Previous Newsletters: Click here for the October 2008 Newsletter

Dear NAIGC members and friends,

• Online club information – Updates needed
• First semester meet recaps
• Upcoming meets and how to sign up
• NAIGC membership and Nationals 2009 information
• Helpful hints / routine construction
• PT Corner
• ** Reminder for all Facebook/myspace members **
  

There were a few meets held during the first half of the year.  Below are results:

Virginia Tech

Cal – Berkeley

If you host a meet, please remember to send results out to the NAIGC listserv (naigc@naigc.net).

The most frequently updated list of meets is listed on the NAIGC group on Facebook.  We try to update the list whenever a new meet is announced on the listerv.  If you have any additions/changes/deletions, please contact a group administrator via Facebook.

Feb 6-8, 2009 - Palouse Invitational @ U. of Idaho
Feb 7, 2009 - Miami Cup @ Miami University
Feb 14, 2009 - Golden Grips @ Purdue University
Feb 27, 2009 (Friday) - UNC Wilmington (tentative)
Feb 28, 2009 - Flippin Illini meet @ Champaign, IL
Feb 28, 2009 - Duke Dog Classic - James Madison University
Feb 28, 2009 - Banana Slug Salto @ U.of California Santa Cruz
Feb 28, 2009 - NC State Meet
Mar 7, 2009 - Texas Tech Meet
Mar 21, 2009 - Michigan Madness @ EMU
Mar 28, 2009 - Carolina Classic @ UNC Chapel Hill
Mar 28, 2009 - University at Buffalo Invitational
Mar 28, 2009 - Iowa Meet
Apr 15-19, 2009 - Nationals 2009 Hosted by Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia

• If you are currently dismounting with a flyaway (in any position), adding a 1/2 turn will increase your start value by 0.5 (having a "B" dismount is a special requirement).
• If you do not have a B or C release move in your bar routine, a straddle cut could increase your start value by 0.5 (having a "B" flight element is a special requirement).
  

• You only need a single leap or jump requiring 180 degree split.  Some options are leap, switch leap, split jump or straddle jump.  You only need to combine leaps and jumps if you are trying to get bonus.
  
• You need 4 "B"s in your routine.  Some options are pike jump, split jump, straight jump 3/4 or tuck jump 1/2.
  

• It is also a special requirement to end with a "B" on floor as your last tumbling skill.  This could be a front pike, front layout, arabian, back salto with a 1/2 twist or back salto with a 1/1 twist.
• Even though it is not a special requirement, if you do not have a "B" turn in your routine, you can loose "0.2" from the composition requirements.  Consider adding a 1 1/2 or 2/1 turn.
  

Men’s routine tips

When creating a routine it is very important to fill at least 4 of the 5 required FIG element groups for each event.  Doing this automatically brings your start value to 12.0 even before difficulty is factored in (10.0 given for form and execution and 0.5 for each FIG element).  One of these elements must be a dismount of B value of higher (an A dismount will only receive 0.3).  Additionally if you complete the 5th requirement, you will receive 0.3 in bonus, bumping your start value up to 12.3 before difficulty.  The required element groups are as follows:

Floor exercise
I. Non-acrobatic elements
II. Acrobatic elements forward
III. Acrobatic elements backward
IV. Acrobatic elements sideways, backward jumps with 1/2 turn to saltos forward, and forward jumps with 1/2 turn to saltos backward
V. Dismount - the last acrobatic skill or combination of skills must be a minimum of a "B" (can be from any element group except group I).  In addition, the dismount skill cannot be counted as a required element for another group.

Pommel horse
I. Single leg swings and scissors
II. Circles and flairs, with and/or without spindles and handstands
III. Side and cross support travels
IV. Kehrswings, wendeswings, flops and combined elements
V. Dismounts

Rings
I. Kip and swing elements (including to L-sits)
II. Swings to handstand (2 sec.)
III. Swings to strength hold elements (not L-sits) (2 sec.)
IV. Strength elements and hold elements (2 sec.)
V. Dismounts

Parallel bars
I. Elements in support of through support on 2 bars
II. Elements starting in upper arm position
III. Long swings in hang, face on 1 or 2 rails
IV. Underswings
V. Dismounts

Horizontal bar
I. Long hang swings with and without turns
II. Flight elements
III. Elements near the bar ("in bar" elements)
IV. El-grip and dorsal hang elements and elements performed rearways to the bar
V. Dismounts

Specific skills that can fulfill these Element Groups can be found in the men's artistic gymnastics FIG code of points.  If you have further questions, please post them on the message board on the NAIGC websiter or the NAIGC facebook group.  Good luck this year - hopefully these tips will get you some extra tenths.

Answer:  Of course, if you have any symptoms other than pain, or if the pain limits activities other than gymnastics, you need to see a sports physical therapist. 

How to stretch it:

Incorrect: Your normal lunge stretch for splits.  Most people lean forward, which keeps the back hip more neutral, and focuses the stretch more on the hamstrings rather than the hip flexors.

Did you know we are on Facebook?  There is a NAIGC Gymnastics group and a NAIGC Gymnastics Alumni group.  This is a good place to check for information on upcoming events.  Check us out!

These days one can find anything on the Internet.  In light of the growing popularity of programs like Facebook and MySpace, we ask that you remove any type of questionable material from correlation with the NAIGC.  Please avoid using the name NAIGC or your specific school team/club name in any photo albums that may include drinking alcohol or dubious activity.  You may also want to change privacy settings.  Please avoid using foul language or referencing said activities when posting comments on the message board of the NAIGC official website, walls or messages of Facebook or MySpace groups, events, etc.  Please help us by actively monitoring the message boards and websites that you visit and alert us to any problems you encounter.  If you currently have or know of content, including picture albums, wall comments, event listings, etc., that may not portray the NAIGC in a positive manner, please rectify the situation.  This request is in the best interest of you and your specific club and the entire NAIGC.  This is the responsibility of all NAIGC members.

Copyright © 2009 by NAIGC - All Rights Reserved.

Editors:  Cheryl Thomas, NAIGC Board of Directors

             Karen Heilman, NAIGC Vice President