To prepare for the season, I’m going to go over some of the skills and errors that can be deduction traps for college athletes, as well as some of the deduction changes that will impact the scores this year.
🤸 MORE COLLEGE GYMNASTICS 🤸
First off, the biggest change is that gymnasts are now required to stand with their legs extended, feet together and arms up (essentially in a solute position) for a full second before they walk off the mat and/or celebrate with their teams. This rule will really help judges see which athletes can and cannot control their landings and make the “college stick” much harder to fudge. Judges have been instructed to count the full second and to take any deductions for steps, adjustments, wobbles or arm circles that the athletes perform before they show the controlled finish. Gymnasts receive a half-tenth deduction for not holding their finishing position. Be prepared to see stricter landing deductions, including the heartbreaking moment when a gymnast does stick their landing with perfect control but in their excitement forgets to hold the salute for the full second and loses a half-tenth.
Another significant change this year is the “squat on landing” deduction. Gymnasts can still receive up to three-tenths for landing in…
