Utah gymnastics fans have experienced a whirlwind of emotions in the first month of the 2025 season. They have navigated through highs and lows that have left many scratching their heads. Despite being ranked No. 4 in the country, the Red Rocks have faced a roller coaster of scoring inconsistencies that have stirred confusion and frustration among the team and its supporters.
Scoring Inconsistencies: The Root of the Roller Coaster
For Utah gymnastics, the 2025 season has been a mixed bag. With one great score at the Best of Utah and one good score against Iowa State, the Red Rocks have also recorded three sub-197 scores, a rarity for a team of their caliber. This inconsistency has left fans and the team questioning the scoring system.
While scores in the low-to-mid 197 range are considered good, high 197s are great, and elite scores hit 198 or better. The Red Rocks’ scores have been all over the place, which is unusual for a team that entered the season with high expectations.
The Impact of Subjective Judging
Gymnastics has always been a sport where subjective judging plays a significant role. Judges have to make quick decisions based on a single view of a routine, while everyone else gets the benefit of replays and multiple camera angles. This subjectivity can lead to varying scores for similar performances, as seen in Utah’s meets.
For instance, the gymnastics performed by Utah at the Best of Utah (197.950) and against BYU (196.975) was very similar, yet the scores were not even close.
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The Introduction of SCORE Board
To address these inconsistencies, a new program called SCORE Board was introduced this season. This system involves an eight-member committee evaluating videos of NCAA routines, with judges rated on their accuracy. The aim is to bring more uniformity in judging across the country.
However, the system is still experimental, and its impact has been felt in early-season meets. Perfect 10s have been hard to come by, and the harsher judging has affected teams like Utah.
Challenges and Adaptations
The implementation of SCORE Board has not been without its challenges. Initially, judges had to opt in to receive feedback, making it likely that some judges took the call for more accurate scoring more seriously than others. Moreover, judges won’t receive any feedback this year, even if they opted in, as the focus is on data collection to validate the system. This has made it difficult to achieve uniformity in judging standards across the sport.
Utah’s Response to Scoring Challenges
Early in the season, the Red Rocks were visibly affected by low scores. They let the scores they received against Utah State and at the four-team meet in Oklahoma get to them, impacting their performance. However, there has been a conscious shift since then.
Grace McCallum noted that the team competed their best yet at BYU, even though the scores didn’t reflect that. Utah has decided to embrace the scoring and focus on areas of improvement in their routines.
Utilizing Routine Summaries
Head coach Carly Dockendorf has been proactive in addressing the scoring challenges. She has utilized routine summaries more this season than ever before. These summaries, where judges explain the deductions taken in routines to coaches, have been instructive and useful. Dockendorf admits that these summaries have highlighted areas where the team needs to improve, which they might not have focused on otherwise.
Looking Ahead
Gymnastics will always be a subjective sport, and judging will always be a point of discussion.
While the SCORE Board aims to bring more consistency, it is still a work in progress.
Utah gymnastics has chosen to focus on what they can control—improving their routines and accepting the scores as they come.
As the season progresses, the Red Rocks hope to see their hard work reflected in more consistent and higher scores.
For more detailed insights into Utah gymnastics’ scoring controversy and the factors at play, you can read the full article on Deseret News.
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