I’ll admit, college gymnastics is not the easiest sport to get behind for mainstream sports fans—or really anyone that wasn’t a former gymnast. But just because it’s not easy doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.
As any ball-sport fan will tell you, learning the rules of play beyond shooting the most baskets or scoring the most touchdowns is where the true enjoyment of the sport lies. Immersing yourself in the strategy, arguing with the referees about penalties and fouls, and yelling at your TV about who is benched and played each week is where die-hard fans truly thrive. And as a gymnastics fan, you don’t have to give any of that up! You just have to learn a new set of rules in a new field of play, and I’m here to help. The following are the top five things that I think every new (and returning) college gymnastics fan should know about how you “win” at gymnastics and the people who call the shots.
Gymnastics Is a Subjectively Judged Sport
When I was young, my uncle and I had an argument as to whether or not gymnastics was a “real” sport. I, a gymnast at the time, adamantly argued that it IS a sport because gymnasts are some of the most incredible athletes, there are winners and losers, and it’s in the Olympics. He argued that it’s not a…
