Quote from Southern California USAG website:
New Team Ruling from So Cal State Committee
June 2010
State Board policy The State Committee has spent many hours debating the issue of diversity on the award stand, the amount of awards given out and fairness in competition. In the past season we have had a number of gymnasts scoring an outstanding All Around of 37.00 and above. We have fielded many complaints from clubs, coaches and parents regarding the fairness of these extraordinary athletes competing with the novice competitor.
We have used various methods to even the playing field, with the open versus novice divisions, the platinum division and then last year the splitting of the State into two meets. Each of these solutions has brought positive results but has not solved the issue that some call sandbagging. That is, athletes repeating a level two or more seasons in a row, with outstanding results.
The State Committee has voted on a new resolution to ease the fairness issue.
Any athlete, levels 4 to 7, that scores 37.00 points or higher All Around in the previous years StateChampionships, will not be eligible to participate in any team scores for the current season, if she is repeating the level. This rule will apply at all Prelims, Invitational's, Sectionals and State Championships.
June 2010