Gymnastics scoring can be complex due to its subjective nature, with deductions based on technique, artistry, and execution.
Since the early 2000s, significant changes have occurred in the scoring system, transitioning from the perfect 10.0 system to the current open-ended one used in major competitions like the Olympics and World Championships. Here’s a detailed look into how gymnastics scoring works today.
Contents
The Basics of Gymnastics Scoring
The open-ended scoring system was introduced by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) after the 2006 scoring reforms.
This system differs from the previous system, where gymnasts aimed for a perfect 10.0, by having no upper limit on a gymnast’s potential score. The current scoring system consists of two key components:
- Difficulty Score (D-score)
- Execution Score (E-score)
These two scores are then combined to create the final score.
Difficulty Score (D-Score)
The D-score is determined by the difficulty of the skills and elements performed in a routine. Gymnastics routines typically consist of multiple elements, and each element is assigned a difficulty value based on its complexity.
The most challenging skills receive the highest value. For example:
- A basic skill may be assigned a lower value (e.g., A or B skill).
- A high-level skill like a double layout somersault or a complex release move on the uneven bars could be rated much higher (e.g., D, E, or F skill).
To calculate the D-score, judges select the top eight highest-valued elements (four on vault) from the routine. Additionally, gymnasts receive credit for specific skill combinations or connections, as well as meeting requirements related to skill groups (such as turns, leaps, or tumbling passes).
For example, in women’s artistic gymnastics:
- The balance beam and floor exercise routines have requirements for acrobatic and dance elements.
- The uneven bars require skills on both bars, a flight element, and a dismount.
Execution Score (E-Score)
The E-score starts from a perfect 10.0 and decreases as deductions are made for errors in performance. This score reflects how well the gymnast executed their routine in terms of form, technique, and artistry. Deductions can be made for a wide range of mistakes, such as:
- Form breaks (e.g., bent legs, flexed feet)
- Falls (a fall results in a one-point deduction)
- Balance checks (especially on beam)
- Incomplete turns or landings
- Lack of amplitude (height in jumps or flips)
- Poor posture and lack of rhythm in dance elements
The more deductions a gymnast incurs, the lower their E-score will be. For example, small errors might result in a 0.1-point deduction, while a major mistake like a fall could lead to a full-point deduction. Execution judges aim to reward routines that demonstrate exceptional control, precision, and artistic presentation.
Artistry and Composition
Artistry plays a significant role in the women’s floor exercise, balance beam routines, and sometimes the men’s floor exercises. Gymnasts are judged on how well they perform their choreography, musicality, and the overall fluidity of their movements. Judges also evaluate the composition of routines, ensuring the routine is varied, covers all required skills, and displays creativity.
Combining D-Score and E-Score
To calculate the final score, the D-score and E-score are added together. Since the D-score is open-ended, the final score can theoretically be much higher than 10.0, although most top-level scores fall in the range of 13.0 to 16.0.
For example, if a gymnast’s D-score is 6.0 (reflecting a highly difficult routine) and their E-score is 8.5 (indicating only minor errors), the final score would be:
- 6.0 (D-score) + 8.5 (E-score) = 14.5
Penalties and Neutral Deductions
In addition to execution deductions, gymnasts can receive neutral deductions for various infractions unrelated to their performance quality. These can include:
- Exceeding the time limit (e.g., floor routines exceeding 1 minute 30 seconds)
- Stepping out of bounds (especially on floor exercise)
- Wearing incorrect attire or equipment
Neutral deductions typically range from 0.1 to 0.5 points and are subtracted from the final score.
The Role of the Judges
Each event in gymnastics typically involves two panels of judges:
- Difficulty Judges – Responsible for determining the D-score by evaluating the difficulty and composition of the routine.
- Execution Judges – Responsible for assessing the E-score and deducting points for errors in form, technique, and artistry.
In major competitions, the final score is determined by averaging the scores given by a panel of execution judges to reduce any individual bias.
Women’s vs Men’s Artistic Gymnastics: The Difference in Scoring
Artistic gymnastics is divided into two disciplines: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG). While both share some fundamental principles, there are significant differences in the apparatus, routine requirements, and emphasis on various aspects of scoring between the two disciplines.
1. The Apparatus
The most noticeable difference between men’s and women’s gymnastics is the apparatus used in each discipline. WAG and MAG each have four and six apparatuses, respectively, with different skills and scoring priorities associated with each.
Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG):
- Vault
- Uneven Bars
- Balance Beam
- Floor Exercise (performed to music)
Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG):
- Floor Exercise (without music)
- Pommel Horse
- Still Rings
- Vault
- Parallel Bars
- High Bar
Each apparatus emphasizes different aspects of gymnastics and leads to different focuses in scoring.
2. Routine Composition and Difficulty (D) Score
WAG Routine Composition:
In Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, the D score is calculated based on the top eight highest-scoring elements in a gymnast’s routine. These elements are chosen from categories such as acrobatic elements, leaps, jumps, turns, and transitions. Connection value bonuses can be earned when difficult elements are performed in a series without hesitation.
