In gymnastics, team competitions are about more than just individual routines—they’re about how those routines come together to create one final score.
In team gymnastics, every routine contributes a single number to the team total, but that number comes from a dual scoring system. Each gymnast’s routine is evaluated using two key components:
Component | What it Measures | Range |
---|---|---|
D-score | Difficulty: Skill values, composition, and connection bonuses | Open-ended (no max limit) |
E-score | Execution: Technique, form, artistry, and landings | Starts at 10.0, deductions reduce it |
D-score (Difficulty): This is where gymnasts are rewarded for doing harder skills and combinations. There’s no upper limit—the more complex and risky the routine, the higher the D-score.
E-score (Execution): Judges start from a perfect 10 and subtract for errors like bent arms, poor form, missed handstands, and steps on landings. Falls usually result in a 1.0 deduction.
Neutral Deductions: These are not related to how well the skill was performed, but to rules violations—for example, going out of bounds, overtime, or improper attire. These are subtracted after the D and E scores are combined.
Final Routine Score Formula:
Final Score = D-score + E-score – Neutral Deductions
This single score is what gets plugged into the team scoring system. From local club meets to the Olympic stage, gymnastics team scoring follows different formats depending on the level.
Olympic & World Championships: How Team Scores Are Calculated
At the Olympic Games and FIG World Championships, team scoring is divided into two phases: Qualification and Team Final. Each phase uses a different team format.
Team Scoring Formats at a Glance
Phase | Roster Size | Compete per Apparatus | Scores That Count | Nickname |
---|---|---|---|---|
Qualification | 5 gymnasts | 4 | Top 3 | 5–4–3 Format |
Team Final | Same 5 gymnasts | 3 | All 3 | 3–3–3 Format |
- 5–4–3 Format (Qualification): Each team brings 5 athletes. On each event, 4 compete, and the best 3 scores are added to the team total. One routine can be “dropped” per event.
- 3–3–3 Format (Team Final): Only 3 athletes compete per event, and all 3 scores count—no room for error. This format raises the pressure, as a single fall impacts the total with no backup.
Example: Paris 2024 Women’s Team Final
In the Paris 2024 Olympic Team Final, the United States Women’s Team won gold with a score of 169.262. Here’s what that looked like:
- 12 total counting routines (3 gymnasts × 4 events)
- Average score per routine: ~14.1
- Key factors: Higher difficulty (D-score) and consistent landings (E-score)
There were no dropped scores in the final, so every tenth of a point mattered.
Source: time.com
Why Drop a Score in Qualification?
The 5–4–3 format in qualifications allows teams to withstand a mistake or rotate lineups strategically. For example:
- If a gymnast has an off day, their score can be dropped.
- If someone is recovering from an injury, they can sit out certain events without hurting the team’s total.
- It rewards teams with greater depth, not just top-heavy talent.
By contrast, the 3–3–3 final demands perfection across the board—there’s nowhere to hide.
Collegiate Gymnastics Scoring (NCAA – United States)
In the U.S., NCAA gymnastics is one of the most popular formats, especially for women’s artistic gymnastics. Team scoring here is formatted for maximum excitement, with a focus on execution and consistency, not necessarily difficulty.
Here’s a breakdown of the team scoring format:
Division | Roster | Compete per Event | Scores Count | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women | 6 up | 6 | Best 5 | 20 routines → Score out of 200.000 |
Men | 5 up | 5 | All 5 | 30 routines → No scores dropped |
Sources: ncaa.com, collegegymnews.com
Women’s NCAA Gymnastics: 6 Up, 5 Count
- Team Format: On each of the four events (vault, bars, beam, and floor), six gymnasts compete, and the best five scores count.
- Total Routines: 4 events × 5 counting routines = 20 scores per team.
- Scoring Range: Each routine is scored out of 10.0 → Team total is out of 200.000.
- Elite Standard: A team scoring 198+ is considered championship-level; 199+ is elite territory.
Key Note: Most routines start from a perfect 10.0 (as opposed to the open-ended FIG D-score system), so execution becomes the primary focus. Judges use deductions from 10, making every detail—like stuck landings and pointed toes—critical.
Men’s NCAA Gymnastics: 5 Up, 5 Count
- Team Format: Five gymnasts compete per event (floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar), and all five scores count.
- Total Routines: 6 events × 5 routines = 30 scores per team.
- No Drop Scores: This mirrors the pressure of FIG’s 3–3–3 team finals—every routine must hit.
Difficulty Caps: While men’s routines are still evaluated using FIG-style D + E scoring, NCAA rules often cap difficulty or standardize start values for scoring fairness. Execution is again the deciding factor.
USA Gymnastics Development & Xcel Team Scoring
In the USAG Development Program and Xcel levels, team scoring rules can vary slightly depending on the meet. However, most competitions follow two common patterns:
Common Team Formats
Meet Type | Max Athletes per Event | Scores Counted |
---|---|---|
Local/State/Regional Meets | Up to 6 | Best 3 scores |
National Team Competitions (e.g., Level 10 Westerns, DP Nationals) | Up to 6 | Best 4 scores |
Sources: static.usagym.org
Why This Format?
The goal is developmental:
- It encourages larger rosters and allows more gymnasts to compete.
- At the same time, it ensures fair comparison between gyms—whether they bring 3 athletes or 6—by only counting the top 3 or 4 scores per event.
This setup helps meet directors manage team awards fairly while promoting participation at all levels.
Other FIG Disciplines: Team Scoring at a Glance
While artistic gymnastics is the most well-known, other FIG disciplines like rhythmic and trampoline also have team formats—with very different scoring systems. Here’s a quick look:
Discipline | Team Concept | Scoring Method |
---|---|---|
Rhythmic Group | 5 athletes perform together | One combined score per routine; team total = sum of two routines |
Trampoline | Teams of 3 gymnasts per round | Based on ranking in each round: Points 5–4–3–2–1; lowest total wins |
Source: gymnastics.sport
Tie-Break Procedures in Team Gymnastics
When two teams finish with the same total score, tie-breaking rules come into play. These rules differ slightly depending on the governing body.
FIG (International Competitions)
FIG uses a step-by-step system outlined in its Technical Regulations:
- Compare total E-scores from all counted routines (execution).
- If still tied, compare total D-scores (difficulty).
- If the tie remains, both teams share the ranking (e.g., joint gold medal).
Source: gymnastics.sport
NCAA (U.S. Collegiate Gymnastics)
In NCAA team competitions, ties are broken with a different method:
- Use the highest single dropped score (the 6th score not counted).
- If still tied, compare the highest event total between teams.
- If needed, look at head-to-head results from earlier in the season or competition.
Source: NCAA Championship Manuals