Olympic Gymnastics Scoring

Every four years when the Summer Olympic Games come on television, many people get very excited to watch gymnastics.  This sport is one of the most popular of all the summer sports because of the great success of the USA Women Gymnastics Team.  However, Olympic gymnastics scoring can be very confusing for the many people that have limited gymnastics knowledge.  Gymnastics is not shown on television in the United States as much as other sports like football, basketball and baseball, so many people do not understand how Olympic gymnastics scoring works.  

Another reason for the confusion about Olympic gymnastics scoring, is that it has not always been the same.  In the past the scoring was much easier, a perfect score was ten.  However, as the years went on and the difficulty of the tricks increased, the scoring needed to be changed to properly represent the different levels of skill.  In 2006 the new Olympic gymnastics scoring was implemented.

Gymnastics Execution Score

There are now two parts of the Olympic gymnastics scoring, difficulty and execution.  Every gymnast starts with an execution score of ten, and then points are deducted for mistakes.  Execution, composition/artistry and dedication make up the gymnasts execution score.  Deductions are taken for things such as falling, stepping out of bounds, and violations for time or apparel.  Olympic gymnastics scoring can be very harsh.   A popular, but fictional example of a harsh deduction is from the movie “Stick It.”  One of the girls does a terrific job on her vault, but gets a deduction for her bra strap showing.  

Gymnastics Difficulty Score

For Olympic gymnastics scoring the difficulty points are given for the ten most difficult skills performed.  Points are given based on the element group requirements, which are the basic skills that must be included in the routine as well as any additionally difficult skills, and their connection value.  Their connection value is how the skills are connected together to increase the difficulty.  The difficulty value is not given if the skill does not meet the technical requirements.  For example, if a layout is attempted but the gymnast bends at the hips, it would only receive the difficulty value of a pike flip, instead of a layout.  Credit is only given once for a skill, regardless of how many times it is performed.

Gymnastics Judges

There are two different sets of panels that are responsible for Olympic gymnastics scoring. One panel is responsible for the difficulty score and one is responsible for the execution score.  The panel for difficulty is made up of two people that each score separately, then compare scores to reach one consensus.   The panel for execution is made up of six judges that each score separately.  The lowest and the highest score are dropped and then the remaining four scores are averaged to make up the final execution score.  The execution and difficulty scores are then added together to make up each Olympic gymnastics score.

Coaches Inquiry

Inquiries for execution scores are not allowed.  However, coaches can inquire about the gymnast's difficulty score.  To challenge a difficulty score, a coach must first do so verbally before the end of the next gymnasts routine.  Then must also do so in writing, which must be submitted before the end of the rotation. Inquiries will be evaluated using video review for Olympic gymnastics scoring.

Gymnastics Tumbling Classes Rochester, NY

For more information on tumbling classes in the Rochester, NY area for your young gymnastics, please contact Challenge Athletics.