Rhythmic Gymnastics Minutes
Rhythmic Technical Committee
May 1, 1997
Houston, Texas
I. Roll Call
Members present:
Maureen Broderick
Marina Davidovich
Helena Greathouse
Diane Massad
Andrea Schmid
Norma Zabka
Jackie Jones
Ellen Nyemcsik
Alla SvirskyII. Certification of Judging Instructions
A form for applying to become a certified rhythmic judging course instructor at the J.O. level was reviewed. The form will be sent to all Level 7/8, National and Brevet judges. The process of selection will be implemented by a J.O. subcommittee of the RTC.
Motion to accept the form.
Motion – D. Massad
Second – M. Broderick
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYII. Judging Card
With the advent of a new judging cycle, a new judging report card has been proposed by the USA Gymnastics office to replace the judging book.
Motion to accept the judging card.
Motion – J. Jones
Second – E. Nyemcsik
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYTo fulfill the requirement for one clinic each year, it was agreed that the clinic should be at least two hours long. A pre-meet judges meeting could be used for this purpose if it were planned in advance to be two hours or longer.
III. Congress Judges Course Instructional Assignments
Each technical committee member was assigned a judging course to teach at Congress. Courses in Level 5, 6, and 7/8 will be offered as well s the National level course. The USA Continental Judging course for Brevet and National judges will be held prior to Congress from August 8th to 13th in Colorado Springs, CO.
IV. FIG Report – Andrea Schmid
Information was given on World Championships to be held in Berlin, Germany and Four Continents scheduled for Sydney, Australia. Group World Championships for 1998 will be in Spain and the 1998 Four Continents comes to Jacksonville, Florida. The 1999 World Championships, which will be the 2000 Olympics Qualifying event, will be in Japan. The 2000 Olympics Rhythmic competition will feature 28 individuals and 10 groups.
V. J.O. Handbook
Broderick covered the progress of updating the Junior Olympic Program Handbook for the new judging cycle.
Along with the updating of the Junior Olympic program, the judging tests will be reviewed and the information will reflect the new rules.
VI. Number of Judges Required at State and Above Meets
A discussion took place on the problem of the large number of judges required at the meets, especially at the 9/10 level.
Motion to recommend to the Rhythmic Program Committee to have only one panel of judges plus one meet referee at Rhythmic Challenge and the gymnasts compete only one set of routines.
Motion – M. Broderick
Second – E. Nyemcsik
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYMotion to have the same six judges at both the East and West Qualifying meets, and the remaining six judges to be assigned locally to minimize expenses.
Motion – A. Schmid
Second – M. Broderick
PASSED –UNANIMOUSLYVII. National Judging Assignments
A suggestion was made that more clubs host meets for the level 9/10 gymnasts. More judges could be assigned at that level and it also gives these gymnasts more of a competitive season.
VIII Level 9/10 Qualification
Motion to request the Rhythmic Program Committee review the qualification process for Level 9 and 10.
Motion – A. Svirsky
Second – N. Zabka
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYIX USA Gymnastics Club Championships
Motion to request the Rhythmic Program Committee to discuss the concept of a USA Gymnastics Club Championships to be initiated in 1998.
Motion – A. Svirsky
Second – H. Greathouse
PASSEDX. Judges for Level 7/8 Regional Competition
A problem concerning the number of judges used at Regional Competitions for the Level 7 and 8 optionals was brought forth. Some regionals use one judge for composition and one for execution, but because these gymnasts are qualifying for J.O. Championships from this meet, she would like to see the requirement changed to two judges on composition and two on execution.
Motion to recommend that, whenever possible, for Level 7 and 8 optional routines at Regional Championships, two judges make up the composition panel and two judges make up the execution panel.
Motion – H. Greathouse
Second – D. Massad
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYXI. New Judges
Motion to implement a program at the regional level to encourage former and current athletes who are at least 15 years old to take a judging course and test.
Motion – M. Broderick
Second – M. Davidovich
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYXII. Rules and Policy Changes
Motion to add to the judges ranting chart (on page 55) “Credit for judging a meet will only be given if the judge already has the full, appropriate rating, not a provisional or lower rating.”
Motion – M. Broderick
Second – N. Zabka
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYA discussion was brought forth concerning the definition of “affiliation” on page 56. The decision was not to make a change, so no vote was required.
Motion to allow judges to wear long pants as part of their judging uniform at all meets. Currently it is only allowed at state meets and below.Motion – A. Svirsky
Second – H. Greathouse
FAILED – (2 for, 7 against)XIII. Ethics Information
It was recommended that the judging courses stress the information on judging ethics that is already in place and in print. No evaluation should be done on video tapes from a past competition and evaluations should be done only with the coach present or with permission of the coach and all evaluation results should go to the coach and not the parent or gymnast.
XIV. Purview of the Technical Committee
Broderick solicited ideas from the committee on new ways to disseminate technical information to all interested parties. Educational avenues were suggested and all members were assigned to come up with one new idea.
XV. Correspondence
Letter from Bev Bruce requesting to use her judging experience at the Western Qualifying meet to fulfill her practical requirement. This would allow her to obtain a full certification as a National Judge.
Motion to allow Bev Bruce to take the Continental Judging course in August, but she must still fulfill her practical experience according to Rules and Policies.
Motion – J. Jones
Second – N. Zabka
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYLetter from Kathy Brym stating that before the change to the new judging system (from Class IV-I to Level 6-10) she was a Class I judge, but somehow did not retain the level of that rating and was only relegated to Level 7/8. She does not ask to have her rating elevated to National, but would like permission to take the Continental Judging course in August.
Motion to allow Kathy Brym to take the Continental Judging course.
Motion – D. Massad
Second – E. Nyemcsik
PASSED – UNANIMOUSLYXVI. Continental Course
Invitations will be sent to all USA judges who are currently fully certified at the National and above level. Petitioned judges will be allowed to take the course as a National Certification course only. USA Gymnastics will finance the cost of all current National Team Coaches to attend the course.
XIV. Election of Committee Chairperson
The position of Committee Chairperson was up for election.
Nomination of Maureen Broderick to be re-elected as committee chairperson.
Motion – M. Davidovich
Second – A. Svirsky
PASSED –UNANIMOUSLYSubmitted: Jackie Jones, May 12, 1997
This article appears in the June 1997 issue of Technique, Vol. 17, No. 6.
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