The San Diego Rhythms, a nonprofit rhythmic gymnastics and dance club, will play host to a regional meet April 21-22 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive. Some 200 female gymnasts from all over California are set to participate.
According to Sofia Minevich, San Diego Rhythms owner, program director and Region 1 Championships meet director, rhythmic gymnastics is the most popular sport in much of the world. The San Diego Rhythms are trying to make it popular in this country, too.
The Olympic sport has five apparati: rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. Levels 3 through 8 also have floor exercises. All rhythmic gymnasts have to go through ballet and dance training in addition to gymnastics.
The meet this weekend is a Region 1 (California, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, and Utah) championship for Levels 4, 5, and 6, and Invitational meet for levels 7 through 10. The youngest gymnasts are age 6, and the oldest are 15 to 18. Levels 4-8 in this country are competing under the Junior Olympics program. From Level 9 up, the girls compete under International Gymnastics Federation rules. All gymnasts compete by age divisions. Girls 6 to 8 years old are Child A division, 9 to 11 are Child B division, 12 to 15 are Juniors, and 16 and older are Seniors.
“This is a very important meet for gymnasts in Levels 4 to 6,” Minevich said. “The best 10 gymnasts in Levels 4, 5, and 6 correspondingly (highest All-Around scores without age divisions) will make our region teams to represent our region at Level 4 to 5 National Championships on May 25 to 28 in Boston, Level 6 at Junior Olympics Championships for Levels 6 to 8 on June 10 in Hilliard, Ohio.
“For gymnasts in Levels 7, 8, 9 and 10, this is the last meet before their regional championships on May 5 in Los Angeles, which will be a qualifying meet for the next rounds of competitions for these levels. We will have about 200 gymnasts competing. We have 13 girls from our club competing at this event ” nine in Level 4, two in level 5 and a pair in level 9. Most of the girls are La Jolla and Carmel Valley residents.”
Putting together events like this is no easy feat, and Minevich notes that planning is key.
“This event takes a lot of work,” she said. “I started to get ready in September. I have a list of about 50 steps that have to be taken at a particular time. Everything starts with getting the facility for the meet. I am very lucky because my club is practicing at the La Jolla JCC, and we have one of the best facilities in the country, so we are hosting the meets there.”
The next step is to get a sanction and insurance from the USA Gymnastics, Minevich went on to say. Then invitations must be sent to the clubs, a schedule made, awards and food ordered, vendors to sell different merchandise lined up, brochures with competitions information compiled and printed, all participants entered into the data base and checked, rotations made, a hotel secured to host the competitors, judges invited and much more.
“During competitions there is a lot of help required from [a] club’s parents volunteers,” Minevich added. “Nobody could host any meet without their help.”
For more information on the event, visit www.rhythmicregion1.com or www.sdrhythmic.net.