The regression toward the mean/moving target mindset makes it almost impossible for a judge to score a gymnast outrageously far from the “average” score on that apparatus, regardless of how outrageously good or bad the performance was.
This is what I like to call The Moving Target Phenomenon, and I think it is a great example of what gymnastics judging is like today.
Part 1 of an in-depth article about some of the psychological and statistical phenomena that affect gymnastics judging.
American Gymnast - I'm a parent to a young level 5 boy gymnast and want to be more informed about what the judges are looking for during competitions. Read our reply...