South Region WTC Competition Handbook 2017 Women s Technical Committee Regional Competition Handbook www.southwag.org.uk 1
CONTENTS Technical Committee 3 County Representatives 3 Competition Calendar 4 Rules and Regulations: General 5 Rules and Regulations: Competition Entry 8 Rules and Regulations: Ethics and Behaviour 10 Pass Marks and Qualification 11 SRWTC Competition Structure 13 Questions and Answers 14 2
SR WOMEN S TECHNICAL COMMITTEE 2017 Position Name Email Telephone Chairperson Jayne Heathcote jayneheathcote@gmail.com Vice Chairperson & Volunteer Co-Ordinator Anett Allsopp anett.allsopp@sky.com Treasurer Ruth Easterling ruth.easterling@ntlworld.com Judging Convener Sarah Fry frysarah@hotmail.co.uk Competition Laura Hartley laura@abingdongymclub.co.uk Co-ordinator Secretary Kate Peever k.peever@icloud.com Regional Coach County Representatives Berkshire: Kate Peever (k.peever@icloud.com) Buckinghamshire: Helen Winder (schools@mkgym.co.uk) and Dan Fearn (dan@wycombegymnastics.co.uk) Hampshire: Mark Gordon (15mgordon72@gmail.com) Oxfordshire: Nikki Woodward (nikki@abingdongymclub.co.uk) 3
COMPETITION CALENDER 2016 Competition Date Location Closing date Club and Regional Grades 6-1 12 th March 2017 Abingdon 28.02.2017 National Grades 4-1 and Compulsory Grades 5-3 (including practice comp for compulsory 2 and 1 & Junior & Senior British) SR Teams Comp (Including Individual qualification for Bill McLoughlin Team competition) 18 th & 19 th March 2017 Dynamo 20.02.2017 2 nd July 2017 Abingdon 11.06.2017 In Age (inc Pathways) Challenge and FIG Championships 10 th September PGC 20.08.2017 Out of Age Championships TBC (October) KD 10.09.2017 4
SRWTC COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS - General - FIG Regulations and SRWTC Rules and Regulations will be used at all SRWTC Competitions unless stated otherwise. Copies of all rules are available on the website: www.southwag.org.uk The SRWTC Competition Year 1st January 31st December 2017. Health and Safety The safety of all participants (gymnasts, coaches and officials) is the primary consideration. All BG policies and procedures will be rigorously applied with regards to health, safety, welfare and child protection. Coaches are reminded of their responsibility in relation to the safety of their gymnasts in the competition environment this will specifically include ensuring that the gymnasts are adequately prepared (physically and psychologically) for performing their routines in a competition situation. Codes of Conduct As defined by the Code of Points - infringements will be penalized as detailed in the Code. Technical Briefing Meeting Before the start of each round of a competition (as notified by the Competition Coordinator) a technical briefing will take place. The timing of this meeting will be that stated in the event programme sent out to clubs and/or coaches. Attendance is compulsory. Photography In line with British Gymnastics photography registration is no longer required for South Region events. However, the British Gymnastics Conditions for Photography at Gymnastic Events Policy remains in place and will be published and applied at South Region events. Accredited photographers may be present at South Region events and the SRWTC may publish images. By entering an event, as indicated on the entry form, there is an acceptance that the participant may be photographed and her photograph may be published. 5
No ipad s or mobile phones on the competition floor at any time. All videoing and photography must be done from the designated spectator area; photographic or video analysis cannot be used. Trophies The gymnast s club assumes total responsibility for any individual SRWTC trophy once presented. They are also responsible for its safe return before the same competition in the following year. Clubs will be required to complete a trophy slip at the end of the competition and, in the event that a trophy is not returned the following year, will be required to cover the cost of replacing the trophy. Music Music should be uploaded as part of club s online entry unless specified AND a backup CD brought to competition. Floor music must be provided on a clean and preferably new CD with the gymnast s name and competition number clearly shown on CD and box. Digital versions, i.e.mp3 will not be used. Please note that Disney, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cirque de Soleil music cannot be used for floor music - for further details refer to www.ppluk.com and www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk or refer to the British Gymnastics statement on the BG website (Membership - Downloads - PPL & PRS Statement). Competitions In order to maintain a regular competition, the SRWTC Competition Coordinator reserves