Gymnastics Scoring for Dummies

What do those numbers even mean?!

🔢 THE BASICS

Every gymnast’s score = Start Value (SV) – Deductions

🏆 1. START VALUE (SV)

• The highest possible score a gymnast could get if they did everything perfectly.

• Max SV in most U.S. scoring is 10.0

• To earn a 10.0 SV, a gymnast must include:

  • Required skills (based on level)

  • Bonus skills (for advanced levels)

  • Connections (linking moves smoothly)

🧼 2. DEDUCTIONS (Taken by Judges)

Judges subtract points for errors like:

Mistake	Deduction
Small wobble	-0.10
Step on landing	-0.10 to -0.30
Bent arms or legs	-0.10 to -0.30
Fall	-0.50
Incomplete skill	Varies up to .4
Poor form or posture	-0.10 to -0.30

Example of Front Handspring Vault Deductions:

Vault Performed: Front Handspring

🔟 Start Value = 10.0 (USAG 5 & IGC Bronze-Silver) JOGA Start Value = 8.6

🧱 PHASES OF THE VAULT

The judges score each phase:

1. First flight (board to table)

2. Support (contact with table)

3. Second flight (off the table)

4. Landing

🔍 DEDUCTIONS BY CATEGORY

📤 1. First Flight Phase

Mistake	Deduction
Poor body position	up to 0.30
Legs bent	up to 0.30
Legs separated	up to 0.20
Poor height	up to 0.50

🖐️ 2. Support/Repulsion Phase (on the table)

Mistake	Deduction
Arms bent	up to 0.50
Poor head or body alignment	up to 0.30
Too long in support (slow push off)	up to 0.50
Angle of repulsion not vertical	up to 1.00
Too early or too late push	up to 0.50

🕊️ 3. Second Flight Phase (off the table)

Mistake	Deduction
Insufficient height	up to 0.50
Insufficient distance	up to 0.30
Poor body position in the air	up to 0.30
Legs bent/separated	up to 0.30

🛬 4. Landing Deductions

Mistake	Deduction
Small hop or step	0.10 each (up to 0.40 max)
Large step or deep squat	0.20–0.30
Fall	0.50
Incorrect posture	up to 0.20
Arm swing to maintain balance	up to 0.10
Staggered feet/slight movement	up to 0.10

❗BONUS: BIG NO-NOS (0.50 each unless noted)

• Fall on mat or off the table: 0.50

• Support with head: 2.00

• No hand contact on table: Void vault

• Run off without attempting: Void vault

🧠 HOW TO SCORE HIGH

✅ Straight arms✅ Tight body✅ Powerful block off the table✅ Stick the landing

🤸‍♀️ BALANCE BEAM SCORING (FOR DUMMIES)

Start Value (SV) – Deductions = Final Score

💡 Most gymnasts aim for a Start Value of 10.0 (but only if all required skills & bonuses are met).

🪄 WHAT MAKES UP A BALANCE BEAM ROUTINE?

• Dance skills (leaps, jumps, turns)

• Acro skills (flips, handstands, rolls)

• Series (two connected acro skills)

• Dismount (end skill off the beam)

• Connections (smooth transitions = bonus)

❗COMMON DEDUCTIONS

MistakeDeductionWobble0.10 to 0.30Big balance check0.30Touching beam for support0.30Fall off beam0.50Bent legs or armsup to 0.30Legs apart (on leaps, jumps)up to 0.20Lack of split (on leaps)up to 0.20Poor posture or presentationup to 0.30No series connection0.20 to 0.50Pause too long0.10 each timeExtra steps on landing0.10 to 0.30Fall on dismount0.50

🧠 SCORING HINTS FOR PARENTS

• You may see a score between 7.0 and 9.8 depending on mistakes.

• Falls hurt — each one is -0.50!

• Even great routines lose small tenths for things like posture, legs apart, or small wobbles.

🧼 HOW TO STICK THE ROUTINE

✅ Stay tight and confident✅ Connect moves smoothly✅ Show off your artistry✅ Stick that dismount!

🏋️‍♀️ UNEVEN BARS SCORING (FOR DUMMIES)

Final Score = Start Value – Deductions

🔟 The goal? A Start Value of 10.0(Only if the gymnast includes all required skills + bonus connections)

🔩 WHAT’S IN A BAR ROUTINE?

