Reminder about USAG Chain of Command

Lately is has come to my attention that the "Chain of Command" is unfamiliar to many pro-members. The structure of USA Gymnastics is illustrated On Page 7 of the 2012-2013 Rules & Policies (found on-line here). If you look at it, you'll see that the pro-members are listed at the bottom of the page, and the Board of Directors is shown at the top. Questions should start at the bottom and rise.

Here is how it works:

1. When a question arises at the state level, the first person to ask is the State Chair. (If the question involves the State Chair, the question goes to the Regional Chair.)
2. If the State Chair does not have the answer, he or she goes to the next higher resource, one of the Regional positions:
   1. Technical/judging questions are asked of the Regional Technical Chair.
   2. Questions involving the JO Program are sent to the Regional JO Chair.
   3. Administrative questions are sent to the Regional Administrative Chair.
3. If the question still does not have an answer, the question is then sent on to the appropriate National Chairman and the officers at USA Gymnastics.

In other words, if a pro-member has a question that person should NOT call or write USA Gymnastics and ask Connie Maloney or Kathy Kelly the answer (or contact Tom Koll). There are a few reasons this is frowned upon:

1. Connie and Kathy are very busy people. The Chain of command is there to get your answer quickly without involving more people than necessary. Connie and Kathy are very busy people. Their response will probably be to send the question back to the state or regional personnel. It's easiest just to start there.
2. Connie and Kathy are very busy people at the national level. They may not be familiar with all of the background information of a local situation necessary to give a correct answer.
3. Connie and Kathy are very busy people. Unneeded distractions are not helpful. Using the proper Chain of Command will get you the correct answer in the most efficient manner!

Please use the elected officers within the region as your resources for information! We are more than happy to answer any and all questions!