Questions on Gymnastics:

Gymnastics age requirement should be raised for the olympics.

I. Why gymnastics is so hard?
A. Qualifications?
1. Age Groups?
2. Prime Age? Anywhere under 18 is the best age and many olympians are
16 and 17
B. Training?
1. Recreational?
a) Training
2. Olympic?
C. Injuries?
1. How much force is applied on their bodies?
2. How stressful is it?
3. How many of those injuries are truly healed when they go back?
D. Assault from coaches and spectators?
1. Sexual?
2. Physical abuses?
II. Why is Gymnastics so important?
A. Diet?
1. Teaching about eating healthy?
B. Balance (Figuratively and literally)?
1. Balancing academics home life and the sport?
2. Balancing between stress and anxiety?
3. Mental focus?
C. Values?
1. Team sport?
2. Morals?
III. Disadvantages?
A. Competition?
1. Tall Vs. Small?
2. What does size really mean
3. Age of olympians?
B. Health?
1. Pressure to remain thin?
2. Peer pressure?
3. Pills?
4. Eating disorders?
IV. Comparison of other sports?
A. How do other sports have these same characteristics?
1. What sports have the same problems?
2. What sports have less problems? More?
B. How much more athletic is the sport to others?
1. At the same time?
2. Physical capability?
a) At the time?
b) 10 years later?
c) Retired athletes problems?
V. Olympics
A. Grading system?
1. Quantity Vs. Quality?
2. Biased or not? ( I would assume un biased)
B. How long are events?
1. History of 10’s
2. What moves are made usually?
a) How hard are those moves?
b) Precision and accuracy?
3. How many events are there?
a) Based on what circumstances?
Notes
● Age limit of Gymnastics for Olympians is 16 and has not been changed since 1997
● There are J​unior Olympic Trainings​ that go on for girls at the age of 4 but competition
starts at the age of 7
● There are Junior ​Olympic​ Trainings that go on for Guys at the age of 6-19 and
competition starts at 6 where it goes to a state championship level.
● Junior ​Olympics​ for men are at the ages of 12-19 but can start competing internationally
at the age of 16
● Athletes have many responsibilities
○ Attend all scheduled team training sessions and meetings at all national team camps and assigned
competitions • Get adequate rest • Attend all scheduled team meals • Fully comply with all
USADA, WADA, FIG and USA Gymnastics requirements regarding antidoping • Discuss any
physical ailments with your personal coach immediately who will report those to the NTC •
Condition properly and follow-up with all appropriate physical therapy in order to maximize your
performance • Communication, respect and support for the National Team Coordinator and the
designated coaches is required at all times 2016-17 Men’s Rules & Policies 11 Section V:
National Team Program v. 10.5.16 • Understand that you will be under the direction of the
National Team Coordinator and/or the Head Coach at camps or events. Your personal coach is in
attendance as a member of the support team. • Demonstrate respect and support for your
teammates, support staff and host country • Present yourself in a manner consistent with the
 National Team and USA Gymnastics image. In addition, athletes, will abide by the following
based on direction and discretion of the National Team Coordinator: Ø No jewelry while at
training or competition Ø No excessive hair styles/colors Ø No excessive language in the gym or
at team functions Ø No facial hair at assigned events or specified team functions • Responsible for
extra grips and necessary items for training and competition • Be prepared to show competitive
readiness at any time • Follow the daily schedule set up by the National Team Coordinator •
Adhere to the established team training/activities schedule for all team athletes from the time of
selection to an event until the completion of that event. This is particularly important for Olympic,
World and Pan American Games teams • Training alterations due to injury or illness must be
communicated to the National Team Coordinator prior to workout • Have all the listed apparel
with you and in good condition • Know and execute with excellence the National Team warm-up •
All athletes are expected to remain a part of the team and adhere to the team schedule until all
Individual and Team Competitions are completed • Do not share privileged information, photos or
comments from training camps or competitions to the public via phone, social media, email or
other method. Privileged information includes selection information, injuries, athlete performance
information, skill or routine video, etc. • Shall not engage in any form of Prohibited Conduct (see
Attachment) • Shall not willfully tolerate Prohibited Conduct • Has the duty to report any actions
that may constitute Prohibited Conduct, or any suspicions that Prohibited Conduct has occurred
●
Should the Age for Olympic Gymnasts be Raised?
