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CLARIFICATIONS OF NCAA 2006 RULES FOR JUDGES

(drafted 12/20/05 by Carole Ide, President, NAWGJ)

As the start of the 2006 NCAA season approaches numerous questions have been directed to myself and the NCAA Committee in regard to the application of the new rules. I will do my best clarify those areas of concern (although I am not a NCAA spokesperson) and pass along information I have received. The NCAA Committee Chair has reviewed this document.  Following these clarifications is an excerpt from the NCAA Committee meeting which addresses the philosophy and reasons for the modifications.

ELEMENT VALUES

There are specific element value modifications under NCAA rules.  Please see the entire document to obtain these modifications.  The vault values are different and there are different element values on every event.  Example: A front pike salto on Floor is an “A” value, different from the JO Code.

APPLICATION OF COMPOSITIONAL DEDUCTIONS FOR ALL EVENTS

"All rules and guidelines for execution and compositional deductions as applied to the USAG-JO program (Level 10) will be used with the following collegiate modifications/clarifications…” (Download complete rules at  www.ncaa.org)  This document lists the NCAA Special Requirements and Compositional Deductions in total, rather than in addition to, the JO Requirements.  No other Special Requirements or Compositional Deductions are applicable to NCAA unless listed in the NCAA document.  In all other cases the deductions / values modify, supplement or replace the specific JO rules.

The meaning of this statement refers judges to the NCAA document which lists only the deductions that should be applied at NCAA meets.    Judges should use only the compositional deductions listed in the college rules.  It is not meant that both sets of (JO and NCAA) compositional deductions are to be applied.

From Mike Lorenzen, President of the NACGC/W:

         In regard to special requirements and composition issues, the list of collegiate modifications is exhaustive, meaning they replace/ substitute for the JO version and contain all the special requirement and composition information needed to compete and judge under NCAA rules for the 2006 season.

Example: 

Floor Exercise:  There is No full turn requirement for NCAA.  This composition requirement is NOT included in the collegiate modification list it because is NOT applicable.  It is not a special requirement and it is not listed as a compositional deduction in the NCAA modifications. There is a special requirement of a Dance series with a minimum of two (2) elements (leaps, jumps, hops, or turns) one element valued at a “C” or higher.  A turn MAY be included in the Dance series.

In regard to execution deductions, skill values, bonus and connective  values, the JO rules act as the foundation document but are SUPERCEDED by the collegiate rules.  In other words, any skills that are valued higher or bonus rules that differ for collegiate gymnastics are listed in the collegiate modifications document and overrule the information in the JO document. For example, the value of and deductions for Healy elements are specified in the bars section of the 2006 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Rules document and supercede whatever is included about Healy’s in the JO code.

CHOICE OF ELEMENTS NOT UP TO THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL –

This refers to Day 1 of NCAA National Championships – The NACGC/W is planning on a video stream or DVD presentation which will be available to give examples from Day 1 competition. When you have the opportunity to view this understand that the skills presented are examples only.  This is an effort to give all NCAA judges the opportunity for skill comparison since everyone does not have the experience of being at the competition.  As an official your judgment and experience are valuable tools.  The skills listed are for comparison only. The written rules document always supersedes examples as all examples cannot be included.
 

VAULTING
 

  • Clarification – The gymnast will be afforded three attempts to go over the table one time. Touching the board and/or the table counts as one of the three attempts. 

If an athlete approaches the table, takes off from the board but hits the table and does not actually execute a recognizable vault but slides across the table that would NOT be a zero as a final score but would allow her the opportunity to execute another vault attempt of her three.   If a gymnast passes through an inverted position on the horse that would be the attempt that would receive a score. 

All execution deductions apply that are listed in the JO Code.

UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS
 

  • CHOICE OF ELEMENTS NOT UP TO THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL   - up to .1

Consider: the type of release skill, the amplitude and execution of the skill, the direct connection with other release elements and/or other elements of higher value, the total number of release elements in the exercise above the minimum requirement.

