So here we are again, another year passes, another program disappears. For three straight years this has happened. This year MIT cut both of its gymnastics program as part of cuts of many teams including Hockey (one of the big four sports). Cal State Fullerton is in the midst of a USAG sponsored pledge drive to keep the program going, and rumors are flying about the status of the Nebraska mens program. It is clear that the sport will continue to be a first choice to be cut at schools as revenues are challenged amidst a tough economy, though many gymnastics programs were cut during good economic times as well.
USAG has gotten involved in Cal State Fullerton though I’m not sure why they were not apparently involved in battles to save others. If they were I apologize, it didn’t seem apparentat the time, but its possible it escaped notice.
Gymnastics costs a lot of money, it involves equipment, and liability. As more programs get cut the distances to travel will increase and thus costs will increase as well. Though it is a credit to many athletic departments that they keep the sport and promote it.
On the message boards debates are raging over what to do. Gymnastics authorities like Greg Marsden are arguing for changes to the championship format, though this will do little for the numerous programs who never see the inside of the NCAA finals. But other proposals are flying over how to better get the sport marketed and its a complicated matter to say the least.
Gymnastics faces numerous challenges:
1.) The fanbase which becomes rabid during olympic years dissipates in between.
2.) The number 1 expected fans of gymnastics, gymnasts, are often busy at their own meets during collegiate meets.
3.) The economy is putting pressure on colleges and athletics departments to cut where they can.
4.) Title IX, is a well meaning measure and has provided opportunities for women to participate in sport, but some athletic departments have been suspected of utilizing it as an excuse to cut both men’s and women’s sports. This has led to some odd results. The powers that be need to cut this out so that Title IX can remain what its meant to be, a way to provide opportunities.
5.) The sport is easy to watch but hard to follow without announcers, scoreboards, and help understanding what is happening.
6.) Gymnastics is an expensive sport.
But it also offers numerous advantages.
1.) It’s popular, even if people take time off from following it, they love it in Olympic years.
2.) It’s acrobatic, and the popularity of Cirque du Soleil, and action movies indicate people like acrobatic feats.
3.) It’s cheap. It’s still relatively cheap to by a ticket to see a meet, sometimes even free.
4.) It doesn’t involve much time commitment. There aren’t that any meets per season to go, so it can easily be scheduled.
But in the meantime, teams and their histories, and their routines are vanishing. Something needs to change.