the right to change the working order and/or time of commencement of competition rounds. All gymnasts must register by the advised time and remain in the competition venue. Where appropriate, only scores from legitimate county competitions may be used as qualifying scores for South Region regional competitions. Scores from other non-south Region competitions may not be used as qualifying scores. Gymnasts may have only ONE opportunity to qualify for regional competitions. Any gymnast wish to guest at a County Qualifier other than their own, must apply to the SRWTC chairperson for consideration by the SRWTC committee before submitting an entry and before the date of their own County Competition if the consideration requested is for anything except gymnast injury. Permission will only be granted by the SRWTC committee in exceptional circumstances. This will not include family holiday. Guest competitors will only be permitted at South Region competitions under exceptional circumstances and will be at the discretion of the SRWTC Committee. All requests must be submitted to the Chairperson in advance of the closing date. Requests will not be considered in event of gymnast illness or injury. In Levels competitions, the Competition Coordinator reserves the right to amalgamate Levels where only one gymnast is competing in an age group. Groups will only be amalgamated within the Level, i.e. all OOA Level 2 age groups amalgamated to make a single OOA Level 2 group. The SRWTC require that clubs entering more than 5 gymnasts in a South Region competition provide a volunteer for the competition in order to support its smooth running. 6
Tie Break In the event of a tie the FIG ruling will be used. In the event of a tie for the South Region Team travelling to a National Final, the gymnasts will be separated following an evaluation of the gymnasts E scores. Tall Gymnasts Both bars may be raised by 5cm or 10cm where a gymnast s feet touch the basic matting while she is hanging on high bar or hips touch the basic matting while she is hanging on the low bar. Where a single bar is used this may be raised so that the gymnast s feet in long hang clear the matting. The request for bars to be raised must be made with the competition entry form. The bars must be raised in accordance with FIG regulations. Unauthorized raising of the bars will be penalized in accordance with FIG regulations. Gymnasts Attire Regulations of dress are contained in the FIG Code of Points and are as follows: She must wear a correct, sportive non-transparent leotard or unitard (one piece leotard with full length hips to ankle), which must be of elegant design. She may wear complete leg coverings of the same colour as that of the leotard; under or over the leotard. Leotards may be with or without sleeves: the whole shoulder strap width to be a minimum of 2cm. The neckline at the front must be no lower than half of the sternum and at the back no lower than the lower line of the shoulder blades. The leg cut of the leotard must not extend beyond the hip bone. Teams must wear identical leotards. The wearing of gymnastic slippers and socks is optional. Gymnastic shorts are not accepted competition attire. Any bandages or support strapping the gymnasts use must be skin coloured (beige). Gymnasts must remove all jewellery during any competition. South Region Website Technical rules & updates as well as information for Coaches, Judges, Parents and Gymnasts can be found on the South Region Website at: www.southwag.org.uk Tickets Tickets for all SRWTC events will be available at the competition venue. Complaints Procedure Complaints regarding any SRWTC issue should be directed to a County Representative or the SRWTC Chairperson: contact details on page 3. 7
Eligibility SRWTC COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS - Competition Entry - Gymnasts must be at least SILVER CLUB COMPETITIVE members of British Gymnastics and must be registered with a club that is affiliated with the Southern Region in order to compete in a SRWTC competition. Silver Club Competitive level membership is required to provide the appropriate level of insurance for gymnasts to compete and is therefore for the benefit and welfare of the gymnast. The Competition Administrator will conduct a BG Membership check for each competition and the Competition Coordinator reserves the right to exclude any gymnast or club who is without the appropriate membership. Coach Requirements A coach must hold a minimum qualification of Club Coach (level 2) (cycle 6) or above in the sport specific discipline (Women s Artistic), and must hold an award appropriate to the gymnasts level of performance, to be present on the competition floor. Assistants (level 1 coaches) may be permitted on the competition