Category: judging

NEW FIG elements

Nakamura Haruka (JPN) – piked Deltchev. (similar to piked Geiger)

Dachi Dolidze (GEO) – 90 degree turn to Russian wendeswing with a 270 degree turn up to handstand just before his dismount

Click through to see the videos.

Oklahoma 2023 Champions

So close.

  1. Oklahoma 198.3875
  2. Florida 198.2375
  3. Utah 197. 9375
  4. LSU 197.5259

Many feel Florida could have taken the title with judging that better separated the best from the very best.

BUT we are stuck with the silly NCAA boxed high scores of 2023.

Is NCAA Gymnastics broken?

One article has been widely circulated recently ➙ College Gymnastics is broken: Virality, inflated scores and unwritten rules are the name of the game

I dismissed it instantly after reading one phrase:

“A sport which had remarkably consistent scoring for two decades and established norms, is being demolished by a younger cadre of judges assessing scores based on the new, unspoken rules of the sport. TikTok has taken over the mats.“

Scoring has been bad and not consistent over the past 2 decades.

But here’s the gist of the article:

  • overinflation of scores across the country favored teams with Olympians
  • scores are UP drastically even from last season
  • there is a push for routines to go viral (e.g. Katelyn Ohashi floor)

Steve Arkell and other coaches responded:

  • level of gymnastics has risen, therefore the scores have gone up as well, as they should.
  • level 9/10 developmental scores have risen as well over the last few years.
  • going away from the 10 scoring system would not solve the problem
  • going to the FIG system of scoring would close the door to many good level 10 athletes and greatly raise the injury rates due to pushing difficulty for a higher score.
  • fans love higher scores
  • attendance is higher than ever
  • TV ratings higher than ever
  • Championships tickets sold out

Objectively speaking NCAA Women’s Gymnastics has never been stronger.

Certainly judges should face more scrutiny over awarding impossible scores. And rules should continue to be tweaked ongoing to try to better separate the best of the best.

Chloe LaCoursiere – Bars FORM

If you can’t keep your feet together on Bar transfers like Chloe, you don’t deserve a 10.0 under any Code. 😀

BEST ‘perfect’ 10s 😀

Judge Rhiannon Franck has been re-evaluating perfect 10 routines from the 2023 season on College Gym News.

As we all know, no routine is perfect. The 10 is mostly used as a marketing device for WAG NCAA. And it works!

Here are 3 sets Rhiannon would be happy to see be awarded an actual College 10.

Kat LeVasseur deserves 10s

I’m OK with Kat’s 10s on Vault.

By any standard of NCAA, these are amongst the best Vaults.

Karin Lichey’s perfect 40.0

February 23, 1996 perfect 40.0 in the all-around.

Karin Lichey Usry attended the University of Georgia from 1996–1999, and was part of both NCAA Championship teams in 1998 and 1999. …

She won the Honda Sports Award as the nations’s top gymnast in 1999.

Of course it’s impossible to compare the over-scores of today with the over-scores of that era. Karin did have a terrific night.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. It was recorded by a friend of Assistant Gym Dog Coach Doug McGavin.

Thanks Heath

Heath Thorpe is making a difference.

Click PLAY to hear his personal philosophy.

Jocelyn Moore – legit 10.0 Vault

My secret 😀 AI video analysis software still awarded a 10.

High. Long. Straight.

Mizzou: 197.450 to upset Suni-less Auburn.

impossible Judging scores

Yurchenko 1/1 is out of 9.5 in NCAA.

When a judge deems that vault has no deductions — with this landing — that judge should be reprimanded and lose future assignments.