Artistic gymnastics in the United States

Although this is not unique to the United States, due to the physically demanding nature of the sport there are fewer options for adult gymnastics outside the elite level, although local parks and recreation departments often have limited offerings.

Since its establishment in 1963, USAG has been responsible for selecting national teams, providing training facilities, encouraging participation and building a strong gymnastics program that involves all types of athletes.

[citation needed] To qualify for elite status, there are various criteria a gymnast must meet.

For returning elite participants, gymnasts must have competed at the previous year's U.S. Nationals.

For seniors, they receive automatic qualification if they represented the U.S. during the season or at the 2014 World Championships.

[4] Currently, the United States is ranked second in the medal table for artistic gymnastics, behind the Soviet Union.

USA Gymnastics typically funds around 12-16 National team spots for seniors and 6-8 for juniors but places can be awarded based on need.

[8][9] In women's gymnastics, there are 82 schools sponsoring the sport, throughout Divisions I, II and III.

An excellent example of this would be the Temple Owls team, who cut the program following the 2014 season, due to reasons such as "title IX, student welfare and facility needs".

[12] [13] Title IX has been a factor in the abolition of a few gymnastics programs; Massachusetts Institute of Technology and James Madison University both cut their women's gymnastics programs in the 2000s,[14][15] as did Cal State Fullerton, just after the 2010-11 season, due to "budget constraints".

[17] College gymnastics is a head count sport therefore, meaning that the NCAA limits the total number of individuals that can receive athletic scholarships but allows an individual to receive up to a full ride scholarship.

These teams have the luxury to be selective with recruiting because many talented gymnasts approach them, instead of vice versa.

Typically, international recruits will be former Olympians, such as Marissa King, Brittany Rogers and Olivia Vivian.

Based on performances at the Conference championships, teams advance to NCAA Regionals and are seeded accordingly.

However, some Pac-12 Conference coaches, including Greg Marsden and Chris Waller, have been demanding more television coverage for women's collegiate gymnastics.

Also, it is not uncommon for college recruiters to be at the bigger meets so that is another incentive and also, top teams win prize money at many events.

In the Women's Artistic Junior Olympic program, a televised Level 10 event called the Nastia Liukin Cup takes place every March; and has done since 2010.

[31] The event is named after 2008 Olympian, Nastia Liukin and is held in conjunction with the AT&T American Cup; taking place the Friday night before.

[34] To qualify to Nationals, a gymnast must place in the Top 7 in the all-around at Regionals in her age division.