This month saw just two perfect 10s, a sharp contrast to the 20 we had this time last year. NCAA judging seems to be undergoing a bit of a recalibration with the introduction of the SCOREBoard, a system designed to evaluate judges’ accuracy and consistency. Whether this initiative will have a long-term effect remains to be seen, but the presence of a secondary panel of judges appears to have already influenced scoring trends. While there may be fewer 10s this season, the hope is that they will reflect higher-quality performances than in recent years. As a reminder, I use the following scale to assess the quality of a 10.0 routine:
⭐ This was clearly not a 10.0 routine (but still very good!)
⭐⭐ There was definitely a deduction there, but maybe the judges blinked?
⭐⭐⭐ 10.0 vibes, but not actually perfect
⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was a “college 10”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 100% a perfect routine
Bars
Jordan Chiles, UCLA (Jan. 18)
Deductions
Foot adjustment (-0.05)
Height (-0.05)
If you look closely, you can see Chiles’ left foot scoot back a tiny bit when she lands. There really was no way the judge on her right could have seen it, but the judge on the left could have if they were looking closely. The height deduction is also very picky; it’s not normally a deduction taken in college on an almost-stuck landing. However, Chiles releases the bar early, travels far away from the bar and doesn’t let her hips rise above the level of the high bar, which is the expectation for a salto dismount. The rest of her routine had great amplitude, rhythm, and form. She may have bent her arms on her giants, but it wasn’t clear from the side angle, so the judges wouldn’t have been able to see it either.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Beam
Helen Hu, Missouri (Jan. 17)
Deductions
There are few things gymnastics fans universally agree upon, but Helen Hu’s 10.0 on beam seems to be one of them. She is one of the most artistic and unique beam workers in the NCAA today, and she goes above and beyond with her unique choreography, impressive holds, and stunning flexibility.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Article by Rhiannon Franck
Rhiannon Franck is a former national-rated NAWGJ women’s gymnastics judge with over 15 years of USAG judging experience and nine seasons judging NCAA gymnastics. Outside of gymnastics, Franck works at a university as a nursing professor and loves to travel. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
