USAJR to FISAC

1. USAJR to FISAC • There are only two major differences between USAJR judging and FISAC judging • Music (Presentation) • Frequency of notations (Content)

2. Music • In USAJR music is only used at Grand Nationals, and no extra marks are “added” for the creative use of music • “Note* Music will be judged for Grand National’s only. Presentation Judges will use the criteria above to grade that element of the routine.”

3. Music • In FISAC judging, the use of music (jumping to the beat and using accents) is worth 15% of the total freestyle mark

4. Frequency of Notations • In FISAC, difficulty judges are asked to attempt to record the value of every jump or skill • In the USAJR, content judges are told • “Do not attempt to record the value of every jump or skill” • Evaluate each group of 5 skills • This transition to judging every skill will be the most difficult for USAJR judges

5. Frequency of Notations • Difficulty judging starts as a series of “snap” guesses, and with practice becomes a series of snap educated guesses • The FISAC difficulty judging system was designed by former jumpers, for jumpers, to be judged by former jumpers • In North America many of the judges are parents who are not former jumpers, so the “intuitive” aspect of this judging requires lots of practice

6. Comparing Judges • Presentation = Creativity • Content = Difficulty • Freestyle Head judge = Variation

7. Presentation (USAJR) • Look for • Posture, Countenance (Technique) • Flow • Beginnings and endings • Acknowledgement of judges/audience (Impression)

8. Creativity (USAJR) • Look for: • How entertaining the routine is, (Impression) • Transitions and combinations, (Impression) • Directionality and movement (Movement) • Choreography (Beats & Accents, Impression)

9. Creativity (FISAC) • Music • Movement • Execution • Impression

10. Notations • + √ – above and below • Make notations every 3 to 4 seconds • Versus • BEAM(I) • Repeat the mantra • Beats, Execution, Accents, Movement (every 3 to 4 seconds)

11. Notations – BEAM(I) • Every 3 to 4 seconds: • If the competitor(s) jumped on the beat, mark a “B”, if not leave blank • If the competitor(s) performed the skills with bad technique mark an “E”, if skills performed with good technique leave blank • If the competitor(s) present or land a skill on an accent, mark an “A”, if not leave blank • If the competitor(s) stayed in one spot mark an M, and if they moved leave blank • In pairs, SR Team and DD, each time there is an interaction mark an “I”

12. Notations – BEAM(I) • At the end of a routine: • Decide on an Impression mark, then • Count the number of “B”s – a routine executed to the beat will have many, a routine that was not jumped to the beat will have few • Count the number of “E”s – a routine with good technique will have few or no “E”s noted • Count the number of “A”s – 10 or more accents gets a top score for this criteria • Count the number of “M”s – a routine with continuous movement should have no ro few “M”s noted

13. Content • The difficulty levels of each skill are very similar • M = masters = 5 • A = advanced = 4 • I = intermediate = 3 • E = elementary = 2 • B = basic = 1

14. Content Differences • USAJR - Look a sets of 5 skills, assign a mark, consider adding a + or -, and circle if a combination • FISAC – every time the hands and/or feet touch the floor, assign a mark • Long and varied sequences are hard to choreograph to music (therefore, long and varied sequences do not necessarily make sense in a FISAC routine – the use of music dictates judging each skill) • No density marks in FISAC – good choreography sometimes makes pauses or stops in a routine appropriate

15. Required Elements/Variation = Freestyle Head judge • The notations made by these judges are very similar • The FISAC judge needs to make notations for each skill

16. Required Elements = Freestyle Head Judge • USAJR Required Elements SR • Multiple unders • Inversion or displacement • Speed dynamics • Spatial dynamics • Rope manipulations

17. Required Elements = Freestyle Head Judge • FISAC Required Elements SR • Wraps • Gymnastic skills • Power skills • Releases of which at least 1 is a level 4 for diff (2+2 points) • Interactions of which at least 1 is a level 4 (4+2 points)

18. Variation = Freestyle Head Judge • FISAC variation • Multiples, crosses and multiples with crosses • Sets of at least 4 different crosses, which are more difficult than the basic crisscross, in single bounce or multiples, but not combined • Sets of at least 4 different multiples of which at least 2 sets are triples or better • Sets of at least 4 skills done backwards

19. Variation = Freestyle Head Judge • Mark the first skill as “F” for forward or “B” for Backward • Mark single crosses as “C” • Mark multiple crosses as “O” • Mark multiples that are not crosses as “M” • Each direction change mark an “F” or a “B” • All other skills are marked as “-”

20. Required Elements = Freestyle Head Judge • USAJR Required Elements DD • Multiple unders • Inversion or displacement • Speed dynamics • Spatial dynamics • Rope manipulations

21. Required Elements = Freestyle Head Judge • FISAC Required Elements split between • Jumpers, and • Turners

22. FISAC Required Elements DD Jumpers • Series of at least 4 power skills • Power skills of a high power level (ex. One handed frog, one handed push-up, double under pushup, two foot frog, etc • Gymnastics skills of which at least 1 is an aerial • All other skills are marked as “-”

23. FISAC Required Elements DD Jumpers • Mark a “P” for each power skill executed and circle the “P” for each higher level power skill • Mark a “G” for each gymnastic skill executed • When the routine is finished look for sets of four Ps in a row

24. FISAC Required Elements DD Turners • Turning skills as a turner • Jumping skills as a turner

25. FISAC Required Elements DD Turners • Mark a “T” for each turning skill executed • Mark a “J” for each jumping skill executed