I. The age Requirement for both, male and female is 16.
A. Junior olympics v.s. Olympics
B. Junior Olympics is any age between 6-19 for most sports including gymnastics for
both genders.
C. Olympics is any age above 16 but qualifications are brutal
II. Qualifications
A. To be on the national Team
1. 6 time all around competition winner from championships.
2. Scoring a in the all around category
a) All around is 4 events with girls and 6 events with me
b) Events can be scored up a 20 although it seems impossible
c) Usually athletes get around 13-14 and that would usually lead to an
american all around winner at 52.00
B. Abide by the regulations and rules
a) Attend all scheduled team training sessions and meetings at all national team
camps and assigned competitions • Get adequate rest • Attend all scheduled team
meals • Fully comply with all USADA, WADA, FIG and USA Gymnastics
requirements regarding antidoping • Discuss any physical ailments with your
personal coach immediately who will report those to the NTC • Condition
properly and follow-up with all appropriate physical therapy in order to
maximize your performance • Communication, respect and support for the
National Team Coordinator and the designated coaches is required at all times
2016-17 Men’s Rules & Policies 11 Section V: National Team Program v.
10.5.16 • Understand that you will be under the direction of the National Team
Coordinator and/or the Head Coach at camps or events. Your personal coach is
in attendance as a member of the support team. • Demonstrate respect and
support for your teammates, support staff and host country • Present yourself in
a manner consistent with the National Team and USA Gymnastics image. In
addition, athletes, will abide by the following based on direction and discretion
of the National Team Coordinator: Ø No jewelry while at training or
competition Ø No excessive hair styles/colors Ø No excessive language in the
gym or at team functions Ø No facial hair at assigned events or specified team
functions • Responsible for extra grips and necessary items for training and
competition • Be prepared to show competitive readiness at any time • Follow
the daily schedule set up by the National Team Coordinator • Adhere to the
established team training/activities schedule for all team athletes from the time
of selection to an event until the completion of that event. This is particularly
important for Olympic, World and Pan American Games teams • Training
alterations due to injury or illness must be communicated to the National Team
Coordinator prior to workout • Have all the listed apparel with you and in good
condition • Know and execute with excellence the National Team warm-up • All
athletes are expected to remain a part of the team and adhere to the team
schedule until all Individual and Team Competitions are completed • Do not
 share privileged information, photos or comments from training camps or
competitions to the public via phone, social media, email or other method.
Privileged information includes selection information, injuries, athlete
performance information, skill or routine video, etc. • Shall not engage in any
form of Prohibited Conduct (see Attachment) • Shall not willfully tolerate
Prohibited Conduct • Has the duty to report any actions that may constitute
Prohibited Conduct, or any suspicions that Prohibited Conduct has occurred
2. Main rules and regulations are sports conduct and prohibition of drugs and
alcohol
3. Less common but still relevant are sexual harassment and abuse
C. Training
1. In Gymnastics there are 10 levels
a) 1 is the easiest to be in
b) 10 is the hardest and most experienced
c) Olympic Gymnasts train for 4 hours in the morning and 2 and a
half hours in the afternoon from 8-12 and 2-4:30
D. Injuries
1. Commonly Found
a) Wrists, knee, ankles, lower back and hands from over stress
b) Many of the small injuries can be wrapped but there is a higher
risk of bigger injuries that lead to worse.
c) Actual injuries can result in 6 weeks to a whole year of no sport
E. Abuse
1. Sexual Abuse
a) Like many sports, sexual abuse is common but it's very high in
gymnastics
(1) Nassar, a doctor for gymnasts was accused of sexually
assaulting over 130 women
(2) Occurs with all girls of all ages
2. Physical abuse/mental abuse
a) Men who are in gymnastics are more commonly bullied because of
the idea that the sport is feminine and the apparel is “shocking”
III. Lifestyle
A. Dieting
1. Proteins
a) 60% of the diet is proteins usually consisting of meats and cheese
2. Carbohydrates
a) 40% is carbohydrates from grain, fruits and veggies.
B. Balancing
1. School, Gymnastics, Family, sleep
 a) Very well planned schedules are essential to the gymnast
(1) Sleeping 8 hours
(2) Gymnastics 4 hours usually and more on weekends
(3) Family is important by still spending time like dinners etc.
