(GYM) Gymnastics 2024 - 2025

From College Gym Fans - NCAA Rules Modifications for 2024-2025:

Changes in the 2024-2025 NCAA Code Modifications - CollegeGymFans.com

2024-2025 NCAA Rules Modifications(c) CollegeGymFans.com

The final 2024-2025 Code Modifications and rules have been released. Rather than adopting some of the broad sweeping proposals for Code Modifications, the changes are now focusing on a new system of evaluation and audit of the judges. The actual changes to rules governing content, execution and value of the skills are relatively small, forming an incremental change to the existing Code of Points.

The biggest change this season is the removal of evaluation of the judges from the hands of coaches to a panel of independent experts. First off, there is a new "Supervisor of Officials" position and new video evaluation process that has been established. A "SCORE" (Standardized Consistency and Officiating of Routine Evaluation) board of eight (8) paid judges will evaluate videos of routine scoring weekly, based on videos uploaded by all of the schools. Two judges will be assigned to the score board per event. Points will be awarded based on variance to the score range determined by the score board judges. Each week, the evaluated judges will get feedback as well as a script of the score board judge evaluations.

The goal is to make the scoring more uniform across the NCAA and reduce evaluation differences with the USA Gymnastics Development Program. The Coaches' association also hopes it will empower the judges to take all the applicable deductions fairly, without outside pressure to give high scores. Starting with the 2026, the Coaches' evaluations will no longer be used to determine post-season judging assignments (the 2025 assignments are already complete, based on last year's evaluations). The supervisor and eight selected evaluators will not be allowed to judge meets. However, they will be paid more than if they had actually judged the meets. This will be a live and dynamic learning process, with a lot of stress for judges, coaches, athletes and fans as the scoring moves closer to a standardized level.

In addition to the new score board and evaluation criteria, the range of allowable scores by individual judges has been narrowed. First, the average of the scores is determined. Then, their allowable range (high to low) will be assessed:

Average Score Allowable Range
9.8 to 10 0.1 regular season, 0.2 post season
9.5 to 9.775 0.2
9.0 to 9.475 0.3
8 to 8.975 0.5
Below 8.0 1.0
What really matters here is the first category, for average scores that land at 9.8 and above. With a tightening of the range to 0.1, situations where one judge awards a 9.95 and the other a 9.8 can no longer occur. This will trigger a higher number of judging conferences during the regular season.

This year, the judges will flash not only their start value and scores, but whether UTL ("Up to the level") has been taken.

For an incomplete routine with scoring out of range or with impossible start values, the chief judge has the ability to declare a Delayed Conference to allow the judges to complete the resolution of the score after the rotation has ended. This will make the rotations more TV-friendly.

Here are some additional changes per event:

Vault

No changes in vault start values have been made. The NCAA Modifications have made some clarifications regarding the "guide lines" placed on the mat that help the judges evaluate direction deductions. Deductions of up to 0.3 for direction can be taken.

The Code of Points for the Women's Development Program guides the basic evaluation of execution in the NCAA. A few changes have been made that impact vault and flow through to the NCAA.

• A small to medium step can be evaluated at 0.1 to 0.15 off.
• Underrotation can be taken on non-salto vaults as well.
• The deduction for a prescribed lateral axis turn starting too early is now up to 0.3 tenths
• The deduction for a squat below knee level is now clarified to be additive to any fall (along with other deductions like absences of extension and incorrect body posture).

Uneven Bars

The NCAA has raised the minimum require release difficulty to a D and a C. Not meeting this requirement will result in a 0.2 deduction for missing a special requirement. It was previously a C + C or D plus B.

The NCAA has also replicated the dismount difficulty requirement from an Up to the Level (UTL) deduction to a Special Requirement. A gymnast must end with a C directly connected to a C dismount, or a D/E dismount, to avoid a deduction of 0.2 points. This effectively raises this deduction from 0.1 to 0.2, while still maintaining the dismount difficulty as a necessary precursor to avoid the UTL deduction.

