Goosly
Veteran
Not caring about what times you will get is definitely what helps most.
[Help Thread] Advice and Tips for Competitions
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Ninja Storm
Veteran
Okay, so my first comp, I had an avg that was 10 sec slower than my best. My first solve was a 1:05 or something, which is the slowest I have solved the cube in months. I was shaking so badly that I could barely write my initials, and my look ahead was absolutely zero. The biggest thing that I noticed was that when my name was called, I started getting butterflies and was getting really nervous.
So now I have a comp tomorrow (Cornell, tell me if you're going too)and I need to know what I can do in practice (I'm doing 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, and OH) today, and what I can do in competition tommorrow to help minimize my extreme nervousness. I really don't know whether the fact that it will be my second competition will help at all, but I really want to be able to get a sub 1:30 4x4 single (best is 1:32), sub 4:30 5x5 single (best is 4:08), sub 30 3x3 avg, (best is in sig), and sub 8-9 2x2 avg (best is in sig). OH I would like to get sub 1 single, best is 1:07, but I have probably only done like 50 serious OH solves.
TL;DR: too much nervousness in competition, what can I do to minimize and get solves closer to my best?
Please note: I have searched for this, and I've gotten some great answers, but some things are still unanswered, so that's why I made a thread. Thank you for your time.
A great thing to reduce nerves is to practice in front of people. Show your parents, your classmates, cube in public! Do things that make you comfortable solving around others.
Then, when it comes to competition times, realize that literally nobody cares about your solves apart from your friends and you. Random people won't make fun of you because you're slower; they'll just ignore you. There's no external pressure on you, just what you artificially create yourself. It sounds cruel, but it's a good truth to think of.
Now if you can win competitions, then people care about your speed.
StarOfDoom
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Hey, so my first comp is going to be the 2014 US Nationals... and i'm terrified... I cube around friends and in public so much, and am not nervous at all, but I am really nervous for my first comp... I average 27-28... but have been improving tons recently in my f2l...
Goosly
Veteran
Terrified about what?
TMOY
Veteran
You don't have to be terrified. The first comp is always a great experience, especially when it's a major comp like US Nats.
With a 27-28 average you have no chance to win anyway, and nobody will make fun of you because you're not as fast as the best competitors, so just try to relax and do your best.
With a 27-28 average you have no chance to win anyway, and nobody will make fun of you because you're not as fast as the best competitors, so just try to relax and do your best.
guysensei1
Legend
Remember to start the timer properly. I got a DNF because of that.
Just do your solves chill-y, you arent going to win anyway, just enjoy your solve, this helped me quite abit, and actually broke my megaminx pbs by quite abit
You dont have a DNF result at all... Non official competition?
singhcuber
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Nervous Wreck
I am 58 years and I am going to my first competition in 2 weeks https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/c.php?list=List+of+Registered+Competitiors&competitionId=NationalCubingRegion2014. I have been cubing since 1981 (using Singmaster's algorithms) but am very very new to speedcubing. Today I tried to do some practice solves (cross, key-hole for F2l ,4LLL) in front of a few people and messed up all the three times I tried and then gave up. I am not very good. I have been doing sub 90 and I have done sub 50 solves a few times. How do overcome the nervousness? I am really keen in taking part in the event even though I may not go beyond the first round.
I am 58 years and I am going to my first competition in 2 weeks https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/c.php?list=List+of+Registered+Competitiors&competitionId=NationalCubingRegion2014. I have been cubing since 1981 (using Singmaster's algorithms) but am very very new to speedcubing. Today I tried to do some practice solves (cross, key-hole for F2l ,4LLL) in front of a few people and messed up all the three times I tried and then gave up. I am not very good. I have been doing sub 90 and I have done sub 50 solves a few times. How do overcome the nervousness? I am really keen in taking part in the event even though I may not go beyond the first round.
mns112
Regular
Think of the cubes not the people
Also in a comp there are many people so they wont have their attention on you that much
I'd also recommend warming up
Also in a comp there are many people so they wont have their attention on you that much
I'd also recommend warming up
GuRoux
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The key thing is not to think about those watching you. You should try to only focus on the cube, though i'm sure it will be hard not to think about those watching you. Maybe sing yourself a song in your head while doing it will keep your mind off it? I'm not really sure because i haven't been in much of those situations.
Goosly
Veteran
Awesome! I hope you'll enjoy it
At a competition, there will not be "a few people" watching your solve, so you don't need to be nervous about that. The only person watching you will be the judge and he doesn't care about how fast you are. So also no reason to be nervous.
Even if you fail, just make sure you have fun and try some new puzzles
Rocky0701
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Take your time as well. It is better to get a slow solve, rather than to try rush and mess up, only to get a really slow solve. Use your inspection wisely, and take the time to make sure that you hit the timer right so there aren't DNFs. Good luck!
CuberM
Regular
I need some help for competitions
I am going to go to my first competition (FINALLY!), so what is the format of the competition? Do you register for what events you're going to do there? How does it all work? Thanks.
I am going to go to my first competition (FINALLY!), so what is the format of the competition? Do you register for what events you're going to do there? How does it all work? Thanks.
Ranzha
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What competition would you be attending?
Usually, competitors register online before the competition. Most US competitions (I don't know about other countries) have competitors sign up for the events they want to do for the day.
