Men Fred Richard's Uniform Changes At Winter Cup

[JBS]

Here are his Instagram posts about it...

 

[Coach Kate]

Is the plan just to take a deduction for now and hope to inspire a rule change? I love what some of these guys are doing to increase the popularity of their sport but I'm not sure I love this move.

 

[JBS]

Is the plan just to take a deduction for now and hope to inspire a rule change?

I think so... not totally sure though... I didn't even know this was going on until just now.

 

[NutterButter]

The activist in me loves this. Good for him!

 

[JBS]

This is great... men's uniforms suck... they always have.

 

[Gymgirl84]

What's the new uniform he proposes? Or is it secret right now? It might be good, but first I have to see the alternative.

 

[NutterButter]

What's the new uniform he proposes? Or is it secret right now? It might be good, but first I have to see the alternative.

He explains it on his instagram reel but basically is clothing that moves better and is more comfortable while still showing the necessary lines. @JBS posted the reel above.

 

[JBS]

What's the new uniform he proposes?

There are bits of it in the second Instagram post... but it's basically a secret right now.

 

[JBS]

 

[JBS]

Per FIG COP...

https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20MAG%20CoP%202025-2028.pdf

Competition Attire

a) They must wear long gymnastics pants and socks on Pommel Horse, Rings, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar. Long gymnastics pants, socks and/or slippers that are black or the darker shades of blue, brown or green are not permitted.
b) They have the option of wearing short pants with or without socks or long gymnastics pants with socks on Floor Exercise and Vault.
c) The wearing of a gymnastics singlet on all apparatus is compulsory.
d) They have the option of wearing of gymnastic footwear and / or socks.
e) They must wear the bib number supplied by the organizing committee.
f) They must wear a national identification or emblem on their singlet in accordance with the most recent FIG Rules Competition Clothing and Advertising.
g) They must wear only those logos, advertising and sponsorship identifiers that are permitted in the most recent FIG Rules Competition Clothing and Advertising.
h) The competition attire must be identical for members from the same federation in the Qualifications and Team Final Competitions. In the Qualifications individual gymnasts from the same federation (without a team) may wear different competition attires.
i) Gymnast must refrain from wearing compression sleeves during competition. Hand guards, body bandages, and wrist wraps are permitted; they must be securely fastened, in good repair and should not detract from the aesthetics of the performance. Skin-colored bandages are recommended.

 

[JBS]

I'm guessing he is probably wearing a shirt and not a singlet?

 

[skschlag]

My son had a coach who did compression shirts instead of singlets. They were comfortable, but most of the time, their belly was hanging out.

 

[JBS]

My son had a coach who did compression shirts instead of singlets. They were comfortable, but most of the time, their belly was hanging out.

Yah... that would be bad... not sure what the deduction would be if it's still a singlet though.

 

[JBS]

Thought I would be the first one for this new uniform thing... but I'm not a fan... gotta figure out something better for the pants / socks. Just looks like an athlete going to practice and not a competition.

 

[Gymgirl84]

The thing is, I don't really find it that different from a regular uniform.

 

[JBS]

The thing is, I don't really find it that different from a regular uniform.

No… not really… except for the pants.

 

[Milliex2]

I was so excited for this and so let down by what he actually came up with. I agree that the men’s uniforms could use an update but it honestly just looks like a basketball uniform. I also worry that the looseness of it won’t mesh well with the younger gymnasts. I’ve seen my son’s teammates shirt get wrapped around high bar on a back hip circle.
Hopefully this is a start to the conversation about uniforms and we can see some positive changes that provide more comfort but still allow for the clean lines and safety provided by the current uniforms.

 

[skschlag]

Same. Not a fan. I do not like the gap between the pants and the socks. It is sloppy. NOt a fan of the leggings look either, although my son loves it for practice. I would like to know what the shirt is...is it still a step in? Or is it a shirt where the concern will always be that it comes untucked..

 

[JBS]

is it still a step in? Or is it a shirt where the concern will always be that it comes untucked..

That’s what I would like to know also.

 

[raenndrops]

Is the plan just to take a deduction for now and hope to inspire a rule change? I love what some of these guys are doing to increase the popularity of their sport but I'm not sure I love this move.

Yes, that's the plan. He talked to a couple of (high-up) judges and that's what he was told to do. It will get people talking ... eventually FIG will talk about it. As long as it doesn't affect the gymnast's ability to compete safely or the judge's ability to judge, then HOPEFULLY FIG will make it allowable.