We would like the membership to vote on a theme for this year’s Judges Cup. We’d like to turn this over very quickly so please cast your vote by this Friday July 24 2026. Please see Google link below
https://forms.gle/GvHdtCmJcApFGbDg6
Virtual Clinic USAG UPdate August 22, 2026 7:00pm
Linda Johnson will provide a USAG update on August 22, 2026 7:00pm
September In person GEneral Membership meeting
Will be held Win WIn Gymnastics September 17, 2026 7:00pm
Committee Minutes • USA Gymnastics can be found here:
Judges!
The minutes are now posted! Please review them!
The R&P is in the process of being updated and we hope to see it by August 1.
The info from the minutes will be included inthe Dev and Xcel updates at congress.
Hope to see you all there!
Committee Minutes • USA Gymnastics
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Fall Membership Meeting
This will be an in person meeting .
To be held at Win Win Gymnastics
1710 Midway Rd Odenton Maryland
Thursday September 17, 2026 7:00pm
Hope all are enjoying summer
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Regional Congress
July 24-26 Bethlehem PA
If you signed up for group registration you should have received an email confirmation from USAG. Please make sure that you have received this.
Best of Luck to ALL !!!!
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Greetings SJDs!
Linda Johnson is looking for help at our 2026 High Performance Camp to be held on August 28-30 at First State Gymnastics, located at 609 Tower Lane, Middletown, DE.
We will need volunteers in several capacities including Skill Critique with athletes and coaches, Team Building activities with the athletes, and a “Ready for the Rules” activity. There is also an opportunity to help with registration and sign-in, and with video scripting.
More details will follow, depending on your final assigned activity.
If you have an interest in joining us at HPC, please complete the form at the link below.
https://forms.gle/E5dZFwWLPfJwYyNq5
I know many of you are deep in test preparation! This is just a head’s up that 2026 HPC is coming! Take your test first, celebrate, and then consider if you would like to be a part of 2026 HPC in DE! Both Leadership and Service credits are available. And of course, as always, SIYA will occur on Saturday night!
Thanks!
Jane
fyi:
Nearby hotels include:
Hotels:
Fairfield Inn & Suites Middletown
411 Merrimac Avenue, Middletown, DE
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
315 Auto Park Drive, Middletown, DE
Hampton Inn Middletown
117 Sand Hill Drive, Middletown, DE
Jane Caruso
to CTNAWGJ@GMAIL.COM, carleeevans10@gmail.com, val_gym@yahoo.com, DanielleBaxter@NAWGJNH.com, equiholic@gmail.com, cosjdnawgj.nyn@gmail.com, gmc530@aol.com, katybasu@gmail.com, robinmgrady@gmail.com, koricvt@yahoo.com, mbeam71@gmail.com, Laurie, Linda, Pam, me, Jane, VA, Leslie, burton710, Pat
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To our judges who are feverishly studying!
Please note a few typos in the new code. They will be corrected with the final edition.
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Virtual Clinics July 17, 22 and 29
Virtual CLinics 1.5 CPE hours each day VIRTUAL July 17, 22 and 29 Facilitators Linda Ostrove and Beth Renwick
Topics: Level 10 practice judging and review of new rules.
Workshop Schedule-PA-MD
Regional Congress Group Registration.
The group registration was completed today please see attached .You will receive an email from USAG confirming that you are registered.
If you do not receive this email please contact me immediately.
Hotels Information
Regional Congress Group Registration DUE BY 2/9/26
2026 Region 7 Congress Interest Form
It is very important that all judges read their contracts to determine the location, date and time of the competition.
Please review the Hotel Policy. Located on our website, MDnawgj.org
Maryland is very fortunate that the USAG State Committee approved our hotel policy. We need to consistently follow our approved hotel policy.
Exceptions can be made for various issues, such as weather, replacements, etc. We must consider the expense from the owner’s perspective. Remember, many meetings have been reduced from 3 to 2 days or 2 days to 1 day. The hotel policy is located on MDnawgj.org
WAG Brevet/National EXAM INFORMATION
The 2026 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Brevet and National Judging Exams will be held in conjunction with Region 6 & 7 Congress on July 25-26, 2026. Judges are not required to register for Congress to attend the study session/mock exam or to complete any portion of the testing process.
