Notes From Nancy - 1/4/2008

REGION 8 PREP OP REGIONAL INVITATIONAL:

The FIRST Prep Op Regional Invitational will be held May 8-10, 2008 at the Bancorp South Arena in Tupelo. MS USAG was asked by a fellow coach in Alabama, Tom Reynolds of Nassers Gymnastics in Mobile, AL to inniate this event. We are indeed honored that Tom entrusted MS USAG to kick-off this exciting event. All states in Region 8 are invited. How do you combine rules from eight states for Prep Op? Many thanks to Emily Lay for spending hours studying and combining the state’s rules to create the Prep Op Regional Guidelines. The guidelines were studied by the state chairs at their annual retreat at Level 9/10 Training Camp in October. The chairs made the necessary changes and have since made a few more. The guidelines have are posted. The new guidelines will be posted by January 14, 2008. The minor changes should not affect your routines that you are now choreographing. NOW, IMPORTANT FOR MISSISSIPPI. These guidelines were adopted by the MS USAG SAC in December to replace the old guidelines. The guidelines will be used this spring for all meets. A few other states have followed suit and have adopted the regional rules. If you travel out-of-state to compete Prep Op, it is your responsibility to check which rules they are using.

A few questions and/or answers:

1. Qualifying Score? The chairs wanted eliminate a qualifying score for the first year. To attend the Prep Op Regional Invitational, a gymnast must have qualified to their state meet. Now, a question has already been asked. What if a gymnast can’t attend their state meet but qualified? She can attend the regional meet. It just says qualified. Not attend.
2. The teams will be kept together by session. This eliminates a coach being there all weekend. So, awards will be given by age division each session.
3. The same is true for team awards. Session awards will be awarded.
4. BUT, just like Level 8 Regionals, there will be team sessions. Each level from each state can participate. The top six gymnast’s scores from each level will determine the teams. Should a state not compete in the silver level, for example, they will not field a team. And, if a state opts not to participate in the team sessions, that is their prerogative, as well.
5. Custom medals will be designed for the event. Fifty percent plus one will be given for events and one hundred percent for all-around.
6. Two judges from each participating state will be the officials. Consequently, if a state does not participate, that state will not have an official. Judges in close proximity to Mississippi will fill those vacancies. The State Administrative Committee from each participating state will select their judges. The meet referee will be selected by the SACC’s from the participating states.
7. Entry fee: $85.00.
8. Gifts for gymnasts? Of course.
9. Number of gymnasts? Entries for this meet will be on a first come, first serve basis. The on-line entry form will be up for this meet by the end of January on the MS USAG website. The mail-out will be sent as well. No entries will be accepted without payment. So, when your gymnasts qualify, get your entry in asap. We do not know what to expect in the way of numbers, but some coaches think in may be quite large. DON’T GET SHUT OUT OF THIS EXCITING EVENT!

NEW IN 2008:

I can’t tell yet! The Region 8 Committee met in Orlando, FL in December. This was our first meeting with our new JO Committee Chair, Brad Harris. Brad has been very busy re-vamping the Region 8 training camp program. When committee meeting minutes are approved, the news will be released. Watch for it!

I can’t tell yet! State Clinics may become a little more exciting and enticing to attend. Again, Brad has initiated a new format to help each state conduct a more informative clinic to help our gymnasts. For those of you who do not attend clinics, whether they are state, regionals, or national, you are cheating yourself and your gymnasts. Our state clinics are free. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LEARN SO YOU CAN PASS THIS ON TO YOUR GYMNASTS AND PARENTS.

Brad also asked each SACC to submit a judge and a coach from each state to do some “legwork” for him. Whether you are a compulsory and/or optional coach, you will be receiving questions from time to time from Mary Moore and/or Emily Lay to give your feedback so Brad can make decisions based not on his opinions, but based on the opinions and needs of Region 8. Please take time to respond to these questions and/or surveys. Remember, don’t complain if you don’t take time to give your input. Otherwise, Mary and Emily will submit their combined opinions. If a meeting of the the representatives are needed, the MS USAG SAC voted to defray the cost of Mary’s and Emily’s attendance at the meeting.

LEVEL 8 REGIONAL TEAM:

Mississippi has not had the numbers to qualify to send a Level 8 team to Regionals for several years. Therefore, they have been “allowed” to compete a team, but never have been able to compete in the All-Stars divisions. Mississippi has consistently been last. After reviewing the scores over the past few years and the optional coaches voicing their disdain at being last, I took the problem to the Regional Committee. The committee voted to only allow states with the qualifying numbers to field an eight gymnast team. The states without the required numbers will send All-Stars according to the number they are allowed. Should a state have the required numbers to field a team, they will then compete an eight man team, but will probably will not have any All-Stars. Should Mississippi only have All-Stars, the MS USAG SAC will continue to provide apparel for the athletes.

SPRING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS — MARCH 2008:

No expert divisions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seeking bids from Gymnastics Parents/Booster Clubs to staff state meet. Total number needed – 12. Can be split between two clubs. Hotel and fee provided.

1. Cooking, serving, and clean-up of meals
2. Door
3. Arena floor manager
4. Awards
5. Equipment set-up and tear-down

Please remember, there are no program books with advertisements. THERE ARE Good Luck Banners available to order on-line only. These are great to display in your gym.

Deadline for orders: February 19, 2008.
Deadline for State Meet entries: February 19, 2008, Late qualifiers only: February 24, 2008.
Team awards: Little Team and Big Team. The categories are based on number of competitiors.

SACC ELECTIONS – SPRING 2008:

I have been honored to serve you in the position of MS SACC for the past eight years. Because of a very active and supportive SAC and a supportive family, MS USAG has made great strides in the gymnastics world. I plan to run for this position again in 2008. If anyone would like to nominate a person to run for this position, please send your nomination to Deb Kornegay by April 1, 2008.

LET’S SKIP A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHY? SOMETHING EXCITING IS HAPPENING IN 2010!

I can’t tell yet! But, the information will be released by February 1, 2008. The MS USAG State Committee has formulated a plan for a state clinic in 2010. Answer the following question: Do you like the open seas? Watch for the unveiling of this exciting event.