USAG WA STATE HANDBOOK
(updated 1-10-12) Printable pdf

A. STATE INFORMATION

1. Introduction

2. State Board Members

3. Duties of the Board

4. Election Procedures

5. Committee Meeting Dates

6. Web Site

7. State Clinic
    a. State Awards Banquet
    b. Coaching Staff of the Year
    c. State Hall of Fame

B. WASHINGTON COMPETITION INFORMATION

1. Competition Calendar
2. Reporting Meet Results
3. Request For Judges
4. Championship Meet Bids
5. Meet Directors - Verification of Memberships Online for Sanctioned Events
6. Selection of State Meet Judges

C. WASHINGTON STATE QUALIFIER MEETS AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. Washington State Qualifier Meets and State Meets Fall and Spring
2. Dates and Locations for State Qualifier Meets and State Meets
3. Dates For Qualifying, Determination Dates for State Qualifier Meets and State Meets 2011-2012
4. Levels 4 Sectional Team Meet

A. STATE INFORMATION

1. Introduction  
2. State Board Members 
3. Duties of the Board  
4. Election Procedures
5. Committee Meeting Dates
6. Web Site
7. State Clinic    a. State Awards Banquet   b. Coaching Staff of the Year   c. State Hall of Fame

1. INTRODUCTION

The USAG Washington Handbook is intended to clarify those areas left to state discretion by the USAG Rules and Policies and to clarify local procedures to implement the rules. This handbook will be updated by the USAG Board and the USAG State Director, but make sure your handbook is updated according to the recent minutes. Nothing herein is intended to change any policy outlined in USAG Rules and Policies. No deviation from the Handbook is allowed without the prior approval of the USAGWA Board.

Return to Top

2. STATE BOARD MEMBERS

Return to Top

3. DUTIES OF THE BOARD

North, South, Seattle, East Representatives Description:

A USAG professional member in good standing who will work on a consistent basis for their term educating, organizing, and promoting your section membership for the betterment of gymnastics. You will be aiding the entire Washington State Board in promoting the relationship and unity between all the membership to include; judges, club owners, and coaches in your area.

North, South, Seattle, East Representatives responsibilities:

• You must reside, or coach at a club in the area you represent.

• You will need to attend all Washington State Board meetings, representing your area.

• You will be in charge of educating your area through workshops/clinics, be a resource to your constituents at all times and a mediator between all communities (judging, coaching, club owners).

• You will need to be organized and follow through with projects delegated to you from the Washington State Chair.

• Must have access to e-mail and respond to all communications (e-mail or other) in a timely fashion.

• Will work directly with other sectional representatives, state chair, state judging director and sectional judging representative.

• Must attend and help with the Washington State clinic/banquet and chair a clinic committee.

• Must be a team player. Show loyalty and integrity on all interactions with the board as well as interactions with your constituents.

• You are the boards liason for all sectional and state meets held in your section.

• You should work for state unity and the betterment of gymnastics in your state.

• You must have a positive professional attitude at all times and uphold to the ethical standard of USAG.

Compulsory and Optional Representative Description:

A USAG professional member in good standing who will work on a consistent basis for their term educating, organizing, and promoting the Washington State membership. You will be aiding the entire Washington State Board in promoting the relationship between compulsory coaches, club owners, and Washington State judges and educating these groups on changes. Only active coaches may fill these positions.

Representative Responsibilities:

• You will need to attend all Washington State Board meetings.

• Required to have or be willing to build a solid expertise on the optional rules/compulsory text, guidelines, and routines.

• You will need to be in charge of educating the state with changes in code/text, a resource to your constituents, a mediator between all optional/compulsory communities (judging, coaching, club owners).

• A person who will take responsibility for his/her commitment as well as be willing to delegate tasks expected of them throughout the entire two years.

• You will need to be organized and follow through with projects delegated to you from the Washington State Chair.

