Category: ethics

consistency in Gymnastics judging

Kathi-Sue Rupp has a website dedicated to gymnastics judging.

It’s called Flipped Decisions.

Coaches will work towards the specific set of rules at their level of competition. It’s critical that judges apply those rules consistently throughout the season.

Summary: What Can be Done

  • Assign judging panels early enough so that judges can calibrate in the time leading up to a competition
  • Make sure the competition schedule permits judges to watch podium training or warm-ups
  • Head judges need to provide detailed feedback to panel judges in a psychologically safe pre-competition setting
  • Organize and participate in pre-competition and pre-season calibration exercises (like the NCAA Challenge) that provide detailed feedback.

Read the entire article:

Calibration in Gymnastics Judging

Will Graves – NAIGC interview

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS CLUBS (NAIGC) wants to “serve and expand opportunities for all levels of collegiate and adult gymnastics by providing structure for competition on local, regional, and national levels; facilitating communication; and building a community of support and camaraderie that encourages sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, and fun.”

One part of that is offering the chance for anyone 18 and older to compete the Women’s Artistic apparatus. Anyone can compete the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics apparatus. Or both, if you choose.

Freedom.

Top sports journalist, Will Graves, covered their 2025 Nationals in Pittsburgh, PA from April 2-5.

He wrote an important article for the Associated Press. It’s important because Americans are living under a Presidency that attacks minorities to gain votes from the intolerant. The GOP hopes to motivate people to show up to vote by encouraging them to HATE.

Trans athletes are under more scrutiny than ever. Some have found a safe space in gymnastics

Click PLAY or watch an interview on YouTube.

Gender MIXED Gymnastics at L.A. Olympics

Just announced.

Details NOT yet announced.

Expanded mixed events: archery, athletics (4x100m mixed relay), golf, gymnastics, rowing coastal beach sprint and table tennis will all see the inclusion of a new mixed team event.

This seems to be part of the attempt of the IOC to have an equal number of men and women’s teams. An equal number of Olympic medals for male and female.

On the other hand, for Gymnastics, the quota of a maximum of 96 athletes in Artistic stays the same. Therefore, any mixed pairs would have to come from the pool of already qualified competitors.

Brooklyn Moors – Strong & Beautiful

Is there anyone left who STILL thinks that athletic women can’t be beautiful?

How dumb could they be? 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

BAD judging Nebraska v Michigan !

Kensley on the Neutral Deductions podcast, details the absurdly bad judging errors made at the Nebraska vs Michigan competition last weekend.

In one case, a Floor routine was awarded 0.9 too high on the D score.

I was a FIG judge for decades — and can’t imagine how ANY judge could be that far off on Floor.

Kenseley feels Michigan probably would have won the competition, anyway, with competent judging.

Jade Carey has a girlfriend

Jade has gone Instagram public about her relationship with Oregon State content manager Aimee Sinacola.

Congratulations.

In an era when ReTrumplican politicians are attacking minorities, I admire Jade coming out. She’s a role model for many others fearful of doing the same.

documentary – Becoming Sam Phillips

Becoming Sam Phillips debuts March 13, 2025.

The decorated gymnast made his name as the only out athlete at Nebraska, a Big Ten school known for its iconic athletic program. But as the flagship university of a deep red state, Phillips quickly found the school wasn’t interested in promoting inclusion, or the visibility he was trying to create for the LGBTQ+ community. …

The athletic department refused to share Phillips’ viral video for National Coming Out Day, and his coaches’ feelings about queer advocacy ranged from apathy to downright contempt. Phillips says one of the team’s volunteer coaches proudly called himself a homophobe, while deriding Phillips with an insulting nickname: “brown sugar.” …

Gymnast Sam Phillips opens up about his new doc & being the only out athlete at a Big Ten school

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) commemorates women’s fight for equality and liberation along with the women’s rights movement. International Women’s Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.

How to Save Youth Sports: A Manifesto

Parents in 2025 are worried about peer pressure, teen mental health, teen addiction to screens, and even childhood ​obesity.

As coaches, our goal is that kids get hooked on fitness and achievement through sport. Being an athlete is one of the best ways to grow up.

Here’s a terrific article by Steve Magness for your parents:

How to Save Youth Sports: A Manifesto

Sports are a great way to establish basic psychological needs: autonomy; mastery and skill development; mattering and belonging

Nobody remembers (or cares) if you won your first-grade league championship.

Youth sports should be about having a space for kids to challenge themselves healthily and explore their interests and limits.

Youth sports should be a place where kids can learn how to be a good teammate, navigate conflict, and develop tools to regulate their emotions.

Perhaps most of all, youth sports should be about developing a positive relationship with physical health and fitness. …

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