Gymnastics

Last Updated: Tue, 09/01/2026 - 4:45pm
2026-2027

GYMNASTICS - GIRLS

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  1. Girls gymnastics is a state championship event open to schools in all classifications. There will be two championship divisions: A-4A and 5A-6A.
    1. Competition in all meets will be held in the following events:
      1. Balance Beam
      2. Uneven Parallel Bars
      3. Vault
      4. Floor Exercise
      5. All-Around (competition in preceding four events)
    2. The order of competition will be determined by block style.
    3. Open scoring will be used. (Note: the Capital Cup warm-up format is allowed, but schools will be expected to pay an extra $10.00 per judge if using this format.)
    4. Beginning and ending dates for practice and competition can be found at the front of this publication.
  2. The GHSA gymnastics meets will be played according to the rules published by the National Federation of State High School Associations with such GHSA modifications as may be found in this section.
  3. Each school desiring to participate in gymnastics must file its intent by March 1 of the preceding year by filing the form found on the GHSA web site.
  4. The number of regular-season gymnastics meets allowed is 10, including any invitational tournaments.
    1. The state elimination series does not count in these meets.
    2. An invitational tournament is defined as a competition involving more than three teams.
    3. All invitational tournaments must be approved by the GHSA Executive Director.
    4. Only two meets per week may be scheduled.
    5. All teams and gymnasts (except when prevented by injury) must participate in a minimum of three (3) GHSA sanctioned varsity meets during the regular season to be eligible to participate in the state Preliminary Meet. If an injury occurs, a doctor’s statement with the date and type of injury and the release date to participate must be presented prior to the Preliminary Meet. Scan and email the doctor’s statement to the penny@ghsa.net.
    6. Schools may organize and conduct invitational tournaments to assist in meeting the three (3) meet requirement.
      1. These tournaments may be held outside the school, but must be run by school personnel and must be sanctioned by the GHSA. (Note: schools hosting a meet are responsible for paying the judges.)
      2. Scores should be submitted to Penny Mitchell by the tournament director as soon as possible to determine rankings to be posted on the GHSA web site.
  5. There will be no interscholastic practice and/or scrimmages.
  6. No exhibitions are permitted during seasonal or invitational meets.
  7. In accordance with NFHS rules, the GHSA limits the number of participants a school may enter in a meet as follows:
    1. For regular season meets, the limit is five (5) participants per event.
    2. For invitational meets during the regular season, the limit is four (4) participants per event, unless approved by the tournament director.
    3. For post-season meets, the limit is four (4) participants per event (including the All-Around competition).
  8. All gymnastics coaches are required to complete an online GHSA rules clinic as specified in the GHSA By-Laws.
  9. Tiebreaker Procedure when using three (3) or more judges.
    1. Gymnast’s scores are determined by dropping the high and low scores and averaging the two middle scores when 4 judges are used. When 2 or 3 judges are used, all scores will be averaged. All scores shall fall within the range determined by the Chief Judge's score. 
    2. In the event of a tie, an average of all three (3) or four (4) judges’ scores will be used.
    3. If a tie still remains, the score of the Chief Judge will be used.
    4. If, after the above steps, a tie still remains, the tie stands.

The "Dr. Lucia B. Norwood GHSA State Championship" Finals will be held on April 21-23,2027 at Buford High School. The GHSA Coordinator is Penny Pitts Mitchell in the GHSA office (email: penny@ghsa.net)

  1. In the State Meets, expenses are paid from the gross gate receipts, including the cost of officials, and the balance is sent to the GHSA Office.
  2. In the State Meets, a maximum of 10 athletes and two coaches will be given free admission.

 

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Wednesday, April 21, 2027

        A. The Individual Championship for each division will be held on Wednesday evening.

        B. The only gymnasts who qualify as individuals will compete in this portion of the championship.

       C. The top 16 ranked individuals in each event will qualify for this portion of the championship: Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor and All- Around

       D. Individuals will be ranked using the average of the individuals top three (3) scores throughout the season on each event. This process is the same method presently used for team rankings.

STATE MEET

Thursday, April 22, 2027

     A. The A-5A Team Championship will be held Thursday evening.

     B. The top eight ranked teams will compete.

     C. There will be no preliminary competition.

Friday, April 23, 2027

      A. The 6A-7A Team Championship will be held Friday evening.

      B. The top eight ranked teams will compete.

      C. There will be no preliminary competition.