Dave Tilley presented to both WAG NCAA College coaches and judges before the 2022 season.
The goal is for judges to evaluate landings consistently โ 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% โ 70.2% of all injuries.
Based on a study looking at injuries in NCAA Womenโs 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 โriskiest exercise phase in gymnastics.โ …
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 โ 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.