- Location: Wind Creek Bethlehem 77 Wind Creek Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA 18015
- Study Session / Mock Exam: Saturday, July 25 – 6:00–9:00 p.m
- Practical Exams: Sunday, July 26 – 12:30-5:30 p.m.
Study Materials & Registration Details
- Practical Exam:Registration will open in Early 2026. Note that Practical Exam registration is separate from Congress registration. Cost: $110
- Written Exam:Registration will open in Spring 2026 and includes access to the J501 Study Materials. Written Exams will be available in late May 2026 and will be open for three weeks ONLY. Judges must pass the Written Exam before taking the onsite Practical Exam. Cost: $110
- Code of Points:Digital Code of Points will be available in Spring 2026. Cost: $80
Congress Registration (Optional): Congress registration is NOT required to participate in any study session/mock exam or complete practical exam. Judges planning to attend Congress are encouraged to take advantage of Group Registration or Early Bird rates when available. Congress sessions will not conflict with the study sessions or exam times.
Click Here for additional testing locations.
Please read the WAG Brevet/National EXAM INFORMATION
ASAP!
Education Carol Boyer Flip Cards .
I have attached directions of how to obtain and use the element value flip cards.
THIS IS A MUST, Carol has put a lot of time and effort into the flip cards, as we receive information that values have changed the cards will be updated. Promise you will love them !!!!
Flashcards-Deluxe-Instructions
Take Care
A huge shout out to Erin Ostrove and the Education committee, for the Virtual clinics that have been scheduled.
There is still time to sign up please contact Erin or Myra for additional information.
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UPDATE your availability regularly.
Judges Pictures From Maryland Classic taken byJohn Cheng Click on the link
John Cheng Photos – MD Classic 2026
Please note that the Assigner does not receive notification when you have updated your availability. Please send Erin an email letting her know
thank you
National and Brevet test-takers!
I just want to make sure you have all received the attached information.
Two important things
2 . You must select your practical testing site by June 1.
All eligible testers should have received this from the office via Constant Contact..
If you have not done either of those things, get busy!😀😂😫
See attached,
Bars page 18 9C, first check mark….delete “no” in front of CC awarded. CC WILL be awarded in this instance.
Floor page 35 bonus chart. There is a symbol for a Popa that should be a straddle jump symbol.
Vault B7 – Exception listed 4.406, and it should be 4.306
Appendix 13 and 14 vault. It states that incorrect foot form is a .2 deduction thru out, it is only .1 deduction
Appendix 7 and 11 have an incorrect “less than” sign under content
Any questions, let me know!
Jane
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Judges!
If you attended one of the New Code zooms, you saw me refer to this cheat sheet frequently. Everyone has their own way of finding the info they need, but this sheet was particularly helpful to me when practice judging.
It has been cleaned up (thanks to Nichole in the office) and I can now distribute it!
Happy practice judging!
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Be sure to try out the 2025 -2026 quizzes
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This message is meant to provide you all with an update on the status of the new bar settings rule, which has been a point of concern in the community. The Development Program voted today via email to “reverse” this rule to reflect what is currently listed in the R&P, i.e. THERE IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A FIXED FRONT SLIDER.
CLICK HERE to view the newest minutes reflecting this change.
Click HERE to view the message to the community regarding this update/change.(August 15 Dev Committee minutes)
Jane Caruso
NAWGJ Educational Expenses
NAWGJ Educational Expenses :
NAWGJ has approved purchasing ipads and tablets up to $399 as an approved educational expense.
MD NAWGJ Educational expense for 2025-2026 will be announced after the Judges Cup.
Please review the proposal below for the 2026-2027 Judging season, think about it, and reflect on how it would affect you.
If you have concerns, please email me with your concerns and suggestions for a counterproposal.
Again, this would take place next season. It is important that all judges have the opportunity to review the proposed changes.
Thank you Jane
Future Assigning Policy Update
Future Assigning Policy Update: Judge Requests and Assignment Preferences 2026-2027 Proposal
Currently, when a meet director specifically requests a judge, the assigner notifies the judge and offers the opportunity to accept or decline the assignment without penalty. However, due to recent and past instances where judges have declined such requests and subsequently were assigned to other meets based on personal preference, the MD-NAWGJ Committee will revise the Assigning Handbook next season.