The NCAA has also addressed the spread of routines that use the combination of a Maloney (toe-on Shaposhnikova) to a bail to handstand or Pak. Rather than earning 0.2 in connection bonus, these combinations has been reduced down to 0.1 in bonus. This is a middle ground proposal to more aggressive devaluation solutions proposed. However, many gymnasts already connect these combinations with a toe-on to handstand and have 0.2 in dismount bonus, leaving them unaffected by this change. The NCAA also raised the level of the true Shaposhnikova (clear hip entry) and Chow (Stalder entry) to E, up from D.

As with the other events, per changes in the USAG code, a medium step can now be assessed at 0.15 points and squats preceding a fall can be added to the fall deduction.

Balance Beam

There are no significant changes on Balance Beam this season.

As with the other events, per changes in the USAG code, a medium step can now be assessed at 0.15 points and squats preceding a fall can be added to the fall deduction. In a slight modification, dismounts too close to the beam can incur a 0.1 deduction.

If the beam cap is kicked off the beam, it is no longer considered an equipment failure. The NCAA has also clarified restrictions and deductions around the use of marks and tape on the equipment.

Floor Exercise

Rather than taking bold moves to address the proliferation of two-pass routines, the NCAA has chosen some tweaks directed at two pass routines.

There is a new special requirement (SR) that two across passes must be performed, on two different diagonals. Not meeting this SR will result in a 0.2 point deduction.

The additional bonus for D double flipping saltos in the last acro pass has been been eliminated for two-pass routines. The two pass routine will now require a minimum of a D double-flipping salto in direct or indirect combination (or an E skill) in order to get the 0.1 bonus. Three pass routines are not impacted. A D double flipping salto or E skill skill in the last acro pass will still earn 0.1 in bonus in a three-pass routine.

As with the other events, a medium step can now be assessed at 0.15 points and squats preceding a fall can be added to the fall deduction.

Link: 2024-2025 Code Modifications (PDF)

Link: USA Gymnastics Code of Points August 2024 Updates: PDF

EDIT:

See post #14 on page 1 for an analysis of the new code of points by College Gym News.

 

Since it is a beam change, it'll be a point of emphasis. Best to get separation from the beam on the dismount whether off the end or off the side. Get too close, whatever the judges have been told too close is in training and I'm sure which has been communicated to the coaches, and a .1 deduction is likely.

The beam cap being kicked off deduction came about because our own Leanne Wong kicked the beam cap off last year. It was graded as equipment failure rather than a deduction to the gymnast.

 

Raeya Linton has posted on her Instagram she is announcing tonight at 8 PM ET. It would not surprise me if it is a Halloween trick, but still think Baby Gator.

 

Raeya Linton chose Stanford:

2026-2027: Linton to Stanford - CollegeGymFans.com

Didn't want her anyway.

Seriously, if Raeya could do bars, she would be a 5-star gymnast. Stanford likely picked up the jewel of their 2026 class. I say likely because 5-star gymnast Alicia Zhou visited Stanford on 10/25.

Thursday, 31 October 2024 21:31

2026-2027: Linton to Stanford

Raeya Linton, a L10 from United Gymnastix, has committed to Stanford, starting in 2026-2027. She also took visits to Florida, Maryland, MSU and Michigan. This past season, she tied for 2nd on VT and 3rd on BB at the Women's Development Program (WDP) L10 Nationals. She also tied for 20th AA. She also scored 10s on VT three times this season She was also 3rd on VT, 4th on BB, 6th(t) on FX and 11th AA at the 2023 WDP L10 Nationals.

 

Top 10 Programs Over Last 5 Years (2020-2024) Based on Composite Scores of Road to Nationals Final Rankings:

1. Oklahoma 11
2. Florida 14
3. Utah 16
4. LSU 35
5. California 36
6. Alabama 38
7. Michigan 42
8. Denver 48
9T. Kentucky 49
9T. UCLA 49

I see no reason to think UF won't be in the national finals again in 2025. Even without Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello, I think the 2025 team will be better in talent and experience than the 2024 team that finished 4th in the Road to Nationals final standings.

