2008 Gymnastics Rules Interpretation Meeting

1. 2008 Gymnastics Rules Interpretation Meeting

2. Online Meetings • Online meetings are available in basketball and wrestling; and this spring for track, baseball and softball. • Plan to have All Sports online next year • We trust that you will find this to be a great alternative to attending meetings in person.

3. Complete Online Registration Now Available! • If you took advantage of this option – THANKS! • Easy and Convenient • Saves MSHSL time and $$ • Give it a try!

4. Judges MUST Be Registered! • Complete all steps • - Paperwork & fee • - Meeting & test • Only work with registered judges • Contact MSHSL Office with violations • Penalty = Suspension

5. Check Officials Directory • Associations must only assign registered judges • Schools must only use registered judges • Non-registered = scrimmage not meet • Meet cannot be made up • Be sure to check the official’s directory after the test deadline of November 10.

6. Coaches Rating Judges • The scoring system has been changed • Coaches will rate 1 thru 7 in each of 5 sub-categories. The overall rating will be a sum of the these sub-ratings. • In the future local Associations will also be able to rate the officials. • Minor changes in language/descriptions

7. Rating Judges • Judges – thanks for entering schedules! • Coaches thanks for rating! • - For being fair and objective! • Remember that this is a rating • - Compare to other judges who you see

8. Judges Rating Schools • Popular and useful! • Only rate site mgm’t for home team • - No rating for games at neutral sites • Comments will be tied to the meets • - Will make these more useful for schools • - Objective comments not editorials • - Comments that will help the school

9. Judges Rating Schools, continued • File Incident reports – any rating of 1 • Thanks Judges for being fair and objective!

10. School Ratings • Composite scores available to schools • Use for comparisons! • Use for incentives! • Use for recognition! • We are making a difference!

11. Tournament Card • Benefit now available to officials • $25 -- good at most section & state events • Get to games and watch other officials! • Purchase on-line – deadline November 24

12. Recruit! • Shortages are a challenge • Judges Recruit • Coaches Recruit • Former athletes (especially college)

13. Retain! • Key to shortage of Judges! • Coaches – treat judges with respect! • Give positive constructive feedback

14. Judges • Judges – treat coaches & athletes with respect • Listen • Be confident, but not arrogant! • Judges – train and mentor new officials

15. Training Opportunities • The Promotional Program for Judges is advancing. • Training Clinics for beginners/advanced: • November 8 – Windom • November 15 – Metro Area • Next Year Fergus Falls, Rochester & Metro • Specific info will be mailed to Judges

16. Rules & Policies • Minnesota Rule Modifications • - Athletic Rules and Policies Manual • Coaches – check Rules and Policies for Gymnastics • - Online – go to Gymnastics Activity page • - Click on “Rules & Policies” – under “Resources” • - Regular season & Tournament rules and policies

18. Rules and Policies

19. GYMNASTICS

20. Rule Changes Points of Emphasis Major Editorial Changes

21. Rules and Editorial Changes and Points of Emphasis • Several changes were adopted in 2006-2008 to address the advancements in our high school gymnastic programs and the improved athleticism of our gymnasts. • In the 2008-2010 rules changes the committee tackled the broad scope of the continued advancements of high school gymnastics and our gymnasts. • Overall, the changes reflect the current trends in the sport and continued objectivity in performance evaluation.

