RecOp (Recreational Optional) of Western Washington is a competitive gymnastics program that provides gymnasts an environment to develop skills and abilities in gymnastics with quality training and competition experience while developing confidence and sportsmanship without strenuous costs or time commitments.
(Most Recent) 2015 Rec Opt League Annual Meeting
MINUTES*
(Amended on July 24, 2015 following additional conversation by e-mail. Please note highlighted text for amendments.)
The meeting was held on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Gymnastics East in Bellevue. The following representatives were in attendance:
Ellie Evans (Gym East/Bothell/Judge)
Keala Hopps – Bothell Gymnastics Club
Dani Okerlund – Emerald City Gymnastics Academy
Emily (?) – Emerald City Gymnastics Academy
Jessica Cruikshank – Gym Star Sports Center
Alis Tortorelli – Gym Start Sports Center
Anne Konen – Gymnastics East
Norton Schimke – Gymnastics East
Christina Hart – Hart’s Gymnastics
David Hart – Hart’s Gymnastics
Katie Plowman – Bainbridge Island Gymnastics
Emily Clark – SGA Lake City
Laura Dausner – SGA Lake City
Noah Larsen – SGA Lake City
Katie Ward – SGA Ballard
Liana McNallan – SGA Ballard
Karissa Crawford – Edmonds Illusions
Savannah Steinman – Edmonds Illusions
Recap of Last Season: Overall it was a great season. There were some early judging issues but those were resolved by midway through the season and the rest ran quite smoothly. There were several things that stood out as positives from the last season. We generally have more experienced judges and the result is faster and more consistent judging. This is really helpful in keeping meets running smoothly. Splitting the very large number of Intermediate athletes into three sessions instead of just two worked really well at state and is recommended for the coming year. Sessions were shorter and more efficient. Benefits included happier spectators, easier parking and seating, fresher judges, happier judges who got paid for 3 sessions instead of two for the same number of gymnasts. It also worked very well to have two competition/warm-up beams that the judges could switch back and forth from. It eliminated the need for “one touch” warm-ups and kept things flowing much more quickly and efficiently. It is recommended that any gym that can possibly set up this way for meets do so in the upcoming season.
Judging/Routine Criteria: We reviewed the areas of confusion last year and worked to clarify requirements for the upcoming season with the intent to continue to balance simplicity and consistency in the code and clear direction without getting too bogged down in details. Several issues were discussed and voted on:
The issue of kids who climb up onto the low bar in order to jump to the high bar (and earn the higher start value of a two rail routine). After much discussion about various ways to handle this it was decided that athletes MUST cast squat on the low bar in order to move to the high bar. If there is no squat on and the athlete climbs up before moving to the high bar, the high bar portion of the routine is void and judging will stop at the point of the last element on the low bar. Athletes who attempt a squat on and miss it are free to complete a single rail routine and be judged accordingly.
Minimum score awarded. The minimum score has varied from 5.0-6.0 over the years and currently sits at 6.0. It was voted on to move the minimum score back to 5.0 for the 2015-16 season. An unfinished routine must be 50% or more completed in order to be eligible to receive the minimum score (or higher). Routines less than 50% completed (based on how many requirements are met) that do not finish will be voided and given a score of 0.
There was an issue with the leap requirement on both beam and floor this past season. The original requirement was for a split leap, but the word split had been omitted in the judging criteria document somewhere over the couple of years. The requirement was discussed, particularly the issue of “stagging” into the leap or just plain doing a stag leap. After some discussion, the original intent was kept. The requirement will now read Split Leap (instead of just Leap) for both beam and floor with the clarification that the leap MUST lead in with a straight leg. Acceptable variations include both side leap and switch leap with the same straight leg lead requirement.
There was discussion about what constitutes connection on a leap/leap or leap/jump series (not a requirement, but commonly executed by Advanced Division athletes to earn bonus value). It was determined that a direct connection (no steps or rebounds), single step or single step to assemble’ will all be considered “connected” and will earn the connection bonus if between two other bonus skills. A chasse’ is NOT connected and will not receive the connection bonus even if executed smoothly between two bonus skills.
A handstand on beam MUST hit vertical with legs together in order to meet the acro skill requirement. There is no time requirement for holding the handstand, and after hitting vertical the legs may move to a split or stag position and still receive credit for the skill.
The deduction for a missing required element was changed from .4 to .5.
