USA Gymnastics

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USA Gymnastics
175px
Abbreviation USAG
Motto Begin Here. Go Anywhere.[1]
Formation 1963 (1963)
Type 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
Purpose Sport governing body
Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana
Membership
 more than 110,000 (more than 90,000 competing athletes)[1]
President
 Steve Penny
Main organ
 Board of Directors
Parent organization
 International Federation of Gymnastics (from October 1970)
Staff
 more than 40[1]
Website www.usagym.org

United States of America Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics) or USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Established in 1963,[1] USA Gymnastics is responsible for selecting and training national teams for the Olympic Games and World Championships. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics.[1]

The programs governed by USAG are:

The Women's Artistic program—comprising the events vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise—is by far the most well known to the public,[citation needed] with several nationally televised competitions each year. Events in the Men's Artistic program include floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar.

Women's Artistic programs

Elite

The Elite Program consists of regional and national training programs and competitions designed for athletes aspiring to represent the United States in international competition. Athletes participate at Developmental, Open, Pre-Elite, and National Team training camps. Only athletes at the National Team level are called "elite gymnasts".[2]

Annual elite-level competitions include the American Cup, U.S. Classic, and U.S. Championships, as well as multiple National Qualifying Meets throughout the year.[3] Junior and Senior National Teams are selected based on performance at the U.S. Championships. These athletes then compete at the World Championships. In Olympic years, elite gymnasts compete at the Summer Olympics.

TOPs

The Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs) seeks to identify talented female gymnasts aged 7–10 for further training up to the elite level. It consists of state and regional evaluations followed by a national test of physical abilities and basic gymnastics skills in October of each year, culminating a national training camp in December.[4]

Junior Olympics

The Junior Olympic Program provides training, evaluation, and competition opportunities to allow developing gymnasts to safely advance at their own pace through specific skill levels. Most competitive gymnasts advance through this system.

As of August 1, 2013, the levels are as follows.[5]

  • Developmental levels 1–3: the most fundamental skills performed in a non-competitive, achievement-oriented environment
  • Compulsory levels 4–5: progressively difficult skills performed competitively as standardized routines (all gymnasts at a given level perform the same routines)
  • Optional levels 6–10: progressively difficult skills performed competitively in original routines

Skills are grouped by degree of difficulty and given the letter ratings A–E, with A denoting the easiest skills. Levels 6–8 have difficulty restrictions, in that a gymnast competing at one of these levels may not attempt skills above a certain level of difficulty (for example, level 6 and 7 gymnasts may only include A and B skills in their routines). Levels 9 and 10 have no such difficulty restrictions, although level 9 gymnasts may include only one D or E skill in any single routine.[6]

In addition to demonstrating the necessary skills, gymnasts must reach a minimum age to advance to the next level. For example, level 8 and 9 gymnasts must be at least 8 years old; level 10 gymnasts must be at least 9 years old. Regardless of age, all beginning gymnasts enter the program at level 1 and may advance through more than one level per year. Competitions for gymnasts at level 7 culminate in State Championships, level 8 at Regional Championships, level 9 at Eastern or Western Championships, and level 10 at Junior Olympic National Championships.[7]

Prior to August 1, 2013, the developmental levels were numbered 1–4, the compulsory levels 5–6, and the optional levels 7–10. The old levels 1 and 2 have been combined into the new level 1; level 7 has been split into the new levels 6 and 7; and the numbering of levels 3–6 have each been shifted down one level for the new system.[6]

Xcel

The Xcel Program provides training and competition experience for gymnasts outside of the traditional Junior Olympic program. Its stated purpose is "to provide gymnasts of varying abilities and commitment levels, the opportunity for a rewarding gymnastics experience." Participants compete in individual and team competitions in Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond divisions, based on age and ability level.[8]

National teams

Board of directors

USA Gymnastics is governed by a Board of Directors that includes several famous former gymnasts. Among these are Chairman Peter Vidmar; Athlete Directors Michael Rodrigues, John Roethlisberger, and Kim Zmeskal; and Public Sector Director Mary Lou Retton.[9]

See also

References

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External links

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