Program Overview by Steve Butcher Artistic Gymnastics Competitive

Program Overview by Steve Butcher Artistic Gymnastics Competitive and Recreational

My Background � � � Current FIG MTC President Current Pan American Gymnastics Union VP Current USA Gymnastics Men’s Program Committee member- all athlete selection Current Sr. Director of Operations- Varsity Inc. , owners of 15+ gyms with gymnastics & cheerleading in the USA, runs a competition with 3, 000+ Former PAGU MTC President 2003 -2011 FIG Brevet Judge for 7 cycles USA Men’s National Team Coach 1991 -2006 Coach of 1996 Olympian John Macready Private gymnastics school owner 6 ½ years Former national level gymnast University degree in business management & physical education

Overview � USA Gymnastics Competitive Program � Scoring System � Current Competitive Program Numbers � USA Elite Program � Competitive Program Numbers History � Sanctioned Competitions � University & High School Systems � Recreational & Preschool Gymnastics � Why Gymnastics? � MAG Gymnast Life � USA Gymnastics University � Summer Camps

Competitive Program Chart ELITE Juniors and Seniors (all Olympic and World Championships Teams selected from this group) Level 10 Level 9 Level 8 Level 7 Level 6 compulsory TOPS Program WAG Talent Identification Testing Programselements and physical preparation Level 5 compulsory Level 4 compulsory Level 3 compulsory Level 2 compulsory Level 1 compulsory Future Stars Program MAG Talent Identification Testing Programselements and physical preparation Levels are the Junior Olympic Program

Scoring � USA WAG Levels (Junior Olympic Program) uses the 10. 0 system § § Never changed system USA University WAG program uses 10. 0 scoring � USA MAG Levels (Junior Olympic Program) uses the FIG system § § Changed for better spectator understanding USA University MAG program uses FIG scoring

Current Competitive Program #’s 2012 -2013 � 102, 295 gymnasts � 29, 229 coach/judges � 131, 524 total participants � 4, 000+ competitions � & 3, 000+ gym schools

Actual Competitive Gymnasts #’s Rhythmic Acrobatics 944 Group 6, 118 1, 481 Trampoline & Tumbling 5, 952 Men 12, 961 Women 73, 839 2012 -2013 Total # 102, 295

Actual Competitive Program % Rhythmic 1. 5 Group 6 Trampoline & Tumbling 6 Acrobatics 1 Men 13 Women 72 2012 -2013

Growth since 1980 Registered Numbers with Federation Gymnasts Judges/Coaches 102, 295 88, 190 75, 367 48, 821 30, 275 n/a 1980 -1981 8, 325 1990 -1991 16, 954 2000 -2001 22, 978 2005 -2006 Competitive Program 29, 229 2012 -2013

Elite Program � Twenty years ago 2 -3 private gyms or universities (MAG/WAG) in the USA provided most top gymnasts � Things started changing 15 years ago � Federation emphasized gymnasts stay at home � Many foreign coaches in the USA have raised level � Training Camps and development of coaches � MAG camps 5 times a year � WAG more frequent & check by Marta before any major competition for readiness � No centralized training required, but possible for MAG (over age 18)

Competitions � 4, 000+ sanctioned by federation each year � May be held by any gymnastics school � USA Gymnastics covers insurance for a small fee � 6 -10 months out of the year judges working a lot � � My company owns 15 gyms and hosts many competitions, one invitational with 3, 000+ gymnasts, every January These large invitationals are enjoyed by parents, coaches, gymnasts, and judges. Less stress than state, regional, and national competitions

University System � Return on investment � Scholarships � WAG more than 1, 000 gymnasts each year with full tuition, room & board, plus expenses � MAG more than 100 each year with full tuition, room & board, plus expenses � Many scholarships are worth $250, 000 US to a family (1, 530, 250 RMB)

University System � High quality education at private or public universities � Most gymnastics teams have the highest average grades of sports at their school � The best WAG university teams get 15, 000 spectators for all competitions � Some entry advantage for top gymnasts � No false advancement or grading for these gymnasts at the universities

High School System � Represent � Good school is most important aspect local media coverage � Very little chance for a university scholarship and no chance to make the USA Team � Competitive � USA form of recreational gymnastics Gymnastics will soon govern MAG

Recreational Gymnastics � Numbers are approximately 10 x that of the competitive gymnasts, meaning more than 1 million participants nationally � Approximately 1 million children take gymnastics classes each year � Parents � Most choose for their child to enter gymnastics go just one day a week for 1 hour � Preschool Gymnastics (ages 2 -5) Very popular!

Why Gymnastics? � It’s fun! � Develops strength � Develops flexibility Marketing to Parents � Develops coordination � Teaches listening skills � Gains self-esteem and confidence � Provides social interaction with peers � Teaches goal setting � Develops cognitive abilities to help in the classroom � Develops skills to enhance other sports � Also, relatively safe at low levels

MAG Gymnast Life to Olympics USA Ø Ø Ø Ø Butcher baby Age 3 Parent Child Class 45 minutes each week Ages 4 -5 Recreational Class (Levels 1 -2) 1 hour each week Age 6 Pre-Team Selection (Level 3) 3 hours each week Ages 7 -9 Competition (Levels 4 -5) 6 -9 hours each week Ages 10 -12 Competition (Levels 6 -8) 10 -15 hours each week Ages 13 -17 Competition (Levels 9 -10) 15 -22 hours each week Ages 18 -21 University & Elite Competition 20 -25 hours each week Ages 22 -30 Elite & Olympic Competition 20 -25 hours each week Note: this is rare- most gymnasts never advance past Level 6 They use their experience to help in other sports and throughout life

USA Gymnastics University � Online courses � Safety education for all coaches & judges � Technical education for all coaches & judges � Required safety and entry level coaching course required to coach at any competition � Note: every member coach and judge must pass background check � Various levels can be achieved through education � Maximum is National Coach- requiring courses + experience