Okay, there's this girl, and I need to break some news to her before our next competition in four days. She's always off and she is really slow when it comes to the spinning and dance portion of our silk line. I looked at the score sheets from our last competition this past weekend, we placed second, but we could have easily placed first. We have the capability of placing first this weekend, but only if she speeds up. I'm the captain so I guess that means I need to tell her, because my coach is too absorbed in the majorette line. But I don't know how to her without breaking her heart and being mean. Because she really tries. Someone give me some advice.

It sounds like as a captain you do a lot. I would still suggest that you talk to your coach about it, and your coach should probably make any decisions. Another thing is that, instead of just cutting this person. I was wondering if anyone has worked with her outside of practice to help her speed up? Some more practice may help her. Also, if you talk to your coach and you both agree that you may need to cut this person, you could try then letting that person know that they really need to work to keep there spot. I hope that helps some!

I agree... maybe try practicing with her one-on-one rather than directly cutting her. Especially if you know she's working hard and doing her best.

It's one thing if she's purposefully slacking off and holding the team back, but another if everyone is doing their best. I know sometimes for me (in dance, I don't do color gaurd) I really need to practice a given routine MORE than the rest of the group just to get it down and in sync. If this is the case, perhaps you can have her sit out this competition, but work with her one-on-one in the meantime and up until the next competition.

And, I know winning is great and all, but sometimes everyone being together and having fun is more important than getting first place. You're really going to break this girl's hear to say "you know what honey, you're too slow, you can't compete." In the long run, it might make her feel like she's being pressured to quit all together, or that she can't keep up. The placebo effect could kick in and in the future, she might start to feel like she can't do things anyway, and might not give it her best. I would worry that there would be consequences for the rest of the team, as well. Sometimes it's hard to gauge your own personal success with something and people are usually hard on themselves as it is in activities like this. If people on your team already *think* they are doing poorly, and you sit someone out for not being good enough, they might start to worry the same thing will happen to them, too. In short, I would worry about the kinds of thoughts people would have about this. It could bring a very negative aspect to the team, which in the long run might not be worth the one first place win.

Be careful and really try to weigh all sides of this. Definitely consult the coach before you make a decision.

Okay, I know that as a captain you have a lot of resposibility, but becareful how you approach this girl. I myself have been a dancer since I was two and a half, and at eighteen, I still battle issues with tempo. I have been spinning flag for seven seasons and rifle for four. So I know what that is like. It takes alot of concentration, counting and help from my instructor and fellow guardies to know when I am rushing though, because I can get so into the performance that I dont realize that I am not on count, but a half count early. If the only reason that you are talking to her is so that you can get a first place rating, then you probaly shouldnt because you could come off as selfish. It doesnt matter the rating as long as everyone tries their hardest.Dont sit her out of a performance for just that. But if you want to make her a better performer than give her advice. Is she slow at learning the work or is she new and just nervouse and unconfident? Talk to your instructor first, then approach this girl. I know that I can get very frustarated, because tempo is an issue with me at times, when someone brings it up to me. My advice is help her and teach her how to subdivide, it helped me. Sorry for the long reply.

let us know how it goes!