floor but not in an active role, i.e. they may hold up numbers or move equipment. In order to avoid crowding the competition area, clubs are requested to provide a maximum of two coaches/assistants per competition group. Entry and Entry Fees British Gymnastics will be used for Online Competition entry for South Region. On occasion for smaller competitions entry may be directed to use email and paper entry forms. This will be advised to clubs in advance. The forms will be made available on the South Region website, where appropriate and both copies plus payment (one cheque per club) must be received by the South Region Competition Administrator and South Region Treasurer no later than the entry deadline for the competition. The email and paper copies must be exactly the same, must be typed, not hand-written and must be in Word format, not scanned. Late entry is always at the discretion of the competition organiser. Late entries may be accepted on payment of an additional 52 late fee and only on an ad-hoc basis (further late entries will not be accepted from clubs who have previously sent and/or consistently send late entries). Late entries will not be accepted more than one week after the entry deadline. With an online entry a late fee will be automatically charged. In the event that online entry is not being used, an entry is only deemed to be received when the email entry has been received by the competition organiser and the paper entry with ONE cheque per club only has been received by the treasurer. If one/both entries and/or cheque not received the entry will deemed to be late and the entry will only be accepted at the discretion of the competition organiser and after payment the late fee of 52 per competition entry and all outstanding payments have been made. Incomplete entries (missing BG numbers, missing payment etc) will be returned and will be subject to an additional fee of 15 (in addition to a late fee if applicable). The Competition Coordinator reserves the right to exclude entries for which payment has not been received by the competition date. 8
Failure to Compete Coaches should inform the Competition Coordinator as soon as they are aware that a gymnast is unable to compete. If a gymnast is unable to compete due to injury, the entry fee can only be returned on production of a Doctor or Physiotherapist certificate within two weeks of the competition date. Protests Protests should be handed to the Competition Coordinator within 15 minutes of receiving the score, and must include the gymnast s number, the declared score and the technical reason for the protest. The protest fee is 5.00 and will be returned if the protest is upheld. Gymnasts Ages The competition year runs from 1 January 31 December and a gymnast s age is regarded as the age that the gymnast will reach in the year of competition. Age groups are specified on the relevant competition information. Competition Rules Following regional guidelines, the National In Age Rules will be used for: Level 4: 9 years Level 4 Pathway: 10+ years Level 3: 10 years Level 3 Pathway: 11+ years Level 2: 11 years Level 2 Pathway: 12+ years SRWTC rules will be used for all Level 5 categories and all other level age categories. It is the coach s responsibility to ensure that their gymnast is entered in the correct Grade/level. The Competition Administrator will complete checks of entries and the Competition Coordinator may exclude a gymnast entered in an incorrect grade/level without consultation with the SRWTC. Specific SRWTC Rules and Regulations Gymnasts may only compete at ONE grade and ONE level within each gymnastic calendar year and may not swap between the In Age and Out of Age system during the competition year. Applications to the SRWTC for dispensation must be made before competition entry is sent. Applications for dispensation will not be considered once entry to a competition has been made. In line with the British Development Plan for Grades, progression along the Development Plan must be as per the Eligibility table in the British Gymnastics National Development Plan Club Grades 2015. Gymnasts may not compete both In and Out of Age during a competition year. 9
