NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF ... JANUARY 30

• Aerials competed in Fargo this weekend and did well.
• There is a home high school meet this Thursday against Park Rapids. Competition begins at 6:00 - come support the team!

                * We need people to work concessions for the meet — sign up on the VOLUNTEER BOARD.
                * We need gymnasts to work at flashing, running and timing — sign up by the registration desk.
                * We need an assistant scorer for the meet.

                * There will be NO PRACTICE  for Levels 4-6 on Thursday.
                * The Rising Stars will be done with practice at 5:00 on Thursday.
                * The Level 7-8 will practice from 3:45-5:00 on Thursday.

• The information for the Tropical Twist on Feb. 19 for Levels 5-8 is on the bulletin board.
• Level 7-8’s please check this out:

                * I need your T-shirt sizes for the Rising Stars meet — please get that to me today.
                * We are going to try practice some time on Friday.
                * Sweetheart meet is on the Sat. of the week-end but no schedule yet.
                * Twisted Moose and Northern Lights schedule is posted on the board..

BEGINNING IN 2006, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) incorporated a new scoring system for men's and women's artistic gymnastics. The new system gives credit for the routine's content, difficulty and execution, and a gymnast's score no longer is limited to a maximum of 10.

In the United States, the new system is being used at all elite level events, such as the one you're watching today.

In addition to the new scoring mechanism, th eFIG revised the Code of Points be re-valuing some skills and adjusting individual apparatus requirements. The changes to scoring and the Code were under study and discussion for more than a year. The FIG approved the revised Code and new scoring system during meetings in October 2005. Although the basic process will be the same for men and women, some differences will exist between the two. Also, the new artistic gymnastics scoring system is similar to those used in rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. The revised Code does include verbiage addressing score inquiries and the use of video review.

Under the new system, a gymnast's total score includes values for both the routine's content and his/her execution. Basically, the new scoring system procedure adds the Difficulty Score, which includes difficulty, composition, connection value and element requirements, to the Execution Score, which encompasses execution, artistry, and technique, to determine a gymnast's total score. Scores no longer have a maximum value of 10.

DIFFICULTY SCORE:
Difficulty and Technical Content

The Difficulty Score represents what was previously known as the start value and includes difficulty and credit for connections (two high-level sckills that are connected) and element group requirements, which are the basic categories of skills/elements that must be included in a routine. The element group requirements vary by apparatus. This score is determined by the A Panel, which is a two-person panel.

The difficulty value is determined by totalling values for the 10 most difficult skills, which includes the dismount. Each skill has a set difficulty value, as outlined in the Code of Points, and for the owmen are divided into seven classifications, woth six for the men. The difficulty value

of a skill or element is not recognized if it fails to meet its technical requirements. Also, credit is only given once for a skill.

Connection value is awarded when specific skills orskill types are executed successfully in succession. The women can earn connection values for the balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise, while the men can earn it for the floor exercise, still rings and horizontal bar. For men and women, each connection value is either 0.1 or 0.2 points.

Element group requirements are the basic skills or elements that must be included in each routine and vary by apparatus. This area is similar to the special requirements in the past. If all of the elements are included, a maximum of 2.5 points is awarded.

On the A Panel, which determined the start value in the past, each judge independently reaches a Difficulty Score and then the two compare and reach a consensus.

After the score has been posted, a coach may inquire about the Difficulty Score, first verbally and then in writing. An inquiry may be resolved by using video review. The initial inquiry must be made prior to the completion of the next gymnast's routine. The written inquiry must be submitted before the end of the rotation, and the Superior Jury reviews the inquiry. At FIG events, a fee is assesed for filing an inquiry; it is returned if the inquiry is upheld.

EXECUTION SCORE:
Execution, Artistry and Technique

The Execution Score, determined by a four or six-person B Panel, now begins at 10 and deductions are made for errors and faults in technique, execution and artistry. Each judge independently determines his/her score. The highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the gymnast's score is the average of the remaining two or four judges' scores. Deductions for neutral errors are deducted from the sum of the Difficulty and Execution scores and that total is the gymnast's final score.

The deductions for various errors have been changed and now range from 0.1 point for a small error to 0.8 for a fall. Neutral errors include those for stepping out of bounds or violating time requirements, as well as attire or podium violations.

Inquiries are not allowed on the Execution Score.

This explanation of the new scoring system reflects the set-up at FIG events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cups. The number of members on the two juries may be different at events that are not conducted by the FIG, which is how it has been done in the past. The scoring mechanism and processes remain constant throughout, but the number of judges used on the juries may be changed.

As the system is used, the FIG may make adjustments as needed, which has been done in the past with other change. Although the "10" designation is no longer the top score, the new system enables fans to see what a gymnast has scored and how it was determined. The new system, in essence, is a new calculation of the previous pieces of start value, deductions and score.