2006-07 Girls Gymnastics Rules Interpretations

2006-07 GIRLS GYMNASTICS RULES INTERPRETATIONS

Rules Book Changes:

Pages 10 and 21, Rules 2-2-1b(12g) and 6-5-3e, change (See page 82) to (See page 81); page 15, Rule 4-1-2E(2), delete "an" and add "s" to high superiors and back-to-back superiors"; page 19, Rule 6-1-7, revise to read, "A manufactured spotting block may be used." Delete "not"; pages 26 and 48, Rules 7-1-3a and 8-1-3a, delete second sentence. "The top landing mat shall be secured to prevent slippage"; page 67, Rule 9-1-3, last sentence, delete "except to place/remove mat(s) on or near the boundary line"; page 97, FE scoresheet under Event Requirements add "Tu-Dn-Tu/Dn-Tu-Dn _____."

SITUATION 1: A gymnast does a squat onto the LB; jump to swing forward, counterflight to straddle back on bars. Judges deduct 0.3 for an extra swing. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: The swing forward is required in order to perform the counterflight back over the LB. [Rules 1, 7-4-4(10)]

SITUATION 2: A judge, in the competitive area, answers her cell phone that has been set to vibrate instead of ring. RULING: Answering a cell phone that vibrates is "using" a cell phone and is illegal. (2-1-5)

SITUATION 3: The superior judge, while inspecting equipment, finds that the vaulting table does not have the required 3-degree slant. Although each gymnast will adjust the height of the table, the superior judge notifies the meet director that the 3-degree slant of the table top must be maintained throughout the meet. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The superior judge has the responsibility to check equipment specifications before competition begins. The vaulting table must have the 3-degree slant, so the pistons must be set on the same number. The height of the table is always measured from the floor to the center top of the vault table. (2-2-1a, 6-1-1)

SITUATION 4: The superior judge arrives 30 minutes prior to scheduled competition and inspects equipment to verify specifications. The SJ notices that the working landing area for the balance beam is setup with various combinations of mats with total thickness of 15 inches; however, the mat second down from the top mat is wider than the mat underneath it. RULING: Illegal equipment set-up. COMMENT: The superior judge shall notify the meet director to have the mats arranged so no mat is wider than the mat underneath it unless there is a mat at least 4 inches thick directly on top of the base mat. (Rules 2-2-1; 8-1-3)

SITUATION 5: A gymnast has lost her hair during treatment for cancer. She has been cleared to compete in gymnastics so her coach writes to the state high school association for permission for her to wear a secured head covering over her head during competition. The state high school association sends her a letter of permission. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: This situation is consistent with the intent of Rule 3-3-5. Decisions such as these are left up to the individual state association.

SITUATION 6: A gymnast performs a 45-degree pike jump series on balance beam. Later in her routine, she performs another 45-degree pike jump. The judges award two high superiors and one back-to-back superior for the series. The third 45-degree pike jump does not receive difficulty credit. RULING: Correct procedure. (4-1-2A; 8-4-4)

SITUATION 7: A gymnast has a full difficulty routine with all the event requirements and two extra high superiors. The judges award 0.2 in Bonus for extra high superiors. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: There is only 0.1 bonus available for extra high superiors and/or back-to-back superiors. (4-1-2E, 2)

SITUATION 8: A gymnast has a full difficulty routine with all the event requirements that includes one bonus high superior and three back-to-back superiors. The judges award 0.5 under Bonus. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The bonus high superior receives 0.2 bonus provided it is performed with no more than 0.3 execution deduction; 0.2 is awarded for the first two back-to-back superiors and 0.1 for the extra back-to-back superior. (4-1-2E 2, 3, 4)

SITUATION 9: During the state meet, there is a tie for first place on the floor. The tie shall be broken according to the tie-breaker rule. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: The tie shall stand unless state association rules determine otherwise. (4-3-2)

SITUATION 10: A gymnast ap-proaches a judge between routines to inquire about why a specific deduction was taken. A deduction of 0.5 is taken from her score. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: The deduction is 1.0 for questioning or attempting to influence a judge's decision and/or making an unauthorized approach of a judge. NOTE: Only one penalty shall be assessed per infraction. (5-2-4c, d)

SITUATION 11: On vault a coach places a manufactured "hand placement mat" on the runway (not on the board). RULING: Legal. COMMENT: This specialized mat is an acceptable replacement for a sting mat on the runway. (6-1-3d)

SITUATION 12: A coach stands on two folded panel mats placed along the side of the vaulting table to serve as the required spotter for a round-off entry vault. RULING: Legal. COMMENT: The use of manufactured spotting block(s) or folded panel mat(s) for spotting on vault is now legal. However, a folded panel mat cannot be placed on top of a spotting block because it would be an unstable surface for a coach to stand on. (6-1-7)

SITUATION 13: A coach stands between the board and the vault table, breaking the plane of the table but not touching the gymnast. Judges deduct 0.5. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: There is no longer a deduction for the coach standing between the board and the vault table. If the coach spots the gymnast, a 0.5 deduction is taken for the spot. (6-5-2)

