Stik It! a meetcritique blog
helping you make sense of gymnastics scoring.
Good News – The Scale is Gone… Kinda
2025 welcomed the new quadrennium and a handful of rule changes in the realm of men’s gymnastics. Some were championed, others were integrated rather harmlessly, but one stands out among the rest as a change so impactful, so universally derided, that it didn’t even last the year. The Scale.
Understanding Body Shaping in Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport defined by precision, strength, and artistry. A fundamental aspect of the discipline involves mastering various body shapes and positions, which are essential for executing skills safely and efficiently. These shapes are used across all apparatuses and form the foundation for both basic and advanced movements. Many deductions you will find in your meetcritique will call out an incorrect body position for that skill. Each body shape has a time when it should be used and when it shouldn’t be used throughout a skill. Some skills may utilize many different body shapes.
2025-26 Rules Updates for Women’s Optional Levels 6-10
A new season is around the corner — and so are some key updates for the USAG Women’s Optional Levels 6–10! In this post, one of our judges walks you through the latest changes on vault, bars, beam, and floor—explaining what’s different, why it matters, and how these updates could impact scoring and strategy this season. Think of it as your quick, judge-approved guide to staying sharp and confident on the competition floor.
What Judges Want: Beginner Gymnastics Techniques Done Right. Part 1.
The one where a USAG Judge - with help from the always awesome @princess_the_gymnast - shows examples of beginner techniques that should be mastered at the early levels. Part 1 in an ongoing Series! Strong basics are the building blocks of every gymnast’s success, and...
2025-26 Rules Updates for Women’s Xcel Levels
A new season is here, and with it come some exciting updates to the USAG Women’s Xcel program! Whether you’re an athlete eager to show off your routines, or a parent cheering from the stands, it’s always helpful to know what’s new in the rulebook.
2025-26 Rules Updates for Women’s Compulsory Levels 1-5
Big changes are here for compulsory gymnasts for the 2025-26 season! As we gear up for a new season, USA Gymnastics has rolled out several updates to the rules for Levels 1–5. And meetcritique has got you covered.
Stick It: Bra Strap Fact or Fiction? Updated USAG Rules for 2025-26 Offer Clarity
One of the memorable storylines in Stick It is the gymnasts’ protest in the vault rotation during competition. The first competitor, Mina, receives a deduction for her bra strap showing while competing. All gymnasts in the line up then protest by purposely showing their bra straps. Is this storyline based on real judging deductions? Let’s get into it!
Introducing CompCritique: Real-Time Judge Feedback Now Available for Dance
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of CompCritique, our new platform bringing the same game-changing real-time judge feedback from gymnastics to the world of competitive dance. Over the past few seasons, meetcritique has helped thousands of gymnasts and coaches gain insight into their routines with fast, professional evaluations—and now, dancers can benefit too.
Competitive Gym Adopts meetcritique as Integral Training Component
The one where we chat with the owner of Tupelo Gymnastics Center to discuss how their competitive MAG and WAG teams are using meetcritique to gain a competitive edge. meetcritique Success Story: Tupelo Gymnastics Center Owner Calls meetcritique "The Missing Link...
How are start values calculated in USAG Men’s Gymnastics?
Breaking down the complex new process of calculating start values for Men’s Gymnastics coming for the 2024-25 meetseason for USAG Compulsory and Optional levels.
Common and “Hidden” Deductions of USAG Compulsories in Women’s Gymnastics
In compulsory routines, the major elements have specific deductions that can be applied if the skill is not completed to the requirements specified. However, on top of these deductions, there are specific execution deductions for Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise that may be applied.
Is Judging Gymnastics Women’s Gymnastics Subjective?
That meetcritique blog where one of our WAG senior judges tackles the age-old question: Is judging subjective? Is Judging Women's Artistic Gymnastics Subjective? Yes. And no. Judging is the science behind the art of gymnastics. Art is subjective but the gymnastics...