Night before a twirling competition

     The night before a twirling competition can be stress.  Your mind will be racing about what will happen the next day.  
     I suggest purchasing garmet bags for suits and dresses.   A rack chiffrobe devoted to twirling supplies would also help.  Everything will conveniently in one location.   I leave the door open so the dresses and uniforms get a bit of air.  
     A cosmetic bag devoted to competition make-up only helps.  You can place extra booby pins, brushes, hair spray and hair ties in the bag.   If you go to several competitions through-out the year, you can keep the supplies in the bag from competition to competition.  You may have to reorganize and resupply after the competition.

1. Check your garmet bags, cosmetic bags and suitcases early the day before the competition.
2.  Make 2 checklists of what you need.
3.  Print out the flyer for the competition and use something like mapquest to get directions.  Place them on the drivers seat the night before.
4.   Get a full tank of gas.  You don't know where you might find a gas station out or anything else about them.  You will feel so much better if you don't have to worry about gas levels.
5.   Check oil, coolant and windshield washer fluid levels.  Have filled if low.
6.   I have my daughter get a bath and put up her hair before bed time.
7.   Set out cloths for the car ride and after the competition before going to sleep. This goes for both parent and child.
8. Decide on something simple to eat in the morning and stick to it.  Nothing is worse than a car ride accomponied by fast food stomache aches.
9. It is important for the twirler to get to bed early the night before.  Remember, it will be a long day and tired twirlers don't do as well. (parent and child)  I suggest a bed time at least one hour earlier than the school bedtime.  Car rides are very tiring.
10.  Plan to arrive at least an hour before your scheduled time...just in case you need dress quickly.  11. Decide on schedule for next day ...write it out so your twirler knows what to expect and you don't have to say hurry up.
12.  Write out or make a dvd of your child's routines to watch on the trip. Personal DVD players help, but keep with you.
13.  Charge any equipment you plan on taking with you.

The day of the competition:
Since my daughter is still young, I do many of the morning chores before I wake her up. Parents really don't need as much sleep as the kids.  Expect to leave a minimum of 1-2 hours to get ready.
1.  Load the car early...this reduces a lot of stress. Use you first checklist.
2.  Get up early enough that you (as a parent) can get ready in peace. (If you are already ready, this may emphasize to your twirler that they need to be serious about getting ready.  It also frees you up to help them.)
3.  Set out breakfast early..don't add milk til ready to eat.
4. Wake up twirler.  (leave the TV off ;unless playing a DVD of her routine)
5.  Have the twirler eat before anything other than bathroom.  (So you don't end up stopping to use bathroom.)
6.  Twirler should brush teeth before changing. 
7. Change into day-time cloths and leave hair up until you get to the competition. Car-rides destroy hair.
8. Take a second to recheck your car...you may have forgotten something.  Use second checklist.  This can be done while twirler eats.
9. One last bathroom break for all before leaving.

 

Neck wrap

The neck wrap can be a beautiful trick.   It may start out as a clumsy horizontal pass.   As you practice, it will progress into a beautiful horizonal roll worthy of your routine.  

Lasso do a flat circle over your head (with baton in your right hand).  Start with start up. Rotate the baton to the left and around to the right.  End with baton in original position.  Stay horizontal and place free hand on hip. 

An easy way to start this routine is to do a lasso over your head w/ baton in right hand.  Continue rotating arm around left side of neck.    Allow baton to roll over neck.   Cross left arm over body and catch baton in left hand.  You can lean slightly forward and kick your left leg back.

Get the most out of your twirling lessons

         Want to learn more at your lessons?   The amount you learn at lessons depends partly on you and partly on your coach.    First, find a coach who wants to progress at the same speed as you.  Second, research what twirling has to offer.  Third, learn what types of events you can enter a competition.  Fourth, what is you goals for twirling.  I would recommend the Annetta Lucero's videos.  She describes what a twirler can accomplish so eloquently.   Fifth, video tape your lessons (if allowed).  If you are not allowed to video tape at the lessons, be sure to review the lesson on your own as soon as possible.  It is sometimes difficult to remember everything as time passes.   Sixth, practice what you learn every day.  Seventh, use resources such as U Tube to attempt a new trick.  Learn a new trick to demonstrate for your coach every week.  (Be sure to ask your coach if it is ok.)  This effort will show that you are motivated, as long as you are learning the core material.  Your coach may correct your attempt.

