Judging Acrobatics
Competitive acrobatics is an ever changing sport. Trends begin at the international level. Innovative clubs and athletes create new combinations that the international coordinators want to further encourage, or they see a slump that needs changing, so they modify the rules. These modifications can sometimes occur annually.
The national leaders follow these changes, and even try to anticipate changes, so they can properly direct the Junior Olympic athlete program to most effectively train athletes quickly to the international level. Consequently, changes occur annually at the national level. In the American case, and perhaps elsewhere, the national acrobatic program was absorbed into the well established USAG back in 2002. Further adjustments have occurred due to the USAG influence.
Consequently, training as a judge needs annual recertification to keep up. Also, there are levels of judge certification. The more knowledge of the sport and the more experience gained, mature one's judging abilities, qualifying the judge to oversee the judges table, both for lower and upper level athletes.
This section of the website is intended to provide resources in that judging maturation process.