Technique Magazine

Women's Program

Women's Jr. Olympic Committee


Largo, Maryland
May 6-7, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 8:40 AM Eastern time by Tom Koll, Chairman.

I. Roll Call:

Present:
Region 1, Neil Resnick
Region 2, Laurie Reid
Region 3, Cheryl Jarrett
Region 4, Don Houlton
Region 5, John Geddert
Region 6, Larry Goldsmith
Region 7, Mike Milchanowski
Region 8, Brad Harris (interim chair-appointed by Region 8 RAC)
NECC, Gary Anderson (Monday morning)
NTCC, Cheryl Hamilton (Tuesday only)
NACC, Jan Greenhawk (Monday afternoon)
JOPM, Connie Maloney

II. National Elite Committee Report

Gary Anderson reviewed the changes and accomplishments for the National Elite program and thanked the JO Committee for their input and recommendations on making the Elite program more "user-friendly."

III. Administrative Committee Report

Jan Greenhawk reported on the upcoming projects of the National Administrative Committee.
  1. Judges' Contract negotiations by July 31, 2002
  2. Operating Code
  3. Consolidation of the Rules & Policies

IV. Women's Technical Committee Report

Cheryl Hamilton reported on the activities of the Technical Committee and the upcoming meeting in June.

V. Rule Changes

T. Koll discussed the recent problems with changes in optional rules after the start of the competitive season. The JO and Technical Committees will be working together to set rules to be maintained for an entire season and will adopt the philosophy to make rule changes ONLY at the Spring meetings.

VI. Determing Age Levels for Level 9 & 10

Recommendation to the National Administrative Committee that the State Administrative Committee Chairmen be requested to report the names of all qualifiers to Level 9 and 10 state meets to their Regional Administrative Chairmen by the date of their state meet entry deadline. The Regional Administrative Chairmen will then compile the data for their region and forward it to Connie Maloney in order to determine the age divisions earlier in the season.
   Motion: C. Jarrett
   Second: D. Houlton
   PASSED

VII. Competitive Season

The committee discussed the possibility of making changes to the competitive season to reduce the conflicts with the collegiate season. The committee members were asked to request feedback from the coaches in their respective regions.

VIII. Procedures for Meet Directors

  1. Draws for State Meets
    Recommendation to the National Administrative Committee to add to the Rules & Policies that the State Administrative Committee set up specific guidelines that determine the order of competition for the age divisions and/or levels (for example, by random draw or youngest to oldest) for State Meets. Using those pre-determined guidelines, the meet director and State Administrative Committee Chairman (or other state committee member designated by the SACC) conduct the draw to determine the order in which the age divisions will be conducted.
       Motion: N. Resnick
       Second: L. Goldsmith
       PASSED

B. Pre-meet (timed) Warm-up Procedures

  1. Recommendation that the amount of time for Vault and Floor Exercise pre-meet timed warm-ups is to be determined by the number of athletes in the largest squad of the session multiplied by the allotted time per gymnast. No block time is allowed by individuals or by club on the Vault and Floor Exercise events.
       Motion: B. Harris
       Second: L. Goldsmith
       PASSED

  2. Recommendation to add to the Rules & Policies: Bar settings are NOT included in the pre-meet warm-up time.
       Motion: L. Reid
       Second: M. Milchanowski
       PASSED

  3. One-Touch Warm-up (30-second touch) Procedures
    Recommendation that the one-touch warm-ups on Vault, Bars and Beam are not required to be conducted in competitive order; however, the first athlete to compete must be given the opportunity to touch first. Athletes will be allowed to take the touch warm-up in any grouping to expedite the one-touch warm-up, but each athlete must still be individually timed 30 seconds on Bars and Beam.
    • For the one-touch warm-up on vault, the athletes may warm-up in any order, but each athlete is still guaranteed a maximum of 2 vaults (Compulsory levels) or 3 vaults (Optional levels).
    • If the one-touch warm-up on Beam is staggered with warm-ups between competitive routines, the one-touch warm-up must be in competitive order.

       Motion: M. Milchanowski
       Second: B. Harris
       PASSED

IX. Apparatus/Equipment Concerns

  1. Vault: Each region reported on the use of the table versus the horse in their region this season.
    Recommendation to give the State Administrative Committee the right to decide if the Level 5, 6, 7 and/or 8 athletes in their state have the choice to use the new vault table for the 2002 Fall season (August 1 - December 31, 2002). The State Administrative Committee must make this decision prior to August 1, 2002.
       Motion: J. Geddert
       Second: N. Resnick
       PASSED

    If the State Administrative Committee votes in favor of a choice:

    1. Both the conventional horse and the new vault table MUST be provided at the designated State Championships that are held prior to January 1, 2003.
    2. If a state has no athletes at the levels designated above that require the new vault table, there is no need for the Meet Director to provide one.
    Note: If a State allows a choice of vault apparatus for any of the above levels, all meets (qualifying and/or invitational) below the State Championships have the OPTION to provide the vault table and MUST provide the conventional horse. Meet information must indicate the equipment to be provided.

