CaliforniaT&TUSA Gymnastics · Southern California Trampoline & Tumbling

Organization Purpose

The primary purpose of the Southern California State Association of USA Gymnastics Trampoline and Tumbling is to promote, support and develop the competitive sport of Trampoline & Tumbling in Southern California. The Association is the governing body overseeing Trampoline & Tumbling events in Southern California and is the official state organization representing the USA Gymnastics Trampoline & Tumbling Program.

SafeSport

USA Gymnastics is committed to fostering a safe, fun and healthy environment for all members. Since 1990 it has provided awareness, prevention and reporting information regarding sexual misconduct to professional members, member clubs, athletes and their families, and in June 2017 it adopted a strengthened Safe Sport Policy. See USA Gymnastics Safety & Response.

Membership

Participation in any Association function (competitions, clinics, etc.) requires each club to be a member of the Association and every athlete to hold a current USA Gymnastics membership. Membership renews yearly.

Team membership

Teams that designate Southern California as their competitive base pay an annual fee to the Association each competition year. Each member team must be registered with USA Gymnastics as a Member Club, be in good standing, and have at least one active T&T Coach, Judge, Owner/Managing Director or Meet Director member.

Register through the Team Registration form on the Clubs page.

Athlete membership

Only athletes with a current USA Gymnastics membership may compete in Southern California sanctioned events. Visiting out-of-state athletes are the exception.

Elections and voting

State Committee elections follow USA Gymnastics Rules & Policies, Section III:

• State Chair: elected by state member teams.
• Secretary and Coaches' Representative: one vote per active club registered for the current State Championships, cast by the club's meet contact.
• Technical Representative: one vote per active T&T judge residing or affiliated in the state.
• Athlete Representatives: one vote per member club registered for the current State Championships, held online by June 1.

Committee members must be active T&T Competitive Coach, Judge, Owner/Managing Director or Meet Director members. Athlete Representatives must be at least 18 and T&T members in good standing.

Types of Meets

Participation in two sanctioned meets is required for entry to the State Championships. One of the two must be a State-supported event.

Prelim

Held so athletes can gain eligibility for the State Championships. Prelims are the backbone of the State T&T organization, and all teams are encouraged to support the host and take part. Strict, reasonable fee structures apply to athlete entries and spectators. This is a State-supported meet.

Mobility Meet

Held so athletes can achieve mobility scores and move to a level that better suits their ability. At invitational, eligibility and mobility meets an athlete may compete up to two levels per event, at the Meet Director's discretion. Moving from Level 8 to 9 or 9 to 10 requires the mobility score and a Mobility Request approved by the State Chair before competing the higher level. Awards are given only for the highest level competed in an event.

Invitational

Any meet not designated by the State as a Prelim. Invitationals may use alternate competition formats.

In-House Meet

A private or semi-private competition (1–2 teams) that lets a few athletes compete for mobility or eligibility in one or more events. No more than one in-house meet may count toward State Championships eligibility. All in-house meets must be USAG sanctioned, the State Chair must be notified beforehand, and all judges must be pre-approved by the State Technical Representative. A complete judging panel with the right ratings for each event is required. A copy of the sanction and results must be sent to the State Chair or designee. Fees are set by the Meet Director.

Entries & Qualification

Entries and deadlines

• Each club submits its own entry form (or a copy of its USAG online entry) and fees for all local, State, Regional and National competitions.
• Complete rosters, all USA Gymnastics numbers, contact information and fees must reach the meet host by the entry deadline. Mailed entries must be postmarked before the deadline.
• Submit one check for all team entries. Individual checks per athlete are not accepted.
• Accepting late entries is at the meet host's discretion, and late fees apply to all late entries.
• Refunds are at the meet director's discretion and should be stated in the event directives.

Mobility

• Athletes enter the mobility system at Level 8 or lower, must compete at least one sanctioned event at each level, and may not skip levels.
• Levels 1–8: mobility is at the coach's discretion.
• Level 8 to 9 and Level 9 to 10: the coach submits a Mobility Request form to the State Chair, who must approve it before the athlete competes the higher level.
• Level 10 to Elite: confirmed by the USAG Elite Program Chair.
• Only one level per event may be competed at State, Regional and National Championships.
• Mobility scores and the Mobility Request form are in USAG Rules & Policies, Section V.

