2005 Tech Talk
Edited by Carole Mitchell, USSS Technical Vice President
October, 2005

Welcome to the 2005 edition of Tech Talk. This document is meant to simplify the format of the rules changes made at the 2005 USAS convention and highlight those critical to coaches and athletes. Complete rule changes can be found on the USA Synchro website.

Changes beginning in 2006:
For US Senior Open only, a team and/or combo may consist of registered athletes from 2 or more U.S. clubs.
For US Senior Open only, trios have been eliminated.
For US Open, US clubs, Foreign clubs and National Teams may enter more than one Free Combination (combo).

Free Combination has a maximum of 10 competitors who make a combination of routines (Solo, Duet, Trio, and Team). At least 2 parts must have fewer than 3 swimmers and at least 2 parts must have 4 to 10 swimmers. A new part begins where the previous part ends.

Event progression for the US National Championship: Preliminary Free Routine competition followed by Preliminary Technical Routine Competition, followed by Final Free Routine competition.

For Collegiate competition, Full-time Undergraduate and Graduate students who meet the one-time transfer rule and who meet their respective institution’s NCAA eligibility standards shall be eligible to compete.

For all meets:

• For the deck work in team routines, competitors may not execute stacks, towers, or human pyramids.
• The walk-on of the athletes from the designated starting point to a stationary position may not exceed 30 seconds. (1 point penalty)
• For figure competition, jewelry is not allowed.

Technical elements for 2006 can be found on the US Synchro website at: http://www.usasynchro.org/events/convention/main_05.htm

Changes beginning in 2007:
Age Groups will be 10 & under, 11-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-19. Junior age will be 15-18. Senior age will be 15 & over. Intermediate will be 10 & under, 11-12, 13-15, 16-17 and 18 & over. Novice will be 8 & under, 9-10, 11-12 and 13 & over. Please note that these age groups do not take effect until 2007.

For 2007, 13-15 routines will be free routines with some required elements.

For 2007---Phase I of 2007 Junior Team Trials will be held at the 2007 US Junior Championship. Phase II will be held in May, 2007. To enter the 2007 Junior Team Trials, a swimmer must attend the 2007 US Junior Championship.

 2006 FIGURES
NOVICE
101 Ballet Leg, Single
302 Blossom
320 Somersault, Front Pike
310 Somersault, Back Tuck

INTERMEDIATE “B” FIGURES - 2006
COMPULSORY FIGURES
360 WALKOVER, FRONT
301 BARRACUDA

GROUP 1 (Association Championships)
355 PORPOISE
101 BALLET LEG  

GROUP 2 (Regional Championships)
401 SWORDFISH
344 NEPTUNUS

GROUP 3 (Optional/ Invitational Meets)
311 KIP
324 BALLERINA

INTERMEDIATE “A” FIGURES - 2006
COMPULSORY FIGURES
346 SIDE FISHTAIL SPLIT
140 FLAMINGO, BENT KNEE

GROUP 1 - (Association Championships)
345 REVERSE CATALINA
311c KIP TWIRL

GROUP 2 - (Regional Championships)
306d BARRACUDA, BENT KNEE SPIN 180
423 ARIANA

GROUP 3 (Optional Invitational Meets)
401 SWORDFISH
355e PORPOISE SPIN 360

11 & UNDER AGE GROUP FIGURES - 2006
COMPULSORY FIGURES
360 WALKOVER, FRONT
301 BARRACUDA

GROUP 1 - Association Championships
355 PORPOISE
101 BALLET LEG

GROUP 2 - Regional championships
401 SWORDFISH
344 NEPTUNUS

GROUP 3 - Optional/Invitational Meets
311 KIP
324 BALLERINA

12-13 & 14-15 AGE GROUP FIGURES - 2006
COMPULSORY FIGURES
346 SIDE FISHTAIL SPLIT
140 FLAMINGO, BENT KNEE

 GROUP 1 (Association Championships)
345 REVERSE CATALINA
311c KIP TWIRL

GROUP 2 (Regionals)
306d BARRACUDA, BENT KNEE SPIN 180
423 ARIANA

 GROUP 3 (US Age Groups)
401 SWORDFISH
355e PORPOISE SPIN 360

JUNIOR FIGURES (16-17 & 18-19 age groups and 14-18 for US Juniors)-2006
COMPULSORY FIGURES
355f PORPOISE, CONTINUOUS SPIN
128 EIFFEL WALK

GROUP 1
301e BARRACUDA TWIRL
330d AURORA SPIN 180

GROUP 2 (Association Championships)
312 KIP SPLIT
322 SUBALINA

GROUP 3 (Regionals)
118 HELICOPTER
342c HERON SPIN 360

GROUP 4 (US Age Groups)
435c NOVA TWIRL
347 BELUGA  

You will find figure descriptions for all new figures on the USSS website at: http://www.usasynchro.org/events/convention/reports/2005Post/2005%20FIGURE%20COMMITTEE%20REPORTv3%20for%20web.doc

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Karen Paulk (kpsynch@tampabayrr.com), Myrna Hagedorn (Hagedorn@ix.netcom.com), Diane Hunsinger (diane@cmf.net) or Carole Mitchell (cmitchel@richmond.edu).