Competition Structure

Whitehall organise and enter a varied range of competitions to engage and encourage children of all different levels and ages. The competition structure is quite complicated, but we hope the below with help to understand.

 

Competition Structure 

As a club we enter a number of different competitions throughout the year.  The coach decides which competitions they feel would best suit the gymnast and what level they will be entered at.  Coaches carefully select competitions to ensure gymnasts are able to build confidence in competition conditions and be challenged.  Children are individuals and progress at different rates, therefore, gymnasts in the same group or age will not necessarily be entered for the same competitions or levels.   

 

Competitions are split into different categories. 

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Invitational 

These are friendly competitions organised by individual clubs.  They give more children the opportunity to compete.  The organising club decide on the number of children invited, the age range, levels and criteria for each level.   

Whitehall organise competitions throughout the year, both in-house and inviting outside clubs.  In return we are also invited to competitions at other clubs.  Some of the competitions you may have heard talked about at the gym are: the Whitehall open, Mini stars, Snowdrop, Code-breakers, the Roses, Tulip teams, Crystal Palace Cup (or winter wonderland depending when they decide to run it) to name a few. 

 

County Competitions

The minimum age to enter county competitions is 8 years.  A gymnast’s age group is determined by the age they will be that year, so a child who is 7 years old could compete if they will be 8 before the end of December that year.  Women’s artistic gymnastics offers different pathways. 

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General Gymnastics

The aim of General gymnastics is to enable more gymnasts’ to compete at a county level.  They are split into different levels and age groups.  In order keep a more level playing field, gymnasts can only enter if they don't train over the maximum number of hours,

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Grades

Grades are set by British Gymnastics and are consistent across the country.   They have set skills that the gymnast has to perform within their routines.  Grades focus on technique, flexibility and strength.  They are also split into different pathways of increasing difficulty:  County and NDPs (split into club, regional and national).  There is a pass mark for each grade which is outlined in the coaches’ guidance.  Gymnasts can be awarded a pass, merit or distinction based on their overall score.  In some grades the top 3 competitors can qualify for a final.  The different pathways are outlined below and are in order of difficulty. 

County Grades – go from 1-6.  Grades 1 – 4 are 4 piece competitions and 5-6 have Range and conditioning added to make it 5-piece.     

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NDPs (National Development Plan) 

Gymnasts compete on 5 pieces in NDPs: Floor, Bars, Beam, Vault and Range and Conditioning. 

The NDPS have recently changes to a new set of rules. There are now 12 grades in the programme.

Preparation 1-4

Development 1-4

Performance 1-4

Gymnasts placing 1st – 3rd at Regional level can progress to a final. 

National level grades go from 4 – 1.  The skill level in these is extremely high. 

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 PICTURE to be added

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Gymnasts can start at any grade if they have reached the minimum age. However, the club can be penalised if they enter a gymnast for a grade they are not considered to be ready for. 

 

Voluntary Levels 

Each Level has a different set of criteria rather than set moves.  Gymnasts perform chosen moves from the code of points (lists of moves and their value that judges use to score a routine) and those listed in the competition rules.  Levels move in increasing difficulty as follows:  zinc, copper, bronze, silver and gold.  

 

Elite Pathway

There are also Elite Compulsary levels and grades.  Only a select few gymnasts are able to attain these.