    Note: As the minutes of May 2001 stated, the vault table will be the required apparatus effective January 1, 2003.

    The committee discussed the need to include the following specific measurements for the height of the vault table as well as the placement of the tape measure for the runway in the Rules & Policies.

    Height: Jr. Olympic athletes may use the vault table at any height, regardless of age division; however, the height must be within a minimum of 100 cm (+/- 1 cm) and a maximum of 125 cm (+/- 1 cm).

    Note: The Vault Tables produced by AAI have two pistons, both of which must be set at the same number of notches. Also, the settings on the models made by AAI are different:

    • Conversion kit (retro-fit using old horse base): 125cm = 4 notches
    • New AAI free standing model: 125cm = 5 notches
    • Speith-Anderson and Jantzen-Fritzen models have only one piston and cm markings are on the piston.

    Runway: The tape measure is placed at a point even with the front edge of the table (drop a vertical line from the near edge of the Table closest to the board). The runway must be a minimum of 76' and a maximum of 80'.

  2. Beam:
    Clarification: An adjustable beam must be provided at all USAG sanctioned events for the Jr. Olympic program.

  3. Matting
    The committee discussed the regulations regarding the use of skill cushions.

    Recommendation to allow "up to 9 inches" of additional matting (any combination of skill cushion and/sting mats) on the allowable competition landing mat.
       Motion: J. Geddert
       Second: L. Goldsmith
       PASSED

X. Compulsory Concerns

Level 4 Floor Exercise: Recommendation to allow 1-3 steps into the Round-off, flic-flac, effective August 1, 2002.
   Motion: L. Reid
   Second: C. Jarrett
   PASSED

XI. Level 7

  1. Level 7 Vault
    Recommendation to the Technical Committee to eliminate the squat, stoop and straddle vaults from the list of allowable Level 7 vaults.
       Motion: D. Houlton
       Second: B. Harris
       PASSED

    Note: Watch for the minutes of the Technical Committee's June 7-9, 2002 meeting for the final decision on all recommendations made to the Technical Committee.

  2. Level 7 Uneven Bar Requirements
    Recommendation to the Technical Committee to eliminate the "minimum of eight elements" requirement for Level 7 and replace it with a new requirement:
    • a second 360° circling element that finishes in or passes through a clear support with no minimum angle required. One of the two required 360° circling elements must be an element listed under Groups 3, 6 or 7 in the FIG Code of Points.

       Motion: N. Resnick
       Second: D. Houlton
       PASSED - 6 in favor, 2 opposed

    Clarification: Both 360° circling elements are required to finish in or pass through a clear support. Bar element # 7.103 - sole circle forward or backward (tucked or pike) on HB or LB, also with grip change to hang on HB will not fulfill this requirement because it does not finish in or pass through a clear support.

    Only one of the 360° circling elements is required to finish in or pass through a clear support at a minimum of 60° above horizontal. If the gymnast performs only one circling element (instead of two) and it finishes less than 60° above horizontal, it would count as the circle with no angle requirement. In this example, a 1.80 deduction would be taken for missing a 360° circling element that finishes in or passes through a clear support at a minimum of 60°.

    If two circling elements are performed (one of which is from Group 3, 6 or 7) and both are below 60°:

    • use the circle with the highest angle to meet the requirement of the 360° circling element that finishes in or passes through a clear support at a minimum of 60°
    • apply the appropriate deductions for insufficient amplitude.

XII. Level 8 Difficulty Restrictions

Recommendation to the Technical Committee to allow Level 8's to receive "B" credit for performing "C" level elements, effective August 1, 2002.
   Motion: D. Houlton
   Second: M. Milchanowski
   PASSED - 5 in favor, 3 opposed

XIII. Round-off Entry Vaults for Level 9

Recommendation to the Technical Committee to allow the performance of the following types of Round-off entry vaults for Level 9 athletes, effective August 1, 2002:

Group 4 vaults (Flic-flac on) with twists only (no saltos) or RO, flic-flac on -salto off without twist
   #4.201 RO, FF on - Back tuck
   #4.304 RO, FF on - Back pike
   #4.305 RO, FF on - Back layout
   #4.312 RO, FF on - 1/1 twist off
   #4.313 RO, FF on - 1½ twist off
   #4.412 RO, FF on - 2/1 twist off

Group 5 vaults (RO, flic-flac with 1/2 turn on) with twists off (no saltos allowed)
   #5.201 RO, FF ½ on - 1/1 twist off
   #5.202 RO, FF ½ on - 1½ twist off
   #5.307 RO, FF 1/1 on - 1/1 twist off
   #S5.420 RO, FF ½ on - 2/1 twist off

   Motion: J. Geddert
   Second: M. Milchanowski
   PASSED

XIV. Special Requirements for Levels 8-10

  1. BARS:
    1. Recommendation to the Technical Committee to eliminate at Levels 8, 9 & 10 the Special Requirement of a minimum of "B" element starting and finishing on the Low Bar.

