Code of Points (gymnastics) facts for kids

The Code of Points is like a special rulebook for gymnastics. It explains exactly how gymnasts are scored in competitions. Think of it as the guide that judges use to decide who wins! Different gymnastics organizations, like the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), have their own versions of this rulebook. This means the scoring can be a little different depending on where and at what level gymnasts compete.

Deductions of a judge during an artistic gymnastics competition

The FIG Code of Points

The FIG is the main international group for gymnastics. They publish their own Code of Points for everyone to see. Gymnasts who compete in big international events, like the Olympics or World Championships, follow the FIG's rules. However, gymnasts in smaller local clubs or college competitions (like NCAA gymnastics in the USA) might use slightly different rules.

How the Scoring Changed in 2006

In 2006, the Code of Points got a big update. This happened because people wanted the scoring to be fairer and clearer. Before 2006, the highest score a gymnast could get was a "perfect 10." But sometimes, there were disagreements about judging, and people felt that gymnasts were focusing more on making their routines look pretty than on doing really hard moves.

The new system aimed to encourage gymnasts to try more difficult skills. It also tried to make judging more objective, meaning less based on personal opinion. Some people loved the changes, saying it pushed gymnastics forward. Others worried that it would make the sport harder for new fans to understand. They also felt that the focus on difficulty might make routines less artistic.

One big change was that the "perfect 10" score was removed. Now, gymnasts can earn points for difficulty without an upper limit. This means that gymnasts who perform harder routines start with a higher potential score. This can sometimes make it seem like gymnasts with less difficult routines have a harder time winning, even if they perform perfectly. The new system really encourages gymnasts to push their limits with challenging skills.

The Table of Elements: What's a Skill Worth?

The Table of Elements is a super important part of the Code of Points. It's like a dictionary of all the gymnastics moves! Every single acrobatic and dance skill is listed here. Each skill has a picture or description and is given a difficulty rating.

For most gymnastics equipment, like the balance beam or uneven bars, skills are rated from A (the easiest) to J (the most difficult).

• A-rated skills give 0.10 points.
• B-rated skills give 0.20 points.
• C-rated skills give 0.30 points.
• D-rated skills give 0.40 points.
• E-rated skills give 0.50 points.
• F-rated skills give 0.60 points.
• G-rated skills give 0.70 points.
• H-rated skills give 0.80 points.
• I-rated skills give 0.90 points.
• J-rated skills give 1.00 points.

These points add up to create part of a gymnast's total score. For the vault, each vault has its own specific difficulty value, usually ranging from 2.0 to 6.4 points.

The Table of Elements is updated regularly. Sometimes, a skill's difficulty rating might change. Also, if a skill is considered too dangerous, it might be banned. For example, some very risky moves like the Thomas Salto have been removed. The judges might also give a very dangerous skill a low difficulty score on purpose. This is to discourage gymnasts from trying to perform it, keeping them safer.

Many skills in the Table of Elements are named after the gymnasts who first performed them successfully. To get a skill named after you, you have to be the first to do it perfectly at a major FIG event, like the Olympics or World Championships. Gymnasts and their coaches must tell the FIG about their new skill before the competition.

How Judges Score a Routine

Two groups of judges watch each gymnast's performance. One group looks at how difficult the routine is. The other group looks at how well the gymnast performs it. The final score is a combination of these two parts.

The D-score (Difficulty Score)

The D-score shows how difficult a routine is. It's made up of three things:

• Difficulty Value (DV): Judges add up the points for the eight hardest skills in the routine. The dismount (the move to get off the equipment) is always one of these eight skills. Skills are valued from 0.10 to 1.0 points, as explained in the Table of Elements.
• Composition Requirements (CR): Gymnasts must show different types of skills in their routine. These are called "Element Groups." For each required group they complete, they get 0.5 points. A gymnast can earn up to 2.00 points for these requirements.
• Connection Value (CV): Gymnasts can earn extra points by linking two or more skills together smoothly. The harder the skills they connect, the more extra points they get.

The D-score judges don't take points away for mistakes. However, they might not give points for skills that aren't performed correctly or fully. They also won't give connection points if there are pauses or extra steps between connected skills. There's no limit to how high a D-score can be!

The E-score (Execution Score)

The E-score judges how well and how artistically a gymnast performs their routine.

• Every routine starts with a perfect E-score of 10.0.
• Judges then take points away for any mistakes. These mistakes can be small (like a tiny wobble), medium (like a bigger balance error), or large (like a big step on a landing).
• Small errors usually mean a 0.1 point deduction.
• Medium errors mean a 0.3 point deduction.
• Large errors mean a 0.5 point deduction.
• If a gymnast falls, it's a big deduction of 1.0 point.

The D-score and E-score are added together to get the gymnast's final score for that event.

Scoring for Vault

Scoring for the vault is a bit different:

• Each vault has a set difficulty value. This value is the D-score. So, every gymnast doing the exact same vault will start with the same D-score.
• The E-score for vault also starts at 10.0. Judges take points away for mistakes in how the vault is performed, how clean the technique is, and how well the landing is controlled.

Just like other events, the D-score and E-score are added together for the final vault score.

Some actions can make a vault score zero. These include getting help from a coach, starting before the signal, or not using the special safety mat for certain vaults like Yurchenko-style vaults.

If a coach thinks a gymnast's score was too low, they can ask for it to be reviewed. However, only the D-score (difficulty) can be questioned, not the E-score (execution).

Before the 2006 Changes

Before 2006, the scoring system was different.

• Skills: Skills were also rated by difficulty, from A (easiest) to "Super E" (hardest). Gymnasts earned extra points for doing difficult skills or combinations.
• Required Elements: Routines had a list of specific moves that had to be included. For example, a gymnast might need to do a 360-degree turn on the balance beam or a backward somersault on the floor exercise.
• Base Score: If a gymnast did all the required elements, they started with a "base score." This base score changed over the years, often getting lower. For example, it was 9.4 in the early 1990s, then 9.0, and later 8.8.
• Start Value: The "Start Value" (SV) was the base score plus any bonus points for difficult moves. Gymnasts wanted their SV to be as close to 10.0 as possible.

For vault, each vault had its own specific Start Value.

The final score was found by taking the Start Value and subtracting points for any mistakes, like poor form, steps, or falls.