(This refers to Day 1 of NCAA National Championships – The NACGC/w is planning on a video stream or DVD presentation available to give examples from Day 1 competiton)

ELEMENT VALUES DIFFERENT FROM LEVEL 10: HEALY SKILLS

Giant 1/2 turn (blind) + 1/1Healy (any direction) = D (same as JO Level 10)

All other elements that include a 1/1 (360 degree) turn completed on one arm after handstand phase in the descent phase (Healy technique) = D (listed below)

  • 2.301 Cast Healy 

  • 2.303 Uprise Healy

  • 3.305 Clear Hip Healy     

  • 4.303 Back Giant Healy

  • 5.302 Front Giant Healy

  • 6.301 Front Stalder Healy

  • 6.304 Back Stalder Healy

  • 7.308 Front Sole Circle Healy

  • 7.309 Back Sole Circle Healy

These values are the same as last season. Refer to page 58 of the JO Code of Points for a complete technical description of a 360-degree turn on 1 arm to an L or mixed L (Healy technique).
BALANCE BEAM

  • CHOICE OF ACRO ELEMENTS NOT UP TO THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL UP TO 0.2

This refers to Day 1 of NCAA National Championships – The NACGC/W has   planned a video stream or DVD presentation which will be available to give examples from Day 1 competition.
 

FLOOR EXERCISE
 

  • CHOICE OF ACRO ELEMENTS NOT UP TO THE COMPETITIVE LEVEL  UP TO 0.2 

This refers to Day 1 of NCAA National Championships – The NACGC/W has   planned a video stream or DVD presentation which will be available to give examples from Day 1 competition.

 

MEET CONDUCT

  • OPEN SCORING AND START VALUE

    1. Open scoring will be used during the regular season, regional competition and national championship.
    2. Judges are to sit apart. 
    3. All scores will be flashed simultaneously and rotated, but only the average score will be raised and rotated. 
    4. All start values will be flashed simultaneously as well as all scores will be flashed simultaneously. 
    5. Score verification procedures will be in place at regionals and each day of competition at nationals.  Scores are to be verified off the competitive floor.
    6. Reminder:  The allowable score range between the two counting scores follows JO guidelines.
       

  • UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

 The following procedures may be executed by any panel judge, chief judge or the meet referee (MR) and will appear as a neutral deduction on the score sheet

1.      Gymnasts unsportsmanlike conduct:

a.      1st time will be a warning (MR is notified)

b.      2nd time the MR is notified and there will be a .10 deduction taken from the gymnasts’ score for that event by the MR or chief judge.

2.      Coach unsportsmanlike conduct:

a.       1st time will be a warning -- yellow card (MR is notified) 

                                                                          i.      (JUDGES SHOULD CARRY THEIR OWN YELLOW CARD)

3.      b.   2nd time MR is notified there will be a .10 deduction taken from the team     score by the MR for each violation

  •  VIDEO REVIEW

The following is an experimental rule for the 2005-06 regular season and will not be used during the NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Regionals or Championships.  The video review rule will be evaluated at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season to determine future application.

In the event that an inquiry response is unsatisfactory to the coach, videotape may be used for the purpose of review under the following conditions:
 
1. Each team is allowed one review per meet.

2. The institutional team video must be used for the review.

3. A review that is denied would result in a .3 deduction from the team score.

4. All reviews must be specific to the performance or nonperformance of a particular skill, combination of skills or neutral deductions (i.e., out of bounds)

5. Reviews may not be used to evaluate a question of execution deductions.

6. The review must be submitted to the meet director within 5 minutes following the conclusion of the meet.

7. The coach requesting the review must provide a signed Video Review Request Form (VRRF), queued video and team camera to the meet director. The meet director will be responsible for delivering this information to the meet referee and event panel for their review. The coaches may not be present during the review.

8. Reviews must be conducted in the presence of the meet referee and the event panel. If the meet referee is on the panel, the next highest rated official must participate. A simple majority of the review panel will determine success or failure of the review. If the review fails, judges may not change their scores, but 0.3 will be deducted from the team score. If the review is successful, the score will be adjusted accordingly.