 

Leanne Wong is representing the US in the Swiss Cup:

Florida Gators Gymnastics (@gatorsgym) • Instagram photos and videos

Swiss Cup Zürich

usagym

We are so excited to have Leanne Wong & Fuzzy Benas represent Team USA at the 2024 Swiss Cup!

The pair will take on the mixed competition next Saturday (11/9) with Fuzzy also set to compete at the Memorial Arturo Gander on November 6th!

 

Utah is a constant in the Final Four too. I expect they will be right up there again in 2025. When we go to West Virginia on 2/2/25, Utah will be there too as both schools have it listed as a tri-meet. The match being on Sunday could attract enough interest to get TV coverage. It would give us a chance to see what the Red Rocks have to offer.

The team just outside the top 10 at #11 is Minnesota. I don't know why I'm surprised when Minnesota and Denver do so well. Both have flirted with the top 10 over the last 5 years.

Arkansas and Missouri are in the mid-teens.

As we get closer to the season, I'll do some roster reviews and make ranking predictions for 2025. I actually went out on a limb and sawed it off picking LSU to win the national championship in 2024 with OU at 2 and UF at 3. There was no way to predict the OU collapse at the national finals to finish at 6.

The 2023 - 2024 gymnastics thread is closed, but this was my final prediction for the 2024 season made in post #225/page 12 on 12/10/2023:

(GYM) - ***CLOSED***Gymnastics 2023 - 2024***CLOSED | Page 12 | Swamp Gas Forums

Going out on a limb and sawing it off as I'm revising my preseason top 12:

ETGator1 Top 12:

1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Utah
4. Florida
5. Michigan
6. California
7. Alabama
8. UCLA
9. Kentucky
10. Michigan State
11. Oregon State
12. Missouri

Moved LSU up to 1, Oklahoma down to 2, Florida down to 4 and Utah up to 3.

LSU has more talent and depth than anyone in the nation. They can pick their top 6 in each of the 4 events and have no weak links.

Oklahoma is probably equally talented but doesn't have LSU's depth. Going 3peat on top of losing their end of year wild card to graduation, Trautman, will be awfully tough.

Utah didn't recruit 2025 well due to the Tom Farden saga and did have transfers out, but the Red Rocks are loaded for the 2024 season.

Florida is going to face some growing pains with the season ending loss of Riley McCusker with her broken foot and Dani Ferris missing significant time with her broken hand/wrist, likely the first half of the season to heal and to return to top performance shape. For the Gators to be higher, Hurd and Lazzari plus the others returning along with the true freshmen are going to have to put up some sparkling performances, no nerves meltdowns under pressure. Possible? Yes. Likely? Doubtful. It could happen that UF doesn't make it to the finals in 2024 as other good teams step up their performances. It will be entertaining to watch, but the cards I'm reading do not show a championship season for the Gators. I do hope I'm wrong.

 

Stanford picked up the last 2 gymnasts in the 2026 class who are UF caliber athletes, Raeya Linton and Alicia Zhou. I presume UF is done with the recruiting season insofar as high schoolers are concerned.

UF could look internationally, but any further additions to the 2026 roster will likely come from the transfer portal. UF is at 17 gymnasts for the 2027 season and could carry as many as 20 on the roster:

2027 Season

Alyssa Arana
Kaylee Bluffstone
Kayla DiCello
Gabby Disidore
Skylar Draser
Danie Ferris
Anya Pilgrim
Skye Blakely
Lily Bruce
Taylor Clark
Amelia Disidore
Madelyn Dorbin
Jocelyn Sasson
Dulcy Caylor
Kieryn Finnell
Jayla Hang
Simone Rose

UF's 4 commitments in the class of 2026 are bolded on the 2027 season roster. All 4 are excellent 5-star quality gymnasts:

-Jayla Hang: Rated 5 stars on College Gym Fans and College Gym News.

