2014-15 Gymnastics
Questions & Interpretations (in red) by the NFHS (Kathy Krebs) and/or Indiana’s State Clinicians
1. On bars, a gymnast executes a drop 1/2 turn to low bar. Her feet hit the mat hard, and then she executes a glide kip. This element is not listed in the rule book, but a drop kip is listed.
a. Does it receive superior credit for a variation of a drop kip?
b. Does it receive 0.4 in event requirements for a direction change and superior release/flight element?
A video will need to be sent to me so I can evaluate the skill.
2. In composition on bars (also on beam and floor) under variety in choice of elements, guideline #6 states that 0.1 should be deducted for "using the same element twice to fulfill difficulty value part credit." If a gymnast has a long bar routine that includes 2-3 giant swings, should the 0.1 under variety be deducted even if she isn't using the giant swings to fulfill value part credit?
It is difficult to answer this question because composition is evaluated on the composition of the entire routine. The questioner does not state if the giants are used separately with other elements or if they are 3 backward giants in a row, etc. I will need to know the entire routine before I can answer this question.
3. On bars, a gymnast takes 3 small casts before executing a back hip circle. Should the judges deduct 0.6 for two extra swings?
Yes, each extra swing is a 0.3 deduction up to a maximum of 2 (0.6)extra swings.
4. On floor, a gymnast has attempted 3 acro passes, but her second attempted pass (front tuck salto, round-off, back handspring) was not connected because of a fall on the front tuck salto, thus is not considered a pass. Her last pass contains a superior, but in reality it is her second completed pass since the previous pass wasn't connected. She also does a round-off after her last pass, so the superior in her acro pass is not her last acro element. Should she receive 0.2 in event requirements, since she attempted three passes?
The book states "a superioracro element in the 3rd acro pass or as last acro element." In other words, you cannot go back to the second pass. The book does not say go back to the last pass, the book states the third pass. The judge would deduct 0.2 for not having 3 passes. She would also deduct 0.2 for not having a superior acro element in the 3rd pass unless she has a superior as the last acro element.
5. On floor, a gymnast executes an arabian salto tuck in one of her passes, and the rest of her passes contain forward acro elements. Should the gymnast receive 0.1 off in composition for no back acro elements in passes? I would suggest that an arabian salto could be considered front or back acro.
On page 96 of the NFHS Rules Book #6d states that an Arabian on floor or beam is considered a forward element. A deduction of 0.1 is taken in Composition under Spacing and Direction for lack of anacro in a backward direction.
6. What is the difference between a layout back salto with a 1/2 twist, and an arabian salto in layout position?
Back layout with ½ (S) vs Arabian layout (HS)…. The difference is totally in the timing of the twist. A back layout with ½ takes off backward so it looks like a back layout salto in the beginning and then when the body is about vertically upside down the half twist occurs. That is a S. In an Arabian, the twist occurs first right off the floor from the roundoff before any salto and then a front layout salto occurs. It is a HS. They both land the same so it is sometimes a bit difficult to evaluate. You need to be watching what happens right off the ground – twist first or back salto first. Sometimes the twist is in between and it is not real clear either way so you have to make a decision as to whether it looked more like a back salto (S) or a front salto (HS)
7. Balance Beam Dismount: 2 foot take off brani (difficulty)
-- coach is calling the skill a front with a half because it is a 2 foot take off
8. Floor: front handspring brani off of 2 feet
-- coach is calling the skill a front with a 1/2 because it takes off of 2 feet
On both floor and beam - If the feet are sideward on the take off, then it would be considered a brani. If on takeoff the feet are between forward and 44 degrees, then it would be considered a layout front with a half with execution errors. Taking off on 2 feet has nothing to do with it.