USA Gymnastics is the sole national governing body (NGB) for the sport of gymnastics in the United States. It gets this designation from the International Olympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation. USA Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that govern gymnastics in this country. Training and selecting the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the Olympics and World Championships are just two of the many responsibilities of USA Gymnastics. The not-for-profit organization was established in Tucson, Ariz., in 1963. During the mid-1960s the U.S. had scarcely 7,000 athletes competing a limited schedule. The only major international events for gymnasts were the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games. Today, more than 90,000 athletes are registered in competitive programs through USA Gymnastics. USA Gymnastics has more than 15,000 professional and instructor members. Approximately 3,000 competitions and events throughout the U.S. are sanctioned annually. USA Gymnastics is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., with several other sports' NGBs and has expanded very quickly in its 30 plus years. The original staff of three has grown to approximately 40 employees maintaining the following areas: PROGRAM DEPARTMENTS... This area consists of Acrobatic Gymnastics, Group Gymnastics, Men's Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline & Tumbling, and Women's Artistic Gymnastics programs. They are responsible for all aspects of athlete, coach and official selection and development. This includes conducting clinics, training camps and competitions; coordinating gymnastics delegations to national and international competitions; and providing support for the athletes and coaches who represent the United States here and abroad. Many different gymnastics plans are developed for all ages and skill levels from grassroots to advanced. The programs generate compulsory exercises for developing gymnasts and rule books for registered athletes, coaches and clubs. U.S. NATIONAL GYMNASTICS TEAM The ultimate achievement for athletes involved in USA Gymnastics' national programs is winning a place on the National Team while working towards competing at the Olympic Games. Each National Team Member works his/her way through a structured system of competition. U.S. men's team members are mostly products of private clubs or collegiate gymnastics programs while most of the U.S. women's and rhythmic team members come from private clubs and organizations. Every potential Olympian must win a place on the National Team through a selection process. This process is supervised by USA Gymnastics, the umbrella organization composed of 22 Constituent Organizations (listed at below) which are the back-bone of gymnastics in the U.S., and helps participants advance from the grassroots to the Olympic level. USA Gymnastics Constituent Organizations are as follows: Amateur Athletic Union American Turners College Gymnastics Association-M Jewish Community Centers National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women National Association for Girls and Women in Sport National Association of Women's Gymnastics Judges National Collegiate Athletic Association National Federation of State High School Associations National Gymnastics Judges Association (M) National High School Gymnastics Coaches Association Sokol USA Special Olympics, Inc. United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs United States Competitive Sports Aerobics Federation United States Elite Coaches Association for Men United States Elite Coaches Association for Women United States Men's Gymnastics Coaches Association United States Rhythmic Coaches Association Young Men's Christian Association of the U.S.A.