JO Updates

2008 Dates/Sites Back to top

9/10 State Meets

March 29/30 or April 5/6

9/10 Regionals

April 18-20 or April 25-27

L9 East-Dayton, OH

May 8-11

West – TBD

L10 JO Nationals – Kissimmee, FL (Orlando) May 16-18

Background Check

USA Gymnastics will require a background check for membership with NCSI

Cost will be approximately $20 plus additional cost for:

each name change

each address

Will sign up on line – USAG will be notified “red light/green light”

Allow approximately two weeks before renewal date

Injury Petitions

The same principle will apply to State Meet petitions as found in the R&P on page 50, 3, B, 1. in regards to Special considerations Petitions for Regional meets.

The statement on page 49 regarding petitions will be reworded, to say capable of “competing in one, two or three events

Injuries Resulting in Bleeding

Stop bleeding immediately and cover the wound as soon as possible.

A bleeding wound (or any other injury from a fall) does not give the athlete the right to repeat her exercise or resume from where she left off.

Any blood on apparatus or mats must be removed before the next gymnast competes.

Meet hosts – consider providing small first-aid kits at each event for quick access.

Individual Specialist Back to top

For Levels 7 – 10, individual event specialist competition may be offered up to and including regional meets

This will be at the discretion of the respective state and regional administrative committees

Individual specialist competitors may compete amongst the all-around competitors and would receive duplicate awards

Late Arrival of Athletes

If a gymnast arrives late to a competition due to circumstances out of her control (traffic delay, weather-related), every effort should be made to allow the athlete to compete.

She should be provided a safe and effective warm-up without upsetting the flow of the ongoing event.

Provided that she has arrived for her designated session/age group, her scores will be valid for all individual and team rankings.

Rules & Policies Changes

Change in wording on page 35 1, B, 2.

“Athletes who are limited in the number of events in which they can perform due to a permanent physical handicap (verified by a physician)…

Flashing of Start Values

Start Values are required to be flashed or written on the competitor’s card at ALL Level 7 and above meets.

Any time a 2.00 deduction for performing an unallowable element is taken at Level 7 or 8, it should be reflected in the Start Value.

Open Stretch warm-up period Back to top

An additional clarification to the R & P on page 41 in regards to what is allowed during the open stretch:

Add “Line drills on Floor involving simple elements are allowed; however, tumbling on the diagonal is not allowed.”

Remember to be polite – space must be shared

Walkovers and other lower level acro skills

Line drills

No diagonal tumbling

Level 7 Timed Warm-ups

The timed warm-up period for ALL formats of Level 7 competition is

1.5 minutes per gymnast

Level 9 East/West Championship

If an athlete who has qualified to E/W as a Regional Team member is injured prior to the competition but is able to compete in 3 or fewer events, the first alternate from that region will replace the injured athlete on the Regional Team.

The injured athlete will compete as an individual.

The response was predominantly positive in regards to the Regional Team concept. It was decided to maintain the new format and review again after the 2008 event

Competitor Numbers

At Level 9 Eastern/Western and JO National Championships, competitors MUST wear their number unless performing a back spin on beam or floor, in which case the coach must show the number to the judges.

If the gymnast refuses to wear the number, a warning would be issued and if she fails to wear it at any other events, a deduction for inappropriate attire would be applied.

At any other meets at which numbers are provided, they may be worn or displayed

General DeductionsBack to top

In the JO Code of Point (various pages), the deduction for “Insufficient exactness of tuck, pike and stretch” will be changed as follows:

Insufficient exactness of Body Position

Insufficient exactness of tuck or pike

up to 0.20 (UB, BB, & FX)

up to 0.30 (Vault)

Insufficient exactness of stretch

Arch

up to 0.20 (UB, BB, & FX)

up to 0.30 (Vault)

Pike

up to 0.20 (UB, BB, & FX)

up to 0.30 (Vault

A technique page with illustrations and deductions of specific dance elements will be added to the JO Code and also posted on the website under Technical.

Switch-leg leap, Ring/Switch-ring leap, Sheep/ring jump, Yang Bo leap, Switch-leg leap with ½ turn, Tuck Jump, Wolf Jump, Cat Leap and Straddle Pike jump.

Change of Score after submission by Judge Back to top

Recommendation to allow a Chief Judge to change a score after submission to the scoring system if a neutral deduction (such as out of bounds or overtime) was inadvertently not applied.

This change must occur prior to the end of the rotation.

The coach must be notified of the score change and if possible, the new score should be displayed to the public.

Attire Deductions

If underwear is visible due to the cut of the leotard, warn the coach of the athlete.

If it is not corrected, take a deduction on the subsequent event.

Underwear, including sports bras, should not be intentionally visible throughout the routine.

If briefs or bra straps show due to activity, do not deduct. Use common sense!