• Must have access to e-mail and respond to all communications (e-mail or other) in a timely fashion.

• Will work directly with sectional representatives, state chair, and state judging director, and sectional judging representatives.

• Must attend and help with the Washington State clinic/banquet and chair a clinic committee.

• Will promote and begin state education workshops/clinics with all Washington State Complusory Members.

• You should work for state unity and the betterment of gymnastics in our State, bringing together the judges, coaches and club owners.

• Must have a positive and professional attitude at all times and uphold the ethical standards of USAG.

• An understanding that this task will take time and sacrifice.

Coach/Judge Liason and Secretary:

A USAG professional member in good standing who will work on a consistent basis for their term educating, organizing, and promoting the Washington State membership. You will be aiding the state chair in all of his/her responsibilities. Your main objective will be to focus on the task of bringing together the judging and coaching communities. You will be an educator (clinician, spokesperson, and advocate) as well as finding additional resources in and out of our state to educate all of the members. You will be the official notetaker providing official minutes from all meetings and e-mail votes of the board.

Responsibilities:

• You will need to attend all Washington State Board meetings.

• Required to have a solid expertise on compulsory as well as optional rules, guidelines, and routines.

• You will need to be in charge of educating the judges and coaches on changes, troubleshooting, and to be a resource to your constituents at all times, a mediator between two communities.

• A person who will take responsibility for his/her commitment as well as be willing to delegate tasks expected of them throughout the entire two years.

• You will need to be organized and follow through with projects delegated to you from the Washington State Chair.

• Must have access to e-mail and respond to all communications (e-mail or other) in a timely fashion.

• Must attend and help with the Washington State clinic/banquet and chair a clinic committee.

• Will promote and begin state education workshops/clinics with all state coaches/judges in conjunction with the compulsory/optional representatives.

• Must be a team player. Show loyalty and integrity on all interactions with the board as well as interactions with your constituents.

• Must have a positive, professional attitude and uphold the ethical standards of USAG.

• Must have a good relationship with judging and coaching community with the intentions of representing all groups and work for unity between the judges, coaches and club owners.

• Must be a rated USAG judge and an active coach.

Return to Top

4. ELECTION PROCEDURES

The election of the USAG Washington Board is done in May or June every 2 years (even years). The voting committee is comprised of a State Chairman, North Representative, South Representative, East Representative, Seattle Representative, Judge/Coach Liason/secretary, Optional Representative (if needed), and Compulsory Representative. Each position represents one vote. The State Chairman may appoint committee positions that are non-voting and serve in an advisory capacity only.

In a voting year nomination requests will be sent to all professional members. Any nomination not filled out completely or containing false information will be disqualified.

Election ballots will be sent to all professional members. If only one person is nominated for a particular position the State Chair will cast the deciding vote on those positions and no election ballots will be sent.

Return to Top

5. COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

The SAC will meet 3 times per year, and at any other time deemed necessary by the State Chair. State Committee Meetings are closed unless otherwise stated. Should a Professional Member have a specific reason to address the board accommodations will be made.

Members are encouraged to contact the appropriate Committee members to discuss any questions, concerns or problems that may arise.

Every effort will be made to post the Committee Meeting Agenda on the USAGWA Website prior to each meeting to allow for member input.

Return to Top

6. WEBSITE

USAG Washington will contract and maintain a website. The website will be the main source of information concerning competitive gymnastics in Washington State. Every effort will be made to keep the website up to date.

Return to Top

7. STATE CLINIC

Each year USAG Washington will sponsor a State Clinic. This shall serve as an educational opportunity for our state.

    a.  RECOGNITION BANQUET

USAG Washington will host an Awards Banquet during the State Clinic to honor the athletes, coaches and judges from our state for their accomplishments. The awards banquet will also serve to honor any Hall of Fame Inductees. How often the banquet will occur will be determined by the state board.