Trick of the day:

Is baton twirling a team sport?

   Yes, but the sport of baton twirling is not as limiting as other team sports.   High school students can participate at their school's majorette team.  Many of these teams compete for trophies.   There are also many private companies/ studios that offer baton twirling teams.   The teams may participate in only parades, compete or do both.   Be sure to do your research on the websites that host the competitions these groups participate.  A win can seem more impressive than it actually is.
    The great thing about baton twirling is that you do not need a team to compete.  While many solo competitors are part of a team, it is not necessary.  Some coaches will teach the students who wishes to compete on their own.  Other competitors have parents who twirled as children and choose to teach their own child.   It is possible to teach your own child even if you do not have prior experience.   You just need the ambition to do you research and practice, practice, practice.  There are numerous videos out there to choose from.  I plan on doing a review of these videos at a later date.

Please feel free to ask me any question.

How to get a baton

  The end of the baton on the right side of the baton is called the ball.
                                    The end of the baton on the left side is the tip.
                                    The ball is the larger rubber end.  The tip is the smaller rubber end.
                                    The metal rod between the ball and tip is called the shaft.
   Choosing a baton:
   There are many types of batons.  We prefer the international baton.   You should compare the weights and shapes of the various batons.  In my experience, once you twirl with one type of baton any other baton seems weird and takes time to get used to.

   Sizing your baton:
   You should measure the twirler from her airpit to the tip of her middle finger.   If you have a young twirler, I recommend adding one inch on to that measurement.  It will cut down the number of times you have to buy new batons.

     Taping your baton:
    Taping your baton makes it easier to twirl and prettier.  
    You should purchase two types of tape, reflective tape and grip tape.
    These tape can be made to be the same (or close) to the color of your uniform.
    Measure the shaft portion of your baton to find the exact middle.
    Have your twirler place the middle of her left hand over that spot.
    Then, have her place her right hand beside her left hand and mark the right side of her hand with a small piece of tape (on the baton). 
    Next, have her move her right hand to the left side of her left hand and mark right side of her hand (on the baton).
   Between  those two marks is where the grip tape should be placed (electrical tape can be used).
   Apply the tape at an angle.  Then wrap around the baton.  Make it look like and old fashioned candy cane.
   Cut the tape at an angle when you reach your second mark.
   Wrap the baton straight around at the ends of the first tape with grip tape.
   The reflective tape can be placed to the right and left of the grip tape at even spacing.

Flat spin baton twirl

One of the most basic tricks in baton twirling is the flat spin.   Fortunately, the trick is more difficult to explain than execute.  Once mastered, this trick can transform into its more difficult forms.  These more difficult tricks include flat spin toss catch left, flat spin toss catch right, flat spin toss catch same hand, and flat spin one-turn (which can be caught same hand or be tosses from one hand to the other).    This trick should be introduced with both hands.   When baton twirling, you should strive to be equally confident in both hands.

   This is a simple one handed trick.  Start with your dominant hand.  Start with the ball (or larger rubber end) pointing straight out in a horizontal fashion.   You should place your hand on the middle of the baton.   Your palm should be facing down.  The shaft or metal rod should go between the thumb and first finger with the other fingers going around the baton ( they should not grip the baton).  Make sure your arm is mostly straight.  Rotate the ball in circular fashion toward the left and back.  It should rotate counter clock-wise over your arm. At the same time the tip (small rubber end) should rotate counter clock-wise under the arm.  This trick is all in the rotation of your hand.  There is no need to move you whole arm all around.

    I have inserted an example of a basic flat spin.  Beware this video does include "tricks" (term used very loosely) not suitable for this age group.  They are closer to the 3-4 year old age group.  I don't know who her coach is, but throwing up a baton and clapping is a sad lesson.  The flat spin is at a first attempt level.  Your arm should not be bent.   Bent arms cause beat up arms.

