This guide focuses on Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and flags key differences for NCAA and USA Gymnastics Development Program (DP/Level 6–10) where relevant. Values below are current for the 2025 season and the 2025–2028 FIG Code of Points cycle.
How Scores Are Built (Quick Refresher)
In artistic gymnastics, every routine begins with two separate judging panels: one calculates difficulty (D-score) and the other evaluates execution (E-score). The gymnast’s final score is the result of:
Final Score = D-score – E-deductions – Neutral Penalties
- D-score is earned through the skills performed and required elements.
- E-score always starts at 10.0, with deductions taken for faults in form, amplitude, artistry, posture, and landings.
- Neutral penalties (such as out-of-bounds or overtime) are subtracted directly from the final score, independent of execution.
Judging Panels
FIG competitions use multiple E-judges who apply deductions on a small (0.10), medium (0.30), or large (0.50+) scale. Importantly, when there’s no fall, the maximum deduction for a single element is capped at 0.80, even if multiple faults occur.
Falls
- FIG (WAG): A fall results in a −1.00 execution deduction, and the element may also lose its difficulty credit.
- NCAA & USAG Development Program: A fall is assessed as −0.50 from execution.
Universal Execution Deductions (Apply to All Apparatus)
Judges use the same fault scale across all events, even though each apparatus has unique phrasing in the Code of Points. Small errors usually cost 0.10, medium errors 0.30, and large errors can be 0.50 or more. Below are the most common deductions that apply universally:
- Feet and Toes – Not pointed, flexed, or sickled: up to 0.10.
- Leg or Knee Separation – Lack of tight body line: up to 0.20.
- Bent Arms or Legs – Noticeable bend during support or flight: up to 0.30.
- Insufficient Height or Flight – Low vaults, saltos, or jumps: up to 0.30 (vaults/saltos) or 0.20 (leaps/jumps).
- Body Posture or Shape Errors – Arching, piking down, or closing hips in layouts: up to 0.30.
- Lack of Precision / Incomplete Turns – Under-rotated twists, off-axis landings, or unclear shapes: up to 0.20.
- Artistry, Musicality, and Composition (Floor) – Each sub-area can be penalized 0.10, 0.20, or 0.30 depending on severity.
Landing Deductions (What Judges “Take Off”)
In FIG competitions, if there is no fall, the maximum deduction for landing faults on a single element is 0.80, even if multiple errors (steps, posture, squat) occur simultaneously.
FIG / International (WAG 2025–2028)
On every event, landings are one of the biggest scoring factors. Judges apply deductions based on how controlled and precise the gymnast is when finishing a skill:
- Small step, hop, or slide – 0.10 each (judges may ignore very tiny adjustments).
- Large step or hop – 0.30 each.
- Deep squat on landing – Up to 0.50 when hips drop below knee level.
- Arm swings or trunk movements to regain balance – Up to 0.20 each.
- Brush or touch of the mat/table without support – Up to 0.30.
- Out of bounds (Floor Exercise) – 0.10 for one foot/hand, 0.30 for both feet/hands or another body part. This is taken as a neutral deduction by the D-panel in addition to any E-score faults.
- Cap without a fall – If the gymnast does not fall, the maximum deduction for landing faults on a single element is 0.80, even if multiple issues occur together.
Vault-Specific Notes (FIG)
- Landing corridor: Stepping or landing outside the corridor lines results in a neutral deduction of 0.10 (one foot/hand) or 0.30 (two feet/hands/body part).
- Major faults: Placing hands on the mat/table for support, falling to the knees or hips, or colliding with the vault table each result in a −1.00 deduction.
