Virginia All Stars Optional Program

We have given PREP OPT a new name in Virginia – it will be called the “VIRGINIA ALL STARS OPTIONAL PROGRAM”.  Our goal is to provide an alternative optional program to all of our Level 4-8 JO gymnasts, High School gymnasts and recreational gymnasts.

Feedback is appreciated and can be directed to VAUSAG State Administrative Chairman, Steve Garman at vausag@aol.com.

There were corrections made after some typos and updates were found and announced at the State Meeting in October and after the first several meets of the season – please throw away old guidelines and print new ones.  Final judging clarifications were implemented after Judges Cup 2010 – Please throw away old guidelines and print new ones. Thanks!

Updates as of October 1, 2011:

Attention Members:  The 2011-2012 VA All Star Requirements & Guidelines have been finalized for the upcoming season.  Based on the VAOP Survey responses the following CHANGES have been implemented. Please see the requirements & guidelines for2011-2012 and good luck on a safe and successful competitive season.
Proposed Changes included in VAOP survey  & Results:
Proposed Change #1: Novice & Intermediate beam & floor routines will have 1 minute MAXIMUM Competition Time Limit. (Advanced will remain the same at 1 min 30 seconds for Floor and 1 min 20 seconds for Beam)
Responded – 30
Yes – 21
No – 4
Other – 5
PASSED AS FOLLOWS: over half of the yes’s had comments regarding an absolute YES for novice beam & floor times to be 1 minute MAX, but with the 11 yes’s with comments, plus the 5 other the vote really turns out to be as follows – Yes to change the Novice beam and floor times to 1 minute MAX, but NO to changing Intermediate to only 1 minute.  Many of the Yes with comments wanted 1:10 or 1:15 MAX.  Due to the fluidity of the program we will CHANGE the Novice Beam & Floor MAX time to 1:00.  The Intermediate and Advanced  Beam & Floor timing guidelines will NOT change.
Proposed Change #2: Novice Bar Requirements will include a minimum of 5 bars skills.  This includes a clarification that only 1 cast will count towards skill requirements.
Responded – 30
Yes – 20
No – 8
Other – 2
PASSED
Proposed Change #3: The Dance Passage Requirement will be reworded as follows, dance passage with a minimum of 2 Group 1 elements (directly or indirectly connected) – one a leap with 180 degrees side or cross split.
PASSED AS FOLLOWS: There was an error in the verbiage of the proposed change #3 which listed 180 degrees side or cross split.  The only change is to the wording to include (directly or indirectly connected).  All split angles will remain the same as last year’s.  Members responding agreed in the wording change.

Updates distributed at the VA State Meeting (October 2010):

1 – Extended Advanced Division Warm Up time to 1min and 30 sec per gymnast from 1 minute.
2 – Deleted  the NO Aero Board or Rebounding Device allowed in Novice and added the same statement from Intermediate and Advanced to read the following under Novice:  “Aero Board & Trampoline Device is ALLOWED, but clubs MUST bring their own to the meet.”
3 – Deleted the Full Turn from the list of Bonus Skills on Advanced Beam.
4 – Corrected the angle listed on Advanced Bars for Cast Requirements from 61-80 to 61-90 degrees.
5 – Corrected the word Acro to Elements on the Bar Clarifications for Advanced Bars item “d.”.

Updates made after the first few meets of the year (November 2010):
1 – Updated Recommendation under Timing Guidelines to read – “It is highly recommended that beam routines and floor music be 45 seconds to 1 minute in length for Novice & Intermediate Levels.
2 – Remember we will be implementing that recommendation as a rule for NEXT Year – 2011-2012 Season.
3 – One of our VA All Star coaches noticed we left off the added bonus from 2-2010 on Advanced bars of “Any 3,6 or 7 element AND Cast to Long Hang Pull Over on High Bar.”  We have added those back in to Advanced Division Bar Bonus.
4 – On the last page – VA All Star Optional Program Judging Guidelines & Clarifications – We have ADDED a rule that was inadvertently left off the updates.  #4 – “A 1.00 Deduction will be applied to any All Star Beam or Floor Routine performed with the exact choreography of the JO L1-6 Compulsory Routines.  Compulsory music MAY be used.”

