How to begin competing with USA Gymnastics (USAG) in South Dakota-

• Register to become a professional member with USA Gymnastics at

www.usa-gymnastics.org. This membership needs to be renewed yearly.

• Complete your pro membership by becoming safety certified. You must take the safety course either online or by attending a course taught by a National Safety Instructor. This certification needs to be renewed every four years.
• Each of your athletes must be registered with USA Gymnastics if they are planning to compete.  You may do this online or you may send in the registration forms. Your club does not have to be registered with USA Gymnastics in order for them to compete; however, there are benefits to being a member club.  Check the USA Gymnastics website for a current list of benefits and cost.
• Register your athletes and club with South Dakota USAG. Athlete’s registration fee is $15 per athlete and a $100 per club and is due by November 1st. The late registration fee is $20 per athlete.

Mobility forms
Mobility forms are to be filled out prior to an athlete competing at a higher level than she is registered for with the state. This form must have meet results attached that proves an athletes has attained the qualifying score and should be mailed to the SACC.

Continue your education

• National Congress- site changes each year and is hosted by USA Gymnastics. More information on this event is available in the Technique Magazine you will receive with your professional membership or at www.usa-gymnastics.org.
• Regional Mini Congress- you can go to www.region4gymnastics.com to find dates and location.
• State clinics- the SACC will organize state clinics and get information out to the clubs
• Various coaching certifications are available through the USAG. Check on line for the courses available.

General Competition Helpful Hints

• Do not arrive at a competition more than 15 minutes prior to the Open Stretch.  Many facilities are not even open until this point and it will eliminate frustration
• Conduct a meeting for your team parents. Let them know that if they have concerns over a score, spelling of their child’s name, pronunciation, etc. that they are to come to you, their child’s coach, NOT the host organization. It is up to the coach to handle all such matters. Parents are NOT allowed to question a judge or come down on to the competitive area.
• ONLY coaches and judges with Professional numbers, athletes who are competing in that session, and the workers scheduled are allowed in the competition area.
• No flash photography is allowed! Please make sure your parents understand.
• Read through the Right and Obligations of Athlete Members in the USAG Rules and Policies (R&P) with your athletes.
• Talk to your athletes about what to do if the music stops while competing on floor, their hair ribbon falls out during competition, and what to do if they should have a fall.
• Look over your athlete roster before competition begins at a meet and make any age division corrections immediately!   

Hosting a competition

• Submit a date to the SACC as soon as possible (this will allow for more available meets in South Dakota and less problems in securing judges).
• Complete a request for sanction form which is available online through USA Gymnastics and submit it at least 30 days prior to the competition.
• Make sure you have someone to run your meet that is Meet Director certified (this certification is available online through USA Gymnastics or may be taken and sent in).
• Complete a request for judges form and submit it with $40 to the State Judging Director
• Make sure you understand the rules and regulations in the USAG Rules & Policies (R&P) for hosting a competition for the Levels attending.
• Make sure all athletes and coaches who are attending your meet have a current athlete or pro number. You can do this online at www.usa-gymnastics.org.
• Send a copy of the completed sanction report form with $1 per athlete who competed to the SACC at the conclusion of the meet.
• Send the original sanction report form to the USA Gymnastics within 24 hours of the final competition.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE MEET

Qualifying to the State Meet

South Dakota has a state meet for Levels 4- 10.  Levels 4 through 10 must qualify for the state meet.

The qualifying scores to the State Meet are a follows:

                             Level 4-6:    28AA at a SD meet        
                             Level 7-10: 28AA at any meet, regardless of location

The entry fee for the State Meet will be $55 per athlete regardless of level. A $30 team fee will be assessed per level, in addition to the athlete fee.

                   STATE MEET SITE

The state meet will rotate from the east side to the west side of the state every year as long as there is someone willing to host the meet that can fulfill the necessary site and equipment requirements.  These requirements are listed in the USAG Rules and Policies.
A bid form must be completed in its entirety and submitted to the SACC by September 1st.  The meet site must meet all the requirements as per the USAG R & P for the highest Level of competitor competing for South Dakota. (example:  Level 10 competitor- Level 10 equipment requirements must be met).
Due to inclement weather: the state meet will be held if 2/3’s of the qualifying athletes are represented.

                                                             
Requirements of a club to host the State Meet

•  The club must have past experience in hosting an optional level meet
• A bid form must be completed in its entirety and submitted to the SD State Administrative Chairman by September 1st.  The meet site must meet all the requirements as per the USAG R & P for the highest Level of competitor competing for South Dakota.

     (example:  Level 10 competitor- Level 10 equipment requirements must be    met)

• Must hold a meet directors certification prior to bidding for the meet
• Submit $5 per athlete to the RACC at the conclusion of the state meet with a copy of the results.
• Is required to fill out a financial report form at the conclusion of the state meet

(any money made on the entry fees once the allowable expenditures are deducted MUST be paid to the SD USAG fund. This fund will be used to offset any future loss from a state meet. If an excess is accumulated, it will be the responsibility of the state committee to determine how best to use the money for the benefit of all athletes).

Duties and Responsibilities of the State Administrative Committee Chairman and State Administrative Committee regarding the State Meet

• Determine the State Meet site based on the bids that are received on time.
• Determine the state meet judges if more than the minimum number is available for hire (8).
• The SACC will order all medals needed for the State Meet based on the number of entries in each age division

• Medals will be given at 50% deep.
• Age divisions will be broken down to no more than 30 competitors if possible ( example:  31 competitors age 9= number will stay; 34 competitors age 7-8- age division will be split into 7 yr & 8yr olds).
• Medals are paid for by the host club.
• The SACC is responsible for doing the competitive draw for the state meet using the rules established in the USAG R & P.
• Will be responsible for making sure all rules and regulations are upheld at the State Meet.

Qualifying to Regional Gymnastics Championships

Only Level 8 gymnasts and above may qualify to Regional Gymnastics Championships.  The format for Level 8 gymnasts is listed below.  Level 9 & 10 gymnasts MUST score a 34.00 AA or above at the State Meet to qualify to Regional Championships.  All coaches and gymnasts who qualify to the Regional Championships must be prepared to fill out the registration forms and pay for the competition entry fee at the conclusion of the State Meet.

Level 8 Petition Process  (Sunday Competition)

• A petitioning Gymnast will present one (1) all-around score. 1.0 will be deducted from that score.  The resulting score  will be used to determine the gymnasts placement.  If the resulting score places the gymnast in the 10 guaranteed spots the petition will be accepted provided the gymnast meets all the other applicable requirements in the 2006 – 2007 Rules and Policies Part Two, section III, pages 49 – 50.