Transcript SPECIAL OLYMPICS

SPECIAL OLYMPICS
GYMNASTICS COMPETITIONS
Gymnastics Committee
• Over a year
before the games
the committee is
often formed.
•Members meet
with each other
and with members
in the same
position in other
sports.
Signage & “look” of the Venue
• Pipe
and drape, carpeting, plants and appropriate
equipment for men & women help to make the event look
special.
• Signage and banners are universal for all Venues…
The “look” of the venue cont’d…
• The judges table and
head tables have
“skirts” and flowers…
•The head table is
elevated for better
visibility…
The “look” of the venue cont’d.
• Behind
the scenes,
sport specific
decorations may be
added…
Check In Area
• As gymnasts and
coaches arrive at the
venue, they check in
and pick up any mail
from their mailbox.
• Gymnasts and
coaches use a
different entrance
than spectators and
media.
Mailboxes
• Mailboxes include results, schedules for
the day’s events and any messages…
Bulletin Boards
• There are 2 bulletin
boards:
– One for the parents
and spectators
– Another for athletes
and coaches (behind
the scenes)
– Schedules and results
are clearly posted.
Programs
• Gymnastics produces
it’s own program for
spectators and media.
Coaches & athletes
like them for
memorabilia…
After check in…
• Once a gymnast has
“checked in” they
proceed to the
changing area…or
just wait for open
warm up.
• A brief coaches
meeting starts each
session…
Warm Up
• Timed warm ups are
used.
• Gymnasts proceed
backwards from their
last event to their first
event in warm up.
• Warm up may be in a
practice facility or on
the actual competition
floor.
The Parade
• Each competition session starts with a parade of
the gymnasts out onto the floor after they have
completed their warm up.
• Often, the volunteers working the venue make a
“funnel” that the gymnasts walk through, and
cheer the gymnasts on…
Parade continued…
• The
Judges are
announced and
parade out…
•If an inspirational
song is sung prior to
competition,
everyone could get
“in the spirit” and join
the singing…
Competition Rotations
• In preliminaries,
gymnasts rotate by
country. Two or more
countries may be
rotating together.
There are never more
than 8 gymnasts in a
group, however.
Competition Rotations
• In Finals, gymnasts are
grouped by their score, with no
more variation than 15%
between the scores. (see
divisioning)
• Each group would ideally have
between 3 and 8 gymnasts.
• For practical reasons, the
gymnasts rotate in finals with
their Floor Exercise group.
• Sometimes, groups are
combined for rotations (i.e..
Two groups of 3 are
combined).
COACHES
• Coaches rotate with their
gymnasts so they are
prepared to spot a gymnast.
• During finals, Coaches need
to let the judges know if they
have gymnasts on two
events simultaneous. In that
case, the judges will judge
out of order for one of them,
so the coach can be present
for both.
VOLUNTEERS ON THE FLOOR
• Escorts walk each group out in the parade and from
event to event.
• Timers time falls and optional routines that need to be
timed.
• Score Flashers flash the average score at each event.
• Runners bring the groups score to the score table.
• Equipment manager(s) help with equipment changes…
Volunteers on the Floor cont’d
• The MC keeps the audience informed and
knowledgeable about what is going on. He/she
can create excitement when the gymnasts
rotate.
Volunteers on the Floor cont’d
• The head table includes the
Meet Director, Music
Coordinator, and Technical
Delegate/rules committee.
• They are often linked via a
communication system to
each other and the floor
manager, who is floating
around the room.
• The head table should be
elevated for better visibility.
Judges
• The head male and female judges float around
the room…
• We have traditionally used two or four judges per
event. (see judging section of rules)
Behind the scenes…
• The computer room
will house separate
computers for the
women’s and men
competition.
• Score sheets are
color coded, so they
are brought to the
correct computer.
• It is prudent to have a
back up system.
Behind the scenes…
• If there is a separate
warm up area, a floor
manager and
volunteers/timers are
needed to run the
area.
• Warm up for the next
session may begin
before the previous
competition is over.
Clinics and Demonstrations
• Clinics and
demonstrations add to
the knowledge of
coaches and gymnasts.
• They may be scheduled
between sessions or at
the Olympic Park area…
• Clinics may include new
rules, demonstrations of
trampoline, sport
aerobics, rhythmic
gymnastics, unified
gymnastics, tumbling, etc.
Gymnastics Show
• Traditionally, one evening
is allotted in the schedule
for our Gymnastics Show.
• Special Olympians,
celebrities, local clubs
and sometimes the
judges and volunteers
alternate performing for
the gymnasts and
spectators. Everyone is
invited. It is wonderful…
Gymnastics Show cont’d
Picture from the Gymnastics Show at the 2003 World Games.
“Backstage”
• Gymnasts may have
time to wait for
awards, lunch, their
session, etc. and a
place for them to
relax and eat is
needed…
• At the end of a room
full of tables and
chairs is a “special
chair”…(2003 Worlds)
Backstage continued…
•School
children
decorated a
dividing wall
between the
eating area
and changing
area with Good
Luck cards…
First Aid
• First aid volunteers must be clearly identified
and be given a place to be stationed.
• Water must be available all of the time.
Media
Designated areas
are set aside for
media on both the
men’s and women’s
side of the
competition floor…
Celebrities & Honored Guests
• There must be members of the gymnastic team
that will welcome and seat any honored guests
or celebrities…
Awards
• The awards stand is best placed in a large room
near the competition floor.
• A member of the gymnastic team must
coordinate with the awards committee…
• Awards are begun after the last gymnast has
competed in that session.
Awards continued…
• Teams should be
organized by country
(signage needed) in the
back of awards, so the
many volunteers lining
the gymnasts up can find
them.
• Awards can take as long
as the competition and
must be efficiently run (as
one group steps off the
stand the next group
should be walking up).
Gymnasts love to show off their
medals after competing…
When it is all over….
•Clean up, relax and reflect on the enthusiasm of the
gymnasts and coaches and how proud they and their
families are!
Created & Photos by Kate F. Hickie
Special Olympics coach since 1971
USA Gymnastics Board of Directors -18
+ years
SOI Technical Delegate – 1983, 1987,
1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
SOI Sport Director for Gymnastics1983-1996
Emeritus
Head of committees that have created
all Gymnastics rules and judging for
Special Olympics since 1984.