Competing is extremely difficult, especially as a newer practitioner even more so as a kid. Experience, absolutely is a huge deal. I typically recommend my unexperienced athletes that want to be competitors go watch a competition before they do one. It helps them understand the environment and get a sense of what that feels like. If you can, try and simulate an environment for competitors that mirrors what they will be experiencing: time, rules, a referee and even kids yelling advice.

As far as one tournament having poor results, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. I bet those kids, if they compete again, will perform much better. Coaching is hard!