controversy over NCAA Championships

UPDATE: As expected, the outcry (see below) led to a sudden flip flop of NCAA policy. The training sessions will be open to spectators, as usual.

==== original post April 17th

Coaches, judges and fans agree that the gym should be open.

Why would NCAA officials want to lock down the gym before Women’s NCAA Championships?

Watching gymnasts go through their workouts the day before the NCAA Gymnastics Championships start is as much of a tradition for gymnastics fans as the public workout sessions are for college basketball fans who show up early to watch teams practice during the NCAA Tournament.

However, Utah officials learned Monday they might have to lock fans out of the Huntsman Center on April 25 when teams practice the day before the NCAA Championships start.

NCAA officials are worried judges might watch, too, and their observations could affect their scoring. NCAA officials told Utah coach Greg Marsden they would decide Wednesday, but just the thought of turning away fans has Marsden and others fuming. …

“Our sport has always been about encouraging fans to be involved, and this is anti-conducive to that,” said Marsden, who had arranged for youth groups and others to attend the free practices. “To do it is just plain wrong. There is no reason for it to be closed.”

… the president of the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges, agreed with Marsden and bristled at the notion judges couldn’t be trusted to abide by rules.

“If they don’t want judges watching, they should just send an e-mail to the 17 judges involved and say don’t watch,” she said. “To be a judge, you have to be honest, ethical and trusted to begin with. We’re hired to enforce rules. It would be a shame to do this because it’s going to hurt fans.

Salt Lake Tribune – UTAH GYMNASTICS: Coaches supporting open final practices