How are gymnastics scored? Gymnastics scores combine two main parts: how hard the routine is and how well the gymnast performs it. This system is run by the world gymnastics group, the FIG. It uses what is called an open-ended scoring system, meaning there is no set maximum score like the old “perfect 10.” A final score comes from adding the Difficulty score and the Execution score, then subtracting any Gymnastics deductions. This article will break down this Gymnastics scoring system to help you understand how it works.
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The Core of Gymnastics Scoring
Gymnastics scoring might seem tricky at first look. But it breaks down into simple ideas. Judges watch each routine. They give points based on set rules. These rules are written in the FIG Code of Points. This code tells judges what skills are worth, and what mistakes cost.
Two Key Parts: Difficulty and Execution
Every routine gets two scores. These scores come from different judges.
- Difficulty Score (D-Score): This score measures how hard the skills are. It looks at the value of each move, how they are linked, and if the gymnast meets certain demands for the event.
- Execution Score (E-Score): This score measures how perfectly the routine is done. Judges start from a perfect 10.0. They take away points for every mistake the gymnast makes. Things like bent knees, shaky landings, or not holding positions cost points here.
The total score for a routine is:
Total Score = Difficulty Score + Execution Score – Penalties
Penalties are extra points taken away for rule breaks that are not execution errors, like stepping out of bounds on Floor.
What is Difficulty Score?
The Difficulty score shows the value of the gymnasts’ skills. It rewards them for doing harder moves and linking them together. There is no upper limit to the D-Score. The harder the routine, the higher this score can be.
What is Execution Score?
The Execution score starts at 10.0. This is the ideal. Judges watch for errors in form, artistry, and control. Every mistake takes points away from this 10.0 start value. A perfect routine with no mistakes would get an Execution score of 10.0.
What are Deductions?
Gymnastics deductions are points taken off the Execution score for mistakes. These mistakes can be small or big. They are the core of the E-Score judging.
Grasping the Difficulty Score
Let’s look closer at the Difficulty score. It is more than just doing hard flips. The D-Score is built from three parts:
- Element Value: Every skill in gymnastics has a value. The FIG gives each skill a letter value from A (easiest) to J (hardest) and beyond. A skills are worth less than D skills, which are worth less than J skills. The Difficulty score counts the values of the gymnast’s hardest skills.
- Connection Value: Gymnasts get bonus points for linking difficult skills right after each other without stopping. This shows great control and strength. For example, doing a hard flip right into another hard flip can add bonus points to the D-Score.
- Composition Requirements: For each event, gymnasts must show certain types of skills. These are called Composition Requirements (CR). They make sure the routine is well-rounded. Examples include doing a dismount, a certain number of tumbling passes on Floor, or specific turns on Beam. If a gymnast misses a requirement, they lose points from their Difficulty score.
The Difficulty judges (Gymnastics judges on the D-panel) add up the values of the hardest skills, any connection bonuses, and check if all requirements are met. This sum is the Difficulty score.
Example:
Imagine a Beam routine.
* Hard skills = 4.0 points
* Connections = 0.5 points
* Composition Requirements met = Full value added
D-Score = 4.0 + 0.5 + (Value for meeting requirements)
If requirements are worth a total of 2.0 points (this varies by event), the D-Score would be 4.0 + 0.5 + 2.0 = 6.5.
Interpreting the Execution Score
The Execution score tells how clean and smooth a routine is. The E-Score judges start with 10.0 points. They take points away for every fault they see.
The 10.0 Start for Execution
While the total score is open-ended, the Execution score starts at a perfect 10.0. Think of it like a perfect drawing. Any smudge or line out of place takes away from the perfect start.
Judging Execution – What They Look For
E-Score Gymnastics judges look for many things. They want to see perfect body lines, straight legs and arms, pointed toes, good control, and nice flow. Here are common deductions:
- Small Mistakes (0.1 deduction):
- Slight bend in knees or elbows.
- Small balance checks on Beam or Floor.
- Legs slightly apart during a skill where they should be together.
- Small step on landing.
- Medium Mistakes (0.3 deduction):
- Clear bend in knees or elbows.
- Medium balance checks, like waving arms more clearly.
- Legs wide apart during a skill.
- Larger step or hop on landing.
- Big Mistakes (0.5 deduction):
- Large bend in knees or elbows.
- Major balance breaks, like grabbing the beam.
- Missing handstand position by a large amount.
- Landing errors like sitting down on the floor.
- Falls (1.0 deduction):
- Falling from the apparatus (Bars, Beam).
- Touching the floor with one or two hands after a landing on Vault or Floor.
- Sitting or lying down completely on a landing.
