June 1, 1994

Revised: October 28, 1997

Revised: December 17, 1997

There are four purposes of this classification system:

*Have judging experience

*Show initiative

*Demonstrate leadership skills

*Have a good knowledge of the FIG rules

*Perform special projects

*Have good interpersonal skills with coaches and other judges

*Have a high degree of national and/or international prominence

*Be respected by his/her NGJA peers

*Exercise good judgment

*Serve as an NGJA officer

These accomplishments and attributes are indicators of interest and serve as opportunities for judges to demonstrate their capabilities. However, these acts alone do not guarantee that a judge will move up to higher classifications.

*Allow regular re-evaluation of judges

*Describe category requirements

*Describe the evaluation process

*Promote the consistent application of the process

*Promote the accurate classification of judges through a multi-layered review and approval process

Olympic

Our most highly rated international judges. These officials will be used to judge meets such as the Olympic Games and World Championships. These officials should have an excellent knowledge of the Code of Points , as well as international protocol and expectations. Further, Olympic category officials should know judges from other countries and the FIG Technical Committee members. There should be approximately 6-8 judges in this category, and each is expected to mentor a group of judges in the International category. Equal distribution between NGJA regions is not required at this level.

International

Highly rated judges that have the experience and knowledge of the gymnastics rules and protocol to judge at the international level. These judges would judge some international competitions, international dual meets, invitationals and high level meets in the US. A FIG card is required. There should be approximately 25-30 judges in this category, with significant, but not necessarily equal, representation from each NGJA region.

Championship

These judges are highly recognized and experienced within the US. While many in this category will have a FIG card, it is not required. These judges have extensive experience at the regional and national level as a judge, coach or competitor. These judges would be qualified to judge national meets, NCAA dual meets, conference championships, regional competitions, and qualification meets. There should be approximately 25-30 judges in this category, with regional representation being an important consideration.

National

This category includes all other National card holders. These judges would judge NCAA dual meets, local USA Gymnastics competitions and many age group meets. The number of judges in this category is unlimited.

Junior Olympic

Judges in this category are rated JO only. They are qualified to judge at JO competitions. The number of judges in this category is unlimited.

The evaluation process includes four steps:

1. Regional Evaluation

2. Regional Review

3. National Evaluation

4. National Review and Approval

The classification process will be initiated by the NGJA president.

The Regional Technical Directors will administer the Step 1 process. The process begins at the regional level where each judge in the region is evaluated and placed in the appropriate category. There will be a Regional Evaluation Panel established for each NGJA region. The Regional Evaluation Panel will determine how judges meet the criteria previously listed, interpret the rules and apply them to meet situations. The panel will consist of the following members:

1. Regional Technical Director

2. Regional Director

3. Regional Assistant Technical Director

4. Regional JO Technical Director

5. Any NGJA president or Vice President in their respective regions

6. Three coaches, with at least one being a JO coach

The three coaches will be determined by placement of gymnasts at the USA Championships. The top two senior coaches and the top JO coach of the gymnasts in rank order from each NGJA region will participate in this Regional Evaluation Panel. However, in no case would any one person have two votes, rather the next person in line would be chosen. Alternatively, the regional coaches may select, through a voting procedure, the coaches who will serve on the Regional Evaluation Panel.

A list of all certified judges in the region will be sent to the Regional Evaluation Panel members, along with the general criteria (page 1) and the category descriptions (page 2-3). The Regional Evaluation Panel members will recommend the appropriate category for each judge known to him, and return the evaluation to the Regional Technical Director.

The Regional Technical Director and/or Regional Director will tabulate the results and check for any discrepancies. A numerical average will be computed for each judge by giving an Olympic classification 5 points, International classification 4 points and so on. If no classification is given for a judge, it will not count in the average. Each judge must receive an evaluation by at least 50% of the Regional Evaluation Panel members for the judge to be included in the top three categories. The resulting evaluations will be used to compute average categories for each judge. The names of approximately the top 15 judges will be forwarded in rank order, without their score, to the National Technical Vice President.

Step 3 will be administered by the National Technical Vice President. The National Evaluation Panel will repeat the review process for classifying the top 15 judges from each region (60 total). The National Evaluation will consist of each panel member giving a point ranking for each judge, as well as providing written feedback, on the National Evaluation Form (Attachment #1). While panel members will not be able to supply written comments on every judge, it is hoped they will do so where possible. The National Evaluation Forms will be returned to the National Technical Vice President. Only the Olympic, International and Championship categories will be used. Since there are established guidelines for the number of judges in these three categories, this will require that some judges be placed in each of the three categories. Each judge must receive an evaluation by at least 50% of the National Evaluation Panel members for the evaluation to be valid. The National Evaluation Panel will consist of:

1. FIG Technical Committee Representative

2. NGJA National President

3. NGJA General Technical Vice President

4. NGJA National Technical Vice President

5. NGJA J. O. Technical Vice President

6. Four Regional Technical Directors

7. At-Large Directors

8. USAG Men’s Program Director

The results will be tabulated by the NGJA National Technical Vice President. National Evaluation Forms (Attachment #1) will be compiled for each judge and copies will be mailed to Regional Directors, who will make them available to judges who request the feedback provided. The results will be sent to the NGJA President.

Finally, the National Review Panel will review the results and give final approval of each judge's classification by a 5/7 vote. The National Review Panel will consist of:

1. NGJA President (Chair)

2. FIG Technical Committee Representative

3. NGJA General Technical Vice President

4. NGJA National Technical Vice President

5. NGJA J. O. Technical Vice President

6. USAG Men’s Program Director

7. USAG Men’s Program Committee Chair

If a member of this panel believes a judge has been placed in the wrong category, a 5/7 vote of the panel is required to make the necessary correction.

The National Review Panel members will receive a complete copy of the results listing judges by category in alphabetical order. Regional Directors and Regional Technical Directors will receive the results for their region only. Individual members of the NGJA can find out their own classification by contacting any of the above officers.

The evaluation process will be conducted every two years (at a minimum) or as designated by the Governing Board. Every year the classifications will be reviewed by the National Evaluation Panel and the National Review Panel. The maximum time allowed for each step of the process is:

Regional Evaluation 2 weeks

Regional Review 1 week

National Evaluation 2 weeks

National Review 2 weeks

The NGJA Judges Classification System will be administered by the NGJA President, General Technical Vice President, and National Technical Vice President. The National Technical Vice President will maintain the records of the evaluation process and the final yearly classifications.

A judge can be assigned to a meet at any category lower than his classification. However, in order for a judge to be assigned a meet higher than his category, approval by a simple majority of the National Review Panel is required for Olympic and International level meets. For Championship meets and below, approval must be given by the National Vice President and Regional Technical Director.

Should a judge be dissatisfied with the category he has been assigned, a written appeal should be submitted to the NGJA President within 60 days of completing the evaluation process. The appeal should provide the judge's rationale and any additional information pertinent to the appeal. The appeal will be reviewed and decided upon by the National Review Panel.

After international competitions, the coach and any other appropriate delegation member should complete the International Judges Evaluation form (Attachment #2), which should become a part of the National Evaluation.

Attachment #2

Judge _______________________________