............... The 2024 Testing Portal is closed. Nov. 30 deadline for testing has passed. Please use the contact form or reach out to your Regional Director if you have any concerns...................... Best of luck as the 024-2025 season is beginning!!.............................
Congratulations to Team USA on their historic Olympic Bronze Medal performance this week! It was an incredible outcome, and I know how proud we all are as judges and members of the gymnastics community. Your expertise and partnership with our coaches, athletes, and staff at every level of competition contribute significantly to Team USA's success. Their accomplishments on the world stage would not be possible without your dedication and support. Thank you! Enjoy this moment and the critical role you play. I can’t wait to see what Team USA does at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
With that, here are a few updates from our recent July 17 NGJA Governing Board meeting.
NGJA Brand
Thank you for your feedback on our new NGJA brand! The logo and color palette represent our strong organizational foundation, close ties to Team USA, and our modern vision for the future. Please see THIS LINKED PDF for more details on the logo, meaning, colors, and brand applications. Our fall course materials, website, and social media posts will start reflecting the new brand over the next several months.
Website Updates
With the new NGJA brand, we will gradually update the website. Our priority is to maintain functionality for membership renewals and fall certifications. We will test new plugins and page designs for membership and learning management in the near future, sharing more as developments occur.
Social Media
The Governing Board has adopted a new social media policy, now included as an appendix to the NGJA bylaws. Please familiarize yourself with the expectations for professional and courteous engagement on social media. Follow us on our new @NGJAofficial handle on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, and X.
Many of you have expressed interest in participating in our social media programs. We will reach out via the upcoming skills and interest survey to identify members interested in contributing to our social media presence. Thank you in advance for your support!
Upcoming Events
In the next few months, we will host regional roundtable discussions to connect more closely and gather feedback on future projects and organizational priorities. Your regional leadership team will provide details soon. After the roundtables, we will follow up with a skills and interests inventory for members to highlight potential areas of contribution, such as Technology Design, Media and Communications, Stakeholder and Client Relationships, Recruiting and Mentoring, Legal, Finance, and Education Content Development. I look forward to your participation and seeing the results!
In Closing
Thanks again to all of you for everything you do for our community, and enjoy the rest of the Olympic Games in Paris!
Ted Muzyczko served as a judge for 34 years, judging more than 1,000 meets in his long career, which included the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Games, and Goodwill Games. The successful former competitor at the University of Illinois-Chicago went on to serve as a board member of the USGF for six years, ranging from between 1964 and 1980. Ted is a member of the NGJA Frank J. Cumiskey Hall of Fame and is a published author of many gymnastics articles.
Ted was a mentor to countless judges in the community. He was an innovator in judging and used symbols to record routines in the 1970’s and 80’s before symbols were invented. Ted was one of the founders of the NGJA in 1968 and he also served two terms as NGJA President. In addition to being Technical Director for the 1991 World Championships in Indianapolis, he judged 4 World Championships in 1970 (Ljubljana), 1981 (Moscow), 1993 (Birmingham) and 1995 (Sebae). Ted also served as USA Olympic Judge for the 1984 Los Angeles Games and the 1988 Seoul Games.
Ted will be missed by many in the gymnastics community, and the NGJA offers its deepest condolences to Ted’s family and friends. Please consider a donation to the Thaddeus Muzyczko Memorial Scholarship fund, which also includes additional information about Ted's life and legacy.
The updated Technical Sequence Manual is ready to be downloaded and below is a message from Jason about them. Remember that the level 6 JE division will be competing routines from this manual during the regular season meets. It is important that all judges do have a copy of these routines because of this. Good luck at your courses, please let me know if you have any questions that arise during your studying.
Paul Evatt NGJA Men's Development Program Vice President
From USA Gymnastics:
The Men’s Development Program Technical Sequence Manual has been updated and is ready for download. Please refer to this version (October 2024) as this is the final version of the manual for this competition season.
The link to download the manual on Google Play and a link for FAQ’s as to how to purchase/download the manual can be found here: https://usagym.org/men/rules/. Please refer to these instructions if you are having difficulties.
If you have already purchased the previous manual, you will not be required to purchase the new one.
Get ready for the 8th annual NCAA Judges Challenge!!!
The 2024 NCAA Judges Challenge starts Tuesday, 19 November!!! The Judges Challenge is the best way to improve your knowledge of the 2025-2028 Los Angeles Code of Points and the 2024-2025 NCAA Modifications and the application of their rules. By working with a group of judges you can discuss how rules are applied. Then, when the panel publishes its analysis, you can agree, disagree, talk about the differences and ultimately your judging knowledge will improve! In addition, you can practice your shorthand and talk about the differences in the Junior Program.
