New Competition Structure

During 2008 Brentwood Trampoline Club, in common with club's around the country, will be preparing for the transition to an entirely new competition/development structure.  The new structure is designed to encourage long-term development of good practice (see National Priorities) rather than fast-tracked difficulty and will see competitors of wider age bands competing together where they have attained a common level of development.  The current 6 competition grades, themselves divided into 6 age bands will be replaced by just 9 levels (grades), only 7 of which will be competed at a regional or national level, with only limited age differentiation.  As now, male and female will not compete against each other.  All those entering Regional or higher level competition must be aged at least 9 in the year of the competition.

The new structure, which becomes effective from October 2008, will see a new 'competition season' introduced for all grades for the first time (previously only Grade 1 had a recognised season).  This season will take place between January and July with either a national or regional competition taking place approximately every 3 weeks.  There will also be an additional 'off-season' regional event in October.  The picture above right shows the new grades; A, B & C will compete together nationally at 'spectacular gala events' whilst D, E, F & G will compete regionally - progression (and regression) between grades A - D will no longer be based on attainment of qualifying scores but will instead be based on a 'points system' (see below). 

Age differentiation will be as follows:

• A (or more correctly FIG A) – there will be just one senior group with a minimum age of 15 (promotion can only be attained through FIG B Senior competition);
• B & C (correctly FIG B & National C) – will each comprise two age groups known as Juniors (U15) & Seniors (O15);
• D (Regional D) – Groups will be split into at least Juniors (U15) & Seniors (O15).  Additional groups may be added by regional bodies but promotion is attained only after the amalgamation of any subsequent splits;
• E, F & G (remaining regional grades) - it is assumed that the same requirements will apply as for D although this is subject to some national clarification and regional discretion.

Movement between grades

Qualification system for Regional D & above is as follows:

Any competitor accruing 2 points is eligible (but not required) to try out at the next grade whilst any accruing -2 will have to go back a grade to re-qualify; 1 point is allocated to any competitor in the top 20% (excluding those already on +2 points) at a competition and 1 point is removed from any in the bottom 20%.  All points carry over between seasons.  

Qualification for other regional grades is as follows:

Qualification to the higher grade will be achieved through attaining a combined form score of 45.0 (i.e. average of 7.5 from each judge) having also met any tariff requirements (as at today's date, 6th May, it is not clear what these tariff requirements may be).

Voluntary relegation

There will also be a process to permit 'voluntary relegation' for those no longer wishing to compete at a given level.  The context of announcements to date is such that this is principally targeted at grades A - C where performers may demote themselves for a number of reasons including, for example:

• Loss of moves;
• Not competitive at the higher level;
• Has achieved a qualification to national finals at a previous level and wishes to compete at that level but moved up a level during the season.

Other than the 3rd item, these factors would appear to apply equally to lower grades.

Grades H & I will be based on internal club progression. 

Routines

Following earlier announcement of the routines for grades D upwards other grades' routines expected in October 2007 have also now been released and the full set of routines can be viewed here.  It is fair to say that these include a few surprises with moves rarely seen in competition before being used in developmental grades.

Where to start in the new system?

Where you start in this structure in the first instance, however, will depend on your grade and level of ability as at September 2008 and although there is a nominal mapping of old grades 2 - 6 against the new grades National C down to Club G (with Men's/Ladies' Grade 1 equating to FIG A and other grade 1s to FIG B), it is likely to be based on the following table which more closely reflects the routines performers might be familiar with:

Most recently it has been said that all competitors currently working between grades 1 - 4 will choose which grade they want to map to between A - E.  Those working at grades 5 or below are expected to start in the new system at grade G - this leaves it unclear as to who, if anybody, may be working at grade F!

This synopsis has been updated following review of:

• the original announcement available by downloading the document from here;
• the presentation given at Nationals which is also available for download by clicking here;
• the February 2008 announcement of new routines available for download (compete with original typos) here;
• the May 2008 update provided at the Cardiff Gala is available for download by clicking here.

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