Those invited as State Guests are the following:

• All Junior Olympic National and Elite National Champions (event and/or all around)

• All Western National Champions (event and/or all around)

All USAG Professional members will also be invited to attend (a banquet fee will be charged).

Return to Top

     b. COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR:

The staff awards will be determined through points given to teams who place at state. At the conclusion of the season, points will be totaled, and the staff with the highest points for their team will receive Washington Staff of the Year. There will be awards for compulsory and for optional staff of the year. The following is the breakdown of the points.

Return to Top

     c. STATE OF WASHINGTON HALL OF FAME

Hall of Fame Nomination Form

USAG WA. CHAMPIONS AND HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

The purpose of the Washington State HOF shall be to recognize the achievements of those who have earned the respect and admiration of their peers during their careers as gymnasts, coaches and judges. The USAG Washington Hall of Fame Chairman shall review nominations from the USAG Washington membership at large (nomination forms will be available on the USAG Washington Web Site). The acceptable list will be forwarded to the USAG Washington State Board, where the final decision on enshrines will be made. How often the Hall of Fame ceremony will occur will be determined by the state board.

The Hall of Fame shall serve as a place where the legacy of gymnastics professionals are remembered for eternity by the gymnastics community of Washington State.

Return to Top

B. WASHINGTON COMPETITION INFORMATION

1. Washington Competition Calendar 
2. Reporting Meet Results  
3. Request For Judges  
4. Championship Meet Bids
5. Meet Directors - Verification of Memberships Online for Sanctioned Events
6. Selection of State Meet Judges

1. WASHINGTON COMPETITION CALENDAR

The USAG Washington State Calendar shall be determined by the USAG WA State board on or before June of each year. The calendar is updated as needed throughout the year. The calendar shows all meets at the Sectional Level and above as well as all preliminary meets that have been properly awarded.

Return to Top

2. REPORTING MEET RESULTS

Meet hosts in the State of Washington are required to send the competition results and a copy of the sanction to the State Chairman. Results must be postmarked within seventy-two hours after the conclusion of the meet (Wednesday).

If you plan to use out of state meets for qualification purposes you must mail the meet results to the State Chair. Results must be postmarked within twelve days of the weekend of the competition.

Results not postmarked within the required time will not count for qualifying.

Mail Results to:
USAG WA, c/o Northwest Aerials
12440 128th Lane NE
Kirkland, WA 98034

If your athlete is not listed and has qualified please call 425-823-2665, or e-mail: usagwashington@aol.com

Return to Top

3. MEET HOST REQUEST FOR JUDGES

To host a Meet:
Local and Invitational meets to be held September-May:

Meet request forms should be completed and mailed to the State Chairman with the assigning fees (payable to NAWGJ) on a date specified by the board each year. The State Chair and Judge/Coach liason will complete the meet calendar for fall and spring meets using these forms. Improperly filled out forms or forms without the assigning fee will not be considered for meets. Judges will be assigned to meets in order of forms received.

Judges are assigned by proximity to the club as well as the level of the judge unless you specify otherwise. If a judge travels over 100 miles one way they are guaranteed a three hour minimum judging time per Rules and Policies. The assignor will make every effort to fulfill any special request, however there is no guarantee. Clubs must be in good financial standing with USAG Washington and NAWGJ Washington to schedule meets.

Return to Top

4. CHAMPIONSHIP MEET BIDS

Any USAG Washington Registered Club may bid on a Sectional or State Championship Meet by using a USAG Bid Form. The form will be mailed to all clubs with host decisions made on or no later than July 1st of each year for that competitve year. Only clubs in financial good standing with USAG WA and NAWGJ WA and USAG Region II are eligible to bid.

USAG WASHINGTON GUIDELINES FOR STATE MEETS

MEET DIRECTORS REQUIRED USAG WA STATE MEET CHECK-OFF LIST

The Meet Director may also request specific judges when they submit a "Request for Judges" form to the state approved assignor. The Request for Judges Form is available on the USAG web site at http://www.usa.gymnastics-org/forms2001/w-requstjudgesform.pdf, or from the SACC or the NAWGJ State Judging Director. Or click here.The USA Gymnastics Judges' Compensation Package will be used at all sanctioned competitions.