Judges add up all the small, medium, and big deductions. They subtract this total from the 10.0 starting E-Score. Then they subtract any fall deductions.
Example:
A gymnast starts with a perfect 10.0 E-Score.
Judges see:
* One small bend in knees (0.1)
* One medium balance check (0.3)
* Two small steps on landing (0.1 + 0.1 = 0.2)
* Total deductions = 0.1 + 0.3 + 0.2 = 0.6
Execution Score = 10.0 – 0.6 = 9.4.
If the gymnast also fell, the E-Score would be 10.0 – 0.6 – 1.0 = 8.4.
Getting to Know the Judges
Who decides these scores? There are panels of Gymnastics judges for each event. They are highly trained and certified by the FIG.
Different Judging Panels
There are usually two groups of judges for each event:
- The Difficulty Panel (D-Panel): These judges focus only on the difficulty. They identify the skills the gymnast does. They check for connection bonuses. They make sure all the Composition Requirements are included. They build the D-Score. There are typically two D judges.
- The Execution Panel (E-Panel): These judges focus only on how well the routine is performed. They watch for every tiny mistake in form, line, and control. They take deductions from the 10.0 start. There are usually five E judges.
How Judges Work Together
After a routine, the judges quickly figure out their scores.
- The D-Panel agrees on the Difficulty Score.
- The E-Panel each give their own Execution Score. To get the final E-Score, the highest and lowest scores from the E judges are often dropped, and the remaining scores are averaged. This helps remove scores that might be too high or too low.
- The final routine score is calculated: D-Score + (Averaged E-Score) – Penalties.
This system uses different judges for D and E to make scoring fair and accurate. One group focuses on the hard skills, the other on perfect performance.
Scoring on Each Apparatus
While the basic D + E – Penalties formula is the same, each event has its own specific rules and common mistakes. Let’s look at scoring on the main events for women and men.
Vault Scoring
Vault scoring rules are slightly different. A gymnast runs down a runway, jumps onto a springboard, hits the vault table, and performs a skill in the air before landing.
- Difficulty on Vault: Each vault skill has a set value in the Code of Points. This is the D-Score for that vault. There are no connection bonuses or composition requirements like in other events (unless a gymnast does two vaults, where they might need different “families” of skills). The D-Score comes simply from the chosen vault’s value. Harder vaults have higher D-Scores.
- Execution on Vault: Judges watch the run, the pre-flight (before hitting the table), the contact with the table, the post-flight (after leaving the table), and the landing.
- Common deductions: Bent legs or arms, poor body shape in the air, not enough height or distance from the table, landing with steps, hops, or falls. Landing outside the marked landing area also costs points.
- Vault Final Score: If a gymnast does two vaults (like in qualifications or all-around), the scores for both vaults are averaged to get a final Vault score. In event finals, they often do two vaults, and the scores are averaged. For team or all-around competition where only one vault is performed, that one score counts.
Uneven Bars Scoring
Uneven bars scoring rewards complex moves, smooth connections, and difficult dismounts. Gymnasts move between a high and low bar.
- Difficulty on Bars: D-Score comes from:
- Value of the hardest skills.
- Connection bonuses for linking skills, especially high-difficulty ones.
- Composition Requirements: Gymnasts must show different types of grips, turns, flight elements (moves where they let go of the bar), and a dismount.
- Execution on Bars: Judges look for:
- Straight body lines, pointed toes.
- Full handstands where required.
- Smooth rhythm and flow between skills.
- Close bar work (staying near the bars).
- Solid landing on the dismount.
- Common deductions: Bent arms or legs, not reaching handstand, pauses, extra swings, hitting the bars with feet, poor landing.
Balance Beam Scoring
Balance beam scoring demands perfect balance, flexibility, and tumbling on a surface just 4 inches wide. Routines include turns, leaps, jumps, acrobatic skills, and a dismount.
- Difficulty on Beam: D-Score comes from:
- Value of the hardest skills (acrobatic, dance, and turns).
- Connection bonuses for linking skills, like an acrobatic series (e.g., back handspring to back handspring).
- Composition Requirements: Must include moves like a full turn, a leap or jump with 180-degree split, an acrobatic series, and a dismount.
- Execution on Beam: Judges watch for:
- Perfect control and balance.
- Held positions (like handstands or scales).
- Straight legs and pointed toes in leaps and jumps.
- Smoothness of the routine.
- Solid landing on the dismount.
- Common deductions: Wobbles, large balance checks (waving arms, grabbing beam), falls (1.0 deduction), bent legs or arms, not hitting split positions in leaps, extra steps on landing.
Floor Exercise Scoring
Floor exercise scoring combines tumbling, dance, and music. Gymnasts must use the whole floor area and show personality and artistry.
