Things parents SHOULD NOT do while attending gymnastics events

So you don't think your daughter got the score she deserves and you are going to go down and argue with the judge who scored her - DON'T. Not only will this get you tossed out of the meet, but it may cause your team to get ejected too.

Wow - you are so excited/worried/zoned-out about your daughter that you leave the spectator area and go down to the meet area where her team (and the other teams) are competing. This is a major dumb thing to do so DON'T. Not only will this get you tossed out of the meet, but it may cause your team to get ejected too. She is in good hands with her coach.

Your daughter is on the balance beam, 4 feet off the ground, doing a flip when "poof" you snap that got-to-have-it picture - which momentarily blinds her, causing her to fall and break her ankle. She gets a really bad score, a trip to the ER, and you get THROWN OUT of the meet. DON'T. If you are not sure about using a flash during practice, ask the coach. If the coach is grumpy, offer a treat first (Milky Way, beef jerky) and then ask. Flash photography at meets is absolutely forbidden.

What time does the event start...? hmmm... you get the bright idea to call the host gym (probably their head coach). Think about it. The coach is trying to prep her team, find replacements, not panic, etc. and he/she is getting hundreds of phone calls from the other team's parents WITH THE SAME STUPID QUESTIONS. They really hate that and if our coach finds out - zap. Don't call the host gym (wait for info. from your own team's coach).

If you are THAT knowlegeable and skilled, then go open your own gym. Otherwise, get your money's worth and let your daughther's coach do what they do best. Even if you know what you are talking about, it probably isn't the same as the coach's instruction - this will lead to confusion for your gymnast which will mean loss of performance. The coach encourage you to be the "warm and fuzzy" person in your gymnast's life and let the coach be the "heavy".

Parents let loose with some hard words, ugly comments for another gymnast (your daughter's team and/or another team). Guess what - that girl's mother/father/siblings/friends could be sitting right next to you. How would you feel. If you don't having thing good to say about another gymnast, don't say anything at all.