       Motion: B. Harris
       Second: N. Resnick
       PASSED

  2. Recommendation to the Technical Committee to add the following special requirement: F
    or Level 8: a minimum of an "A" element from Groups 3, 6 or 7
    For Level 9: a minimum of a "B" element from Groups 3, 6 or 7
       Motion: N. Resnick
       Second: M. Milchanowski
       PASSED - 4 in favor, 4 opposed, Chairman voted in favor

  3. BEAM:
    Recommendation to the Technical Committee to eliminate the Special Requirement of a hold element on beam.
       Motion: N. Resnick
       Second: B. Harris
       PASSED

XV. Vaulting Deductions

The committee discussed the deduction for bent arms on the Tsukahara entry vaults performed on the new Vaulting table.
  1. Recommendation to the Technical Committee to eliminate the deduction for a bent first arm on Tsukahara vaults.
       Motion: D. Houlton
       Second: M. Milchanowski
       DEFEATED - 2 in favor, 6 opposed

  2. Recommendation to Technical Committee to consider lessening the deduction for bent arms for the first arm on Tsukahara vaults from "up to 0/50" to "up to 0.30".
       Motion: B. Harris
       Second: D. Houlton
       DEFEATED - 2 in favor, 5 opposed, 1 abstention

XVI. Element Values for Levels 8-10

  1. Bars:
    1. The committee discussed the FIG principle for awarding value part credit for falls on release moves.

      Recommendation to Technical Committee to allow release elements to receive credit for Value Part and Special Requirement for the JO Levels if the gymnast touches but does not momentarily grasp the bar.
         Motion: L. Reid
         Second: N. Resnick
         PASSED

    2. John Geddert questioned the rationale of having different values for the back and front giants on low bar and high bar.

      Recommendation to the Technical Committee to award the same value to skills performed on either bar.
         Motion: J. Geddert
         Second: M. Milchanowski
         DEFEATED - 2 in favor, 5 opposed, 1 abstention

    3. Recommendation to raise the value of Uneven Bar element S4.307 from "C" to "D". (Back giant on LB with flight and ½ turn in tuck position to catch HB - Laumann)
         Motion: M. Milchanowski
         Second: D. Houlton
         PASSED

    4. Recommendation to Technical Committee to raise the value of the following release elements from "D" to "E" in order to reward the athlete who chooses a major release to fulfill the Special Requirements:
      • #3.401 Clear hip circle through handstand with flight to hang on HB, also with ½ turn- Shaposhnikova/Khorkina
      • #S3.408 Clear hip circle forward on LB facing HB to front salto over LB with flight to hang on HB (Pelaez)
      • #4.406 Pak salto
      • #4.405 Tkatchev
      • #4.407 Gienger/Deltchev/Nyeste/Liu
      • #5.405 Jaeger tucked or straddled
      • #5.406 Khorkina
      • #6.405 Back stalder with flight to hang on HB, also with ½ turn
      • #7.410 Piked sole circle backward through handstand with flight to hang on HB

  2. Beam/floor
    Recommendation to the Technical Committee that all turns that are presently described as requiring an "above horizontal" leg position be described as "at or above horizontal" in order to receive Value Part credit.
       Motion: L. Reid
       Second: C. Jarrett
       PASSED

    The committee voiced an opinion regarding FIG's recent elimination of the tempo deduction in series on beam and advised Cheryl Hamilton that the Jr. Olympic committee would like the judges to maintain the tempo deduction.

XVII. 2005 Compulsory Development

Koll reviewed the timeline for the development of the routines with the committee. The committee reviewed the preliminary video of the 2005 compulsory Floor Exercises routines and made recommendations for modifications. The committee also worked on the preliminary text for vault, bars and floor. Choreography for the Level 1-6 Beam routines will be developed directly following the meeting.

XVIII. Level 9/10 Calendar for 2003-2005

The tentative dates for Championships meets are listed below. Any clubs interested in hosting any Level 9 Eastern or Westerns or the JO Nationals should submit a bid form or contact Connie Maloney by July 15th, 2002 at the National office. The 2003 meet sites will hopefully be determined in time to announce the information at the National Congress in August.


State Meets 9/10 Regionals East/West JO Nationals
2003 March 15-16 or
March 22-23 		Level 10 only April 12-13 April 25-27 May 2-4
2004 March 13-14 or
March 20-21 		All regions must conduct
Level 9/10 on April 2-4 		April 23-25 April 30-May 2
2005 March 19-20 or
April 2-3
Easter is March 27 		Level 9/10 April 15-17
Level 10 only April 23-24 		May 6-8 May 13-15

XIX. Next meeting

The next meeting will be conducted in December, date and site TBA.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM.

Approved: Bob Colarossi, USA Gymnastics President, May 16, 2002


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