Until February 15, 2012, USA Gymnastics Professional members can take a survey and make their preferences known about certain aspects of the JO program. Here is the link for the overview summary of the compulsory and proposed optional programs.
Level Changes
Everyone is going to have to make a mental adjustment to the new levels. There are actually now 11 levels, instead of ten. Level 6 will now be a beginner optional level, instead of a compulsory level, so there are now five compulsory (and one pre-competitive level) and five optional levels. This has stretched the optional system from four levels to five (Levels 6 – 10). Evidently ten of the levels, instead of the current eight levels will be competitive levels (although competition is not mandatory until Level 4) further expanding the USAG membership rolls and financial coffers (not that that is a bad thing).
The Compulsory Program is Already Established and Set
The compulsory program is already done, and in the box, as far as skills, routines and scoring, but a few decisions are still being made. The real potential changes, for the compulsory levels remaining, are with any changes to the mobility scores, but also if gymnasts should be able to skip levels (potentially including compulsory levels).
Should Gymnasts be Allowed to Skip Levels?
One of the potentially large area for change asked about in the survey is whether gymnasts should be allowed to skip levels. There was a time when coaches were allowed to decide what level their gymnasts should compete at, without having to go through all the levels. There are many reasons for a coach to consider when placing gymnasts at a level, other than previous gymnastics scores. Allowing gymnasts to skip levels would bring the control of what level a gymnast competes back to coaches, gymnasts and parents.
Potential Optional Level Changes
There is already a proposed structure for the optional levels regarding value parts, start values and difficulty restrictions, but feedback is still being taken on areas of those aspects. Allowed vaults and special requirements have not yet been determined or at least released and no deductions are determined or released. Feedback is being solicited on special requirements.
Should Level 10 Keep Bonus System
There is already a huge disconnect between the JO system and the Elite levels, in that there are so few gymnasts prepared to compete at the Elite level. The decision on this question will affect how integral the optional system will be in producing Elite gymnasts or if coaches, gymnasts and parents will be on their own to prepare to compete Elite.
Changes to Any Skill Difficulty Restrictions
As most coaches know, gymnasts learn at different rates and learn different skills and skill categories at different rates. This class of question has to do with whether gymnasts should be allowed to compete skills they can already safely do, regardless of what skill difficulty rating the skill currently has or is allowed for that level. Are gymnasts going to be allowed to perform the skills they can best do or are they going to continue to be restricted?
Discuss, Consider and Fill Out the Survey
There is less than a month to respond to the survey. No one knows how much weight the survey will hold, but this is a unique opportunity for coaches to give their input and every knowledgeable coach should take advantage of this chance to influence the next gymnastics quadrennium.
We actively solicit comments and questions. This is a discussion that needs to be thorough.
Related posts:
- Sandbagging or Well Organized Training Program
- Compulsory Gymnastics Training
- Optional Gymnastics
- Definition: Competition 1A
- Jumping from Level 5 to Level 7
