NCAA gymnastics is back and better than ever! Last season’s championship broke the one-million viewer mark for the first time, and—with the Olympics following closely after the upcoming season—there are more eyes on the sport than ever before. Just look at ESPN, which recently went all-in on NCAA gym by launching its own invitational meet that will feature four of the sport’s top teams and air on ABC in its prime timeslot.
To aid in new fans’ understanding of our beautiful sport, we have another edition of our how-to guide for following college gymnastics—complete with references to the mainstream sports we all grew up watching. This time around, we’ll be delving into event specifics, terminology, and pathways to winning an NCAA championship highlighted in this preseason’s handbook.
If you need a refresher course, check out last year’s guide, College Gymnastics 101, and our in-depth breakdown of the NCAA Code of Points.
Event Explanations
Vault
Dimensions
| Vault table | 120 cm long x 90 cm wide x 125 cm tall |
| Runway | 35 m long x 1 m wide |
| Springboard | 6 m x 12 m |
The Basics
The gymnast will sprint down the runway, hit the springboard with both feet, use both hands to make contact with the table, and yeet themselves into the air where…
