For those with JE boys competing at Nationals, there is a very important Age Group Competition Update #3 on the USAG website. Bottom Line Up Front: No stick bonuses for easy dismounts and graduated bonuses for harder bonuses.
It appears that all levels (8,9,10) are affected based on the easy to read chart in the update, though I suspect it has the biggest impact on L8s where boys were receiving stick dismounts for "A" dismounts -- which now won't happen for JE's at Nationals in May. I understand the logic in wanting to differentiate the wide variance in skill required to do a basic TS HB dismount and kids doing a double-full laid out. Looking to separate the national team candidates amongst all the great gymnasts is understandable. My only beef is that they couldn't have seen this coming when they looked at L8 special rules at the beginning of the year. Plenty of kids could have been working these higher level dismounts, whether they competed them or not, throughout the season. It will be pretty tough for many to add these in just 4 weeks... in fact that may not be safe, especially for those 11's, many of whom were 10 for most of season and jumped from L6 last year. Home office is sneaky, much like the Junior National Team selection this year for Junior team that allows committee to pick some of the members.
It appears that all levels (8,9,10) are affected based on the easy to read chart in the update, though I suspect it has the biggest impact on L8s where boys were receiving stick dismounts for "A" dismounts -- which now won't happen for JE's at Nationals in May. I understand the logic in wanting to differentiate the wide variance in skill required to do a basic TS HB dismount and kids doing a double-full laid out. Looking to separate the national team candidates amongst all the great gymnasts is understandable. My only beef is that they couldn't have seen this coming when they looked at L8 special rules at the beginning of the year. Plenty of kids could have been working these higher level dismounts, whether they competed them or not, throughout the season. It will be pretty tough for many to add these in just 4 weeks... in fact that may not be safe, especially for those 11's, many of whom were 10 for most of season and jumped from L6 last year. Home office is sneaky, much like the Junior National Team selection this year for Junior team that allows committee to pick some of the members.
