tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
I greatly enjoyed watching European Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb LIVE — but didn’t pay much attention to the silly scoring.
E-scores usually don’t matter much in 2026 as judges ‘box‘ the scores into a narrow range.
Happily, GymCastics reviewed the competition from afar — noting many of the judging controversies.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Excellent layout 1/1.
Bad coaching.
Sabrina was sitting 8th and almost certainly qualified for the apparatus final when her coach appealed this routine. The score was lowered 0.3
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
One of these things is not like the others.
We should know the name of Judge 1. There is not enough accountability in judging. That’s a HUGE difference in a routine at this level.
Dvora Meyers put together a deep dive into the history of competition Gymnastics landings. She digs into the evolution of landing mats, as well.
The most dangerous part of most routines.
If gymnasts are allowed a controlled lunge on Floor, use that technique. It’s much safer — absorbing force over more time and distance.
Personally, my strategy as a coach is to train competition landings with the goal of a 0.1 deduction small hop. If the gymnasts happens to STICK for no deduction once-in-a-while, I consider it a 0.1 bonus over the plan.
Read the article on Defector:
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click through for the longer post.
Emily Bischoff:
… Teaching our athletes to land correctly is one thing coaches can control in terms of injury prevention, whether it be to lessen the load on tendons and ligaments to prevent overuse injuries, or to minimize the risk of fluke injuries …
… the force upon landing be dissipated throughout as much of the body as much as possible …
… feet around shoulder width apart, which widens the base of support over which force is exerted. Knees should be in flexion (bent), tracking over the toes …
Promoting Safety in Gymnastics: Landings
Dave Tilley presented to both WAG NCAA College coaches and judges before the 2022 season.
The goal is for judges to evaluate landings consistently — and promote the safest possible landings.
The biggest reason is due to the massive number of serious knee and ankle injuries that gymnasts deal with, particularly in the NCAA. When you look at research studies, leg injuries account for up to 54.1% – 70.2% of all injuries.
Based on a study looking at injuries in NCAA Women’s gymnastics from 2009-2014, leg injuries accounted for 50% of all injuries with the knee and ankle being the most common (19). In some studies, up to 52% of all gymnastics injuries occur during landings, with some researchers calling it the ‘riskiest exercise phase in gymnastics.” …
THE NEED TO CHANGE LANDING DEDUCTIONS IN NCAA GYMNASTICS FOR LESS KNEE AND ANKLE INJURIES
Click through for a deep dive into this very important topic.
Watch William Emard STICKING.
Good aerial awareness. Stong legs. Good technique. Fewer injuries on landings.
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
Excellent interview with expert WAG coach and judge Jason Buttons.
I was an age group MAG and FIG judge for decades. To me Jason’s feedback on the current state of U.S. judging rings true.
Those inexplicable mistakes sometimes made by NCAA judges are … plicable. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
In LSU’s win over Arkansas, Kailin competed 3 apparatus. Got 10.0 on each.
What a season she’s having!
As of early 2026.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 