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Gymnastics

USA Gymnastics is the sole National Governing

Body (NGB) for the sport of gymnastics in the

United States. It gets this designation from

the International Olympic Committee and the

International Gymnastics Federation. USA

Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that

govern gymnastics in this country. Training and

selecting the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the

Olympics and World Championships are just two

of the many responsibilities of USA Gymnastics.

The not-for-profit organization was established

in Tucson, Ariz., in 1963. During the mid-1960s

the U.S. had scarcely 7,000 athletes competing

a limited schedule. The only major

international events for gymnasts were the

Olympic Games and the Pan American Games.

Today, more than 65,000 athletes are registered

in competitive programs through USA Gymnastics.

USA Gymnastics has more than 11,000

professional and instructor members.

Approximately 3,000 competitions and events

throughout the U.S. are sanctioned annually.

USA Gymnastics is headquartered in

Indianapolis, Ind., with several other sports'

NGBs and has expanded very quickly in its

30-plus years. The original staff of three has

now grown to approximately 40 employees, who

maintain the following areas:

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Programs / Membership / Publications / Events and Promotions / Education and Safety Marketing / Public Relations / National Gymnastics Foundation

U.S. National Gymnastics Team / USA Gymnastics Constituent Organizations

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Programs

This department consists of men's, women's and

rhythmic programs. They are responsible for all

aspects of athlete, coach and official

selection and development. This includes

conducting clinics, training camps and

competitions; coordinating gymnastics

delegations to national and international

competitions; and providing support for the

athletes and coaches who represent the United

States here and abroad.

Many different gymnastics plans are developed

for all ages and skill levels, from grassroots

to advanced. The programs generate compulsory

exercises for developing gymnasts and rule

books for registered athletes, coaches and

clubs.

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Membership

This department offers a variety of membership

programs to all corners of the gymnastics

community including gymnasts (both competitive

and recreational), coaches, judges,

instructors, parents and fans. Currently,

nearly 100,000 individuals are USA Gymnastics

members. For more information about each

program's benefits and how to apply, visit our

web site at http://www.usa-gymnastics.org or

call Member Services at 1-800-345-4719.

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Publications

This department produces two magazines: USA

Gymnastics, a bi-monthly, four color

publication geared toward the athlete, coach

and gymnastics enthusiast, and Technique

magazine, a technical publication designed for

professional members of the sport. Technique, a

black and white publication, is published 10

times per year. To order either publication,

contact the Member Services department at

1-800-345-4719. In addition, the publications

department produces media guides, newsletters,

event programs, reports and other promotional

items used to generate exposure for the sport.

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Events and Promotions

This department annually conducts and produces

five to six nationally televised events

including national championships and

international invitationals. This includes all

aspects of the event from site selection to

venue staging and production of the entire

competition. Also, this department arranges

delegation travel and housing and tends to the

needs of USA Gymnastics ' national and

international guests.

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Education and Safety

This department administers USA Gymnastics

Safety Certification Program, the Kinder

Accreditation for Teachers (KAT) Program, the

Professional Development Program (PDP), Athlete

Wellness Program (AWP) and develops various

educational materials such as books and

pamphlets. In addition, the safety department

provides various educational opportunities such

as clinics, workshops and the annual USA

Gymnastics National Congress for its members.

The department maintains USA Gymnastics Online

(USAGO), the official web site for USA

Gymnastics at: http://www.usa-gymnastics.org

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Marketing

The marketing department encompasses the areas

of communications, corporate sponsorships and

television sales. The department's goal is to

generate exposure for gymnastics to the public

and recognition for USA Gymnastics ' corporate

partners.

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Public Relations

Through the media and public relations efforts,

this department strives to increase the

public's awareness of USA Gymnastics and its

athletes, coaches, events and programs.

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National Gymnastics Foundation

The National Gymnastics Foundation was created

from the energy and excitement generated by the

Gold Medal Olympic effort of the 1984 Los

Angeles Games. Proceeds totaling $1.4 million

from the 1984 Olympics were used to establish

the Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charitable

organization. Since that time, more than

$250,000 has been granted to USA Gymnastics to

assist in achieving its mission to encourage

participation and the pursuit of excellence in

the sport. Today, the Foundation's assets total

over $2 million. In 1996, the Foundation

launched new efforts to raise additional funds

from individuals, corporations and foundations

to meet the emerging needs of the sport. These

partnerships with the Foundation will help

secure the long-term future of gymnastics and

its participants, including: the development of

programs to assist with scholarships; athlete

wellness; inner-city programs; and

international education and training. To make a

contribution, discuss a planned gift, or to

learn more about the Foundation, call

317-237-5050, ext. 253.

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U.S. National Gymnastics Team

The ultimate achievement for athletes involved

in USA Gymnastics ' national programs is

winning a place on the National Team while

working towards competing at the Olympic Games.

Each National Team Member works his/her way

through a structured system of competition.

U.S. men's team members are mostly products of

private clubs or collegiate gymnastics programs

while most of the U.S. women's and rhythmic

team members come from private clubs and

organizations.

Every potential Olympian must win a place on

the National Team through a selection process.

This process is supervised by USA Gymnastics,

the umbrella organization composed of 22

Constituent Organizations (listed below) which

are the back-bone of gymnastics in the U.S.,

and helps participants advance from the

grassroots to the Olympic level.

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USA Gymnastics Constituent Organizations

Amateur Athletic Union

American Sokol Organization

American Turners

College Gymnastics Association-M

Jewish Community Centers

National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics

Coaches/Women

National Association for Girls and Women in

Sport

National Association of Women's Gymnastics

Judges

National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Federation of State High School

Associations

National Gymnastics Judges Association (M)

National High School Gymnastics Coaches

Association

Special Olympics, Inc.

United States Association of Independent

Gymnastics Clubs

United States Competitive Sports Aerobics

Federation

United States Elite Coaches Association for Men

United States Elite Coaches Association for

Women

United States Men's Gymnastics Coaches

Association

United States Rhythmic Coaches Association

United States Sports Acrobatics Federation

USA Trampoline and Tumbling Association

Young Men's Christian Association of the U.S.A.

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