I Passed The Test:
What's The Next Step?
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Contact the State Judging Director
Join Professional Organizations
Complete USAG Safety Course
Contact the State Assigners
Read and Sign Contracts
Report to the Meet Site
Professional Code of Conduct
Obtain A Uniform
Complete CPE Requirements
Send NAWGJ State Judging Director (SJD) your name, address, email address;
phone numbers (home, work, and cell); copy of notification that you passed your test and level of rating achieved; copies of all membership cards (NAWGJ, USAG, AAU National); and copy of your Safety Certification card. Mail to:
Catherine Fariz
State Judging Director (SJD)
Contact the SJD to obtain the mail address
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Before you can be assigned to USAG meets, you need to join
NAWGJ, USAG, and complete the USAG Safety Certification course.
If you would like to be assigned to AAU meets, you will need to join the AAU National organization. Those who plan to judge AAU meets for Team Florida will also need to join the AAU state organization. Send copies of membership cards and Safety Certification card to:
Catherine Fariz
State Judging Director (SJD)
Contact the SJD to obtain the mail address.
Catherine Fariz
CPE Coordinator
Contact the CPE Coordinator to obtain the mail address.
 NAWGJ: The National Association of Women's Gymnastics
Judges (NAWGJ) is the professional organization for women�s
gymnastics judges in the United States. You must join this
organization in order receive any judging contracts for gymnastic
meets assigned by FL � NAWGJ. This includes USAG, AAU, YMCA,
and USAIGC. Membership dues are $45 for first year judges
and $55 after the first year. Supplemental insurance is included
in your membership fee. Note: when completing the membership
application form, the P or N number will be assigned by NAWGJ
upon receiving the application; you will leave this section
on the form blank the first time you send in the card. Contact NAWGJ
for membership form.
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USAG offers the Safety Course on-line or in face-to-face workshops. Successful completion of the
course is required to judge at any USAG competition. The course must be completed every 4 years. Registration information and course dates are available from USAG.
Judges who are 16 or 17 years old must take this course and obtain an �instructor� membership from USAG. Upon turning 18 years of age, the judge MUST apply for a professional membership to USAG in order to judge USAG sanctioned competitions. Return to top
Florida has two judges who make all meet assignments. After you have obtained all required memberships
and are safety certified, contact Carol Curley to request an availability form.
Carol Curley
North/Central Florida Assigner
If you live in south Florida, also notify Sharyn Strickland of your availability to judge.
Sharyn Strickland
South Assigner Return to top
Florida is using an on-line system to assign judges. Contact the State Judging Director, Catherine Fariz, to obtain a password to access the system. Indicate your availability for the entire year even if you are not yet certain of weekends you may not be available. One set of judges is assigned to all meets in Florida. Although you may be assigned for only part of a meet, you will be typically be assigned for both days of a two-day meet and three days of a three-day meet. Therefore, you should only indicate you are available if you can judge the entire weekend. Most fall meets are assigned in the early summer. Most spring
meets are assigned in the early fall. Depending on when you
passed your test, it may not be possible to receive contracts
until the next season. Your assigner can tell you the possibilities.
What Do I Do When I Receive a Contract?
Read the contract closely � most information is there. The meet site, level of competition and dress requirements will usually be found on the contract. If you are able to judge the meet, please sign the contract and return it immediately. If you are not able to accept the contract, contact the assigner immediately so a replacement can be found. Specific information about the meet will be sent out by email about 1-2 weeks
prior to the competition. Please read carefully. Your event
assignment will be listed. Any hotel arrangements and roommates
will be listed. Carpool arrangements will be listed (see carpool
guidelines). Check the location of the meet--the host gym often sponsors the meet in a
different venue from the gym itself. Obtain directions to the
meet site from the web by using a service such as Map Quest.
Know where you are going and the approximate driving time. Allow
time for unforeseen circumstances.
If you will not be using the hotel room it is your responsibility to notify either the assigner or the meet director. You will be financially responsible for a room that is not used and not cancelled properly.