Registration will close on November 18. Therefore, form your team now and play to win NGJA apparel. Here is what you can do now to prepare:
• Call, text or email your judging friends and form your team now
• Each team must have 2 - 5 members and a team name
• The top 5 winning teams will all win NGJA embroidered polo shirts
• All routines will be judged using the new 2025-2028 COP with NCAA modifications
• Sharpen your judging skills and share your knowledge with your fellow judges
FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Chalk Art - Kathi-Sue Rupp, Didier Lefebure, Danae Rupp, Maurine Lefebure
2. Judgernaut - Tyler Arl, Dave Forister, Justin Maxwell, Maksym Morgunov
3. Viruosity Vibes - Paul Evatt, Blake Beuyckelaere, Tim Burns, Brad Leclair, Curtis Wilson
4. Pummel Horse - Tyle Green, Tim Michaels, Aaron Fortunato, Carlos Ojeda, Aiden Whitehead
5. YenForJudging - Charles Taylor, Scott Schaffer, Nick Pudewel, Takahashi Takanori, Masao Kondo
Week 4 standings:
1. The Jäger Meisters
2(t). Chalk Art
2(t). Judgernaut
2(t). The Pommel Trainers
5(t). Dynamic Duo
5(t). Update #7 and the Cheat Sheets
5(t). Don't Jam Yurhenko in My Gaylord
1. Sticks are amazing - The Muenz boys: Chris, Kevin, Justin and Cameron Sweeny
2. Catemaven2.0 - Juan Mora, Kenys Lucerna, Henyelberth Herrera, Jorge Sandoval, and Henderson Herrera
3. Working Dogs - Don Osborn, Andrew Sweeten, Arthur Thomas, Jacob Wade, and Russ Young
4(t). The K-Team - Tom Kutz, Num Kutz, Charlie Karza, Michael Ashe, and Sho Nakamori
4(t). Don't Look Down! - Dave Johnson, Thomas Britton, Randy Gentile, Kent Itai, and Quintin Peters
________________________________________________________________________
The winners of the 2022 NCAA Challenge were:
1. Low Bar Specialists - Jonathan Corbitt, Greg Ter-Zakhariants, Phillip Pruett, John Scanlan
2. Li Ning toward giving credit - Jon Karmecy, Dan Graham, Jon Klemens, Josh Seltzer, Curtis Wilson
3. Team NorCal - Tom Kutz, Michael Ashe, Greg Ter-Zakhariants, Sho Nakamori
4. May the Horse be with You - Bob Busse, John Scanlan, Wyatt Baier
5. Guiness Judging - Felippe Mendonca, Douglas Bernabe, Rodrigo Caron, Francisco Arce, Julio Cesar Bernal
1. Drinking and Driving Level 3's: Jeffrey Zack, Dave Hirst, Michael Zack, Miska Kustin
2(t).Lenny and the Jets: Lenny Lucarello, Travis Bluc, Lance Alberhasky, Phillip Pruett
2(t)Horsing Around: Craig Nesbitt, Felix Aronovich, Mike Newberger, Jack Boyle
4. Winter is near: Mark Sherman, Kristin Miller, Jeffrey Zach, James Sergeant
5. Eyes Wide Shut: John Karmecy, Jonathan Conrad, Brandon Jones, Thomas Britton
The Winners of the 2020 NCAA Judges Challenge were:
1. Prestige Region Wide: Paul Evatt, Josh Wilson, Dave Forister, Brent Simmons
2. Fystrom of Fury: Steve Jaciuk, Ellis Mannon, Alex Wittenberg
3(t). Backflip: Gregg Didech, Malcolm Brown, Aj Van Dyck, Anthony Mason
3(t). Big Dog Judging: Don Osborn, Darion Knight, Eric Van Sickle, Kevin Anderson
5(t). The Rusty Belts
5(t). Leg Kutz: Craig Nesbitt, Num Kutz, Linda Tickenoff, Kalind Carpenter
The Winners of the 2019 NCAA Judges Challenge were:
1. Midnight Train to Georgia - S Nakamori, M Ashe, T Michaels, T Green
2. Hudson Valley - B Bruin, N Dotson
3(t). WWBDII - C Adams, L Lucarello, J Corbitt
3(t). Go Flank Yourself - G Didech, C Pryor, C Wilson, J Gaides
5. No Pity for the Kitty - P Wieging, E Shaw, H Steere, R Barclay
Awarded every 4 years at the U.S. Olympic Trials to one judge who has demonstrated the same remarkable characteristics that Jerry Donahue did while he was a judge, mentor, and friend.