The revised policy will address the potential consequences of declining a meet for which a judge has been requested and is listed as available in Gymjas, regardless of stated meet preferences or comments in the General Comments section. This change is intended to preserve the integrity of the assigning process and maintain positive relationships with meet directors. While a judge’s Meet Preferences in Gymjas are taken into account during the assigning process, they do not guarantee assignment to a preferred meet. Similarly, the General Comments section—used to communicate relevant assignment details and additional preferences—is also considered, but does not ensure accommodation. Examples of appropriate comments include:
- Judge affiliations
• Out-of-state or college meet assignments
• Travel limitations
• Conditional availability (e.g., limited but open to being contacted if needed)
• Friday availability contingent on full weekend assignment
• Friday availability after a specific time
• Carpooling arrangements with specific judges
• Family considerations
• Affiliation with a gym that does not compete all levels
Beginning next season, all preferences—whether listed in the Meet Preferences section or in General Comments—will be treated as considerations only. They will not guarantee assignment (with preferences) unless the situation involves an unforeseen or sensitive circumstance, in which case it will be referred to the State Judging Director for review and final determination.
Note: This policy will not apply to pre-existing out-of-state or college assignments that are clearly documented in the General Comments section.
- It’s here!!! The New 2026-30 National and Brevet Judges Ratings Information.
The new rating categories and information have been released.
Click to get the most up-to-date information!
HANDBOOK:
2025 Maryland NAWGJ Assigning Handbook
MARYLAND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS JUDGES
Green Flag Award Winners
The Green Flag Award recognizes an NAWGJ member who promotes professionalism, demonstrates leadership, or has made unique contributions to the organization.
Congratulations to Tony Eusini Maryland NAWGJ Green Flag award winner for 2025 !!!
Tony is a distinguished Level 10 judge whose decades of experience in both judging and coaching have left an indelible mark on the gymnastics community.
As the MD NAWGJ Meet Director, Tony has successfully led three major competitions, each executed with precision, professionalism, and a genuine passion for the sport. His leadership has consistently elevated the quality of these events, earning praise from athletes, coaches, and fellow officials alike.
Beyond his technical expertise, Tony is a dedicated mentor who has played a pivotal role in guiding new judges through their transition into the MD NAWGJ organization.
Tony embodies a “can-do” attitude and radiates a spirit of generosity and kindness that is truly contagious. His selfless contributions, tireless work ethic, and uplifting presence make him not only a valued colleague but a cherished member of our gymnastics family.
Thank you, Tony, for your outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication—you are deeply appreciated and celebrated.
Prevous Green Flag Winners
2024 – Myra Elfenbein
2023 – Carol Boyer
2022 – Cynthia Dunn
2021 – Linda Ostrove
2020 – Linda Johnson
2019 – Beth Renwick
2018 – Carol Holden
Region 7 Green Flag Award Winner
2021 – Linda Ostrove
2020 – Linda Johnson
We serve our members by cultivating organizational transparency and a collaborative spirit – resulting in a collegial culture. We support USA Gymnastics and other women’s gymnastics organizations. We encourage diversity, inclusion, membership ideas, and self-development for the betterment of women’s gymnastics, while promoting professionalism and harmony within the gymnastics community.
Jane, It takes everyone on the team to have a successful meet that the gymnasts will enjoy and feel good about, and the judges, as always, came through with their part. The judges assigned to the Level 3/4/5 State meet were efficient, knowledgeable, consistent, and tireless. Thank you for supplying Maryland with judging we can all be proud of!
Maryland Judges Cup 2025
2026 National Judges Cup
Congratulations to Team Maryland at the National Judge’s Cup in Anaheim, California. Our All-Star team took first, and our State Team took fifth. Outstanding team spirit, including our gymnasts’ coaches, judges, and parents.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Regional Congress 2026:
Below you will find a link to sign up for Regional Congress. This is early bird registration I will submit payment on behalf of MD NAWGJ.
USAG will send you a confirmation indicating you are registered.
The deadline is February the 9th. All information is contained in the link which is shown below. Please sign up now .
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1spyhssDCfnX4PVwtbZiOQEpQN1LTESD0TuXY1-cGcWM/edit?ts=69418c50
Mentorship program:
Please contact Sarah Mcshane: Mentorship Cordinator
mcshaners@verizon.net if you are interested in becoming a mentor and if you would like a mentor.
A huge thanks to all judges that have volunteered.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the National Association of Women Gymnastics Judges is to provide professional development for its members and to support and promote women’s gymnastics in the United States.
Monthly Quote
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon ” – Andrew Carnegie