1.  Jon Culbertson reminded everyone of the Regional format document originally published in 2003.  This document established several protocols to be followed at Regional events for the sake of uniformity.  Jon will forward this document to anyone who needs it.

2.  Next was a discussion of Jon Scanlan's "unofficial" Pommel Horse document and interpretations regarding the handstand dismount rule exception in J.O. Update #12a.  Upshot of this discussion was that we will be taking a strict interpretation of this rule as it is written in 12a. 

• "Any Circle or Flair to handstand – “C” in element group II (if performed in the exercise) or V (if performed as a dismount).  Any dismount that achieves a nominal handstand will receive full element group credit and a maximum of 0.5 in execution deduction."

 

• We decided that an attempted handstand dismount from circle or flair would get both "C" difficulty and element group credit regardless of how much strength or poor form with a maximum of 0.5 in deduction.

 

• In the event of a botched attempt of a handstand dismount that was indeed an obvious attempt, the athlete will not be allowed to repeat the attempt. 

 

• In the event of a fall on an element preceding a dismount but that occurs before the dismount action has begun, the athlete will be allowed to jump back on the horse and perform a circle or flair to handstand for credit. 

 

• If, in the process of the execution of the handstand dismount, the athlete's feet come down and bear weight on the horse and he subsequently jumps from the surface of the horse to the handstand there will be no difficulty nor dismount EG awarded.

 

3.  The conversation next went to the (very popular) side travel to immediate schwabenflanke combination.  This combination has been commonly used in direct connection without a problem for the last 50 years or more.  Only in the publication of our recent code that stipulates that all elements must begin and end in front support, has it become a problem.  Since this particular FIG interpretation flies in the face of good gymnastics sense (for many of us) and since the goal (up until very recently) was to strip all needless circling from a pommel horse routine and directly connect as much as possible, It was decided that we would count the side travel and the schwabenflanke as both being separate elements (even without the additional 1/2 circle to finish the travel in front support).  This interpretation will carry through Regional Championships.  Coaches should be aware and warned that at J.O. Nationals a very strict FIG appr oach to this interpretation will be taken and the extra 1/2 circle will be required to completely finish the side travel before beginning any subsequent element.

4.  The FIG stipulates that the deduction for a skew on a Magyar or a Sivado travel may be taken on each circle of the travel.  Even though this rule is not commonly enforced at the International level, it is the rule.  Because of this, our Junior athletes may be subject to this draconian compounding of deductions for longitudinal traveling elements.

5.  On Parallel Bars, a Moy to upper arm support is an "A" that satisfies no element group.  A Moy to support is a "C" in element group III.

6.  A long hang straddle-cut to long hang on HB is an "A" that satisfies no element group.  A stoop to straddle-cut from a stemming action, with shoulders above bar level prior to the stoop, will receive an "A" in element group II.

7.  NGJA / USAG Interpretations #13 will not be used in any way up to and through J.O. Nationals.