22. The rule changes and the points of emphasis focus on the following areas: Risk minimization through consistency in padding/matting requirements and adjustments to accommodate newer mats/padding. Removing skills no longer performed due to changes in equipment. Including skills which reflect the current trends in high school gymnastics. Re-codifying certain rules to reflect current trends and updating terminology. Rules and Editorial Changes and Points of Emphasis

23. Increases the number of choices of skills to fulfill the requirement of having eight skills in a routine to benefit the gymnast. Corrects illustrations and skill descriptions to accurately reflect what is being performed. Adds terms used throughout the rules to the list of definitions to enhance clarity of rules. Changes in various rules will assist when evaluating skills, awarding credit and provides greater objectivity in judging. Rules and Editorial Changes and Points of Emphasis

24. A line from the shoulders through the midpoint of the lowest body part. Determines amplitude deductions. Determines angle for awarding skill value. (Pg. 8) Angle of Lowest Body Part: Rule 1

25. Can receive BHS credit in the Bonus category if performed with 0.3 or less in E/A deductions. (Pg. 8) Bonus High SuperiorRule 1

26. The body turning/twisting and moving in the opposite direction from within a skill of value. (Pg. 8) Direction ChangeRule 1

27. MAT SIZES 36” x 36” x 1 3/8” OR 36” x 54” x 1 3/8” (Pg. 9) Hand Placement Mat(Round-Off Pad): Rule 1

28. Legs straight and extended sideward with no pike in the body. Current terminology used to describe the straddle position. (Pg. 9) Side SplitRule 1

29. National Federation Girls Gymnastics Rules book provides that: Article 1: “it is recommended all the optional exercises be evaluated by at least four judges, one of whom shall be a superior judge.” Article 2: “if it is not possible to have four acting judges at an event, it is strongly recommended that a minimum of two judges be used with one serving as the superior judge.” Rule Modifications (Rule 2-1): Continued …

30. Waiver: A waiver may be granted to a member school for specific dual meets where two judges cannot be secured for the varsity meet. A school shall contact the League Office to request a waiver before the start of such meet(s). During non-conference, non-MSHSL qualifying meets or tournaments and with the consent of all participating coaches, one judge may be assigned at an event. (Pg. 10) Rule Modification: 2-1 continued …

31. Now a 1.0 Superior Judge deduction. Penalty was reduced from a void vault. (Pg. 11) Touch with Only One Hand on Vault Rule 2-2-1

32. Gymnast may complete current performance before bleeding must be stopped and uniform cleaned or changed. Any blood on uniform requires the item to be cleaned appropriately or changed. Equipment should be cleaned of blood to prevent blood-borne diseases and skin infections. (Pg. 13 & bottom of pg. 6) Bleeding, Open Wounds, Blood on UniformRule 3-2-5

33. Casts are prohibited. Minnesota Clarification: Cast defined as “nonremovable” Hard part of the brace should be covered. (Pg. 13) Uniforms & CastsRule 3-3-6

34. If wearing a required hinged brace based on medical consult, gymnast must demonstrate limitation in range of motion to avoid execution deductions. Execution deductions due to athletic taping will be taken. Minnesota Clarification: Execution Deductions for Braces and Taping

35. Skills of a higher value replace skills of a lower value on a one for one basis. 1 HS replaces 1 S 1 S replaces 1 M BHS that has been used in a Bonus category may also be used in difficulty to replace a missing HS. Refer to Situation A & B on bottom of page 16 On page 14, 4-1A, delete “and the requirement of three superiors is fulfilled.” (Pg. 14 & 16) Scoring: Rule 4-1-2A

36. A single skill or a series of S/HS/BHS performed to the ultimate with no E/A deductions can receive 0.1 in the Bonus category. AND/OR An entire routine with full difficulty and eventrequirements performed to the ultimate with 0.5 or less in E/A receives 0.1 in the Bonus category. (Pg. 15) Bonus ClarificationRules 4-1-2E, 7-3-5, 8-3-5, 9-3-5

37. Back-to-back superiors earn 0.1 each up to a maximum of 0.2 for 2 BBS in the Bonus category. (Pg. 15) Bonus: Rule 4-1-2E

38. An extra HS/BBS/BHS can earn 0.1 in the Bonus category. NOTE: A BHS skill performed with more than 0.3 in E/A cannot be awarded 0.2 as a BHS in the Bonus category. However, it could earn 0.1 as an extra BHS in the Bonus category. (Pg. 15) BonusRules 4-1-2E, 7-3-5, 8-3-5, 9-3-5

