To all members of the J.O. Men’s Community,

Region VI has already held their Championship event.  The remaining eight of our nine Regional Championships are all scheduled for the weekend of April 13-15.  As we move into the final rounds of our championship season, as is usually the case, there are a few differences in interpretation of certain routine elements from region to region.  Thanks to diligent attention to detail and pro-active communication on behalf of many members of our J.O. judging community, most of the most potentially problematic differences in interpretation have been identified and listed. 

In an effort to try to get everyone on the same page, the meet referees from each regional championship event (including region 6) got together yesterday evening by way of conference call to determine exactly how the potential problem areas will be interpreted at our remaining Regional Championship Events as well as J.O. Nationals in Oklahoma City.

The following is the correct application of the rules as they are written:

General:

Unlisted skills – The following principles will apply:

• A skill cannot be given either element group credit or a skill value greater than A if that skill is not listed either in the FIG Code of Points, the NGJA/USAG Interpretations, the Age Group Competition Program manual or in Age Group Competition Program Update #10. New skills that require evaluation should be sent to me (Jeff Robinson), with a video clip of the skill. I will then submit the skill to the Men’s Program Committee Skills Committee for evaluation.
• Unlisted dismounts will result in a loss of Element Group credit.
• Judges will not be able to award a “provisional” skill value or element group to an unlisted skill above an A value with no element group credit at any competition in the age group program.

Counting Skills – The start value of an optional exercise must be maximized using counted skills not uncounted skills.

Chronology – The FIG rules of chronology do not apply in the J.O. Program.

Level 9 Element Group Credit – The dismount Element Group must be counted first.  To get the full 2.0 in element group credit for Level 9, the athlete must have the dismount element group properly satisfied and three of the remaining four element groups satisfied.  This means that it IS possible for a Level 9 athlete to receive only 1.5 in element group credit with four element groups satisfied if the dismount (element group V) is not one of the four element groups satisfied.  A level 9 athlete who receives credit for four element groups AND only has an "A" dismount will receive 1.8 value and no bonus for satisfying all five element groups.

Event Specific:

Floor:

Level 7 transitions – the transition in part 4 may be fulfilled with any movement from the handstand.  The transition in part 6 may be fulfilled with any transition movement including a turn of 180 degrees.  This includes a simple step and turn of 180 degrees.

Additional Matting - The use of an additional mat for skills on optional floor exercise of less than a “D” value will receive a large deduction as would any other equipment related deduction in the FIG Code of Points.  In the J. O. Program this and all other equipment violations will still receive a large J.O. Program deduction of 0.3.

Pommel Horse:

Level 7 – part #3 can have ½ or 1&1/2 circles

Handstand dismounts – In order to receive the incentive “C” credit for a handstand dismount, the athlete must perform the handstand from a full circle or from 1&1/2 circles.  This is a J.O. exception to the FIG Code of Points but is still subject to the FIG ruling (as interpreted by our current NGJA / USAG Interpretations) that all skills start and finish in front support.  Furthermore, if the handstand is achieved from a circle, the addition of a pirouetting action will not “value-raise” this from a “C” to a “D” or higher.  In the event that the handstand is achieved using a “B” or better skill then it is interpreted as per FIG.

Starting and finishing position for skills (Bailie and Czechkehr)- As per FIG, the starting and finishing position for all optional skills on pommel horse is from front support to front support.  In the case of the "Bailie" which is a J.O. exception skill with developmental value and has a J.O. "C" rating it is important to be careful not to directly connect to a leg cut for a scissor combination until the finishing front support has been shown.  The same principle holds true for the Czechkehr (another skill that until recently has always been given it's "B" credit finishing in rear support.  This means that if the Czechkehr is directly connected to a leg cut into a scissor without showing the finishing front support position, credit for the Czechkehr will not be given.  This has been a very common error in routine construction this year.

Pendular straddled travel – this is an “A” value element in the J.O. Program, it satisfies no element group.

Vault:

For determining the start value of all optional vaults, the March 2006 FIG vault values will be used (+3.0).  The most up-to-date vaulting table is available at the following link:

http://www.ngja.org/pub/0607/jo/figjovt101-0607-w-jobonus.pdf
                                       

At this point, all meet referees for the remaining regional championships are aware of and have agreed to these final interpretations for the 2007 season.  I hope this will help you to "fine tune" your athletes routines in order to maximize their start value for your upcoming Regional Championships.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and to wish you good luck with the rest of your season.  I am looking forward to seeing most of you at J.O. Nationals in OKC if not sooner.

For USA Gymnastics,

Jeff Robinson
USA Gymnastics
Junior Olympic Program Coordinator
jrobinson@usa-gymnastics.org
317.294.2444