• Be sure you are aware of what rules govern the level you are judging!

• Elite Program

  • International
  • Testing
• Junior Olympic
  • Compulsory
  • Optional
• Attend and participate in all clinics, whether designated for judge, coach or competitor. Being a clinic participant usually affords you the opportunity of getting "hot-off-the presses" information and a chance to discuss any interpretation of rule enforcement you may have.
• Be computer active! USA Gymnastics has an online site at www.usa-gvmnastics.org that has every meeting and decision made within the USA gymnastics family. Info specific to the women's program can be found at www.usa-gymnastics.org/women/
• Use your state and regional elected officials and benefit from their experience. Be sure you follow the path outlined in your Rules and Policies and use e-mail when possible. Links to regional and state web pages can be found at www.usa-gymnastics.org/links/frames.htm
• Participate in an active judges' meeting prior to every competition. This is a chance for everyone to ask questions, clarify misunderstandings, and "get on the same page.
• Get in a gym. Connect the rules and information you have organized with the real thing.
• Never be afraid to ask a question. Your question could be the solution for a problem someone else has. Be brave!

Efficiency Experts in Blue!!!

There are many aspects to meet efficiency and our ladies in blue can add to the success of any competition from the outset. These suggestions are but guidelines based on experience and may stimulate and encourage new steps in handling coaches, meet directors, officials and meet assistants.

1. Carry a checklist for meets and be sure the meet director has the necessary forms and supplies for the competition
2. Sanction sheet signatures: All judges sign sheet 98-99 Safety certification up to date
3. General meet format: individual gyms will vary
4. Meet Scoring system: explanation of score sheets, runners, flashers, score table averaging, score checking responsibility
5. Flashing the start value for optionals
6. Inquiry sheets
7. Instructions for timers: check watches
8. Starting times, session breaks, meal plans
9. Signing of the master score sheets
10. Judges pay sheet: vouchers

1. As meet referee, you should try to be at the coaches meeting whenever possible.

2. Welcome the coaches: at State Meets and above, extend your congratulations to the athletes who have qualified to compete.
3. Ask for questions, interpretations and any new skills.
4. Let the coaches know you are approachable and will be handling all the inquiries
5. Advise the coaches to inquire "per event" and not wait until the last event if the qualification score is going to be close. Be sure to remind them that they should have watched the routine, but should feel free to question if they are concerned about their athlete's score. Plan to assist or guide the coaches if the inquiry format is incorrect.
6. Take charge of your judges' meeting. The expectation is that the judges arrive at least half hour before the competition (earlier if films need to be reviewed)
7. Go over all the check list items.
8. Let the judges know what has been covered in the coaches meeting.
9. The panels should go out to the floor and check the seating arrangement in order to best handle their events and make any necessary changes before march in.

Meet referee and chief judge positions should be assigned  (barring affiliation problems) to the more experienced official/s. With equal qualification a decision should have been made prior to the meet. Create and offer pre-season sessions for potential chief judges and meet referees. Suggest that attendance is necessary for consideration of placement and encourage participation. These sessions can be offered at early State Meetings, congress, open board meetings and can and should be offered more than once!

Assigning Clarifications

When doing assignments most areas have a rotation. Rotations start with your highest rated officials to lowest. When assigning, start at the top and work down list of those who have appropriate rating for meet and active status turned in.

You CAN assign a judge who does not have her active status current if no one else with the appropriate rating is available. (With RTC permission)

Judges without the appropriate rating for the competition cannot be used without approval from the RTC.

One affiliated judge per panel (with the same affiliation) can be assigned.

If you have a four judge panel, you could use two affiliated judges with different affiliations on a panel.

When looking for judges to fill meets, try to look for judges within driving distance (2-3 hours) around the meet site from another state or area before flying in a judge or asking permission to use a lower rated judge.

State Meet Assignments

The most experienced, highest rated judges that are active at that level should be considered for state meet assignments first.

Try to service the judges in your state by providing opportunities for them to judge at level 9 & 10 if you know they will be needed for state meets. We want the judges experienced at that level if they will be used for state.

Judges assigned to a Regional or National Meet (J.O.) should be recommended first.

The USAG Board has to approve the judges list and could choose to make changes. The SJD can submit a list to the USAG Board, verifying active status, safety cert., etc.

The Meet Referee assigns the events. If the MR is also a CJ, the assigning official may make event assignments.

Clarification Regarding Judging, Per Diem, Mileage, Food, Rooms and Uniform

These clarifications have all risen out of situations reported to NAWGJ and USAG. Please read carefully.

1. Hotel rooms are ONLY FOR JUDGES (not relatives or friends of the judges) pg 95, R&P
2. Breakfast is NOT reimbursed for day (local) meets in which the judge travels to & from the meet site in one day. Lunch & dinner per diem WOULD be provided if on site responsibilities are 8 hours or more or if the round trip mileage is 100 miles or more. Pg 96 VI, Maximum for one day $30.00
3. If the Meet Director provides a meal NO per diem is to be paid. Just because we as judges "don't like" what was served or allergic to several items does not mean we can ask for per diem. (If a judge is allergic or has (doctor's) dietary restrictions, he/she should bring his/her own food for his/her own protection.) Page 97, R&P
4. Carpools that have been planned should remain the same so no one is left out nor left to travel alone. (Illness in the middle of a meet might cause a change occasionally.)
5. Judges who have only passed Levels 5 and 6 CANNOT judge optionals. In emergency only, a Level 5/6 who has tested Level 7/8 (and not passed) may judge Level 7/8 vault.
6. An affiliated judge MAY NOT be assigned as a Chief Judge REGARDLESS OF CERTIFICATION. Pg 87, R&P; B, 1, C.
7. A judge MUST wear the uniform for the competition as DESIGNATED IN THE CONTRACT. "Technical Handbook for Coaches & Judges," Pg 12, #20, page 15, #17 & Page 16 #8.
8. Judges must stay in their seats during the competition unless they ask permission of the Chief Judge, Technical Handbook for Coaches & Judges Page 16 #6.

Thanks for all your hard work!

Sincerely,