The turn requirement was clarified to specifically require a 1 footed turn in forward coupe’ or passe’ position and must step out to the front in order to receive credit. A “heel snap” entry to the turn does meet the requirement.
The Intermediate tumbling pass requirement on floor was amended to requiring two different connected flight skills in at least one of the passes. The other pass may still consist of a single flight skill. The two passes must be “different” but something as small as landing position can meet the requirement for differentiation (for instance “step out” vs “double down”.). A composition deduction MAY be taken if the two passes are too similar.
Novice athletes will now be given and actual score on each event, not just a scoring range ribbon.
Stretch Jumps are no longer allowed in either a mixed series on floor OR a jump series on floor. This includes their variations (twisting stretch jumps). Stretch jumps will continue to be allowed in jump series on beam.
Handstand flat back vaults are NO LONGER ALLOWED IN INTERMEDIATE COMPETITION. Only Novice athletes may compete a HS Flat back vault. Intermediate division athletes may compete a front handspring or front handspring/1/2 twist off vault.
It was suggested that judges write a clarification on each score card that does not give full start value in order to lessen the number of inquiries done to find out why the start value is lower. However after some discussion, it was decided that would put an undue burden on the judges and substantially slow the flow of the meet. We will leave it as it is.
Meet Structure/Guidelines for Hosting Meets:
Awards were discussed with the end result being no change from last season’s requirements. All host gyms are asked to have the podium placements clearly marked on BOTH sides so that athletes will more easily go to the correct spot for their award, which will help awards proceed more smoothly. There was some discussion about possibly not placing athletes in the AA category unless they had actually competed all four events. It was decided to go ahead and place all athletes in AA regardless of if they competed all events or not because for one thing some kids who compete only 3 events still earn a higher AA score than some kids who compete 4, and also it will slow down awards and create more potential errors to try and eliminate those who competed fewer than 4 events.
Due to larger overall numbers in the Rec Opt league, time constraints that vary by gym as to how many sessions they can fit into a weekend hosting and the fact that not all teams include Novice division athletes, it will be up to each gym hosting to offer a Novice session or not. There is no obligation to do so. Teams with Novice divisions may host Novice only meets if desired. When Novice sessions are included along with Intermediate and Advanced, the Novice session should be either the very first session of the weekend or the very last. This will eliminate the need for coaches from gyms without a Novice division to “kill time” (generally UNPAID time” between sessions at meets.
Regarding athletes who “cannot compete” in their regularly assigned session due to “religious reasons” (or “school reasons” or for WHATEVER reason): Basically there were several athletes last year who did not compete on Sundays all season due to “religious reasons” but then all of a sudden could compete on a Sunday at state. If athletes do not compete on Sunday during the regular season, they may not compete on Sunday at the state meet. During the season, athletes who must compete outside of their regularly assigned session, may be allowed to compete at an alternate time on an exhibition basis only and only at the discretion of the host gym. They will not be eligible for awards/placements. They may be recognized at the discretion of the host gym. Coaches need to inquire with the host gym ahead of time about making such arrangements.
Athletes must compete in THREE regular season meets in order to be eligible to compete at State. Athletes that competed at least twice in the regular season, but fewer than three due to a legitimate injury or illness may be considered on a case by case for eligibility at the state meet.
Meet Fees/Admission Fees/ Judges Pay: Meet fees will remain at $30 per athlete per regular season meet and up to $40 per athlete for state. Admission Fee (“gate fee”) for spectators will remain at $3-5 per person. Judges pay will remain at $60 per session. Bonuses may be paid to judges at the discretion of the host gym. Gym East generally pays a bonus to judges who commit to every session or at least all of the Intermediate/Advanced sessions. Breaking the Intermediate division down into three sessions instead of two basically gives the judges a 30% pay increase anyway. Well worth it to have happy judges!
Judging Clinic: Gym East will host a judging clinic in September. Date TBD.
2015/16 Meet Schedule: Our season will again begin in October. This has been the case for several years now and all gyms should be ready to start participating in October. Here is the meet schedule for the upcoming season:
October 24/25th – At Gymnastics East (no Novice Division)
November 14th/15th – At Bothell Gymnastics Club
December 5th/6th – At Hart’s Gymnastics
January 9th/10th – At SGA Columbia City
February 27th/28th – At Gym Star Sports Center
March 12th/13th – State Meet hosted by Emerald City (site TBD)
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Konen
Gymnastics East
**ANNOUNCEMENTS**
Recreational Optional of Western Washington 