MAG Routine Composition:
In Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, the D score is calculated from the top ten highest-scoring elements, allowing for a higher overall possible difficulty score compared to WAG. In MAG, strength elements (particularly on the rings), swings (on the pommel horse and bars), and acrobatic elements dominate the scoring system. Connection bonuses are also awarded in MAG, but strength and power tend to take precedence over artistic presentation.
3. Execution (E) Score
The Execution (E) score in both WAG and MAG begins at 10.0, with deductions applied for mistakes in technique, form, balance, and landings. However, the specific aspects of execution differ slightly between men’s and women’s events:
WAG Execution Focus:
In WAG, the E score places significant emphasis on artistic performance, especially in events like the floor exercise and balance beam.
Judges deduct for a lack of fluidity, poor transitions between acrobatic and dance elements, and lack of musical synchronization on the floor. Precision in form (straight legs, pointed toes, posture) is heavily scrutinized.
MAG Execution Focus:
In MAG, the focus on execution leans more toward power, strength, and control. Elements like clean swings on the pommel horse, stillness during strength holds on the rings, and dynamic amplitude in release moves on the bars are key.
Artistic presentation, while still important on floor exercise, is less emphasized than in WAG, and deductions are more focused on physical execution.
4. Artistry and Presentation
One of the most significant differences in scoring between WAG and MAG is the emphasis on artistry:
Artistry in WAG:
In women’s gymnastics, artistry is critical in the floor exercise and balance beam routines. Gymnasts are expected to perform dance elements with fluidity and grace, interpreting music and choreography with expression.
Artistry deductions are applied for routines that lack originality, creativity, or musical synchronization. On the balance beam, gymnasts are judged on the flow of their movements between dance and acrobatic elements.
Artistry in MAG:
In men’s gymnastics, the emphasis on artistry is far less pronounced, particularly because the men’s floor exercise does not include music. MAG routines focus more on power, precision, and athleticism.
Artistry is still considered in floor exercise, but it is judged by the fluidity and dynamism of acrobatic movements rather than musical interpretation. Balance and strength are prioritized on apparatuses like the pommel horse and rings, which require control over static positions and swings.
5. Apparatus-Specific Scoring Differences
Because men and women compete on different apparatuses, the way their routines are scored varies based on the apparatus requirements.
- Vault: Both men and women perform the vault, but the D score for women is typically lower than for men due to the differences in types of vaults performed. Men tend to perform more powerful vaults requiring greater speed and height.
- Bars Events: Women compete on the uneven bars, where the focus is on transitions between the high and low bars and the difficulty of release elements. Men compete on both the parallel bars and the high bar, where swings, releases, and grip changes dominate the scoring.
- Beam vs. Pommel Horse: Women perform on the balance beam, which emphasizes balance, poise, and acrobatic elements on a narrow 4-inch-wide surface. Men perform on the pommel horse, which focuses on continuous circular swings, requiring endurance and upper-body strength. In both cases, execution is paramount, but the skills and requirements differ significantly.
- Still Rings (MAG): In men’s gymnastics, the rings event requires immense upper-body strength and control. Gymnasts perform static strength holds, swings, and dynamic dismounts. The D score here includes difficult strength holds and combination elements, which have no direct counterpart in women’s gymnastics.
6. Scoring Nuances and Deductions
Deductions in WAG:
In women’s gymnastics, deductions can be applied for artistic reasons such as lack of creativity, poor musical interpretation, or insufficient choreography on floor exercise. Artistry-related deductions are far more common in WAG than MAG.
Deductions in MAG:
Men’s gymnastics deductions are heavily focused on technical execution, form breaks, and strength elements. Neutral deductions like stepping out of bounds on floor or vault are also applied similarly to WAG.
7. Vault: Differences Between WAG and MAG
Vault is a shared event between men’s and women’s gymnastics, but there are some differences in the way it’s scored:
Women’s Vault: In WAG, gymnasts typically perform one vault in qualifying rounds and two in event finals. The D score is predetermined based on the difficulty of the vault, and execution is judged based on form, height, and landing.
Men’s Vault: In MAG, gymnasts perform one vault in the all-around and two vaults in apparatus finals, similar to women. However, the types of vaults performed tend to emphasize greater power and explosiveness, leading to slightly higher D scores in general for men’s vaults.
How Are Gymnastics Team Scores Calculated?
In gymnastics, team scores are calculated based on the combined individual performances of gymnasts across various events. This system ensures that the overall team score reflects both individual talent and the collective effort of the team as a whole. Team scoring can vary depending on the level of competition, but the basic principles remain the same.
The Team Format: “5-4-3” or “6-5-4”
In major gymnastics competitions like the Olympics or World Championships, teams typically consist of four to six gymnasts. The most common formats are the “5-4-3” and “6-5-4” systems, which refer to how many gymnasts compete and how many scores are counted.