Some competitions require you to pay the registration cost when you register online, and others allow you to pay at the venue on the day of the competition. Some competitions even allow competitors to compete for free.
At the competition, check in at the registration table and pay registration cost (if applicable). Then, wait until your events start and for your name to be called up. At that time, bring your own solved puzzles to the scrambling table. Then wait in the competitors area and wait to be called to the timing station. You will get five attempts for most events.
When you're called up to the timing station, follow the procedure that can be found in the regulations in Article A.
Usually, competitors register online before the competition. Most US competitions (I don't know about other countries) have competitors sign up for the events they want to do for the day.
Some competitions require you to pay the registration cost when you register online, and others allow you to pay at the venue on the day of the competition. Some competitions even allow competitors to compete for free.
At the competition, check in at the registration table and pay registration cost (if applicable). Then, wait until your events start and for your name to be called up. At that time, bring your own solved puzzles to the scrambling table. Then wait in the competitors area and wait to be called to the timing station. You will get five attempts for most events.
When you're called up to the timing station, follow the procedure that can be found in the regulations in Article A.
Ollie
Legend
I think this is PJKCuber using a different account
guysensei1
Legend
He got banned in June?
Anyway, to OP,
Check the website of the competition. I'm sure there will be details on how to register there.
Ollie
Legend
Probably not then, his last post was 4 weeks ago
goodatthis
Veteran
Well I guess I'll just walk you through what would happen at a competition.
1. First you would register at the website of the competition. If you go to the WCA page for competitions, and click on one of them, you will be directed to a page with a link to the CubingUSA (if it's in the US) webpage for the competition. You'll be able to register online, and you pay for it when you're at the competition. There will be check boxes on the website for the events you can sign up for. Usually comps cost a lot less if you register online, and you can compete in more events.
2. When you get there, there will be a line for registration. If you're pre-registered, then all you have to do is pay for the events you signed up for. Then you can go sit down somewhere and practice for your first event, socialize, etc.
3. When the first event starts, they will announce it and give the names of people that will come up for the first "heat." If you're not in the first heat, just wait patiently until they call your name to go up to the judges table. You will have a little scorecard with your name on it up at the judges table, and you put your solved cube on it, so they can scramble it. You then will sit nearby (usually they will have a line of seats for the people that are waiting) to wait for your name to be called, and you'll go over to the solving station.
4. You sit down (or stand up, your choice) at the solving station. Your scrambled cube will be underneath a box, and a stackmat timer will be in front of you. The judge will have a stopwatch and he/she will ask if you're ready, and when you say you are, they will lift the box and you'll start your 15 seconds of inspection. If you go over 15 seconds, it's a 2 second penalty, and if you go over 17, it's a DNF. When you're ready, you place your palms face down on the pads of the timer, and the lights on it will light up, then you release your hands and pick up your cube to start solving. When you're finished, you drop the cube and place your hands on the timer, stopping the solve. The judge will then ask you to sign the scorecard with your initials, then you go back to the waiting area to do the process over again.
I didn't go into as much depth as I could, but reading the WCA regulations helps a lot, I did that before my first competition. Also, reading the CubingUSA Competitor Tutorial helps a lot too. I hope this helped!
1. First you would register at the website of the competition. If you go to the WCA page for competitions, and click on one of them, you will be directed to a page with a link to the CubingUSA (if it's in the US) webpage for the competition. You'll be able to register online, and you pay for it when you're at the competition. There will be check boxes on the website for the events you can sign up for. Usually comps cost a lot less if you register online, and you can compete in more events.
2. When you get there, there will be a line for registration. If you're pre-registered, then all you have to do is pay for the events you signed up for. Then you can go sit down somewhere and practice for your first event, socialize, etc.
3. When the first event starts, they will announce it and give the names of people that will come up for the first "heat." If you're not in the first heat, just wait patiently until they call your name to go up to the judges table. You will have a little scorecard with your name on it up at the judges table, and you put your solved cube on it, so they can scramble it. You then will sit nearby (usually they will have a line of seats for the people that are waiting) to wait for your name to be called, and you'll go over to the solving station.
4. You sit down (or stand up, your choice) at the solving station. Your scrambled cube will be underneath a box, and a stackmat timer will be in front of you. The judge will have a stopwatch and he/she will ask if you're ready, and when you say you are, they will lift the box and you'll start your 15 seconds of inspection. If you go over 15 seconds, it's a 2 second penalty, and if you go over 17, it's a DNF. When you're ready, you place your palms face down on the pads of the timer, and the lights on it will light up, then you release your hands and pick up your cube to start solving. When you're finished, you drop the cube and place your hands on the timer, stopping the solve. The judge will then ask you to sign the scorecard with your initials, then you go back to the waiting area to do the process over again.
I didn't go into as much depth as I could, but reading the WCA regulations helps a lot, I did that before my first competition. Also, reading the CubingUSA Competitor Tutorial helps a lot too. I hope this helped!
peedoo72
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- Dec 23, 2014
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How do I prepare for a competition?
I average around 30 secs. and i go to a competition feb 1st
how many solves should i do each day and what should i bring there?
I average around 30 secs. and i go to a competition feb 1st
how many solves should i do each day and what should i bring there?
PenguinsDontFly
Legend
Make sure you know how to solve a cube and that you take a cube. Practice and prepare in your normal schedule/routine. Stop posting new threads. Post this question in the FAQ about WCA comps.
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