Women Compulsory Routine Changes (AUS)

[Gymnasticsintheveins]

Hello Fellow coaches!

I was a competitive WAG gymnast in NSW from 96-04…

And now I have been coaching in SA for almost 2 years and am just the practical days away from my advanced coaching accreditation.

It was a shock returning to the ALP system. So many changes.

My main query/concern is surrounding compulsory routines and how often they are changed.
When I was a gymnast, every Olympic year marked the change of the level 1-3 compulsory routines (requirements, music and choreography). Of course I understand that compulsory routines from 2020 were updated somewhat, but the music has been the same for some levels for a really long time…

Is there any talk or hint of GA changing the routines? I talk to a lot of coaches who are bored with the current routines and would like something fresh.

I was also curious to learn that levels now have compulsory bridge kick overs or walkovers/tic tocs. These weren’t always compulsory when I was a gymnast and I could use a handstand pirouette to fulfil ‘passing through handstand requirements.’

I understand that walkovers are a gymnastics fundamental skill that can be built on, but lot’s of girls, like myself, even through extensive training don’t have the anatomy that allows for consistent walkover success. Do any other coaches find this? We have some girls at our gym that work really hard, they have all their skills but cannot achieve a full bridge (ideal model with straight legs etc).

Would love to hear any thoughts, experiences, incites…

(I feel floor has gotten a lot more difficult and bars is a lot ‘easier’ overtime. It’s fascinating.)

 

[coach_M]

I’m also very ready for some new compulsory routines - the old ones have been around since 2016 which is nuts. Haven’t heard anything about it actually happening though.

 

[JessSyd]

2015! My daughter competed level 3 in 2015 in the first year the routines were rolled out.

They were introduced as part of a fairly major restructuring of the competition program - the phasing out of the IDP, a recalibration of the levels (each level became easier) etc.

The routines were last adjusted around 2020, when they kept the same music and mostly the same choreography but added new alternate routines for levels 3 and 6, changed some of the 3 and 4 requirements, and adjusted the level 5 routines so that the leap sequences were parallel to the judges rather than on an angle. But the older routines have been around forever now. I think they're good - good music, good choreography, but it'd be nice to have some change, even if just one of the options for each level was swapped out for something new.

The only thing I don't love is level 5 floor, which I find really unbalanced. The number of 180 degree leaps and jumps required means that the girls with imperfect leaps get absolutely hammered and end up scoring well below girls with weak tumbling.

The non flexible girls just have to hang in there until level seven where ditching all walkover skills and all but a single split leap on beam and floor works wonders for their E score.