Toni Talk

Toni Talk (September 1998)

Hi everybody! Surprise, another newsletter. Thanks again to Jamie for keeping us going. Well, the season has started: I'm writing this in the hospitality room at the Judges' cup meet. The meet is going really well, and it's so exciting to see so many gymnasts competing - almost 700 gymnasts!! The other good news is that they're all looking great. Yesterday we had the best Level 5 Beam and Level 6 Floor routines I've seen. Way to go coaches! A BIG thanks to P.J. Slater and everyone who volunteered their time to make this meet a spectacular success.

As the season starts, please be sure to check this month's Technique magazine (August 98) for a complete list of the compulsory book errata. There have been a lot of changes, and we need to be sure we're applying them correctly from the beginning of the season. One example is a new general deduction for body position throughout the routine. Also, for the folks that are testing, the new changes ARE reflected in the exams so be sure you're studying the correct information.

The one piece of news is that the NorCal Coaches' Association has decided to support four judge panels for Level 8, 9, and 10 State Championships again this year. This is great for us judges since it provides many more opportunities to get experience at higher level competitions. When we talked to the coaches about this, they all liked having four judges, the only concern was the cost. Together with the coaches' association, we came to the decision that the benefits were worth the cost, and we would cover the costs in three ways: 1. Entry fees for state meets will be increased slightly, 2. NorCal Coaches' Association will cover any additional loss sustained by the host club, up to $1,000 per meet, 3. The NAWGJ board has agreed that all judges at these meets will cap their fees at the championship rate ($150/day). What this means is that at these meets, you will get paid your normal fees up to, but not over, $150 per day. Per diem and travel costs will be paid in addition to judging fees. Again, I think having four judge panels is a great thing for all of us, and I believe that we've reached a reasonable compromise in spreading costs between all the beneficiaries. Please let me know if you have any thoughts about this.

Good luck this season!! Toni

P.S. Robert Shawler from Cal West is the new Chairman of the NorCal Coaches' Association. He is taking over for Mike Guzman who has put in many years of hard work. Anyway, Robert just walked by and said “Tell everybody I say Hi!” So, “Hi!” to everyone from Robert. :-)