The Administration of Gymnastics in the United States

Abstract

The United States Gymnastics Federation won its struggle for international recognition and has since succeeded creditably on the international level. However, the organization faces monetary problems, with which it has made some progress. Much remains to be done. To satisfy the grassroots grumblings, the U.S.G.F. must deal with this important part of the gymnastics program. The newly elected executive director of the U.S.G.F., Michael Jacki, underscores this as one of his most urgent problems. The United States Association for Independent Gymnastics Coaches, with its great contribution to the sport through its many innovative programs, deserves a greater voice in national and international concerns through the U.S.G.F. structure. The tremendous challenges facing the sport are how to reinstate the men's intercollegiate and interscholastic gymnastics programs that have been dropped and how to expand existing ones. Finally, the U.S.G.F. has to work toward a more cooperative relationship between the men's and women's program. The women have made great strides and should assist the men in this boom. A cohesive attitude should be developed for one sport, gymnastics, for both sexes.