JO News
Posted: 09.10.2008
Dear Region 8 Professional Members:
I just returned home from Indianapolis and the September 5-7 joint J.O. and Technical Committee meetings. We can all expect a great deal of changes to go into effect starting for our 2010 Optional season. The National J.O. committee felt strongly that we needed to create a true philosophy for each level and to get our difficulty expectations under control. There has been a lot of attrition in the optional levels in the last few years and we felt strongly that what the rules were asking of the athletes has had a lot to do with the problem. At this time, I am not at liberty to put the specifics in writing but can give you a heads up on the framework. Please remember these changes will not go into effect until 2010. The 2009 season will be un- affected and use the current rules.
- The Committee determined that the “philosophy” of the J.O. Program is that the level system should be truly “linear.” The wording and breakdown of each level will be published at a later date. For example however L 7 = Novice, L 8 = Beginner, L 9 = Intermediate and L 10 = Advanced >>Optional Competitive levels. The compulsory levels will be similar.
The restructuring of L’s 7-10 and allowable difficulty:
- L 7’s = A’s and B’s + selected C’s on Bars (1/2 piro, clear-hip, clear-hip ½)
- L 8’s = A’s, B’s + C* dance elements and selected C’s on Bars (1/2 piro, clear-hip, clear-hip ½)
- L 9’s = A’s, B’s, C’s + 1 D* element per event that receives C credit (no bonus for D’s)
* Unallowable elements that are performed (additional C’s in L 8 and D’s/E’s in L 9) will receive no value part credit and will be given a .5 deduction each.
- L 10’s = unrestricted difficulty
On a different note, the summer of 2008 was a great one for Region 8. In July we were in South Carolina for the first annual “Regional Team” Training camp and it was great. The camp was comprised of the top “up and comers” in the Region and the talent was hot. The focus of the camp was basics and core skill development. The kids and volunteer coaches worked extremely hard and everyone was very happy with the results.
In August we once again returned to Myrtle Beach for the second annual Region 8 “All-Star” trip. The team was made up of the level 9 & 10 athletes that represented Region 8 the best at 2008 Easterns and Nationals. This year’s team was as follows:
Level 9
Nicole Bindewald of Ocean Flippers
Kayla Carlsen of Douglasville
Kaitlin Green of LaFleurs of Largo
Christina Pheil of Tampa Bay Turners
Charley Santagado of Kitty’s All-Stars
Sara Shipley of American Twisters
Kacie Trojanowski of MEGA
Level 10
Haley Bodenheimer of Southeastern
Ashanee Dickerson of Gymnastics Unlimited
Pauline Hanset of Premier
Kailyn Hawkins of Southeastern
Briana Melander of LaFleurs of Largo
Haley Watts of Southeastern
The athletes and coaches took part in three very intense training sessions at Gym and More with head staff Brad Harris, David Parraga, Louie Ligouri, Ludmilla Shobe and Lisa Music. Everyone involved really enjoyed the workouts but enjoyed even more the relationships that were created and the true feeing of camaraderie. It is our hope that this trip has been and will continue to be a great source of motivation within the Region.
I would like to personally thank Louie, Rebecca, Janice, Sue and the Gym and More staff for their incredible hospitality on the trip and to all of our Region 8 Training Camp hosts. Without your dedication to the athletes of our Region, a lot of the great experiences that we are able to provide would not be possible.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who is involved and is supporting our new three training camp system. Although we are moving in the right direction we still do not have 100% participation. I have asked and will continue to ask that every club that qualifies athletes to Level 8-10 Regional Championships be a part of at least one of the three camps. Being a part can mean: sending athletes, volunteering to coach or both. Please understand that all of the funds raised go directly back to our athletes and coaches for apparel and our “All-Star” trip. Please do your part.