Return to Top

5. MEET DIRECTORS - Verification of Memberships Online for Sanctioned Events

Step 1: *Meet Director of the event: Log in to the USA Gymnastics website www.usagym.org.
*If you have not already done so, you will have to create a new Log In and Username. The member number and 8 digit date of birth will no longer allow the meet director to verify membership. Please proceed below for step by step log in instructions.
Step 2: Click on Member Services
Step 3: Click on the white Sanction link on the left hand side
Step 4: When the drop down menu appears, click on My Sanctions
Step 5: Click on the sanctioned event

Step 6: Verify Membership(s)

Verify Athlete
Select Athlete Roster
a) This will allow you to enter in a variety of club numbers at one time
b) It will only pull athletes that are current and at the correct level for that meet
c) The levels are preprogrammed into the system, so it will not pull individuals that are at the incorrect levels or discipline.

Select Verify Membership link
a) This will allow you to enter in a variety of individual numbers at one time
b) Once the meet director has entered in the member numbers they are verifying they then have the option of to show all of the athletes expired and valid.
c) Or they can select the exception…which would only pull those members that were INVALID for the meet. Generally this is a much easier list to manage and will allow for easier investigate or communication to the invalid club.
*Please note, in an effort to protect the privacy of our members, you are no longer eligible to search for individuals by first or last name. You MUST have their member number. If you do not have the member number and/or club number, you will need to contact the club for member number information.

Verify Professional
Click on the Verify Membership button.
a) Process is the same as listed above for athletes, however it will only pull Professional member types.
b) This will allow you to enter in a variety of individual numbers at one time
c) Once the meet director has entered in the member numbers they are verifying they then have the option of to show all of the athletes expired and valid.
d) Or they can select the exception…which would only pull those members that were INVALID for the meet. Generally this is a much easier list to manage and will allow for easier investigate or communication to the invalid club.

Erica Koven
USA Gymnastics
Director of Member Services

Return to Top

6. Selection of State Meet Judges

Judges selection for State competitions is done by the USAG WA board, per the USAG Rules and Policies.

C. WASHINGTON STATE QUALIFIER MEETS AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

updated 1-15-2012

1. Washington State Qualifier Meets and State Meets Fall and Spring
2. Dates and Locations for State Qualifier Meets and State Meets
3. Dates For Qualifying, Determination Dates for State Qualifier Meets and State Meets 2011-2012
4. Levels 4 Sectional Team Meet

For Fall 2011 and Spring 2012

1. WASHINGTON QUALIFIERS AND STATE MEETS 2011-2012

DRAW: All State Qualifier and State Meets will be divided into approx. equal sized age groups by birthdate by the host, dividing the total entered by 20 (there should be approx. 20 gymnasts in each age group). There should be the same number of age groups in each session of the meet. The draw for age group order will be determined by the USAG WA Board. The Board shall draw an order tor 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 16 age groups.

This draw will be used for all State Meets for this competitive year. Order of gymnasts and events shall be conducted by the State Qualifier hosts (and witnessed by a USAG Professional member that is not affliliated with the host) and the State Meet hosts (and witnessed by a USAG WA State Board member, that State Meet's Meet Director or a State Director-appointed USAG Professional member.)

Return to Top

QUALIFYING: SPRING DETERMINATION DATE: Optional: February 20th; Compulsory: State qualifier meet

Levels 4, 5, 6: To the State Qualifier Meet: 31.00 in one meet.
To State from the State Qualifier Meet: Fall: 32.00 Spring: 33.00 All Around.

Awards/Certificates/Financial Reports:

State Qualifier Meets: Hosts provide their own awards, but must present awards to at least 35% of the competing gymnasts and teams.