5-4-3 Format:
- Five gymnasts are on the team.
- Four gymnasts perform in each event (vault, bars, beam, floor for women; floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar for men).
- The top three scores from the four competitors are counted towards the team’s total score for each event.
6-5-4 Format:
- Six gymnasts are on the team.
- Five gymnasts perform in each event.
- The four highest scores are counted.
This format allows a degree of flexibility, as teams can afford to drop the lowest score from each event, ensuring that one gymnast’s mistake doesn’t significantly affect the overall team score.
Calculating the Team Score
The process of calculating the team score involves the following steps:
- Individual Scores: Each gymnast performs their routine on the designated apparatus. Their score is calculated based on the sum of their Difficulty Score (D-score) and Execution Score (E-score).
- Selecting Top Scores: Out of the gymnasts who perform in each event, only the top three or four scores (depending on the format) are selected and added together.
- Summing Event Scores: This process is repeated for every event. The selected top scores for each apparatus (e.g., vault, bars, beam, floor) are summed up to produce the team’s total score for that event.
- Final Team Score: Once the scores from all apparatuses are combined, the total becomes the final team score. The team with the highest total across all events wins the competition.
Example of Team Score Calculation
Let’s consider a simplified example in a “5-4-3” format for a women’s gymnastics team:
- On vault, four gymnasts perform and their scores are 14.500, 14.200, 13.800, and 13.600. The lowest score (13.600) is dropped, and the top three scores are added: 14.500 + 14.200 + 13.800 = 42.500.
- On uneven bars, the gymnasts score 14.800, 14.600, 14.100, and 13.900. Dropping the lowest score (13.900), the team’s bar score is 14.800 + 14.600 + 14.100 = 43.500.
This process is repeated for the balance beam and floor exercise, and then the scores from all four apparatuses are combined to get the team’s final score.
Scoring in Junior and Recreational Gymnastics
Scoring in junior and recreational gymnastics differs from the elite level, as it’s designed to help young gymnasts develop their skills progressively while maintaining a fair and simple evaluation process.
In these levels, especially in programs like the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program, scoring is more focused on execution rather than the difficulty of the routine.
Levels in Junior and Recreational Gymnastics
The scoring system in junior and recreational gymnastics is often aligned with the gymnast’s level of experience and skill development. In the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Program, gymnasts progress through levels from 1 to 10:
- Levels 1–3: Introductory levels focused on basic skills. Routines are typically pre-choreographed, and scoring emphasizes correct form and technique.
- Levels 4–6: Compulsory levels where all gymnasts perform the same routines, and scoring evaluates how well they execute these predetermined routines.
- Levels 7–10: Optional levels where gymnasts create their own routines using required elements. Scoring becomes more individualized based on both difficulty and execution.
The Scoring System: Execution Focused
In junior gymnastics, the scoring system starts from a perfect 10.0, and gymnasts receive deductions for mistakes or errors in their performance. Unlike the elite open-ended scoring system that includes a Difficulty Score (D-score), junior levels prioritize execution, with deductions reducing the score from 10.0 based on the following factors:
- Execution Deductions:
Judges make deductions for form breaks, technique errors, and lack of control in the routine. For example:
- Bent arms or legs
- Poor posture during movements
- Wobbles on the balance beam
- Incomplete elements (e.g., not finishing a full turn)
Deductions range from small (0.1) for minor mistakes to larger deductions (0.5 or 1.0 points) for major errors like falls.
- Specific Element Requirements:
In the compulsory levels (Levels 4–6), gymnasts must include certain elements in their routines, such as specific jumps, turns, and acrobatic skills. Deductions occur if they fail to perform these required elements correctly.
- Neutral Deductions:
Similar to elite competitions, neutral deductions can be applied for time violations, stepping out of bounds, or equipment infractions.
Example of Scoring in Junior Gymnastics
Let’s consider a gymnast competing at Level 5 on the balance beam. The routine has specific elements, such as a leap, a cartwheel, and a dismount. The gymnast starts with a score of 10.0, and the following deductions are made:
- Bent knees during a leap: 0.3 deduction
- Wobble after a cartwheel: 0.2 deduction
- Slight hop on the landing: 0.1 deduction
With these deductions, the final score would be:
10.0 – (0.3 + 0.2 + 0.1) = 9.4
In this system, the difficulty of the elements performed is less important than how cleanly the gymnast executes the routine.
Encouraging Development
The scoring in junior and recreational gymnastics is designed to be constructive, encouraging gymnasts to focus on technique, form, and consistency. The aim is to build a solid foundation of fundamental skills, preparing gymnasts for higher levels of competition where difficulty and creativity will play a larger role in scoring.
Conclusion
In junior and recreational gymnastics, the emphasis is on execution rather than difficulty. Gymnasts start with a perfect 10.0, and deductions are applied for mistakes in form and technique. This system helps young gymnasts focus on developing strong fundamentals before progressing to more advanced skills and routines at higher levels.