Justin Carrier sent Varsity Scoring Lesson #2:

SCORING JUMPS

Your JUMP score on the Varsity All Star score sheet will be broken into two sections.

DIFFICULTY SCORE

The first will be your Difficulty/Variety score. Assuming your routine includes an “*advanced jump combination”, your Difficulty/Variety range will be as follows for each level:

Level 1: 3.0 – 4.0 (*no Advanced Jump Combination required at Level 1)

Level 2: 4.0 – 5.0

Level 3: 5.0 – 6.0

Level 4: 6.0 – 7.0

Level 5: 7.0 – 9.0

The only instance where a team’s DIFFICULTY SCORE wouldn’t match the above mentioned ranges would be if they failed to connect at least two jumps. In that specific case, the DIFFICULTY SCORE would be moved into the next lower range.

For this category, the judges will consider the overall difficulty of the jumps, the number of jumps attempted, variety of jump types, and incorporation of difficult jump approaches (whips, half turns, etc).

TECHNIQUE/EXECUTION SCORE

The second half of the score is awarded in the TECHNIQUE/EXECUTION column. Height of jumps, technique and landing will drive this score. Every team will receive a score in this column between a .1 and a 1.0.

It’s important to remember that the judges are evaluating the technique and execution of a MAJORITY OF THE TEAM, not just the front 3 athletes. While it may be harder to evaluate, the jump technique of the jumpers in the back corners of the formation should be just as important as your center point jumper.

Adding the DIFFICULTY SCORE with the EXECUTION/TECHNIQUE SCORE will give each team their FINAL JUMP SCORE.

THE TRUTH ABOUT JUMPS

The most frequent questions I hear from coaches always seem to revolve around Jumps. Everyone wants to know the magical formula to a perfect jump score. “Are the judges looking for difficulty, or is execution going to take the cake?” or “Squad XYZ is doing 5 jumps before their back tuck, so they must be on the inside circle and know that judges want to see 5 jumps this year.”

The key to a great jump score (or rather your team’s chance at their best jump score) is to incorporate your jumps in such a way that makes your team look great performing them. If you have amazing jumps, then a 5 jump combination sequence might be the right answer. But if jumps are your weakness, it’s probably your best option to finish your jumps early on and move on to another part of the routine.

A reoccurring comment I heard from judges during last season was that the teams earned a relatively high jump score early on in the sequence, but would start LOSING points by jump #4 and #5 because of fatigue and compromised technique. The judges literally said “Justin, tell the teams to STOP jumping.”

So, to put it simply: Do what looks good. If you look great doing 5 jumps, but your performance suffers at 7, then stick with 5. If you can’t decide on whether or not to add in that extra front hurdler before the dance, ask yourself if your kids are doing themselves any favors by performing it.

When it comes to Jumps, you will be a stronger team by putting your own strengths on the mat, NOT the strengths of your main competition.

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Justin Carrier