SRWTC COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS - Code of Ethics and Behaviour - The following lists the normal rules for good behaviour that should be expected in any gymnasium or at any South Region event and helps to ensure that our young gymnasts are guided in good, courteous behaviour: Coaches must ensure that long hair is tied back securely. Coaches should wear suitable attire for coaching, i.e. tracksuit, jogging trousers (not ¾ length trousers), t-shirt, polo shirt or sweatshirt. Cardigans, shorts, leggings, vest tops, crop tops and flipflops are not suitable attire. Coaches and gymnasts must ensure that they have switched off their mobile phones / ipads / tablets whilst in the competition arena. If coaches must have their phone switched on, it must not be on their person (including baggage) within the competition arena. Coaches must ensure that their language and behaviour is, at all times, appropriate to the sport, taking into account the ages of most gymnasts. Chewing gum is not permitted in training, warm-up or competition. Coaches are responsible for the behaviour of their gymnasts. Permission no longer needs to be asked from judges to leave the competition arena. However, it is the responsibility of the gymnasts to present themselves at the correct time for their routines. Please ensure that they are correctly dressed and register on time. Clubs have the responsibility for ensuring the good and courteous behaviour of their supporters at competitions. Screaming can be off-putting to competing gymnasts. Please ensure that photography and video cameras are kept in the spectator area; there is to be no filming of routines on the competition floor by coaches or other gymnasts. Spectators should treat other club s gymnasiums as they would wish their own to be treated, particularly in reference to food and drink. 10
PASS MARKS AND QUALIFICATIONS SRWTC EVENTS 2015 - Compulsory Grades - Pass Marks Compulsory 4 = 50.0 Compulsory 3 = 50.0 Compulsory 2 = 53.0 Compulsory 1 = 54.0 No specific pass mark is required for R & C. In order to represent the region in the national Finals, a gymnast must finish in the Top 4 in the South Regional Competition AND achieve a pass of 50.0 or above. This also applies to the gymnast finishing in 5th place who will be the travelling reserve. All gymnasts who score 59.0 (compulsory 4) and 56.0 (compulsory 3) or more can compete at National Finals as an individual. Pass Marks - Grade 4-1 - National Grades - Pass = 50.0 Commended = 55.0 Distinction = 60.0 No specific pass mark is required for R&C. Top 4 gymnasts plus 1 traveling reserve will make up the SR team. No individual gymnast will compete at National Finals. Pass Marks - Grade 6-1 - Club Grades - Pass = 47.5 Commended = 52.5 Distinction = 57.5 Qualification for Regional Finals Grade 6-1 = Top 3 from county qualifier AND any gymnast who scores 61.0 or more 11
- OOA Voluntary Levels - Qualification for Regional Finals Level 5 = TBC Level 4 = TBC Level 3 = TBC Level 2 = TBC Move up scores from 2016 SR Finals (list will be published on website) Level 5 = 44.0 Level 4 = 46.0 Level 3 = 47.0 Level 2 = 47.0 The following age categories will be used for OOA levels in 2016: Level 5: junior 9/10 years Level 4: junior 10-11 years / senior 12+ years Level 3: junior 11/12 years / senior 13+ years Level 2: junior 12/13 years / senior 14+ years - IA Voluntary Levels - There is no qualification for In Age gymnasts to qualify for Regional Finals. The top 4 gymnasts plus 1 traveling reserve in Voluntary level 4 and 3 will make up the SR team for National Finals. Any gymnast who scores TBC (level 4) and TBC (level 3) or higher AND competed at National Finals for the compulsory grade is eligible to compete as an individual. All level 2 gymnasts are eligible to compete nationally as long as they have previously passed Compulsory 3. If your gymnast has qualified as part of a SR team they will be entered to the National event by the Competition Organizer. For all gymnasts who have qualified for a National or Regional event as an individual; it is the CLUB S responsibility to enter these gymnasts. 12
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: Can my gymnast move up or down a level in a competition year? A: NO - gymnasts can only compete at one level during a calendar year Q: My OOA gymnast scored so highly last year that she has to move up levels this year, but has been injured and is not ready. What can I do? A: If you feel she has a good reason to stay down at her previous level, and the next level up would be unsafe for her to attempt apply to the SRWTC for dispensation to stay down. Applications for dispensation must be made BEFORE entry to county competition. Q: Can an In Age gymnast move into the OOA system? A: YES - but gymnasts can only compete at one level during a calendar year Q: Can a level 2 coach take gymnasts around a competition? A: Yes. Q: How do I apply for special dispensation or permission for matters such as above? A: Please contact the SRWTC Chairperson directly; all contact details are on page 2 of this handbook. Q: Who do I contact if I have a question relating to any of the information in this handbook or any other query? A: Your first contact should be your County Representative; they should be able to answer your query or will pass it on to the SRWTC. 14