Three hundred high school gymnasts from across
Ontario are in their last stage of preparation for the 2000 OFSAA
Girls' Gymnastics Championship. On Tuesday, April 18, they will
converge at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough where OFSAA Gymnastics
returns after a year's hiatus.
High school gymnastics
is unique in providing competitive opportunities to high
school age girls who are just starting the sport.
"We're extremely excited about bringing OFSAA to
Peterborough, " says Chris McCarthy, Organizing Committee Chair.
"The facility is terrific, the girls will compete on brand new
equipment from Spieth-Anderson, and the community support we've
being receiving is tremendous. The girls will have an experience
they'll never forget."
The first day of the championship features open
warm-up time, a coaches' meeting, and, more importantly, a banquet.
OFSAA Championships always include a social/cultural event. This
year's theme is "Shine in 2000". The guest speaker, Janine Rankin,
has been sponsored by the CAAWS-NIKE girls@play Grant-a-Week program.
Janine will encourage girls "to be the best that they can be"
as she shares her insights gleaned from her years as a competitive
gymnast on Canada's National Team, and her work in coaching and
promoting gymnastics.
Competition in the four individual events, vault,
uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise will take place over
the next two days. As well, Sports Aerobics will be a medal event
for the first time. Groups of four to six gymnasts perform a two-minute
routine on the floor area. The routine must include high- energy
aerobic dance steps, leaps and spins. Skills from gymnastics that
show flexibility, balance, and dynamic and static strength are
also required, but, unlike a floor exercise routine, no tumbling
or inverted moves are permitted.
To qualify for this provincial championship, gymnasts
had to place in the top six in their event at their Association
Championship. Seven associations are sending teams: COSSA, CWOSSA,
EOSSA, GBSSA, NOSSA, SOSSA and TDCAA. Each event will have up
to 42 competitors.
Over the years a system has been developed that
levels the playing field enabling girls to meet others with similar
ability and training. Ontario high school gymnasts compete in
one of six levels. Level One is for first year competitors with
no prior club competitive experience. Requirements are reduced
and some more advanced skills are not allowed. All these gymnasts
move to Level Two their second year and to Level Three in their
third year. Only those who place in the top six at OFSAA in Level
Three need to move on to Level Four. Girls with limited club competitive
experience prior to high school start at Level Three. Girls with
more or current club involvement may enter Level Four, Five or
Six.
High school gymnastics is unique in providing competitive
opportunities to high school age girls who are just starting the
sport. There is no club competitive program for this category
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