Technique Magazine

Women's Jr. Olympic Program Meeting

June 6, 1998
Omaha, Nebraska

I. ROLL CALL

Meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by Tom Koll, Chairman. Present:
Region 1 Neil Resnick
Region 2 Laurie Reed
Region 3 Cheryl Jarrett
Region 4 Don Houlton
Region 5 John Geddert
Region 6 Larry Goldsmith
Region 7 Mike Milchanowski
Region 8 Tim Rand
WTC Cheryl Hamilton
EPC Roe Kreutzer
WAB Jan Greenhawk
J.O. Program Manager Connie Maloney
WPD Kathy Kelly

II. ELITE PROGRAM COMMITTEE REPORT – R. Kreutzer

The EPC will meet at the U.S. Classic. Both the EPC and the International Program Committees will be dealing with the lines of jurisdiction with the elite program, selection procedures for the World Championships and Olympic Games, team size, and athlete, coach and club funding. A Responsibility Manual for national team coaches has been approved. Final approval of a National Team Coaches Funding Agreement is pending.

III. WOMEN'S ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD REPORT – J. Greenhawk

The WAB met in Indianapolis in May and also had the opportunity to attend the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors meeting. The final minutes are printed in the July Technique. Jan explained the State Board jurisdictions over the qualifying competitions. All elected officials in the Women's Program will be invited to attend a first time Women's Program Summit Meeting which will be conducted on August 19th in the evening.

IV. WOMEN'S TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPORT – Cheryl Hamilton

The WTC's recommendations made at the March meeting were presented to the J.O. committee. Cheryl also presented an analysis of Start Values from the 1998 J.O. Nationals. This analysis will be printed in a future Technique. The JOPC was asked to advise the WTC on judging issues for vaulting.

Recommendation to the WTC to re-evaluate the non-salto twisting vault deductions that were printed in the last minutes in the April 1998 Technique. The committee recommends that the "Late open/extension of body before landing" deduction of "up to 0.50" be applied to salto vaults only.

Motion–C. Jarrett
Second–N. Resnick
PASSED

Note: Effective 8/1/98. Passed by WTC – Conference Call 6/11/98. See Conference Call minutes in August Technique for complete clarification.

Recommendation to the WTC to devalue the Start Values of the following Vaults:
Handspring Full twist (#1. 202) from 9.2 to 9.1,
Yamashita Full twist (#1.205) from 9.30 to 9.2, and
1/2 on-Full twist off (#1.206) from 9.20 to a 9.0.

Motion–N. Resnick
Second–J. Geddert
PASSED (6 in favor–2 opposed)

Note: Effective 8/1/98. Passed by WTC – Conference Call 6/11/98.

Rationale: Due to the more complex nature of the Tsukahara vault in comparison to the basic twisting vaults, plus the fact that the lack of open/extension is much more apparent to the judges in the tuck/pike Tsukaharas than is the timing/completion of the turn in the twisting vaults, the committee felt that there should be a greater difference in the values of these two types of vaults.

The committee discussed the WTC's recommendation to no longer consider elements with a hop grip change on bars as flight elements. The JOPC still feels strongly that elements with a hop grip change should be considered as flight elements. A conference call will be set up with the WTC after the RJOPC members discuss this issue with their RTCs again.

Note: WTC voted on 6/11/98 Conference Call to maintain present definition of flight to include elements with a hop grip change in handstand.

A list of new elements performed at J.O. Nationals was presented to the committee, noting the values that were awarded by the Regions. The committee gave their input as to the values so that Cheryl may take it to the WTC for final evaluation and inclusion in the J.O. Element Supplement.

The committee recommended to the WTC that the criteria for successful completion of a new element at J.O. Nationals will be to perform the element technically as described and to successfully complete the element without a fall.

V. DIFFICULTY RESTRICTIONS FOR LEVEL 8

Region VII brought forth a proposal to allow the performance of any "C" element at Level 8, but that it be awarded "B" value part. After a lengthy discussion, the following motion was made:

Motion to adopt the proposal from Region VII of allowing all "C" elements at Level 8, but awarding "B" value part eredit. (RACHELE, PLEASE PUT TWO LINE STRIKE THROUGH THIS MOTION SENTENCE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DEFEATED. THANKS!)

Motion–M. Milchanowski
Second–D. Houlton
DEFEATED (2 in favor, 6 opposed)

VI. PETITIONS TO REGIONAL COMPETITIONS

The committee discussed the ever increasing number of petitions, and the abuse of the petition process.

Recommendation to the WTC to consider changing the score requirement for petitions to Level 9 and 10 Regionals to the following:

This process will also apply to Level 8 in those Regions which use a score qualification system and allow petitions. Those Regions which use a Percentage or specific number of qualifiers per state would not accept petitions.

Motion–T. Rand
Second–L. Reed
PASSED

Note: Effective 8/1/98. Passed by WTC – Conference Call 6/11/98.

VII. EXECUTION DEDUCTIONS FOR OPTIONAL EXERCISES

The committee emphasized that the General Deductions on page 24 & 25 in the FIG Code of Points should be utilized at all J.O. Optional levels. This will provide the carryover of the compulsory program's emphasis on correct body alignment and positions, as well as to separate the athletes accordingly. Cheryl was asked to convey this philosophy to the WTC and the judges.

