FIG Trampoline Technical Committee meeting
Lausanne (SUI), September 19-21, 2009

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, September 24, 2009: Headed up by Horst Kunze (GER), the FIG Trampoline Technical Committee met for its third ordinary meeting of the year at the FIG Head Office in Lausanne (SUI), September 19-21.

New parameters

A key issue on the Committee’s agenda was the analysis of reports and tests conducted at the recent World Cups in Sofia (BUL) and Salzgitter (GER). The Committee is looking to include parameters such as 'time of flight' and 'horizontal displacements' as objective criteria in Trampoline judging.

Tests showed that by adding the “time of flight” factor, greater objectivity could be gained when determining ranking in either tied or close scores.

In a next phase, the TC will submit its proposal at a round table meeting slated to be held parallel to the upcoming World Championships in St Petersburg in November; if the go-ahead is given at that time the proposal will be submitted to the Executive Committee.

Reference scores

During the meeting, the Committee also discussed the system of reference judges.

In an effort to progressively improve judging in gymnastics, the FIG introduced a pilot project for a new evaluative system in each of its competitive disciplines this year. Coined reference judges, these individuals evaluate the exercises of every gymnast and pair, and provide a reference score. The reference scores will be compared to those issued by the official judges’ panels. Where the difference between official and reference scores exceeds a defined tolerance, the two will be averaged.

In Trampoline Gymnastics, the process was first introduced at the World Cups in Sofia, Salzgitter and Ostend (BEL) and will be further tested at the 26th World Championships in St Petersburg (RUS); two judges have been selected to act as reference judges and will be asked to judge the Men’s Qualification, Women’s Team Final and Men’s Individual Final.