- Difficulty on Floor: D-Score comes from:
- Value of the hardest skills, mainly in tumbling passes and dance elements (leaps, turns).
- Connection bonuses for linking tumbling skills or dance skills.
- Composition Requirements: Must include multiple tumbling passes (at least one with two or more saltos), a mix of acrobatic and dance skills, and use of the whole floor.
- Execution on Floor: Judges look for:
- Perfect form in tumbling and dance.
- High tumbling passes with good control.
- Clean landings on tumbling (no steps or hops).
- Hitting full splits in leaps.
- Artistry and expression that fits the music.
- Use of the entire floor area.
- Common deductions: Bent legs or arms in tumbling, not reaching full split in leaps, landing errors (steps, hops, sitting down), landing out of bounds (0.1 deduction per step/landing out), lack of energy or artistry.
Scoring Men’s Gymnastics
Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) has six events: Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar. The core scoring idea is the same: Difficulty + Execution – Penalties.
- Difficulty (Men’s): The D-Score comes from element values, connection value, and composition requirements specific to each men’s event. Skills are also rated A through J+.
- Execution (Men’s): Judges start from 10.0 and take deductions for form, control, and position errors, similar to women’s events but tailored to the unique skills on each apparatus.
Common differences in focus:
- Pommel Horse: Focus on continuous, fluid movement without stops, complex hand placements, and body positions.
- Still Rings: Strength holds (like the Iron Cross), swings, and clean dismounts are key. Judges look for stillness in holds.
- Parallel Bars: Swings, strength holds, and transitions between bars are important. Handstands must be precise.
- Horizontal Bar: Giant swings, release moves (letting go and re-catching the bar), and dismounts are judged on height, form, and continuity.
The Gymnastics scoring system for men also uses separate D and E panels combining their scores.
Finding the Final Score
After a routine ends, the scores are quickly put together.
Adding it Up
- The D-Panel gives their Difficulty score.
- The E-Panel calculates their individual Execution scores (10.0 minus deductions).
- The highest and lowest E-Scores are dropped. The rest are averaged.
- Any specific penalties (like stepping out of bounds) are added to the Execution deductions total.
- The Final Score is: D-Score + Averaged E-Score – Total Deductions/Penalties.
This score is shown to the public.
Potential for Inquiry
If a coach thinks there was a mistake in the scoring (usually the D-Score calculation, as E-Scores are more subjective), they can ask the judges to look again. This is called an inquiry. There are strict rules and time limits for making an inquiry.
Looking at Scoring History
Gymnastics scoring has changed a lot. For decades, the “Perfect 10” was the goal. Gymnasts aimed for a 10.0 total score. This system had a fixed start value (often 10.0) and deductions were taken from that.
However, as skills got harder, gymnasts were doing incredibly difficult routines but were still limited to a 10.0. It became hard to reward gymnasts who pushed the limits of the sport with much harder skills.
After some events where scoring caused debate, the FIG scoring system changed around 2006 to the open-ended system used now. This system lets the Difficulty score grow with the complexity of the skills. It rewards both hard tricks (D-Score) and performing them perfectly (E-Score). This new system makes it possible for scores to go above 10.0. It puts a higher value on performing elite, risky skills cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest score possible in gymnastics?
There is no set highest score. It is an open-ended system. A gymnast’s score depends on the Difficulty value they build and how well they execute the routine. The harder the skills done perfectly, the higher the score can be. Scores often range from the low 13s to the high 15s or low 16s for top routines in major events.
What are the main types of deductions?
The main types of Gymnastics deductions are taken from the Execution score (starting at 10.0). They are typically classified by size: 0.1 (small mistake), 0.3 (medium mistake), 0.5 (big mistake), and 1.0 (fall). Specific penalties for rule breaks, like stepping out of bounds on Floor or not meeting time limits, are also taken.
Do falls automatically mean a low score?
A fall is a large deduction (1.0 point from the E-Score). However, a gymnast who performs a routine with very high difficulty might still get a good overall score even with a fall, if the rest of their routine had very few execution errors and a high D-Score. A low Difficulty score combined with a fall will likely result in a very low score.
How do judges break ties?
If two gymnasts have the same total score, the tie is usually broken by looking at the Execution score. The gymnast with the higher E-Score places higher. If E-Scores are also tied, the D-Scores might be compared next, with the higher D-Score placing higher. Specific rules can vary slightly by competition.
In short, gymnastics scoring is a mix of art and science. It rewards both the brave athlete who tries difficult skills and the precise athlete who performs them without fault. By adding the Difficulty score to the Execution score and taking away deductions, judges arrive at a final number that ranks each performance. It’s a system that celebrates both power and grace.