What is NorCal?

Officially, NorCal State is one of the many "states" recognized by USA Gymnastics (the state of California has so many gymnasts, they divided it in two! NorCal and SoCal). NorCal has it's own State Board which administers the rules and regulations of USA Gymnastics in USAG sanctioned events. NorCal extends from San Luis Obispo to the Oregon border. We are also part of Region 1, (The USAG has divided the USA into 8 gymnastics Regions) which is comprised of Northern and Southern California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. NorCal itself is divided into 9 'Zones', based on geography and population. In NorCal, Zones Championships are used as qualifying meets for the compulsory level gymnasts to their State Championships.

NorCal however, is more. It is also a collective body of gym club owners, judges and competitive programs head coaches in Northern California who decided to get together to get themselves organized, run camps and clinics, exchange information and run our own competitive program. By presenting a united front of a large population of the gymnastics community NorCal has also been an influence on gymnastics in the US at large with several of it's members serving in important positions with our National Governing body ( USAG at the moment.) NorCal has a second state board, elected by the membership, that looks after NorCal's needs, a fact which has led to some confusion and animosity at times with USAG. This has not been helped by the strident independence felt by most of the gymnastics community in NorCal (we have long been regarded as the "libertarian wing" of US Gymnastics!)

NorCal also has a rich tradition of excellence in competition. We have had our share of National Team members, Olympians and National Team Coaches, many who have gone on to be USAG Officials and some of the most successful university coaches in the US. Clubs like Diablo Gymnastics, Almaden Valley Gymnastics, West Valley Gymnastics, Rohnert Park Gymnastics, Twisters Gymnastics, Pozsar's Gymnastics Airborne Gymnastics, and Golden Gate Gymnastics have all competed at the International level and we have been home to Olympians like Amy Chow, Tracee Talavera, Julianne McNamara, Pam Bileck and Michelle Campi.