Scoring Information

SCORING

INFORMATION

In collegiate team competition, six gymnasts perform on each of the four apparatuses (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise). The five best individual scores per event comprise the cumulative team total.

Collegiate competition requires at least two judges to evaluate the score of an athlete’s performance. Their scores are averaged to arrive at a final mark. A perfect team score is 200, with top collegiate scores ranging between 193.00 and 198.00.

Optional routines, choregraphed to express the gymnasts’ skills that they perform best, are based on a score of 9.5, with a possibility of an additional five-tenths for completing more difficult skills and or combinations.

Judges use the following categories to evaluate optional routines: Value parts (difficult) 2.20 Special requirements 2.00 Bonus elements 0.50 Execution/composition 5.30 Total 10.00

VAULT

• Vault requires speed, quickness and explosive power • Vaults are divided into four categories: handsprings, forward saltos, backward saltos and vaults from a roundoff • New in 2016, only certain vaults are assigned a start value of up to 10.0: Yurchenko pike full, Yurchenko half front layout (Arabian style) and a Yurchenko/Tsukahara Tuck 1 ½ • Yurchenko layout full and Yurchenko layout half vaults are now assigned start values of up to 9.95 • Gymnasts must remain motionless upon landing or a deduction will be taken

UNEVEN BARS

• A complete routine comprises 10 to 15 moves, consisting mainly of swinging and suspension skills utilizing both bars with many

regrasps • A change of direction is required in the routine, while pauses for concentration, extra swings and uncharacteristic elements are to be avoided • Gymnasts must change bars two times and must have at least two flight elements

BALANCE BEAM

• A routine must be composed of elements from the following groups: tumbling with and without flight, strength and dance (i.e. turns, leaps and body waves) • Special requirements on the beam are a tumbling series, a large jump, a full turn and a series of skills combining dance and acrobatics • The routine must last between 1:10 and 1:30 • Performing on the beam requires precise movement and intense concentration, as each wobble results in a deduction

FLOOR EXERCISE

• Floor exercise is a combination of dance, tumbling and acrobatics performed to music • Creative and dynamic changes in rhythm and energy levels help to create an exciting routine where composition plays an important role • A routine must last between 1:10 and 1:30 and is required to have two or three tumbling “passes” • Gymnasts must balance the difficultly of their tumbling skills and dance skills and should finish the routine as strongly as it was started • Specific deductions are taken for stepping off the mat and for being out of sync with the music