CGN:
Jayla Hang
Point total: 82

What makes her great: Hang slots in as the No. 2 recruit in the class and the highest-rated elite thanks to her strong bars and beam prowess.

Where she can get even better: If we’re being honest, Hang doesn’t really have a true weak event. Her lowest point totals came on floor (19), but it was a difference of two at most. If she can add in a touch more difficulty on the event, as well as clean up her landings to make them more ready for college, it’ll be smooth sailing to the NCAA.

-Dulcy Caylor: Rated 5 stars on College Gym Fans and College Gym News. Dulcy is on the 2024 US Senior Women's National Team. In the US Olympic Team Trials, Dulcy finished 13th in the All Around. She finished 7th on Bars.

CGN: Dulcy Caylor
Point total: 78

What makes her great: Caylor has great bars, which is why it’s her highest event total when it comes to her ratings breakdown, coming in at 22 out of 25 points. Her floor is also a strength, unsurprising for a World Champions Centre gymnast. It’s no wonder she made a mark at elite nationals this year and punched her ticket to the Olympic Trials.

Where she can get even better: Beam is her biggest area for improvement. She can often appear nervy and lacking in confidence while performing. Her form and dismount can also be scrappy at times, but we don’t foresee it being a big issue when it comes time for college, thanks to shorter routines and more of a focus on execution over difficulty.

-Kieryn Finnell: Rated 4.5 stars on College Gym Fans and 5 stars on College Gym News.

CGN: Kieryn Finnell
Point total: 78

What makes her great: Finnell is coming off two strong elite seasons. She won the 2023 U.S. Classic, finished second at nationals, and represented the U.S. at the 2024 Pac Rim championships, winning beam.

Where she can get even better: Just one point separated Fennell’s four events in terms of ratings point totals, meaning she’s consistently great across the board. So, the obvious answer to where she can get even better is both everywhere and nowhere.

-Simone Rose: Rated 5 stars on College Gym Fans and 4 stars on College Gym News, should be 5 stars on CGN. Simone is on the 2024 US Senior Women's National Team. In the US Olympic Team Trials, Simone finished 10th in the All Around. She finished 8th on Bars.

College Gym News on Simone's Olympic Team Trials Result:

Simone Rose

Rose is definitely one to watch on all events, finishing in 12th place overall. She had a 9.000 execution score for her Yurchenko one and a half on day one, which is indicative of an athlete who would score well in college.

All 4 competed in the US Gymnastics Championships in early June among 38 gymnasts. None of the 4 finished in the top 8 of gymnasts completing 2 vaults:

-Simone Rose finished 12th in All Around, 12th on Bars, 14T on Beam, and 12th on Floor.

-Dulcy Caylor finished 14th in All Around, 15th on Bars, 18T on Beam, and 17T on Floor.

-Jayla Hang finished 16th in All-Around, 23T on Bars, 18T on Beam, and 20th on Floor. Jayla counted an uncharacteristic low score on bars.

-Kieryn Finnell finished 19T in All Around, 17T on Bars, and 12th on Beam.

These 4 commitments are outstanding additions to UF gymnastics.

 

No. While new posts should be put in this thread, there is no prohibition to referring back to previous years.

I just brought the new poster up to date on my 2024 season ranking prediction from the 2023 - 2024 thread. It's clear I'm referring back to illustrate what can be expected in my upcoming 2025 season prediction. I won't get around to predicting the 2025 season until sometime in early to mid-December.

Closed Threads from the Last 2 Years:

Closed 2023 - 2024 Gymnastics Thread:

(GYM) - ***CLOSED***Gymnastics 2023 - 2024***CLOSED | Swamp Gas Forums

Closed 2022 - 2023 Gymnastics Thread:

(GYM) - CLOSED - Gymnastics 2022 - 2023 | Swamp Gas Forums

Prior to these years, gymnastics posts were all over the place on this board with zero continuity and no way to easily follow or look for results.

 

Yeah, I get wordy at times. Sorry about that.