Acro technical update
06/02/2008
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The Technical Update contains updates, changes, and clarifications to the 2008 Specifications and the FIG Tables of Difficulty.  Please note the FIG Clarification is effective at the 08 Acro National Championships.

Updates and corrections to Specifications will be effective immediately. Clarifications to Specifications and updated to the FIG Tables of Difficulty are effective immediately.

Unless otherwise noted, page and section references are to 2008 Specifications for Acrobatic Gymnastics (version 01-08).

UPDATES / CORRECTIONS TO SPECIFICATIONS – Updates/Corrections are effective immediately.

I. General

    a. Level 9 and 10, page 61 & 64: “Must demonstrate work on two different points of support ON the base or use a foot to hand position by the top.
    b. Illusion Turn – the illusion is to be performed WITHOUT the hand on the floor.
    c. On page 169 of the Tables of Difficulty, ID # 1080, athletes performing Valdez to middle split leg position is optional in handstand.

CLARIFICATIONS TO SPECIFICATIONS – Clarifications are effective immediately.

I. General

    a. Front handspring 180 to split (173-1170C): The 180 degree split may happen after the first foot lands, but must be finished before the second foot lands.
    b. The foot is an extension of the leg. For example, in Level 6 WG: 1A (straddle press) – bases may support top by holding onto her legs and/or torso.
    c. Side Sumi is defined as take-off forward from one or both legs - salto sideward tucked, piked or stretched.
    d. “No Credit” means the skill does not get difficulty and cannot be used for Special Requirements.

II. Levels 4 – 7

    a. Level 6 WP # 7A: The base may pause before the top makes a 180 degree turn or catch the top on stomach and toss immediately 180 degree catch on back. The text does not specify “pause” or “connect” on this specific skill.
    b. Rule 4.1.3: The top must be supported by all bases or a -1.0 SR deduction will be taken.
    c. Level 6 WP # 11B: Both athletes need to start standing as shown in the Specifications unless the skill is used as choreography and they do not need for difficulty.
    d. L7 WP 2a – a pike or tuck are acceptable positions for the inlocate lift.
    e. L7 WP 2b – a tuck position is specified and therefore a tuck position is the only acceptable position for the inlocate lift.

III. Levels 8 – Elite

    a. Level 9 & 10 Dynamic Special Requirements – “Foot to Hand” or “Hand to Hand,” the first word in the phrase refers to the start position and the second word in the phrase refers to the end position.
    i. “Foot to Hand” - the top starts with their foot (or feet) on the floor and lands in any position on the bases hands.
    ii. “Hand to Hand” – the top starts in the base’s hands and lands in the bases hands in any position.
    iii. Level 9 full twist requirement is defined as, “a minimum of one twisting element of 360 degree or greater twist in a front or back salto minimum 4/4 rotation.”
    iv. Level 10 full twist requirement is defined as, “a minimum of one twisting element of 360 degree or greater twist in a front or back salto minimum 4/4 rotation.”

TABLES OF DIFFICULTY – Updates to the Tables of Difficulty are effective immediately.

Refer to the FIG Acro Newsletters for new element evaluations and updates to the FIG Tables of Difficulty. These newsletters can be found on the FIG website: www.fig-gymnastics.org.

FIG CLARIFICATIONS – Clarifications are effective at the 2008 Acro National Championships.

I. General

    a. FIG Newsletter 17.13 as per article 17/13, in a pyramid, when one partner of the trio does not receive difficulty credit, for any reason, no other partner may receive difficulty credit. For example, one pyramid has two base positions for Category 3. According to the rules for calculating difficulty, only the base position of the higher value is given credit for difficulty. This means the lower value base position has NO value. Therefore, the top and/or middle also are given NO difficulty value for any position performed on the base position of lower value.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1: In pairs balance the static hold on page 49 #45 A16. The base is lying on her upper back, shoulders and neck, while the top is on the feet of the base. The base is supporting her back while the top presses from straddle to a straight handstand hold 3”. The value is 3 for the press and 7 for the static hold. After the top holds for 3” the base releases the hold on her lower back and the top holds again for 3” in a straight handstand. The value for the second straight handstand is 9. The same ID # is used for both static holds. The pair does not perform another straight handstands on two hands in the rest of the exercise. Are they allowed to have the difficulty for both handstands?
A1: The two positions of the base were put in one box specifically to prevent the base being allowed to have credit for both positions with the top in the same position. So, in answer to the question, NO, they may not have credit for both positions. If they want credit for the base free, the top needs to change positions. Please note: If the base is in the support position for the press to handstand, and is not free by the time the top reaches the handstand, the straight handstand must be held for 3” seconds with the base supporting, with the lower difficulty value. In other words, they cannot press with support, then change positions to hold in free for the higher value.

Q2: For agility individual elements, would the skills in the same squares on pages 172- 175 be considered the same element even if different finish positions were performed? For example, could both partners of a pair perform a flic to knee (172-1151B) and a flic to split (172-1151C) in the same e

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