Developing a Team Concept to Create Individual Success!

Team Concept – Individual Success

Jeff RobinsonManager – Boy’s Program Director

Gymnastics Nevada – Sparks775.355.7755 work321.663.3888 cell

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Have you ever been to a men’s NCAA

Gymnastics Meet?


NCAA Men’s Gymnastics is pretty exciting.

Agreed?


OK…Who knows

this guy?


Who knows

this guy?


What about this

guy?


Or this guy?


Know the history


Up until very recently (several quadrennia ago) all US National teams and international traveling squads were chosen by rank order finish in the all-around competition at qualifying events.

Team format has been very fluid in the last several quadrennia with the trend being more toward every score counting in both Team preliminary and Team final competition.

Reasons for this trend are manifold but have roots in two major issues: leveling the playing field for smaller countries and making a more exciting competition.

The NCAA has ALWAYS HAD IT RIGHT!! Specialists are true ‘game-changers’ and are potential ‘super-stars’ in team competition as well as in Event Finals. Large roster size, Large traveling squad, relatively small number of competitors per event…Keeps the event run-time short…De-emphasis on All-Around status.


Know the current situation


In the FIG setting, large roster size just doesn’t work…It costs too much. The fixed budget of most NGB’s won’t allow a large traveling team size. Most NGB’s are poorly subsidized. Many depend on federal support and ‘exploitation of passion’ to survive.

In USAG Age Group Competition, the entire team travels anyway…Cost is not a prohibiting factor for large roster size. The ‘relatively’ low cost is passed to the parents of the team member. (no one entity is responsible for footing the entire bill)

So why don’t we have more meets in the proven NCAA format?

It’s the idea that everyone must participate in every event and get some kind of award (read here Medal or Trophy)…regardless of how deep in the placing they happen to be.

Meets are too long…Awards ceremonies are too long…Our pool of supporters (team parents) is as bored as they can possibly be. Nobody cares about anyone else’s performance unless they perceive them to be immediate competition.

This is INSANE and is KILLING OUR SPORT!


How did this happen? OK…More history


Many years ago, there were very few invitational meets. Each state conducted qualifying events to their own state championship.

Larger states had local, and sectional meets to qualify to the State Championship.

Clubs built their season calendar from these meets.

Each meet was strictly governed by guidelines for entry fee, awards (type, size, etc.), judges fees. There wasn’t a great deal of difference from meet to meet.

Regional and National meets were governed in the same manner.


Then came the invitational meet…Gym clubs and booster organizations saw the MONEY!

Now, all of a sudden, we’re no longer bound to bake sales, spaghetti dinners, and car washes to generate ‘peanut’ revenue…We can make some REAL MONEY!!

The invitational became a very BIG DEAL!! States began dropping required qualification to the State Championships.

Everyone had to have their own! Then, there was competition for entry numbers based in all kinds of creative marketing, gimmicks, themes, sponsors, special guests, exceptional goodie bags, HUGE MEDALS AND TROPHIES, participation awards…PRIZE MONEY!!!! EVERYBODY GETS A JUICE BOX, PEOPLE!!!!

So, who pays for this? The cost is eventually absorbed by…Mom and Dad! Another great reason to play soccer!!


The Pendulum has swung too far in this direction!

There are only so many weekends in the year and we are now completely saturated with invitationals!

So…What’s the answer?

I Don’t know, but this won’t work forever…It’s time to look at some alternatives.


Consider going back to basics…How about club to club competition? Imagine if all the clubs within a certain city, county, locality would form a league and decide to compete regularly amongst themselves? Rules are, team competition is king, downplay individual events, no awards, bragging’ rights only, popsicles after the meet.

What are the advantages? Shorter meets, shorter award ceremonies, Less travel, limited overnight, lower expense for everyone.

What are the disadvantages? Less regional, national exposure…Maybe So…Schedule an enrichment meet in another region every now and again!

Now…How do we make ‘em exciting? Team Cup Format is one possible answer…Common rule-set…Limited number of athletes per rotation…Every score counts.


Compulsory Team Cup with one or multiple levels involved (The judges can handle this at lower compulsory levels)

Combined Optional Team Cup with a pre-designated rule-set

Restricted or un-restricted age divisions

Limited awards ceremony

You’re really only limited by your imagination!

Team Cup Format Possibilities:


The payoff is:

Every one of the spectators is now directly invested in every routine performed!

Much more excitement for everybody!

A kid who is only good on a couple of events still gets to be a star performer because his contribution directly impacts the team score!

The meet session and awards ceremony time can be dramatically reduced!

The opportunity exists to host a traditional format Invitational with a premier Team Cup Session!

Could run multiple sessions of the same level (preliminary subdivisions)

With a shorter meet run time, could run more sessions per day, Perhaps as many as 6 or more

Could run a team finals session the next day for a two-day event

Team Cup Format Possibilities:


Unlimited team size

5 up 5 count per event

Clubs may enter multiple teams

6 teams for full session (could run more with byes)

Traditional format event with all due pomp and circumstance

Could run multiple sessions of the same level (preliminary subdivisions)

With a shorter meet run time, could run more sessions per day, Perhaps as many as 6 or more

Could run a team finals session the next day for a two-day event

Example: Level 4 Team Cup Format


Gymnastics Nevada – Team Cup Format - Line-up

Lname Fname FX PH SR VT PB HB

Bernardis Asher 1 5 2 5

Moore Gavin 4 4 1

Prentice Kellin 3 2 4 3 2 3

Young Brandon 5 1 3 4

Haufler Grayson 1 5 2

Gaedtke Carter 3 2 4 4

Cooley Evan 2 3 1

Bidart Mitchell 5 1 5

Example: Level 4 Team Cup Format


How would this impact your team? (workout format, scheduling, staffing, etc?)

How would it impact your selection of team members from recreational classes? (I bet it would)

How would it impact your feeling about each of your team members as individuals? (I bet it would)

How would impact your ability to retain older team members? (I bet it would)

Points for discussion:


Questions?


Jeff RobinsonManager – Boy’s Program Director

Gymnastics Nevada – Sparks775.355.7755 work321.663.3888 cell

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Developing a Team Concept to Create Individual Success!

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