'PRIMARY SCHOOL GYM COMPETITION’
I recently participated in the Charters and Windsor School Sport Partnership ‘Primary School Gym Competition’ where I judged stages 1 and 3 ‘Key Steps’ vault. It was a great help to me and to most of my fellow gym squad members, judging and leading teams. The session on the Friday before benefitted all that took part and gave the people involved a chance to learn how to judge properly under Svetlana’s supervision. I enjoyed judging on the day because it let me see how different peoples routines require different marking schemes, and being fair and consistent all the way though so that the participating pupils placed correctly and fairly.
I really like helping others as it makes me feel important, I think that everyone who was part of Tuesday’s event was well used and participated with the rest of the sporting community, the display of the members of Gym Squad was different and appreciated by the children taking part and the families and friends watching. It was a fun and enjoyable day for all as well as an informative and a great judging experience.
The fact that we were paired in two’s to judge each piece of apparatus was encouraging and reassuring, as we are new to it and it was kind of scary thinking you could get somebody’s score wrong and cost them an award at the ceremony at the end. It helped that Miss White and Svetlana were walking round offering encouragement and helping those who were unsure of certain aspects of the children’s’ routines.
I think that Magdel and I who were judging on vault 3, found it difficult to keep organized and have the girls in the right order at first but after the first group we were ready and had all of the result slips written and waiting so that we could get the children through their routines as best they could.
Two other gym squad members quoted;
Jasmine: ‘I believe that the chance to judge was good and that I took lots of good key points from Tuesday’s competition, I liked the fact that people were allowed to decide whether to judge or lead teams!’
Magdel: ‘I liked the fact that all of the participants were cheery and wanted to be there as it made me feel happy and glad I joined in’
I think that as people were happy and knew what they were doing the day was better and all worked out well. All of the helpers/team leaders and judges looked happy and looked as if they wanted to be there. I am glad I participated in judging the ‘Primary School’s Gym Festival’ and hope that I will be involved in future ones.
Jodie Cain
Newlands Girls’ School
PRIMARY SCHOOLS GYM COMPETITION
Every year there is a primary schools gym competition organised by the Ascot and Maidenhead School Sport Partnership and the Windsor School Sport Partnership. Earlier this year a group of 30 Newlands Girls went to Windsor Leisure Centre to help run the competition. There were two main jobs that the girls had to fill, Group Leaders and Judges. Many of the girls had previously taken a gymnastics judging course, this enabled them to judge three different gymnastic disciplines; floor, vault and body management. For most of them this was there first judging experience and all the girls did a great job, giving fair and confident scores. The other girls where each assigned a group consisting of around 10-15 children. They then had to help guide and assist the children around the competition. They were supportive and helpful; many of the children were shy and need help remembering the several routines they had to perform. The girls did there best to encourage and help them perform to their best ability.
The feedback given to the girls from the schools and children themselves were extremely positive, the girls had left a lasting impression. They were described as confident, helpful, fun and supportive.
The whole day was a huge success, all the girls had fun and enjoyed helping out.
Report By Year 11 Student