Over the years, the collegiate athletic scene has experienced a seismic shift, becoming more financially rewarding for athletes, technically challenging, and socially conscious. This evolution was seen in NCAA gymnastics in the frequency of perfect 10 scores awarded. While only two routines received perfect 10s in 2011, the 2024 season has already witnessed over 60 perfect 10 scores. Despite this apparent excellence, some people notice small mistakes that could have been taken off.

However, years ago, collegiate gymnastics witnessed significant changes in the scoring system, notably aimed at balancing the intricacies of execution with the challenges of difficulty. Amid ongoing debates surrounding potential reforms, retired gymnast and former Florida Gators standout Kennedy Baker has weighed in to suggest further drastic changes in NCAA gymnastics.

Ex-Florida Gator Kennedy Baker proposes new scoring changes

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Kennedy Baker, who competed for the Florida Gators, contributing to their NCAA Championship victories in 2015 and securing bronze medals in 2017 and 2018, shared her thoughts and picks for the current 2024 gymnastics season. Joining her were esteemed figures such as Kathy Johnson Clarke, Alex Perlman, Aly Raisman, and John Roethlisberger.

When asked about potential rule changes, Baker shared, “I would make two rule changes to collegiate gymnastics if the decisions were up to me.” Firstly, she suggested adjusting the scoring for routines with two tumbling passes, advocating for a lower starting score of 9.95 unless they incorporate a highly challenging skill.

This, she argued, would promote variety and fairness in scoring. Secondly, Baker proposed lowering the starting score for bar routines lacking a “bar release move” to 9.95, aiming to enhance the technical difficulty and excitement of uneven bar events. She likened this devaluation to the Yurchenko full vault downgrade in 2016, reflecting on the evolving landscape of collegiate gymnastics scoring.

A change in vault scoring that turned heads

Reflecting on Baker’s proposed changes, it’s essential to consider the significant change in collegiate vault scoring in 2016, where the Yurchenko full vault’s start value was downgraded from a perfect 10.000 to 9.950. This change aimed to balance execution with difficulty in scoring.

Despite this, some top teams managed to maintain high scores by recruiting gymnasts capable of consistently performing clean and reliable 10.0 start value vaults. Coaches have adapted their recruiting strategies and training methods accordingly, focusing on teaching different vault entries to align with the new scoring system.

Gymnasts like Kayla DiCello and Olivia Hollingsworth have successfully made these upgrades in college, showcasing the potential for skill development even at the collegiate level. As we reflect on the evolution of the sport, Kennedy Baker’s proposed changes spark important discussions about fairness, variety, and excitement in collegiate gymnastics. What are your thoughts on her suggestions? Comment below!

Also read: “Try a ‘Weak’ Simone Biles’ Vault”: Mark Robinson Has Fans Pissed Over Insensitive 2021 Comment