Parents Should States have a higher qualifying score?

[PRY9]

This is sort of a spinoff of the 100% medals thread. My gymnast is a L6 and qualification for States here is a 30.00. The other night we mentioned States to a friend's Mom. The Mom got really excited and congratulated her on making it to States. This started a conversation with my daughter about how getting to States in many sports is a point of pride and how lots of great athletes never make it to States. When I was a Senior in HS my football team went to States, it was the first time a team from our school ever went to States and it was a huge deal in my community - it still is, decades later. (cue the song Glory Days here haha)

I know some gymnasts have injuries, illnesses or other extenuating circumstances that might make scoring a 30.00 a high bar for them, however it seems to me that scoring a 30.00 just one time in a season (our minimum requirement) makes going to states just another meet. We're still somewhat new to competitive gymnastics. Has it always been that pretty much all gymnasts make States? What is the reasoning behind the score requirement? And do you think it should be more difficult to qualify for States?

 

[cadybearsmommy]

30.00 seems a little low. Around here it is 32.00 and mostly everyone makes it in. Then there is the event specialist option in levels 8-10 where girls who have not been able to compete all around during the season (due to injury, mental blocks, etc) can still qualify to state in the other 1-3 events. It's a great option and one I would like to see offered to all optional levels and perhaps even higher Xcel levels like platinum and diamond. I think sometimes girls push through events they are not ready for to try to make that all around qualifying score for state, but with the event specialist option, that would not be necessary.

 

[gymnastmom05]

Our state is a 32 which is still incredibly low. Unless a kid has had an injury all season or just is really struggling, everyone makes it. I had no idea my daughters first year competing anything about states when our HC sent out the info for the meet and was vague. We had to ask if she qualified and we were told all of the girls on her team (old level 3) qualified at their very first meet. I've never given it much thought and really don't care. I guess I could see other people thinking it was a big deal to "go to state", I just usually say she has her state meet this weekend and that's it. We are experiencing our first nerves about a qualifying score this weekend. My DD is a level 7 so she can qualify to Regionals with a 35. It shouldn't be an issue as she's scored above a 36 all season but I have to admit, I'm worried this will be the one bad meet and she'll be crushed!

 

[M2Abi]

We have to score a 33.0 in Level 6 and 7 to qualify for states. Most everyone makes it. I don't have a problem with it being a fairly easy to obtain score. For us it isn't a special achievement, just the end of the season meet.

 

[LindyHopper]

I think it is 31.00 in our state.

Every sport is different, high school sports especially. You have to get into the playoffs, then if you win all your playoff games then quarter and semi finals. All of that to whittle down to two teams in each division/class to play at States--so it IS a big deal.

I think many of us think regionals would be HUGE. Well, to go to USAC (rock climbing) regionals, the only requirement is that you compete in two (2!) locals (regular sanctioned comps). They don't even have to be in your home region. There is no minimum score or placement. Regionals are considered as an everyone participates kind of thing. The big deal is qualifying (top 10 in each group) for Divisionals, and then Nationals after Divisionals.

When we say Little Bit is going to climbing regionals and someone gets really impressed, my normal response is something like "she's really excited to go", because she is. Let them be impressed; I am. But if the person seems genuinely interested in the process, I will explain the hierarchy of climbing comps. I will never make it seem like it's a bigger deal than it is.

So, back to my point, I think things like "States" and "Regionals" are different in every sport, and are only as exclusive as the individual governing organizations make them. Anyone outside the sport really won't know the difference.

 

[GymMom4]

My dd had to get a 34 to qualify for level 7 State here. She is repeating 7 this year for various reasons so it was fairly easy for her to get the 34. It is competitive in our state, hence the higher score to qualify. There will be 400+ level 7s competing to qualify for regionals.

 

[amiandjim]

Our compulsory state qualifying score is only 28! Very low.

 

[MILgymFAM]

It’s a 34 for L6 in our state. I think it’s a fair score, but if they wanted to drop the number qualifying they would have to move it closer to 36- but then the meets would be too small to be fiscally sound.

 

[Texasmomof3]

Our state it is 34 for levels 6 and 7. And you have to be in the top 40% of level 7 at state to make regionals. Last year that was something like 36.8.

We are a higher scoring state, but I think some of that is the quality of the competition.