VIII. AGE DIVISIONS AT LEVEL 9 & 10

The office will review the actual birth dates of the athletes who competed at this year's Level 10 regional and national meets in order to assist the committee in making a decision regarding the age divisions for next year's J.O. Nationals. The committee discussed possible changes in the format for J.O. Nationals and is in agreement that the format for the competition beginning in 1999 will be: For competitions at the State level and below, the procedure for determing age divisions for Level 10 is at the discretion of the State Board.

IX. NATIONAL TEAM SIZE

Due to the change in the number of age divisions, a motion was made to change the J.O. National team qualification to: The top 4 gymnasts per age division (total of 32 athletes). In the case of ties, both gymnasts will qualify.

Motion–L. Reid Second–D. Houlton PASSED

This action causes an increase in the total number of J.O. National team members (from 28 to 32). In consideration of the fact that the Elite National teams have been reduced in numbers due to budget projections, the 4th place athlete in each age division will be invited to attend the National Team training camp at her own travel expense.

X. LEVEL 9 EAST/WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

The committee requested that at the Level 9 Eastern and Western Championships, a minimum of two judges per region be assigned, with no more than two judges per region per panel.

The committee discussed the East/West competitions and felt that both meets were highly successful. The office will review the actual birth dates of the athletes who competed at this year's Level 9 Regionals and East/West meets in order to decide how to divide into four equally distributed age divisions for next year.

The committee discussed adding a "Team" component in 1999. It was decided that beginning in 1999, the Eastern and Western Championships will include a quasi-team format. A random draw will be conducted and the gymnasts will be assigned to squads, keeping all gymnasts from the same club in one squad. Teams will be named by joining two squads, one from each flight (for example, Squad A in the first flight and Squad E in the second flight will both begin on Vault. They will be considered as one "TEAM" of 14 gymnasts. Team scores will be calculated by adding the best 10 scores per event.

Team Award Certifications will be presented to all members of the 1st and 2nd place teams.

XI. NON-CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Motion to allow non-citizens to be eligible for awards at Regional meets and below. (Therefore, no duplicate awards are necessary.) Effective 8/1/98.
Note: Non-citizens are not eligible to compete at Level 9 Eastern/Western Championships or J.O. Nationals. If the qualification to Level 8 Regionals is by a percentage or by a specific number qualifying from each state, non-citizens are not eligible to compete.

Motion–J. Geddert
Second–T. Rand
PASSED

XII. CHAMPIONSHIP MEET BIDS

No formal bids for the Level 10 J.O. Nationals or Level 9 Eastern Championships for 1999 and beyond. There is one bid for 1999 or 2000 Western Championships at this time. It is the goal of the office to award the competitions at least one year in advance to provide for enough preparation time for the meet host. C. Maloney would like to announce the meet sites by National Congress.

Any club interested in hosting any of these competitions, please contact Connie Maloney at the National Office, or submit a bid on the form found in the Appendix of the Rules and Policies. For the 1999 competitions, please submit bids NO LATER THAN JULY 15th.

XIII. MOBILITY AND QUALIFYING SCORES

Committee discussed the present mobility and qualifying scores and decided to maintain the present scores as found in the Rules and Policies.

Motion to require that any gymnast who has ranked high enough in her region to be included in the Region's allotted number of qualifiers to East/West Championships must also score a minimum of 34.00 AA to be eligible to compete at the East/West meet. If any regions are unable to fill their allotted number in any age division, then the open slots will be filled in rank order by gymnasts from the same age division from any of the remaining regions. Effective 8/1/98.

Motion–J. Geddert
Second–M. Milchanowski
PASSED

XIV. LEVEL 2 & 3 AWARDS

The committee makes the following recommendation:

Motion to allow the State Boards to have jurisdiction over Levels 2 and 3, but that the State Boards are not to exceed the current guidelines for Level 4.

Motion–N. Resnick
Second–T. Rand
PASSED

XV. NEW BUSINESS

Motion to include the following in the apparatus section of the Rules and Policies:

Whenever duplicate equipment is required, the minimum measurements for the tumbling strip must be 8' wide by 56' long and the matting must be minimum of 11/4" foam with carpet (same as competitive Floor mat), covering the entire surface of the strip.

Motion–J. Geddert
Second–L. Goldsmith
PASSED

Motion that the "International Bars"(which provides a longer piston, facilitating further raising the high bar without going beyond the manufacturer's safety guidelines) be provided for all Regional and National Meets.

Motion–J. Geddert
Second–L. Goldsmith
PASSED

The committee requests that each state and region emphasize appropriate dress code for the coaches, especially at Championship level competitions. Also, it requests that the states remind the coaches and the athletes that the gymnast is allowed to wear only one pair stud earrings.

Recommendation to the WTC to consider lengthening the fall time on Balance Beam for all J.O. levels from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

Motion–C. Jarrett
Second–L. Reid
PASSED

Note: Effective 8/1/98. Passed by WTC – Conference Call 6/11/98.

Recommendation to the Women's Administrative Board that the USAG Vice President for Women be the Chairman of the Women's Program Committee. (Has a voice but no vote, except in the event of a tie vote).

Motion–C. Jarrett
Second–M. Milchanowski
PASSED

XVI. COACHES EDUCATION

The Women's Program is working with Dr. Sands and the National Staff on the design and implementation of a Coaches Certification Program. The JOPC was enthusiastic about assisting with this project. The Women's Program committee representatives will discuss this at the Summit in August in Indianapolis.

XVII. NCAA

As a representative of the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women, G. Marsden sent materials to the JOPC, with the hopes of establishing better communication in order to better coordinate schedules, new rules, etc.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for National Congress.

This article appears in the July 1998 issue of Technique, Vol. 18, No. 7.


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