor routine. Something that stands out and catches the eye of people watching your routine.
Skills: Depending on your level of gymnastics this can vary. Division 1 wants to see a good variety of dance “D” skills as well as “D” or “E” tumbling passes. They especially like the “D” tumbling skill in the last pass. The gymnasts that can twist and perform double backs have a big advantage.
Potential: College coaches are looking for the gymnast who has “potential” in all the above areas. Be sure you are clean and do not have a lot of execution deductions in what you perform. They realize you may not be at your highest ability in club for various reasons and they will try to imagine what they can do with your talent in the future. Be proud of your routine and do what you do, and do it well!
Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself and then do what it takes to make this a reality. Ralph Marstson
Jill Hicks is the founder of Jill Hicks Consulting! This is an advising business available to gymnasts and parents to help them through the recruiting process.