 

[Deleted member 18037]

The more kids who qualify the more revenue dollars. It’s a business.

 

[SMH]

I just checked and in my state it’s a 34.5 for level 6 to qualify.
Level 3-5 is 34, 7 is 34.5, 8 is 33, and 9/10 are 32.

 

[Aussie_coach]

Our testing score to pass a level is 28 (up to level 6), our qualifying score for states is 34 for up to level 5 and 33.5 for level 6.

But our scoring is much lower than in the US because we use FIG deductions in our lower levels. The minimum deduction and gymnast can receive for a very minor error, like a tiny wobble or slight bend is 0.1, then moderate deductions are 0.3, and bigger deductions like a full arm bend are 0.5. A fall is a 1.0 deduction, errors like hitting feet on the mat on bars is a full 1.0 deduction too. I am often shocked when I see kids in the US falling off the apparatus and scoring in the 8’s or even low 9’s , that just would not happen here.

So considering that the qualifying score of 34 is very high. It does help kids to feel more prestigious about states and it’s very common to have some gymnasts on a team qualify for states and other gymnasts not qualify.

Of course I can see many reasons why a state would set the bar low. Money is probably the prime motivator, more qualifying kids, more entries, more money. Also perhaps to fill state teams in smaller states.

 

[gymmomx2]

I wish we had just a qualifying score for our Provincials so more kids could qualify. They only take the top 32 in each level/age group for levels 6-10. In some levels/age groups, girls with an average score of 37 won’t make it. In levels 8 and above, about a 35 would give you a good chance of qualifying because there are a lot less girls competing. I understand why it is this way because there is a combined Provincials competition for levels 6-10, not separate States for each level like in the US. It still sucks to see girls who are very competent at their level not make Provincials though.

 

[Along4theRide]

What's different and special about States is that ALL gyms from the state show up at same meet and athletes only compete against others in very narrow age ranges. It's a big deal, no matter how they got there.

 

[Gymmommy71]

Our states are usually 32-34 depending on level. I think our state meets are much less competitive than what you see at major travel meets that involve gymnasts from other states. Our state really isn’t as competitive of a “gym state” compared to our surrounding states.

However, many parents and coaches rave about states like it’s the be all and end all of the season and someone getting a high state placement on something means they are the epitome of success. I know something like the “3rd best vaulter in the state” sounds impressive, but there are certain meets that I consider a much better determinant of how good someone is than our state meets.

 

[bogwoppit]

I wish we had just a qualifying score for our Provincials so more kids could qualify. They only take the top 32 in each level/age group for levels 6-10. In some levels/age groups, girls with an average score of 37 won’t make it. In levels 8 and above, about a 35 would give you a good chance of qualifying because there are a lot less girls competing. I understand why it is this way because there is a combined Provincials competition for levels 6-10, not separate States for each level like in the US. It still sucks to see girls who are very competent at their level not make Provincials though.

Agreed, when my girls were in the Tyro age group (10-11) there would usually be around 300 girls competing for the 32 places at provincials. Basically they never had a chance. Of course it made getting there very special, but generally impossible.

 

[gymmomx2]

Agreed, when my girls were in the Tyro age group (10-11) there would usually be around 300 girls competing for the 32 places at provincials. Basically they never had a chance. Of course it made getting there very special, but generally impossible.

I just looked up Level 7 ages 11/12 (the old 10/11 group which changed due to new date cutoff of Dec 21 2018) - 32nd place has a score of 37.213, then 33 through 38 have scores above 37 as well. I feel bad for those girls.

 

[meganliz77]

I believe level 7 qualifying score here in my state is 34.5... and we had only one girl on the team who unfortunately didn't make it this year.

 

[LTB~Mom]

For the lower levels, I think the focus for States is on having the girls compete against all the other similarly-aged girls in their own State, not necessarily the "best of the best" competing against each other. Then in upper levels it's a chance to make Regionals and beyond. The AA of 30 does seem extremely low to qualify though - maybe 32/33 shows a little more competence (and safety!).

 

[mls529]

I think it is very odd to qualify for states at a score that is lower than mobility! In our state, you need a 34.5 in level 6 & 7 to get to state. Obviously there is no mobility score in 6, but there was a lot of conversation about mobility at level 4 now being 34.