The 2025 FIG Code of Points introduces several key changes to the men’s floor exercise, refining scoring, difficulty requirements, and routine structure. Here’s a look at what’s new—and what it means for gymnasts and coaches alike.
Updated Rules and Regulations
1. Counting Elements Reduced
Perhaps the biggest change is the reduction in counting elements from 10 to 8 for senior men’s floor routines. Junior men already follow an 8-element limit, so this new rule brings the senior division in line. Coaches and athletes will need to strategize carefully, selecting fewer but higher-impact skills to maximize their Difficulty (D) score.
2. Routine Duration
Floor routines must now be completed within 70 seconds, a slight drop from the previous 75-second limit. A warning signal sounds at 60 seconds, then again at 70 seconds. Gymnasts exceeding 70 seconds face a time deduction. This shorter time frame encourages efficient choreography and quicker transitions between passes.
3. Floor Area Use
Gymnasts are still expected to use the entire 12m x 12m floor space, but the rules on diagonal usage have tightened. The same diagonal can only be used twice in a row, down from three.
Additionally, routines must travel through or from all four corners of the floor; failure to do so leads to a 0.3 neutral deduction. These rules are meant to encourage variety in direction and full utilization of the performance area.
4. Start and Finish Positions
Every floor routine must begin from a still stand inside the boundary lines, and end with a controlled landing on both feet together. Stepping outside the boundary at any point incurs neutral deductions:
- 0.1 if only one foot/hand goes out
- 0.3 if both feet/hands step out
- 0.5 if the entire body leaves the floor area
5. Line and Time Judges
Floor Exercise now has two line judges specifically watching boundary violations, and one time judge monitoring the 70-second limit. They signal any violations (out-of-bounds or overtime) to the head judge (D1), keeping the competition fair and consistent.
Difficulty Value Changes
1. Element Group Restructuring
One of the biggest changes for floor exercise is that it now has four distinct Element Groups (EGs), an increase from the previous three:
- EG I: Non-acrobatic elements
- EG II: Acrobatic elements forward
- EG III: Acrobatic elements backward
- EG IV: Single salto (forward or backward) with one or more twists
Previously, twisting saltos were included in the forward/backward categories. Separating them into EG IV highlights the unique difficulty of single-twisting flips. On floor, there is also no longer a separate dismount group—the last pass is included under one of these four groups.
2. Element Group Requirements
To earn full 0.5 composition credit for EG II, III, or IV, the specific skill a gymnast performs must be D value or higher. If the skill is A, B, or C valued, the gymnast only receives 0.3 composition credit instead of 0.5. This rule pushes athletes to include higher-difficulty skills in their routines.
EG I (non-acro) remains at 0.5 credit for any valid element, regardless of difficulty level. However, gymnasts are now limited to a maximum of four elements from the same EG, down from five, to encourage a broader variety of skills.
3. Connection Value and Skill Upgrades
Connection Value (CV) rules remain largely the same as in the 2022–2024 Code:
- D (or higher) + B/C earns +0.1 CV.
- D + D (or higher) earns +0.2 CV.
Two single saltos with twists in direct succession do not earn CV, which prevents gymnasts from overusing easy “twist-to-twist” connections. Many floor elements have also been re-valued to align better with their difficulty levels:
- Triple saltos (e.g., the Liukin or Nagornyy) have been upgraded from H to I or I to J.
- Standard double saltos (like a double back tuck/pike/layout) received one-letter boosts in many cases.
- Forward saltos such as a double front tuck with a full twist have been upgraded to encourage forward tumbling.
- Some elements, like the Zapata 2 (double front piked or laid-out with 1½ twists), have been slightly downgraded to maintain consistency across all skills.
4. Dismount Difficulty Credit
On floor, the gymnast’s final tumbling pass functions as the dismount. However, unlike apparatuses that have a separate dismount EG, floor routines aren’t subject to the new scaled dismount bonus that applies to D-level dismounts (reducing them from +0.5 to +0.4). Instead, any valid D (or higher) salto that fulfills an EG requirement can still get up to 0.5 in composition credit.
Note that all floor routines must end with a multiple salto (e.g., a double somersault). Failing to do so results in a 0.3 neutral deduction.
Execution and Artistry Criteria
The E-score still starts from 10.0, with deductions of 0.1 (small), 0.3 (medium), 0.5 (large), or 1.0 (fall or severe error). However, the 2025–2028 Code adds more precise guidelines for certain techniques:
- Angle deviations in strength holds (planche, handstand, etc.) now have stricter deductions: up to 15° off is 0.1, 15–30° is 0.3, more than 30° is 0.5, and at over 45° the element may not be credited at all.
- Artistry and presentation expectations remain, even though MAG doesn’t have a separate artistry score. Routines should have rhythmic flow, choreographic linking, and use of the entire floor space.
- Certain “awkward” entries, like a “Tinsica”-style round-off (quarter turn in, forward landing), are banned; the subsequent element won’t be recognized if used.
Composition Requirements
To fulfill composition on floor, a gymnast needs at least one element from each of the four EGs. Together, these can yield up to 2.0 points (0.5 for each group, or 0.3 if the skill is below D in EG II, III, or IV). Missing any group costs 0.5 in the D-score.
Other composition rules include:
- Multiple Salto Dismount: The last tumbling pass must involve a multiple salto (double or more).
- Balance Element Requirement: A one-leg balance hold (scale) must appear at some point, or a 0.3 neutral deduction will be taken.
- Repetition Limits: Only one strength hold/press to handstand and one circle/flair element can be counted. Additional repetitions won’t receive difficulty credit.
- Use of Floor Space: Gymnasts must travel in different directions, avoid long pauses, and link elements smoothly to maintain good rhythm.
Scoring Methodology and Deductions
Score Composition
Men’s Floor Exercise continues to use the open-ended scoring system:
- D-score = Sum of the 8 highest-valued elements + Element Group credit + Connection Value + (possible 0.1 stick bonus on dismount).
- E-score = 10.0 minus execution deductions.
- Neutral deductions (for out-of-bounds, overtime, missing required moves, etc.) are subtracted from the total (D + E).
Each skill has a letter value (A=0.1, B=0.2, … up to J=1.0). These values, along with any Connection Value, are added for the D-score. Up to 2.0 points in EG credits (0.5 each for EG I–IV) can be earned, provided the gymnast meets the difficulty requirement (D or higher for EG II–IV).
Neutral Deductions
Typical neutral deductions on floor:
- Out-of-bounds: –0.1 for one limb, –0.3 for two limbs, –0.5 for completely leaving the floor.
- Overtime: –0.1 for exceeding 70 seconds.
- Short Exercise: Deduction increases if fewer than 8 elements are performed.
- Missing Multiple Salto Dismount: –0.3.
- Missing One-Leg Balance: –0.3.
- Failing to Use All Four Corners: –0.3.
Judging Emphasis
With only 8 skills now counting, each element must be carefully chosen for both difficulty and cleanliness. Judges will apply strict deductions for form breaks, lack of control, or incomplete positions, and the new Code places emphasis on variety and artistry as well. Stuck landings on the final skill gain a 0.1 bonus, rewarding athletes who finish with precision.
Conclusion
The 2025–2028 Code for Men’s Floor Exercise increases the emphasis on variety, difficulty, and clear technical execution. Stricter execution guidelines and artistry expectations also encourage a more polished overall performance—one that effectively combines power, grace, and control on the floor.
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