The NCAA News - News & Features

Women's gymnastics reviews regional alignment, formats

During the annual meeting, the committee discussed at length realignment proposals and possible regional format changes that have been submitted by the membership.

Currently, the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships employ a format providing for 12 teams and 12 all-around competitors who are not on a qualifying team. Teams and individuals advance to the event from five regional championships, each of which features seven teams and seven all-around competitors.

The committee reviewed the current regional alignment and format, various membership proposals and results of a 1995 membership survey, and noted that certain facets of regional realignment -- including the possibility of increasing from five to six the number of regions -- may enhance the championships.

The committee took no action regarding regional realignment or format changes, but requested that the NCAA Executive Committee grant the committee an additional meeting August 21-22 in Kansas City, Missouri, so that the committee can further discuss and propose regional realignment and format revisions.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Women's Gymnastics Committee
July 7-10/Jackson, Wyoming

* Recommended to the NCAA Executive Committee that the University of California, Los Angeles, serve as host for the 1998 national championships.

* Recommended to the Executive Committee the following regional sites for 1997: University of Michigan (Central region), University of Utah (Midwest), Ohio State University (Northeast), University of Kentucky (Southeast) and Boise State University (West).

* Noted the Executive Committee approved in May the Women's Gymnastics Committee's request to allocate funds for the rental of an electronic scoreboard system/display package for future national championships.

* Voted that at the national championships, all-around competitors will practice on the day before competition with the teams they have been assigned to during regional competition.

* Eliminated the requirement that regular-season score sheets be sent to both regional meet directors and regional advisory committee chairs. The committee noted that score sheets must be sent only to regional advisory chairs.

* Voted that at the 1997 championships, a competitor who falls in balance beam competition shall have 30 seconds from the time of the fall to remount the beam. The committee noted that the 30-second limit would apply in regionals and nationals and that the change will be implemented on a one-year trial basis.

* Met with Meg Stephenson, president of the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/
Women (NACGC/W).

* Approved an NACGC/W request for an increase in the number of championships credentials.

* Voted that beginning in 1997, the Tsukahara vault in a layout position will be valued at 9.80.

* Reaffirmed that in 1997, rules and values used in 1996 will be retained, with the exception of modifications approved by the gymnastics committee.

* Appointed a subcommittee to review the possibility of establishing NCAA playing rules for women's gymnastics. The committee noted that the subcommittee will work in conjunction with the NACGC/W.

* Acknowledged the contributions of committee chair Cheryl Levick, Stanford University, and Leah Little, University of Kentucky, both of whom completed six-year terms.