39. A BHS performed with 0.3 or less in E/A will receive 0.2 credit in the Bonus category. An additional 0.2 may be earned for a second different BHS performed with 0.3 or less in E/A deductions. (Pg. 15) BonusRules 4-1-2E, 7-3-5, 8-3-5, 9-3-5

40. Note: A BHS that does not receive 0.2 credit in the Bonus category because it was performed with more than 0.3 in E/A, may be performed a second time and receive BHS credit if performed with 0.3 or less in E/A. A non-bonus BHS can still count in difficulty, event requirements or back-to-back superiors. (Pg. 15) Bonus continued …

41. The rule shall read: “A team’s event score is determined by totaling the best four individual scores for each team in each event. In the event of a team tie, the five individual scores per event shall be added together for the team score.” (Pg. 16) Rule Modification: (Rule 4-2-2)

42. Tie-Breaker for Section Individual Competition: In case of a tie, see the policy on the MSHSL website, “Tie-Breaker for Individual and All-Around Scoring” within the Athletic Rules and Policies Manual. Rule Modification(Rule 4-3-2)

43. The pistons/pedestal shall be padded. The penalty for vaulting without the padding is a void vault. A manufactured hand placement mat may be placed on the runway for any vault. (Pg. 19) Vaulting EquipmentRules 6-1-1, 6-1-3

44. There are 3 principal phases of the vault. First flightis the position of the suspended body from the time the feet leave the board to hand contact on the table. Repulsion is from hand contact until the hands leave the table. Second flightis the time after the hands leave the table until landing. (Pg. 19) Event RequirementsRule 6-2-1

45. Round-off entry vaults may be performed with both a salto and a twist in any flight phase. A round-off entry vault that includes both a salto and a twist in any flight phase is worth 10.0. (Pg. 20) Round-off Entry Vault With Twist & SaltoRule 6-2-5

46. Needed to update terminology. Analysis of the vault event has changed over the years. Emphasis now is to be more specific where the deductions are taken relative to the vault performed. Adds objective criteria to evaluating vaults. (Pg. 20) Rationale For Vault ChangesRules 6-2, 6-3, 6-4

47. The first flightphase focuses on deductions in body position. Repulsion is a phase of the vault – not a specific deduction. Deductions in the repulsionphasefocus on poor technique. The second flightphase emphasizes specific deductions relative to the vault performed. Landing deductions (Pg. 20) Deduction CategoriesRules 6-3, 6-4, 6-5

48. Incomplete twist up to 0.3 (same) Twisting too soon, previously up to 0.5, no longer listed as a deduction in repulsion phase Specific technique deductions: Hip angle up to 0.2 Legs separated up to 0.2 Bent knees up to 0.3 Arched body up to 0.2 Legs crossed (new) up to 0.1 (Page 21) Vertical Vaults: First Flight Phase Deductions

49. Poor technique Shoulder angle (new) up to 0.2 Arched body up to 0.2 Staggered/alternate hand placement up to 0.1 on forward entry vaults (new) Bent arms up to 0.5 Twisting too soon up to 0.3 Touch with only 1 hand on table (new) 1.0 SJ No touch on table (same) void Additional hand placements: up to 0.3 walk/hop on hands (same) (Page 21) Vertical Vaults: Repulsion Phase Deductions

50. Twisting too late (new) up to 0.5 Legs crossed (new) up to 0.1 Legs separated up to 0.2 Bent knees up to 0.3 Insufficient exactness twist (new) up to 0.1 Insufficient degree of tuck/pike/stretch up to 0.5 Insufficient height up to 0.5 Insufficient length up to 0.3 Late completion of twist (new) up to 0.3 Brush/hit body on table (new) up to 0.2 (Continued …) Vertical Vaults: Second Flight Phase Deductions