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- Arrive at the meet site at least 30 minutes before the start
of the meet (see report time on Meet Information Form). There
will be an area assigned for the judges. Ask at the door where
you are to report. Introduce yourself to the meet referee
and other judges. Participate in the pre-meet meeting and
listen carefully to all information presented by the Meet
Referee. Assistant judges are often asked to prepare the judging
slips if that is the system used. If electronic keypads are
used to record scores, please ask for instruction.
- Once on the competition floor, check the seating arrangement to ensure you
have an adequate view.
- Stand during the National anthem. Raise your hand if your name is called during introduction of officials.
- Write your score on the slip and hand it to the Chief judge
without comment or enter it into the scoring equipment. If
the scores are out of range, the chief judge will consult with you on the scores.
- Meals are usually provided at the meet site. It is very difficult to please all judges. If you have specific dietary concerns, you may want to pack a small cooler to take with you. It is not appropriate to complain about the meals provided or to make special requests.
- Do not leave the meet site without notifying the chief judge and meet referee. If you do have to leave, make sure you leave a cell phone number.
After the Meet
- Ask for feedback from your Chief judge.
- Complete a fee voucher for proper payment (your meet referee should have extra vouchers with her until you get your own).
- Make sure you sign any necessary papers.
- Thank the meet directors, parents, and booster club for their hospitality.
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- Read and comply with the NAWGJ Code of Professional
Responsibility.
- Do not interact with coaches, parents, and gymnasts during the competition. Do not make comments about a coach or gymnast in the competition area.
- Record your score independently and do not have unnecessary conversation with the chief judge while on the floor.
- Do not leave the competition area until all events are finished. Consult with the Chief judge before returning to the judge�s room, in case a score may need to be verified.
- Control your body language and facial expressions while judging. Maintain eye contact with the gymnast at the beginning and end of her routine.
- Review the rules for the levels and event you will be judging before the meet. Practice judge with video or in a gym. Check USAG website for updates and clarifications.
- Begin to learn shorthand by watching videos or going into a gym.
- Bring reference cards to the meet with you as reminders of deductions.
- Try to practice judge a meet before your first few assignments. Please contact the assigner for specific details regarding the proper procedure for this.
- Volunteer at Judges Cup if possible (scheduled in September). This is a great
way to meet judges, practice judge, learn meet protocol, and
have fun.
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You
may order an NAWGJ uniform as soon as you receive your judge�s rating and join
NAWGJ. Contact NAWGJ
for ordering information. The official NAWGJ uniform is required to judge in
Florida.
During the first year of judging, new judges may wear a navy skirt of appropriate length, white blouse, dress shoes, and hoes (no sandals, sneakers etc) in lieu of the official uniform. You must order a NAWGJ uniform within one year of receiving your rating.
You may be asked to wear an AAU shirt for some meets with slacks or a skirt (color will be designated in meet instructions). AAU shirts may be ordered from Kathy Stuenkel.
Occasionally a meet will follow a theme and judges will be asked to dress according to the theme, e.g., at a Christmas meet, judges may be asked to wear holiday attire. Please follow the guidelines given in your assignment instructions. Return to top
All judges are required to complete Continuing Professional
Education (CPE) credits each year. Review the CPE section of this website for additional detail.
Failure to complete CPE requirements will result in judge being placed at the bottom of the assignment rotation.
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USAG:
The USA Gymnastics Association (USAG) is the
professional organization for athletes and professionals in
gymnastics activities leading to USA National Teams and Olympic
Teams. If you would like to be considered for USAG sanctioned
meets you must join USAG. Contact 
USAG Florida:
As part of your national USAG membership, you are automatically a member of USAG Florida. News and
information relevant to Florida may be found on the 
AAU
National: The Amateur Athletic Association has a large
gymnastics membership in Florida. If you are interested in
judging AAU meets, you will need to join both the national
and state AAU organizations. The national organization membership
fee is $20 and is renewable every August. If you pass your
test in late spring or in the summer, you should wait until
August to join AAU because that is the start of the new membership
year. Contact