Number of Judgments

Level 1-3 Guidelines: Gymnasts not in gym longer than 2½ hrs., including warm-up time. Up to 80 per session with no timed warm-up.

For State or Regional meets, the maximum number of gymnasts per session may be exceeded by a small percentage for special circumstances, with the approval of the RTCC, RACC and the RJOCC for State Meets and by the NTCC and the NJOCC for Regional meets.

Meet Director must contact SACC or RTCC and the officer will contact other officers for approval.

Compulsory VaultBack to top

Level 3: The height requirement for the mat stack has been changed to "waist high, ± up to 8” of skill cushion

LEVEL 4: Even though the run is evaluated, if the gymnast falls on the runway during the approach, it will be considered a balk (one of three allowed to complete 2 vaults). It is NOT a Fall or Void vault

Vault Apparatus

If the safety zone is used for forward approach vaults, the safety zone may be present, but is not required to fit snugly around the board.

The R & P will now reflect the requirement of padding the upright of the vault table and of covering any weights placed on the vault base for stability.

Sting mats no longer allowed for hand placement-only manufactured RO entry mats

Hand placement Mat Back to top

If a Yurchenko hand placement mat slips on the runway, it is NOT considered equipment failure or personal equipment.

It is the coaches’ responsibility to make sure the mat is placed properly and the Velcro is secure. Tape measure is also the coaches’ responsibility.

If the gymnast runs over or touches the hand placement mat (or safety zone mat) without executing a vault, it is not considered part of the apparatus. Do NOT void the vault. It is one of three allowed approaches to execute 2 vaults.

Vault

The following vault is added to the vault charts: #4.102 Round-off, flic-flac on -repulsion off with ½ twist

Level 8

9.10

Level 9/10

8.70

Level 9/10 Vault Value Changes Back to top

Many twisting vault values will go down approximately -0.20 for Level 9 & 10

The following non-salto vault start values for Levels 9 & 10 only will be lowered, effective August 1, 2007:

Uneven Bars Back to top

Compulsory Level 5 and 6 Counterswing deductions the wording is changed in the Level 5 and 6 Compulsory Bars penalties to read:

Failure to show a straight line from hands to hips with chest in a hollow position

Up to 0.20

Failure to show a rounded hip angle with the feet below the hips during the counterswing (upswing)

Hips extended in line with the feet at horizontal

0.20

Body arched (flaired) with the feet higher than the hips

0.30

Failure to maintain hollow body position until feet pass the low bar in the downward-forward swing of the tap swing forward (early tap)

Up to 0.20

The text will also be changed to reflect these deductions

Back to top

Bar Skills Value ChangesBack to top

Raise the value of the following elements from D to E:

#3.401 2nd illustration (Khorkina) to 3.501 Clear hip on LB with flight and ½ turn to HB

#6.405 Back Stalder on LB with flight and ½ turn to hang on HB to #6.505

#7.410 Pike sole circle backward with flight and ½ turn to HB (Byhovsky) to #7.510

Dismount:

Underswing with ½ turn to salto backward tucked with ½ twist (Comaneci ½ dismount) (Haba) - awarded “D” value #8.402

Uneven Bars

The ideal position of straddle backs and overshoot ½ (B version)

Straddle back (B) look for flight (distance of hips from bar) to finish in an extended body position from shoulder to hips, but it acceptable to maintain a pike in the hips.

Overshoot ½ not to handstand (B)- Element should catch in an extended body position (shoulders to feet) at horizontal or above for no amplitude deduction.

If there is an intentional early termination to a bar exercise without executing a dismount element (gymnast swings and jumps off, for example), apply deductions for:

Failure to perform a dismount (-0.30)

For failure to fulfill the dismount Special Requirement (-0.5)

Do not take 0.50 for a fall

This also applies if the gymnast performs a dismount element of no value.

Bar ClarificationsBack to top

Dismounts off the feet are not allowed and will not receive Value-part credit.

Gymnast attempts a Squat on, falls backward, but continues the exercise with a glide kip: do not consider it a fall. Use any applicable execution deductions (bent legs, touch of floor with feet, etc.).

After a fall, the routine resumes when an element from the JO Code is performed. If the gymnast re-mounts a with a glide kip, stops in front support to crawl up to stand on LB; take 0.10 for uncharacteristic element, plus 0.10 for lack of continuity.

Level 7 Bars Back to top

Special Requirement change: Replace the special requirement of a bar change with:

a special requirement to perform an “A” Cast (21-45°)

“Failure to perform both forward and backward circle elements and/or release elements”: 0.05 composition for L9/10

Both must move forward around an axis (either around the bar or the breadth axis of the body).

When in doubt, check the symbols.