SITUATION 14: A gymnast will be executing a round-off entry vault for the first time in competition. Her coach tells the acting judges that the gymnast will have a coach serve as a spotter in both the preflight and after-flight. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: It is a requirement for all round-off entry vaults to have a coach as a spotter. It is legal to have two spotters. Although not required to alert judges to the use of two spotters, this courtesy helps avoid confusion and allows competition to proceed smoothly. (6-2-2)

SITUATION 15: Throughout the vaulting competition in a large meet, the gymnasts have had a coach present to spot when executing round-off entry vaults. The last vault for a gymnast will be a round-off entry vault. Her coach has been called away for a problem and is not present to spot. The gymnast wants to proceed, but the judge will not permit her to vault until a spotter is present. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The spotter for the round-off entry vaults is required for risk minimization. Competition is not allowed if the requirement is not met. If the judge believes the team took too much time in getting the spotter in place, the superior judge may deduct 1.0 from the gymnast's average score for delay of meet. If for some reason the gymnast executed the vault due to the judge not realizing a spotter was not present, the vault is a void vault. It is the gymnast's and coach's ultimate responsibility to be certain all event requirements are met. (6-2-2; 6-2-5b)

SITUATION 16: During a gymnast's performance of a handspring vault, one coach stands between the board and the vault table and another coach is standing on the landing mat. In (a) neither coach touches the gymnast; in (b) a coach facilitates the preflight of the vault; in (c) both coaches facilitate the vault. RULING: In (a) no deduction; (b) a 1.0 neutral deduction is taken; (c) a 2.0 neutral deduction is taken. (6-5-2 c, d)

SITUATION 17: The superior judge notices that after the bars are set for the next competitor, the black mark designating the minimum height of the LB is not visible. The judge informs the gymnast that the LB must be raised to the required minimum height. RULING: Correct procedure. (7-1-2)

SITUATION 18: The superior judge notices during the gymnast's routine that the red mark on the high bar designating the maximum height for the HB is visible above where the HB is set. The superior judge takes a 2.0 deduction from the gymnast's average score for exceeding equipment specifications. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: It is ultimately the responsibility of the gymnast or coach to not alter or exceed equipment specifications. (7-1-1; 7-3-7l)

SITUATION 19: The meet referee, upon inspection of the equipment, discovers that a 6 foot-wide landing mat is the only mat available to place between the supports of the bars. RULING: The bars event cannot be conducted until mat extenders are attached to the 6-foot mat or a 7½-foot landing mat is found. (7-1-3d)

SITUATION 20: What difficulty is awarded for the following dismounts from the bars: (a) Clear back hip circle through clear support to back salto dismount; (b) clear back hip circle through the handstand position to back salto dismount? RULING: (a) Two superiors and one back-to-back superior; (b) two high superiors and one back-to-back superior. COMMENT: (a) A clear back hip circle to clear support is a superior [7-4-2 (2)]. A clear back hip circle to handstand is a high superior [7-4-2 (3)]. A back salto is a superior, but a handstand back salto dismount is a high superior [7-4-8(35)]. For greater clarity, back salto dismount can be placed in the 7-4-9 (34) box of the rules book.

SITUATION 21: A gymnast mounts from a board placed on an 8-inch mat. The superior judge deducts 2.0 from her score for exceeding equipment specifications. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: If the judges notice this prior to the gymnast beginning her routines, she would be advised that she cannot mount from a board placed on more than 6 inches of matting. (8-1-5, 8-3-7m)

SITUATION 22: Back-to-back superior credit is awarded for performing a directly connected handstand step down to back handspring on the beam. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: A medium tumbling element that passes through the vertical directly connected to a superior tumbling element with flight will receive BBS credit when performed on the beam. It would also receive tumbling series credit. (8-2-6)

SITUATION 23: A gymnast performs a 45-degree pike jump directly connected to a 90-degree pike. Later in her routine, she performs a 45-degree pike jump. The judges award two high superiors, two superior and a back-to-back superior for these skills. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The first pike jump series is a HS + S, which is BBS. The single pike jump is a HS. (8-4-4; 4-1-2A)

SITUATION 24: A gymnast performs a very simple beam routine demonstrating great artistic presentation. The judges award 0.1 under Composition. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: To promote more artistic high school routines, 0.1 is specified in the Artistry and Choreography portion of Composi­tion for artistic presentation on balance beam and floor exercise. (8-3-3c, 9-3-3c)

SITUATION 25: A gymnast sets her board to mount the beam and bounces on it a few times to check its placement. A deduction of 0.5 is taken by the superior judge for an extra warm up. RULING: Incorrect procedure. (Points of Emphasis)

SITUATION 26: A gymnast performs dance moves on the floor that are suggestive and inappropriate. A deduction of 0.1 is taken each time. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: This falls under projection (lack of elegance/poor appearance). (9-3-4c)

SITUATION 27: A gymnast includes the following tumbling pass in her floor routine: front salto step out, round-off, back handspring, back layout. The judges give her credit for a back-to-back superior. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: On floor exercise, the superiors, high superiors and/or bonus high superiors may be included in a continuous, uninterrupted tumbling pass, but do not have to be directly connected. (9-3-5c)