National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- August 16, 1999

Women's gymnastics group adjusts seating

The Women's Gymnastics Committee addressed issues ranging from seating for participating teams' fans to championships equipment during its annual meeting July 5-9 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The committee agreed to increase the minimum number of courtside seats required for participating teams' fans from 50 to 60 for each team, decreasing the reserved seating elsewhere in the championships facility from 100 to 90.

The committee also met with members of American Athletic, Inc. (AAI), to discuss equipment for the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships. After reviewing the 1999 championships, the committee will require the new AAI equipment to be used at future national championships. The committee will work with regional hosts on providing new AAI equipment at regional competition sites.

In other actions, the committee:

  • Recommended to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet that the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, host the 2002 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships.

  • Agreed to work with the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports to develop a plan to address safety issues related to women's gymnastics.

  • Selected judges for the 2000 regionals and finals.

  • Developed a schedule for submission of the competitive and travel-party rosters, which will be included in the 2000 Men's and Women's Gymnastics Championships Handbook.

  • Recommended that 18 teams be seeded for the 2001 championships.