Many forward circling elements have the small diagonal line at the beginning of the symbol to indicate “forward”; like the clear hip circle forward (Weiler kip), front stalder, pike sole circle forward, etc. Front giants & L-grip front giants have their own forward symbol-an upside-down U

Forward release elements are symboled with a “front salto” symbol, like the Jaegers (on same bar or LB to HB) and mixed-grip Deltchev (although the downswing is a backward giant-the upswing is a forward swing and the salto is forward) and ¾ front giant to straddle back

Elements that ARE NOT considered forward:

Gienger/ regular Deltchev - symbol & description indicates a backward salto

Chinese sit-up and other variations like toe-shoot, stalder shoot to HB all stem from a BACKWARD circle and never complete a forward 360° BA turn

Bail half-turn-shoot over low bar, straddle back to handstand type elements are all initiated with a backward swing or circle.

Compulsory Beam Time Back to top

Level 4, 5, 6 compulsory Balance Beam time will increase by 5 seconds:

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Level 4: from :50 to :55

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Level 5: from 1:05 to 1:10

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Level 6: from 1:10 to 1:15

HEEL-SNAP TURNS

If the heel-snap turn is performed on the correct foot, but turns in the wrong direction, apply the deduction for reversing a major element. This element is worth 0.40, so deduct 0.20

Beam Clarification Back to top

Warm-up following a fall from the beam

Clarification: If an element is performed on the mat after a fall before remounting, a deduction for additional warm-up should be applied. No warning is required.

Level 7 Beam

Level 7’s will be allowed to perform a # 2.305 switch-leg leap (C) on Beam for B value-part credit.

Balance Beam New Skills

#7.503 Switch-leg side aerial (Baudhuin) = “E” (takes off and lands on same leg)

#8.304 Back salto stretched to swing down to cross straddle sit (Pearce)

“C”

(Arms set for back salto, then pull down to front of thighs and return to high

position to reach for the beam for the swing down phase)

Balance Beam New Values

•

#9.106 Back salto with ½ twist dismount raised from A to B; new #9.206.

•

#9.407 Double Back dismount raised from D to E ; new #9.507

Balance Beam New Skills/New Values

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#8.304 Back salto stretched with step-out and #8305 gainer back salto stretched with step-out (also with leg change) raised from C to D value (new numbers #8.404 and 8.405 respectively), making them eligible to receive +0.1 for difficulty value at Level 10.

•

The Back salto stretched with step-out and gainer back salto stretched with step-out will be considered as “C” value when awarding Connection Value at Level 10. D/E Difficulty Value will still be given.

Balance Beam Back to top

Please be aware that due to the change of value of the Back Layout step-out type elements to “D”,

Level 8 gymnasts will no longer be able to perform these skills (2.00 penalty for performing an acro element of D/E value)

Balance Beam Acro Series

For Level 10 Special Acro Series Requirements:

Special Requirement credit may be awarded for any E- acro flight element in connection with an “A” element from Group 7 (Walkover/Cartwheels).

Level 8-10 Acro Series: Flight Elements from the roll category may be used (ex. Dive forward roll)

Connecting elements in an Acro series: The landing leg or the free leg must be the take-off leg for the next element. If both feet land at the same time, the take-off must be a jump from two feet.

The following is an example of an acro series that is considered NON-CONNECTABLE, regardless of how quickly they are performed:

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Back Walkover (or back handspring step-out) to Round-off (or cartwheel):

•

In this example, the first element lands on one foot, then the second foot is placed on the beam behind in a lunge; the gymnast then leans forward to initiate a Round-off (or cartwheel).

•

Note: The only way these two elements could connect legitimately is by landing the first element on one leg and swinging the other leg forward to step into the Round-off (or cartwheel); that would mean performing the two skills on opposite legs. Of course, the gymnast could do a Right BWO and switch legs to land on the Left foot so that she could then step forward on the Right leg to initiate a Right Round-off (or cartwheel).

Level 7 Beam Acro Series Back to top

Use of a Handstand element in Level 7 Acro series - in order to allow a handstand step-down to be used as the first element in an acro series at Level 7, the following criteria must be met:

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The handstand must achieve vertical

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The handstand must be held for 2 seconds in order to receive “A” value part.

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If one or both of the criteria are not fulfilled, no Value Part credit and therefore, no series credit (SR) is awarded.

Compulsory Floor Exercise Back to top

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Level 1 FX: Replace the bridge with a crab stand

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Level 2 FX: Replace the arch back with a Hinge back

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Level 3 FX: Replace the backbend from a stand, kick-over with a push up to bridge, kick-over

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New deductions & revised pages will be posted on the USAG website.

Floor Elements

Clarification: See JO Code, page 238, b. 2.

Kick-over front salto to sit is not considered a salto, and if performed at the end of the exercise, would not affect the awarding of the Dismount Special Requirement.

Level 7 Floor Back to top

The SR of two directly connected forward acro elements indicates FORWARD acro elements ONLY (side aerials or side saltos may not be considered).

All judges and coaches should reference the full text of the minutes for specific wording as well as additional changes and clarifications to deductions and skill values.