New York State USAG Level 8 Competitive Program

The New York State USAG Level 8 Competitive Program is the third segment of our optional program. 
Level 8 does have difficulty restrictions.

Competition Season: August 1st to the Regional Championship which is decided by the USAG Region 6 Board.

Qualifying as a USAG Level 8 Gymnast
All USAG Level 8 gymnasts must have scored the minimum mobility 31.00AA at one sanctioned Level 7 USAG NYS competition. Gymnasts do not have to compete in a State Championship to move up one level.

USAG New York State Qualifying Competitions and Scores
Local Competition - Sectional Qualifying Meet. 

• All USAG New York State gymnasts begin their competition on the local level 
• There are no qualification scores to enter any sanctioned USAG local competition. 
• The gymnasts must meet the mobility requirement stated above to enter a level 8 USAG sanctioned local competition. 
• Gymnasts do not have to compete on all 4 events at the local level.
• Designated State Qualifying Invitational Competitions allow gymnasts to qualify directly to their State Championship without competing on a local and/or sectional competition. The purpose of these designated competitions is to reduce the number of competitions our gymnasts need to attend to qualify to the State Championship, save the parent/guardian money in meet fees and travel costs and provide the Coach additional training time. New York State was the first State to have this rule, now Massachusetts is following our lead.
•  From the local competition the gymnasts qualify to:

Sectional Competition - State Championship Qualifying Meet

• The qualification score to enter a USAG sanctioned Level 8 sectional from a local competition is 30.00 All Around. 
• The qualification score must be attained once in any USAG sanctioned local competition or the NYS recognized State Qualifying Invitational Competitions.
• Automatic Qualification: Any gymnast who qualified to the previous years State Championship and has not changed their level of competition automatically qualifies to the sanctioned sectional competition without competing on the local level.
  
  State Championship Qualification
  
• The qualification score to enter the USAG NYS Level 8 State Championship from the sectional or State Qualifying Invitational is 32.00 All Around. 
• The score must be attained once in a USAG sanctioned sectional or from a NYS recognized State Qualifying Invitational.
• Automatic Qualification: Any gymnast who competes in any of the recognized New York State Qualifying Invitational and attains the State Championship Qualification Score automatically qualifies to the State Championship without competing on the local level.
• All NYS gymnasts have three chances in qualifying to the NYS State Championship from either the local or State Qualifying Invitational Competitions. FYI: State Qualifying Invitational Competitions count as local competitions if the gymnast does not attain the State Championship Qualification score.

        State Championship

• Individual and all around champions are recognized at all State NYS Championships 
• Team Champions are recognized based on the top 5 individual scores from each of the 4 Olympic Events, regardless of age divisions. The Team recognition is done at the end of the entire State Championship (last day, last session).
• Awards are based on the recognized Region 6 Age divisions
• Scores are flashed and posted in the concession area at each State Championship. Scores posted and flashed are not official. The scores verified by the score team and Officials are.
• At the conclusion of each competitive session each competitor receives a "Champions Medal" for being the champions that they are.
• All scores will be posted on the New York State Web Page 48-72 hours after the competition
• Gymnasts are allowed to be in two State Championships per year, on the same or different levels of competition.

Regional Championship

• The qualification score to enter the USAG Region 6 Championship from the New York State USAG  Championship is by placement / ranking.
• The USAG Region 6 Board sets the criteria in team selection.
• The Top 7 gymnasts in age groups 8-12, 13-14 & 15+ will qualify as the New York State Team.
  The 8th gymnast in EACH Age Division will advance to be a "Mixed State Team". This additional Team eliminates the bye squad. All-Around Ties are not broken.
• An ADDITIONAL 90 Qualifiers from Region 6 (All Stars) will be selected on a % of a %. Athletes in the All-Star session will compete on All-Star Teams. New York State averages a total of 52 gymnast per year.

Age Divisions for Level 8 sectional and New York State Championship
8-11 year olds, 12 years old, 13-14 year olds & 15 & over - All gymnasts must be 8 years old
Clarification: The age division of the gymnast is determined by her age as of the final competition of the level. For Level 8 it is the Regional Championship. The Coaches are responsible for placing their gymnasts into the proper age divisions beginning at the local level. Example: If a gymnast is 10 years old but will be 11 on or before the Regional Championship she must compete in the 11-12 year old grouping.

NYS Awards

• Local Competition: Medals are given at all NYS local competitions. Placement is based on the number of competitors per age division.
• Sectional Competition: Medals are given out at all NYS sectional competitions. Placement is based on the number of competitors per age division.

Competition Organization
Gymnasts are organized by age divisions for two session competitions. Local and sectional Meet Directors have the option to group gymnasts by either age divisions or teams. Regardless of the age grouping the gymnasts must received their awards by their age division performance.  It may be that gymnasts have their awards mailed to them if the grouping is by team in a multi session competition.

Equipment. All equipment used must meet the specifications of the USAG. The equipment specifications are explained  in the USAG Rules and Policy Book that all Professional Members receive.

Schedule
For local level 8 competitions: Local Meets
For sectional competitions, state qualifying invitational competitions and the Level 8 State Championship: Schedule