Qualifying to State Championships

Athletes must compete in two sanctioned competitions for their scores to count toward championship qualification, and one must be an official Prelim. A request to count a non-Prelim meet is subject to State approval and must include official results listing the athlete's name and a valid score.

Qualifying to Regional and National Championships

• Eligibility: athletes must compete in at least two USAG eligibility competitions in the current season (which begins August 1) before Regionals. State and Regional Championships do not count toward eligibility.
• Qualifying scores for Levels 5–7 (Stars & Stripes) can be earned at State or Regionals; Levels 8–9 at Winter Classic, State or Regionals; Level 10 at Winter Classic, Elite Challenge, State or Regionals.
• A first-place finisher at Regionals who has met all eligibility requirements qualifies regardless of score, with the exceptions listed in USAG R&P Section V.
• Athletes compete at the State and Regional Championships of the state and region where their club is a member.
• Elite athletes qualify as set by USA Gymnastics and the Elite Code of Points.

USA Gymnastics requires Level 5–10 athletes to compete in both the State and Regional Championships to enter the Stars & Stripes or USA Gymnastics Championships.

Coaches & Athletes

Requirements for coaches

• Coaches on the floor must hold a current USAG Competitive Coach membership with all required education complete: U100, U101, T210 (annual update), and for adults a background check, U110, U112 and the concussion education acknowledgement. Meet Directors verify this for every coach.
• Coaches who also compete must hold both an Athlete and a Competitive Coach membership.
• Only registered coaches, athletes, meet officials and support staff are allowed on the competition floor.
• Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their athletes, staff and parents before, during and after every event. Pre-competition meetings with athletes and parents about behavior and dress code are highly recommended.

Coaches' dress code

Coaches follow the USAG T&T Code of Points coach attire rule. Coaches who don't comply will be asked to correct it or leave the floor.

• Collared or business-casual shirt, or a team-logo t-shirt
• Track suit or docker-style pants
• Professional-looking shorts with at least a 5" inseam
• Athletic shoes with rubberized soles
• No denim, tank tops or sleeveless shirts
• No caps or hats

Requirements for athletes

Only athletes registered with USA Gymnastics are allowed on the field of play. Athletes who show disrespect toward fellow athletes, coaches, judges or meet staff will be removed from the venue immediately, with no refund of entry or spectator fees. Athletes must follow directions from their coach, meet officials and meet staff.

Athletes' dress code

Competition attire as required by the USAG T&T Code of Points is required during warm-ups and competition.

• All hair should be secured close to the head. Loose hair is at the athlete's own risk and may cause an interruption.
• No jewelry or watches. Rings without stones, piercings and permanent jewelry must be taped (tan, black or white tape).
• Awards attire is set by the Meet Director: competition attire or a full team-sponsored warm-up.
• No changing in stretching or staging areas.
• Athletes not in proper attire will be asked to leave the competition area to change.

Meet Hosting

Meet Directors must follow USA Gymnastics Rules & Policies and this handbook. Deviations need prior approval from the State Chair and must stay consistent with USAG Rules & Policies. Every meet requires a USAG sanction, and the sanction report form is due to USAG within 72 hours of the event.

Meet site

Hosts must submit a meet bid by the season's deadline. Bids are awarded once criteria are met. Prelim, Mobility and Invitational meets may be held in a club facility.

The State Championships must be in a facility large enough for athletes, coaches, officials and spectators, with preference for professional event venues, and must provide:

• Two trampolines meeting USAG requirements
• Hotels and food nearby
• Judges' tables with tablecloths, elevated for trampoline
• A designated awards area
• Official USAG State Championships medals
• Coaches' and judges' hospitality

Equipment and staffing

Equipment must meet USA Gymnastics Rules & Policies and World Gymnastics equipment norms. Hosts provide appropriate staff for the whole event.