(4) Academics is still important and they spend an hour usually
on homework or more on that
2. Stress and anxiety
a) Coaches can be strict and so can other factors
(1) Low mental Readiness
(2) High expectations
(3) Fatigue
(4) Fear of failure
(5) Importance of Competition
(6) Overemphasis on the outcome
(7) Fear of negative evaluation
(8) Forced participation
C. Values
1. Morals
a) What are they taught
(1) Determination
(2) Respect
(3) Toughness
(4) Teamwork
(5) Dedication
(6) Consistency
(7) Balance
IV. Disadvantages
A. Competition
1. Being Tall is a huge disadvantage
a) Being shorter gives you
(1) Lower center of gravity
(2) Rotations are quicker
(3) Strength is higher in shorter gymnasts
2. Age of Olympians
a) Most high ranking olympians are between the age of 16-19
b) Very rarely is there an athlete higher than 20 years old as a
gymnast
B. Health
1. Pressure to remain thin
 a) Eating Disorders are somewhat common
(1) Peer Pressure
(2) Pressure from coaches
(3) The environments in practices
(4) School
V. Comparison to other sports
A. Same characteristics
1. Problems with sports
a) Eating disorders
(1) Figure Skating
(2) Ballet
b) Pressures
(1) Take away time from other things and shifts focus
(a) Almost all sports
2. What sports have less problems? More?
a) There is not really any measure to weigh the athletic capability of
one to another but most are rigorous gymnastics is no exception
B. How much more athletic is the sport to others?
1. At the same time?
a) Specialized in their own category
2. Physical capability?
a) 10 years later?
(1) Gymnastics is harder later in life unlike runners and soccer
b) Retired athletes problems?
(1) None to barely any old gymnasts still actively do
gymnastics routines
VI. Olympics
A. Grading system
1. Quantity against quality
a) Quality is very important and the highest points to get is the
execution but there is an importance also of quantity
2. Biased
a) Judges are supposed to be unbiased and from other regions so there
is no favoritism
B. How long are events
1. History of 10’s
a) A Perfect ten has been raised to a max score of 20
(1) This is based on 20 points in categories
(2) 10 points are based on difficulty
 (3) 10 points are based on execution
b) Example
(1) Difficulty Score
(2) Difficulty​#​ (4C=4x.3, 4D=4x.4, 2E-2x.5) +3.8 points
(3) Element groups (5x0.5) +2.5 points
(4) Connection value^ ​+0.6 points
(5) Total Difficulty Score​ 6.9 points
(6) Execution Score*
(7) Base start 10 points
(8) Deductions&
(9) Execution -0.7 points
(10) Composition/artistry ​-0.3 points
(11) Total Execution Score​ 9.0 points
(12) Final score​ 15.9 points
2. Common moves
a) Round off backhandspring
(1) Technically important and impressive to watch
b) Front handspring
(1) Forward flip onto both hands that lead with the feet
following
3. Number of different women ​events
a) Uneven Bars
(1)
b) Vault
(1)
c) Balance Beam
(1)
d) Floor Exercise
(1)
4. Number of different Men ​events
a) Floor Exercise
(1) 12x12m floor where gymnasts can be sort of freestyle
b) Pommel Horse
(1) Board with spokes above ground that is very difficult to
master
c) Still rings
(1) Massive strength applied to create tricks such as a
handstand and other elements
d) Vault
 (1)
e) Parallel Bars
(1)
f) Horizontal high bars
(1)

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Athletic culture can encourage eating disorders
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1. Claim- Gymnastics when first introduced was thought to be a new form of
exercise sport but as time progressed competition rose and it gained
popularity.
2. Background Knowledge: The greeks were the first to introduce
gymnastics but was a means of physical capabilities, the modern
gymnastics began 1774 by a prussian, Johann Bernhard Basedow. ​(Ancient
Greece to Modern Times.” ​Scholastic​,
www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/history-gymnastics-an
cient-greece-modern-times/​.​)
3. Germany was the first country to developing equipment such as, the
horizontal bar, the parallel bars, and balance beam.
a) Gymnastics was first introduced into modern competitions
B. Paragraph on gymnastics today