Apparatus Comparison (2025)
Vault (VT)
| Deduction | FIG (2025–28) | NCAA (2024–25) | USAG DP (2022–26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps on landing | Small 0.10 / Large 0.30 (cap 0.80) | 0.05–0.20 per step, max 0.40 | 0.05–0.30 per step, max 0.40 |
| Direction | Out of corridor: 0.10/0.30 | Funnel lines: up to 0.30 | Similar to NCAA |
| Support errors | Fall or support on table/knees/hips = −1.00 | One-hand/no-hand vaults, spot = −1.00 | Spot −0.50; coach on floor 0.30 neutral |
Uneven Bars (UB)
| Deduction | FIG | NCAA | USAG DP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handstands | Off-vertical → small/med/large deduction | Same | Same (angle tables provided) |
| Form faults | Bent arms/legs, leg separation, poor body line up to 0.30 | Same | Same |
| Landings | Steps, hops, squat, arm swings (cap 0.80) | Steps ≤0.40; must hold finish 1s (−0.05 if not) | Steps ≤0.40, same landing faults |
| Neutral | Overtime, coach contact | Admin penalties, jewelry | Coach on floor 0.30; spot −0.50 |
Balance Beam (BB)
| Deduction | FIG | NCAA | USAG DP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance checks | Small 0.10 / Medium 0.30 / Major 0.50 | Same | Same |
| Artistry | 0.10–0.30 for expression, posture, variety | Similar, plus up-to-level deductions | Same |
| Overtime | >90s = 0.10 neutral | Same | Same |
| Other | Landing cap 0.80 | Must hold dismount 1s (−0.05 if not) | Spot −0.50; coach on floor 0.30 |
Floor Exercise (FX)
| Deduction | FIG | NCAA | USAG DP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps on landing | 0.10 small / 0.30 large (cap 0.80) | 0.05–0.20 per step, max 0.40 | 0.05–0.30 per step, max 0.40 |
| Out of bounds | Neutral: 0.10 (1 part), 0.30 (2+ parts); fall −1.00 | Neutral 0.10; fall −0.50 | Same |
| Artistry | 0.10–0.30 for posture, music, variety | Same | Same |
| Bonus | +0.20 D-score for clean D-value (or higher) last pass dismount | N/A | N/A |
| Overtime | >90s = 0.10 neutral | Same | Same |
Neutral (Off-the-Top) Penalties
Neutral deductions bypass execution and come straight off the final score:
- Out of bounds (FX): 0.10 one part / 0.30 two or more parts.
- Overtime (BB/FX): >90s = 0.10.
- Coach on the floor (DP): 0.30 neutral (without assist); spotting = −0.50 E deduction + fall if applicable.
- NCAA administrative penalties:
– Jewelry after warning: −0.20
– Competing out of order: −0.10 team deduction
– Not holding final pose: −0.05
2025 Highlights & What Changed (At a Glance)
FIG WAG (2025–2028 Code)
- Landing cap: Clarified – max 0.80 per element if no fall.
- Floor bonus: +0.20 D-score for a clean D-value (or higher) dismount in last pass (if routine has 3+ acro lines).
- Help-sheets: Updated artistry, composition, and borderline deductions.
NCAA (2024–25 Rules, used in 2025)
- Based on DP Level 10 with modifications.
- Step scale: 0.05 / 0.10 / 0.15 / 0.20 (max 0.40).
- Vault direction: Up to 0.30 for outside funnel lines.
- Hold finish: −0.05 if dismount not held for 1s.
- Administrative penalties: Jewelry (−0.20), out-of-order (−0.10), final pose (−0.05).
USAG Development Program (Optional 2022–26, still active in 2025)
- Step deductions: Max 0.40.
- Out of bounds: 0.10 neutral each time.
- Coach on floor: 0.30 neutral.
- Spotting: −0.50 E deduction.
- Landing clarifications: Tables cover steps, trunk corrections, and squat depth.
Sources & Rulebooks (2025)
Sources & rulebooks (2025)
- FIG WAG Code of Points 2025–2028; WAG help-sheets for Vault & Floor; WAG Newsletter.
- NCAA Women Rules Modification Document 2024–25 (in force for 2025).
- USAG DP Optional Code of Points (2022–26) revised pages with landing/neutral details.
- NCAA landing & OOB quick reference (community reference aligned to NCAA mods).
