South Dakota Changes – Gymnastics

2023-24 South Dakota Changes, Clarifications & Reminders

Adjust Modified Capital Cup format to remove the dual judging requirement for regular season meets with six or more teams. Pre-meet includes an open stretch and equipment check for 30-45 minutes and remove the “play nice” warm-up time. Move the team warm-up to a minimum of two minutes per athlete and keep the touch warm-up at one-and-a-half minutes. Region/State-Qualifying Meets will stay with dual judging and will continue with the Modified Capital Cup format.
Class AA will no longer have a State-Qualifying Meet.
- All Class AA schools will qualify for the State Meet based on the team scores of season-long averages for rotation placements.
- A maximum of 40 participants (plus ties) will qualify in each Class AA individual event. Gymnasts will qualify in one of the following ways:
  - Meeting or bettering the in-season qualifying standard at least three times in regular season VARSITY meets; or
  - The remaining athletes (up to 40, plus ties) will be selected based up the the highest season-long average in each event.
    - For season averages, an athlete must compete in a minimum of four meets to be considered for State Meet participation. In case of injury, a request (including documented medical statements) for a waiver of the four-meet minimum may be submitted for consideration to the SDHSAA director of the sport.
    - Example: There are 14 in-season qualifiers in Uneven Bars. The remaining 26 participants will be determined based on the highest season-long averages of athletes who have competed in a minimum of four meets during the regular season. All ties for 40th place will qualify.
    - All other State Meet policies remain the same.
Remind, state-qualifying scores changed in 2022-23 will remain the same as follows: Class A Vault = 8.7, Class A Floor = 8.8, Class AA Beam = 8.9 and Class AA Floor = 9.2.
Changes in State Meet Format
1. Class A: eight teams will qualify for the State Meet Team Competition. The top team from each region and the next six highest overall team scores will advance, regardless of region. Class AA: All teams will qualify for the State Meet Team Competition (no State-Qualifying Meet).
2. State Meet Schedule
  - Team Day – Friday
    - Morning Session – Class A Team Competition
    - Afternoon Session – Class AA Team Competition
  - Individual Day – Saturday
    - Morning Session – Class A Individual Competition
    - Afternoon Session – Class AA Individual Competition
  - NOTE: Class A and Class AA will alternate each year as to who will go first on each day
Remove All-Around in-season qualifying standards. The All-Around division at the State Meet will consist of those participants that qualified for and are entered in all four events at the State Meet.
Failure to post the contestant number or the correct number for the contestant will result in 0.2 point deduction.
Failure to land on any part of the bottom of the feet first would result in a voided vault. The athlete will not be allowed to attempt the same vault. If the athlete performs the same vault, the vault will be voided.
Pay for State-Qualifying Meet judges is $150.00.
All music recorded for performances to be used with iPod, phone auxiliary cords, etc. No CDs will be allowed.
Winter Moratorium is in effect from December 23-26. No activities allowed during this time.

South Dakota Modifications to NFHS Rules

Coaches have a maximum of 10 minutes (instead of five) to submit an inquiry after all scores for that team are recorded for that individual event.
Vault judges must sit with one judge on each side of the vault or be placed a minimum of five feet apart when two judges or more are used on the same side of the vault.