Toe point

   The toe point is an important element in baton twirling.  The toe point occurs when the toe touches the ground or in the air.   Like all elements of the sports, the toe point needs to be practiced til it is automatic.  It is a good idea to practice the toe point in your routines and as a stretch.  The toe point should be attempted at least once per day.  The following link provides an excellent description of the toe point.

http://twirlmania.com/TipsTechnique/TIPStoepoint.htm

Flexibility

   Many baton twirling tricks require some level of flexibility.   Flexibility takes time to develop.   It will not come by doing your twirling in isolation.   If you wish to succeed, you need to take a couple of minutes every day and stretch.  Early in the morning and late at night are good times to stretch. The following is a few suggestions for stretches.

    

This stretch will help with your toe touches and be used in the routine.

   

Modeling at twirling competitions

    At baton competitions, girls have the opportunity to model dresses and uniforms.  They are judged in areas such as appearance.  The judge looks at whether the dress or uniform is age appropriate.  They also pay attention to the fit of the uniform or dress.   The modeling also has to conform to a routine.  The twirler also has to smile, look at the judge and not look at her feet.  
   At certain competitions, the twirler can compete in pagents.  The basic skills pageant (special beginner and novice level) includes costume modeling, basic march and solo.   If beyond the novice level, the pageants will include dress modeling, strut and solo.
    I encourage children to compete in the twirling competitions.  It gives them a sense of pride, confidence and self-esteem.  They also learn that they have to work to get what they want  (work hard).  They also learn that they will not always win, but they can always try again.  New twirlers learn the lesson that they need to be assertive.  It takes a lot of courage to go up in front of the judge the first time.  Just remember that they will not bite.

When can you start twirling?

I believe a child can start as soon as they can hold the baton or virtually any age.
     One of my daughters started twirling at seven and competing at age nine.   She tried parade marching, but decided that she does not like heat exhaustion.  Now, she takes private lessons and goes to competitions.  She just won a first-place tropy for special beginner solo.  She also takes gymnastics and ballet classes. 
     The other has been holding her baton since before she was 1 year old.   She is three, now.  She can do the flat spin, lasso and stir the pot.  The important thing is that the baton is helping her develop coordination.  She is working at walking on her toes and splits. 
     Sara recently started to do front and back kicks.  She can also pull her leg up in the back ....all the way to her head.

Basics of twirling

Smile! Smile! Smile!Learn to pay attention to and control your posture.
Stay on pattern.
Your free hand looks much prettier if it is on you hips.
Your free hand should not display spider fingers.  Keep your fingers close together.
Practice every day (even if you just go through your routine once on a lazy day).
Practice will allow you body to start doing the routine or trick automatically.
Most important have fun!!!

Your appearance bears much scrutiny when twirling.
Hair and clothing (uniforms and shoes) should be clean and neat. 
The same goes for your baton. Batons look horrible with ripped tape and dirty ends.
Your hair looks its best when it is pulled back into a neat bun
   **Hint: you can buy bun makers that use your child's own hair to make curls around it.
             I suggest pulling the hair into a pony tail with a non-slip hair tie
             Pull the hair through the bun maker and evenly spread the hair over it
             I use another non-slip hair tie to hold the bun-maker into place.
             Place a third hair-tie over the bun-maker, but this time double it up.
             Use V bobby pins to keep the curls in place.
             Extra strength hair spray and glitter will put the finishing touches on your look.

Twirling

   Twirling has come into its own as a sport.   It is a balance between twirling, acro and ballet.  If you wish to succeed, you should have experience in a three areas.  When you compete, the skills necessary extend far beyond the typical parade marching twirler.  When parade marching, twirler only bring out the most basic tricks.  This is due to the stresses of heat and marching.  The basic march done at competitons is a far cry from the typical parade.  In a parade, the marchers plod down the without a second thought to the beat.  The march at competition requires high stepping, toe pointing and marching to the beat.