Final Updates from Judges Cup – December 2010:

As a follow up from December 2010 Judges Cup regarding VAOP, here are the FINAL Judging Clarifications that were discussed and approved by both the VAUSAG State Administrative Committee and the VANAWGJ Board. There have been NO changes to any requirements.

The clarifications and updates listed are Judging Clarifications to assist our judges in evaluating our VAOP athletes routines for the remainder of the 2010-2011 Season. In addition, we have listed a timeline of released VAOP Information and official updates which have gone out so you can easily track the information distributed.

VAOP Update Timeline:
1 – 9/29/10 – 2010-2011 Guidelines Distributed to Membership via E-Mail
2 – 10/2 & 3 State Meeting – Presentation on Guidelines for VAOP
3 – 11/11/10 – Presentation from State Meeting, updates from State Meeting and Updates from 1st couple meets of year sent to membership via E-Mail.
4 – 11/15/10 – Advanced Bar Bonus Skills updated – email sent to membership.
5 – 12/21/10 – FINAL update for season from Judges Cup:
Judging Clarifications added and wording updated. Any updates/clarifications since 11/15 are highlighted in yellow and in written in RED ink on 12/21/10 publication.

VIRGINIA ALL STARS OPTIONAL PROGRAM

I.  VAOP follows the USAG Prep Optional participation guidelines to provide  an alternative Optional competitive program to serve any or all of the following athletes:

  1. Those who have competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program and have qualified to Level 7 or 8 but need a more basic introduction to optional competition.
  2. Those who have competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program at the Compulsory level and would like to experience a basic optional program during their “off” season.
  3. Athletes who have either “retired” from the Jr. Olympic Program or do not wish to train or compete at Level 7 or 8.
  4. Those who have never been involved in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program and are involved with programs/organizations that have not traditionally used the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program.

II.  GENERAL REGULATIONS FROM USAG RULES AND POLICIES FOR PREP OPTIONAL PARTICIPATION:

  1. Athletes must be registered USA Gymnastics Athlete or Introductory Athlete members
  2. In order to coach on the floor of a USAG-sanctioned PREP Optional competition, a Professional, Jr. Professional, or Introductory Coach membership is required.
  3. Since this program is an alternative program that is outside of the Jr. Olympic Development Program structure, there is NO OPPORTUNITY FOR MOBILITY into or within the Jr. Olympic Levels.
    1. If a gymnast has never competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympic Program (Levels 1-10) but wishes to compete in the P.R.E.P. Optional Program, she must register as an Introductory Athlete Member. If at a later time in the same competitive year she wishes to move to Level 4 or 5, she must upgrade her membership by submitting a regular Athlete Membership application and pay the difference in price. If a gymnast already has a regular athlete membership, she does not have to change or purchase a new membership for PREP Optional.
    2. If a USA Gymnastics Level 5 or 6 gymnast chooses to compete in the P.R.E.P. Optional Program, she must still meet the mobility requirements to advance from Level 5 to Level 6, or Level 6 to Level 7.
    3. P.R.E.P. Optional competitions must follow the current Women’s Rules and Policies in regards to the Equipment Specifications, using the compulsory competition specifications as a minimum standard.
    4. P.R.E.P. Optional competitions must be judged by USA Gymnastics officials certified at a minimum of a Level 5 rating. If Compulsory rated officials are assigned, it is recommended that they be assigned to judge with an Optional (Level 7/8 or above) rated official
      1. Local meets may be judged by a one-judge panel, provided that they have a minimum of a Level 7/8 rating.
      2. If a one-judge panel is used, it must be indicated on the officials’ contract.
    5. The rules, regulations and format used by a specific state and/or region must be published and/or posted on the internet, especially for invitational competitions that may involve participants from multiple states.

III.  Per guidelines set by USAG R&P, the VA USAG State Administrative Committee has determined the following aspects of VAOP:

  1. ELIGIBILITY/ENTRY REGULATIONS
  2. QUALIFYING PROCEDURES
  3. FORMAT, SUB-DIVISIONS, AND/OR AGE DIVISIONS
  4. DIFFICULTY – VALUE AND REQUIREMENTS
  5. MAXIMUM START VALUE
  6. EVENT REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS
  7. TIMING OF BEAM AND FLOOR ROUTINES
  8. ALLOWABLE VAULTS AND START VALUES