SUPPLEMENT NO. 21

DI C/C Cabinet 9/07

 

 

REPORT OF THE

NCAA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS COMMITTEE

 

 

1.      ACTION ITEMS.

 

a.      Per Diem Expenses for Non-Athletes.

 

(1)         Recommendation. That the per diem reimbursement for individual qualifiers competing at the national championships be increased by one non-athlete.

 

(2)         Rationale. Women’s gymnastics had a safety exception allowing for the additional non-athlete. This exception was overlooked when the new reimbursement policy was implemented in 2005-06. The NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet supported the increase at its September 2006 meeting. The committee believes it is critical to the sport of women’s gymnastics that per diem for non-athletes traveling with individual qualifiers be increased by one to account for an athletic trainer, administrator or support staff (two non-athletes for one to three individuals selected; three non-athletes for four to six individuals selected; and four non-athletes for seven to nine individuals selected).

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. $21,400. (Attachment A)

 

(3)         Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

b.      Fees for Scoring Coordinator and Computer Operator.

 

(1)     Recommendation. That, effective with the 2009 championships, a fee in the amount of $500 be provided for both the scoring coordinator and the computer operator for their services at the championships site.

 

(2)     Rationale. These two positions currently are voluntary. Both positions are crucial to the successful conduct of the championships, and the time, expertise and efforts invested by those two individuals warrant payment of a fee.  Currently, both individuals receive travel, hotel expenses and per diem.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. $1,000

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

c.      Secretary-Rules Interpreter.

 

(1)     Recommendation. That funding for the position for a women’s gymnastics secretary-rules interpreter be made available.

 

(2)     Rationale. NCAA women’s gymnastics currently follows Junior Olympic (JO) Women’s Code of Points Requirements (Level 10), with approximately nine pages of NCAA rules modifications. Currently, the committee chair along with input from a women’s gymnastics judge provides rules interpretations throughout the year. Creating a rules interpreter will eliminate the need of having a current committee member serve in this role. This person would also attend the coaches’ association and committee’s annual meetings as needed.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. $5,200 ($3,000 stipend; $2,200 travel, per diem and hotel expenses).

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

d.      Awards at Nationals.

 

(1)     Recommendation. That all six teams at the finals site receive awards at the conclusion of the championships, effective with the 2009 championships.

 

(2)     Rationale. Currently, only four of the six teams advancing to national competition of the championships receive trophies. As all six teams compete for the national title, the committee feels that all of them should receive awards to recognize their extraordinary accomplishments.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. $3,080.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

e.      Reimbursement for Teams Qualifying for Regionals.

 

(1)         Recommendation. That, effective with the 2010 championships, a stipend in the amount of $200 per person be provided to the members of the official traveling parties and individual competitors participating in regional competition of the National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships.

 

(2)         Rationale. Currently, the NCAA does not provide any travel or per diem reimbursement for the women’s gymnastics regionals. Providing a stipend would help to offset some of the costs institutions incur to attend regionals.

 

(3)         Estimated Budget Impact. $162,000. (Attachment B)

 

(4)         Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

f.       Biennial Rules Cycle.

 

(1)     Recommendation. That a two-year rules modification cycle be implemented, effective with the 2007-08 academic year.


(2)     Rationale. Currently, rules modifications are made and implemented on an annual basis. Adopting a two-year rules cycle will create consistency in the interpretation of the rules by coaches and judges.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. None.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

g.            Rotation Pairings at Nationals.

 

(1)         Recommendation. That, effective with the 2008 championships, the process for determining rotation pairings for day one of the team competition at the site of the finals be based on a National Qualifying Score (NQS) calculated by adding the Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) to the score achieved at regional competition. 

 

(2)     Rationale. The top two teams from each of the six regionals will continue to advance to the site of the finals. Currently, a random draw is used to place half of the first-place teams from regionals into Group A and half into Group B. The same procedure is followed for the second-place teams.

 

         If the above recommendation is approved, then once the NQS is calculated. teams will be ranked based on the NQS from 1 to 12.  Teams 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12 will be placed in Group A; and teams 2, 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11 placed in Group B.  The host team and its corresponding group will compete in the second session. If the host does not qualify, a random draw will be used to determine competition session.

 

(3)     Estimated Budget Impact. None.

 

(4)     Student-Athlete Impact. None.

 

 

2.      INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

a.            List of Financial Priorities. The committee established the following financial priorities for the cabinet’s consideration:

 

(1)     Per diem expenses for non-athletes (additional costs:  $21,400).

(2)     Fees for scoring coordinator and computer operator (additional costs: $1,000).

(3)     Secretary-rules interpreter (additional costs: $5,200).

(4)     Awards at nationals (additional costs: $3,080).

(5)     Reimbursement for teams qualifying for regionals (additional costs: $162,000).


b.      Minimum Number of Meets for Judges. The committee determined that a judge must work a minimum of four regular-reason meets to be eligible to judge regional and/or national competition of the championships. The previous minimum number of meets required was three.

 

 

 

Committee Chair:  Christie Purks, University of Georgia

Staff Liaisons:    D’Ann Keller, Championships