bonus points for “sticking the landing”

I have always been supportive of a stuck landing bonus in competition.

This results in coaches and gymnasts making more conservative (safer) decisions in which dismount to compete. And greatly reduces the risk of injury on landing.

Best of all was a regulation we once had in place for beginner boys in Alberta which required a 3-second hold on landing in the bent knee position … before standing up and presenting.

(Young kids tend to get excited and stand up too quickly.)

We had no deduction for “feet apart”.

Last season at women’s competition in my region and was shocked to see the stick bonus disallowed for some of the “best” landings in the meet on vault.

Why? … Feet “too far apart”.

This is crazy. And may actually cause ankle injury (sprains) by forcing gymnasts to land with feet too close together.

So long as the athlete can “pivot” the heels together to touch without moving the toes, the feet are close enough together. This distance is almost shoulder width for most kids, creating a stable base of support.

In fact, I would prefer we deduct athletes who land with feet “too close together”. That would make a lot more sense medically.

photo – Kyle Shewfelt, Olympic Floor Champion at 2004 Olympics

related: About.com Gymnastics – top 10 “sticks”