Thanks a lot and GO Region 8 –
Brad Harris
Region 8 Junior Olympic Committee Chairman
2301 26th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
Phone: (727) 328-8500
E-Mail: Tbayturnrs@AOL.Com
Dear Region 8 Professional Members:
I just returned home from Indianapolis and the September 5-7 joint J.O. and Technical Committee meetings. We can all expect a great deal of changes to go into effect starting for our 2010 Optional season. The National J.O. committee felt strongly that we needed to create a true philosophy for each level and to get our difficulty expectations under control. There has been a lot of attrition in the optional levels in the last few years and we felt strongly that what the rules were asking of the athletes has had a lot to do with the problem. At this time, I am not at liberty to put the specifics in writing but can give you a heads up on the framework. Please remember these changes will not go into effect until 2010. The 2009 season will be un- affected and use the current rules.
- The Committee determined that the “philosophy” of the J.O. Program is that the level system should be truly “linear.” The wording and breakdown of each level will be published at a later date. For example however L 7 = Novice, L 8 = Beginner, L 9 = Intermediate and L 10 = Advanced >>Optional Competitive levels. The compulsory levels will be similar.
The restructuring of L’s 7-10 and allowable difficulty:
- L 7’s = A’s and B’s + selected C’s on Bars (1/2 piro, clear-hip, clear-hip ½)
- L 8’s = A’s, B’s + C* dance elements and selected C’s on Bars (1/2 piro, clear-hip, clear-hip ½)
- L 9’s = A’s, B’s, C’s + 1 D* element per event that receives C credit (no bonus for D’s)
* Unallowable elements that are performed (additional C’s in L 8 and D’s/E’s in L 9) will receive no value part credit and will be given a .5 deduction each.
- L 10’s = unrestricted difficulty
On a different note, the summer of 2008 was a great one for Region 8. In July we were in South Carolina for the first annual “Regional Team” Training camp and it was great. The camp was comprised of the top “up and comers” in the Region and the talent was hot. The focus of the camp was basics and core skill development. The kids and volunteer coaches worked extremely hard and everyone was very happy with the results.
In August we once again returned to Myrtle Beach for the second annual Region 8 “All-Star” trip. The team was made up of the level 9 & 10 athletes that represented Region 8 the best at 2008 Easterns and Nationals. This year’s team was as follows:
Level 9
Nicole Bindewald of Ocean Flippers
Kayla Carlsen of Douglasville
Kaitlin Green of LaFleurs of Largo
Christina Pheil of Tampa Bay Turners
Charley Santagado of Kitty’s All-Stars
Sara Shipley of American Twisters
Kacie Trojanowski of MEGA
Level 10
Haley Bodenheimer of Southeastern
Ashanee Dickerson of Gymnastics Unlimited
Pauline Hanset of Premier
Kailyn Hawkins of Southeastern
Briana Melander of LaFleurs of Largo
Haley Watts of Southeastern
The athletes and coaches took part in three very intense training sessions at Gym and More with head staff Brad Harris, David Parraga, Louie Ligouri, Ludmilla Shobe and Lisa Music. Everyone involved really enjoyed the workouts but enjoyed even more the relationships that were created and the true feeing of camaraderie. It is our hope that this trip has been and will continue to be a great source of motivation within the Region.
I would like to personally thank Louie, Rebecca, Janice, Sue and the Gym and More staff for their incredible hospitality on the trip and to all of our Region 8 Training Camp hosts. Without your dedication to the athletes of our Region, a lot of the great experiences that we are able to provide would not be possible.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who is involved and is supporting our new three training camp system. Although we are moving in the right direction we still do not have 100% participation. I have asked and will continue to ask that every club that qualifies athletes to Level 8-10 Regional Championships be a part of at least one of the three camps. Being a part can mean: sending athletes, volunteering to coach or both. Please understand that all of the funds raised go directly back to our athletes and coaches for apparel and our “All-Star” trip. Please do your part.
Thanks a lot and GO Region 8 –
Brad Harris
Region 8 Junior Olympic Committee Chairman
2301 26th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
Phone: (727) 328-8500
E-Mail: Tbayturnrs@AOL.Com