9. The results of the review will be noted on the VRRF by the meet referee and returned to the meet director who will take the VRRF to the score table. The official score will be adjusted (up or down). Then the judges will sign the official score sheet and the meet director will deliver the VRRF to the coach.

10. Decisions rendered by the judges’ review panel are final and cannot be overturned.

Ci 12/05
 

MISCELLANEOUS

It is the judge’s responsibility are to monitor their JAS assignments.  Every attempt is made to assign a judge only twice at home and twice while on the “road”.  There are needs in some areas that do not allow this principle to be followed.  If you become aware that you are seeing a school more that the advisable number of competitions  please notify the assigner or Carole Ide.

The evaluation of intersquad meets is NOT part of the above quota.  Judges are advised that an intersquad should be judged the same as a regular season meet.  Judges are not to have conversations with the athletes during an intersquad or “practice meet”.

Judges are encouraged to view the NAWGJ DVD presentation but not required to do so for the 2006 competitive season.  The NACGC/W is very close to completing a second video stream /DVD.  It is the hope that this will be available on-line.  It will address those clarifications made since the NAWGJ DVD was produced.

NCAA WEBSITE INFORMATION: THE COMPLETE NCAA RULES DOCUMENT, INCLUDING VAULT VALUE CHART IS ACCESSIBLE AT:

www.NCAA.org       

Look under KEY LINKS: Click on “Winter Sports”,  Click on Gymnastics (W) in right column,  scroll to Championships Documents and Forms,  scroll down to WOMEN’S and Click on desired document  :

2006 Rules                               2006Vault Chart                                   2006 Judges Rating Form
2005 Summary of Actions        Routine Summary Form                        Scoresheet 

The following is an excerpt from the minutes of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastic Committee dated July 13, 05.

USAG changed the Level 10 rules for 2005-06.  After reviewing what is known of the new USAG rules, it is apparent that collegiate modifications continue to be necessary.

The NCAA committee embraced the following philosophies as we discussed modifications:

  1. The rules and the collegiate modifications must be applied consistently during both regular and post season competition.
     
  1. The rules and collegiate modifications must be appropriate for Divisions I, II and III.
     
  1. Significant modifications to the USAG Level 10 rules need to be based on a well-understood and consistent philosophy and/or set of goals for the collegiate program.  Since adequate discussion by the coaches is critical to consensus building, minimal changes were made for the 2005-06 season.
     
  1. Exceptional routines must include both high-level skills and bonus combinations.
     
  1. The rules should allow for some separation between routines, which meet minimum requirements/difficulty, and those, which exceed the minimum requirements/difficulty.
     
  1. The “competitive level” referenced in the composition requirements must be defined in order to establish the parameters for this separation between routines.  In addition, the “competitive level” was defined to establish the desired consistency throughout the regular season, regionals and championships.  Therefore, the committee felt obligated to define the “competitive level,” and defined a “competitive level” benchmark.  The committee established the following statement:  “The competitive level is defined as the level at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Team Championship Day 1 competition.”  The president of NAWGJ expressed that this concept can be effectively communicated in educational programs to prepare judges for the 2006 season.

After vigorous and lengthy discussions, the NCAA committee has established the 2006 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Rules document.  To provide clarity, the document includes the special requirements and specific compositional deductions in total, instead of simply including those areas where the collegiate program differs from USAG Level 10 rules.  We have italicized the portions of the rules, which differ from the new USAG Level 10 rules to assist judges in noting the distinctions.  In addition to the collegiate rules on each event, the NCAA committee also enacted unsportsmanlike conduct deductions and a process for video review, which are included in the document under “Additional Collegiate Rules.”

In summary, above all, be consistent in your application of the NCAA rules. Apply the rules in the same manner from intersquads to early season meets through senior nights, conference & NCAA finals. The rules are to be applied at the D 1, D2 and D3 levels, across the board, in the same manner.  Hence, the deduction for Day 1 of NCAA team competition applies to all universities and college, regardless of the division.