State Meets: Awards/Certificates/Financial Reports:
STATE MEETS:  The host is responsible for purchasing all awards, using the official USAG medals per the Rules and Policies and then must supplement this with additional USAG medals or their own medals to meet the 35% award requirement. The host must call or e-mail their order for the official state medals to the State Director no later than 10 days prior to the State meet. The state Meet host must pay $500 to USAG WA when the order is placed as a deposit for the medals. The final invoice less the deposit of $500 must be paid to USAG WA within 7 days of the completion of the state meet, along with the USAG WA competition fee.

Competition fee: $5.00 of each state entry fee must be paid to USAG WA not later than 7 days following the state meet competition weekend.

Certificates of State Participation will also be given to the State Meet hosts. These should be printed with each competitor's name and given to each competitor at the meet -printing the certificates will be the responsibility of the host, the number of cerificates needed should be e-mailed to the State Dirrrector no later than 10 days prior to the meet.

Financial report: Each State Meet and State Qualifier host must turn in a meet financial statement no later than 14 days following their meet to the State Director."

Return to Top

2. DATES AND LOCATIONS For STATE QUALIFIER MEETS AND STATE MEETS

SPRING DETERMINATION DATE: Optional: February 20th; Compulsory: State qualifier meet

ADMISSIONS: State qualifier-Out of gym AND State meets: $8/adult/session or $15/day, $6/child/session or $10 per day/child

JUDGES:
All Compulsory state meets and level 7/8 will have a 2 judge panel with a separate meet referee. Level 9/10 will use a 4 judge panel with a separate meet referee.
**JUDGES FEES: REGULAR JUDGES FEES WILL BE PAID FOR ALL STATE MEETS USING 2 JUDGE PANELS. FOR 4 JUDGE PANEL MEETS, CHAMPIONSHIP FEES WILL BE PAID.
For Level 4-6: a one judge panel may be used for all qualifying meets into the State Qualifier Meet
For Level 7-10: a two judge panel must be used for all qualifying meets into state.
For the state qualifer meets a 2 judge panel must be used, with a working meet referee

Return to Top

3. DATES FOR QUALIFYING, DETERMINATION DATES FOR STATE QUALIFIER MEETS AND STATE MEETS 2011-2012

SPRING DETERMINATION DATE: Optional: February 20th; Compulsory: State qualifier meet

*STATE QUALIFIER HOSTS MAY ACCEPT A MAXIMUM OF 400 GYMNASTS (+ 10% to accommodate an entire club).

*ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER THE DATE INDICATED WILL REQUIRE A $25 PER GYMNAST LATE FEE

Return to Top

4. LEVELS 4 SECTIONAL TEAM MEET:

Will be held in conjunction with the Level 5/6 Spring State Meet.

Top 20 gymnasts from each of the 4 geographical sections at Level 4 state will compose the sectional team (total of 80 gymnasts), each section may also register 2 alternates (non-competing unless there is a scratch in their section).

Entry fee: $25/gymnast and alternate. This MUST be paid at the state meet to USAG WA and will be collected with the entry list and leotard size by a USAG WA representative. No late entries will be accepted.

USAG Washington will provide each gymnast with a leotard, and 2 staff shirts per club that has a gymnast entered in the meet.

USAG Washington will also provide trophies for each team (20 1st place trophies, 20 2nd place trophies, 20 3rd place trophies and 20 4th place trophies—alternates will not receive trophies). USAG Washington will prepare the draw for the meet, and will send this to the host at least 3 days prior to the competition. A USAG Representative will be assigned to help with the meet.

The meet host will receive NO entry fees, but will be responsible for paying for the 8 judges for this session (no meet referee is needed), as well as the facility. The meet host may keep 100% of the admission fees, and other sales from the meet.

Return to Top

© 2011 USAGWA
Design by Bjella Designs

contact webmaster:
lbjella@hotmail.com