Medical coverage follows USAG R&P Section IV.K:

• Every meet: a written Emergency Action Plan, and a designated medical person on site.
• Levels 8–9: a medical professional with first-aid training, at least 1 per 2 equipment sets.
• Level 10 and Youth Elite: a qualified medical practitioner, at least 1 per 2 equipment sets (up to 72 athletes).
• Junior, Intermediate and Senior Elite: at least 2 qualified medical professionals, 1 per equipment set (up to 36 athletes).
• The medical provider can't also serve as a coach, judge, meet director or floor manager, and their decision to remove an athlete is final.

All Southern California meets must use a State-approved scoring system with a computer technician approved by the State Committee. State and Regional Championships require electronic scoring and score display. First flights should not start before 8:00 a.m., and the last flight should start before 10:00 p.m.

Meet information flyer

Send the meet flyer to the californiatnt.com webmaster at least one month before the competition. It must include:

• Competition name and date
• Level of competition
• Meet host and site
• Entry and spectator fees
• Entry deadline
• Meet Director name and phone
• Equipment type
• Refund policy

Fees

Maximum entry fees (indoor facility)

Outdoor-venue entry fees are set within reason by the host, based on venue rental cost. Athletes with certified mobility competing an additional level at the same meet may be charged up to $10 per level per event. Late fees are at the host's discretion. Gyms pay with one check for all athlete entries.

Recommended spectator fees

Host fees

• USA Gymnastics: $1 per athlete to the athlete scholarship fund.
• Southern California State fund: $4 per athlete for Prelims, $10 per athlete for State. The fund supports athletes, coaches and judges selected for official USA Gymnastics assignments.

Age Groups, Awards & Results

Age divisions

Age divisions follow USA Gymnastics Rules & Policies, by age as of December 31 of the competition year, with separate groups for male and female athletes. Age groups with three or fewer athletes may be combined with an adjacent group at the Meet Director's discretion, and must be posted on the schedule. State Championships must use the official USAG age groups.

Minimum awards

• 1st–3rd place receive medals. Other places may receive medals or ribbons at the host's discretion.
• Athletes competing more than one level in an event receive an award only for the highest level.
• Athletes competing out of session receive a score but are not eligible for awards.
• At State Championships, 1st–3rd place receive the official USA Gymnastics State Medal from A-1 Awards.

Results

All meet results are posted on scorsync.com, where live scores also run during each competition.

Judges

Assignments

The State Technical Representative assigns judges to all local meets and the State Championships. Meet Directors may request judges, but final assignments are the Technical Representative's decision.

Hours and pay

• Judges report to the meet referee at least 15 minutes before the posted march-in.
• Paid time runs from posted march-in to the end of the judging day, in half-hour intervals. Less than 10 minutes past a half-hour mark rounds down; otherwise it rounds up.
• Unpaid breaks are at most 30 minutes between sessions and 1 hour per day.
• Minimum pay is 2 hours for contracted judges. No minimum for judges filling in as needed or meeting judging requirements.
• Judges are paid at their highest rating, whatever event they judge.
• The Meet Referee arrives 30 minutes before march-in and may be paid an extra half hour.
• Per diem when meals aren't provided: $15 per meal or $25 per day.

Mileage

• No mileage under 25 miles round trip.
• 25–500 miles round trip: paid at about 20 miles per gallon at the current price of regular gas, set by the Technical Representative. Over 500 miles may be negotiated.
• Judges who officiate more than half but less than all of a meet (because they are competing, coaching, or have a family member competing) receive half mileage. Less than half the meet: no mileage, unless special circumstances apply.
• No mileage for practice judging, filling in as needed on meet day, or judging to meet continuing-education requirements.

Lodging

Overnight accommodations are provided when warranted, such as long travel or multi-day meets with early report times, negotiated case by case between the Meet Director and Technical Representative. Where possible, two judges share a room.

Forms

• Southern California USAG Competition Bid Form: contact the State Committee.
• Team Membership Application: Team Registration on the Clubs page.
• Mobility and other USAG forms: usagym.org/tt/forms.