• Circling skills (giants, clear hips, toe-ons)

• Flight elements (release moves, bar changes)

• Turns (like pirouettes)

• Dismount (flip off the bar)

• Connections (skills done back-to-back = bonus)

❗COMMON DEDUCTIONS

MistakeDeductionBent arms/legsup to 0.30Legs separatedup to 0.20Poor body form (pike/arch)up to 0.30Incomplete handstandup to 0.30 eachPause or rhythm breakup to 0.20Extra swing0.30 eachFall0.50Hit feet on bar0.20Touch mat with feet0.30Incorrect grip or form on releaseup to 0.30Step on landing0.10–0.30Fall on dismount0.50

🤔 HOW JUDGES DECIDE THE START VALUE

To get a 10.0 start, a gymnast must:

• Perform required skills (based on level)

• Include difficulty (ABC/D+ skills)

• Show smooth connections

• Hit handstands and vertical angles cleanly

🔍 FINAL SCORE MEANINGS

ScoreWhat It Means9.5–10.0Excellent — almost perfect!9.0–9.49Very good — minor form breaks8.0–8.99Good effort, with some clear errorsBelow 8.0Likely included falls or major mistakes

🧼 PRO TIPS TO AVOID DEDUCTIONS

✅ Tight body shape✅ Straight arms/legs✅ Smooth swing — no extra motions✅ Handstands vertical✅ Stick the landing!

🎵 GYMNASTICS FLOOR SCORING (FOR DUMMIES)

Final Score = Start Value – Deductions

🟦 Most gymnasts aim for a Start Value of 10.0(You only get this if your routine has all required skills and difficulty)

💃 WHAT’S IN A FLOOR ROUTINE?

• Tumbling passes (flips + twists)

• Dance elements (leaps, jumps, turns)

• Choreography to match music

• Connections (smooth transitions between skills)

• Artistry and expression!

❗COMMON DEDUCTIONS

MistakeDeductionBent arms or legsup to 0.30Legs apart (on jumps or flips)up to 0.20Insufficient splitup to 0.20Fall0.50Step on landing0.10 to 0.30Out of bounds (touching white line)0.10Out of bounds (stepping out)0.30Poor artistry or expressionup to 0.30Poor posture or controlup to 0.30Lack of dynamicsup to 0.20Incomplete twists/saltosup to 0.30Music & movement not connectedup to 0.20

🏁 LANDING DEDUCTIONS

• Small hop/step: 0.10

• Large step or lunge: 0.20–0.30

• Fall: 0.50

• Multiple steps: 0.10 each (max 0.40)

📊 WHAT DO SCORES MEAN?

Final ScoreMeaning9.5 – 10.0Nearly perfect, wow!9.0 – 9.49Excellent, maybe a few tiny things8.0 – 8.99Good — a couple mistakes or stepsBelow 8.0Likely had a fall or multiple issues

💡 PARENT TIP:

Floor is where gymnasts can show personality — don’t judge only by the flips. Dance, artistry, and expression matter just as much!

🤸‍♀️ Understanding JOGA Scoring & Deductions

(Jersey Optional Gymnastics Association)A guide for parents, gymnasts & fans

🟢 THE BASICS

In JOGA, gymnasts are scored similarly to other optional gymnastics programs, like USAG or USAIGC. Each gymnast starts with a Start Value based on the difficulty and requirements of their routine. Judges then take deductions for any mistakes in execution, form, and artistry.

Final Score = Start Value – Deductions

The largest difference you will see is that the gymnast does not often start with a 10.0 Start Value. This is because the rules are based on a full value high school level routine and then limits are placed on what skills are allowed to be performed at each level.  

🔩 START VALUE (SV)

• Determined by:

  • Required elements specific for the gymnast’s JOGA level

  • Difficulty of skills performed ( Medium, Superior, High Superior and Advanced High Superior level skills)

  • Bonus combinations (when applicable)

• Each level has a list of required elements per event as well as restricted skills.

• If any required element is missing, the gymnast loses 0.50 per missing requirement.

❗COMMON DEDUCTIONS (ALL EVENTS)

Mistake	Deduction
Bent arms or legs	up to 0.30
Legs apart (on skills)	up to 0.20
Flexed feet	up to 0.10
Poor body posture or form	up to 0.30
Fall (on any event)	0.50
Extra steps on landings	0.10–0.30
Lack of control or rhythm	up to 0.20
Incomplete elements (e.g. handstand short)	up to 0.30
Unnecessary pauses or breaks in routine	up to 0.10 each

🎯 EVENT-SPECIFIC NOTES

Vault

• Most JOGA levels compete a front handspring vault. No vault higher than an 8.6 Start Value for level 6, 9.0 for level 5 and a 9.4 for level 4  There are no skill restrictions for levels 1-3.

• Deductions apply for bent arms, body position, height, distance, and landing.

• Big mistakes (no hand contact or void vaults) result in a zero.

• Vault Bonus is awarded for Any Layout Tsuk, Handspring Front Tuck, Handspring 2/1, 1/2 on 2/1 off or any twisting Tsuk or Yurchenko

Bars

• Judges deduct for bent arms, missed handstand angles, extra swings, and missed connections.

• Poor body positions, bent legs, or leg separation are the most common deductions.

• Falls off the bars = -0.50

• Start Values are the total of difficulty (3.0) Event requirements (1.0) Composition (0.6) Execution and Amplitude (4.6) and Bonus (0.8)

• JOGA 6 NO handstands or Giants Allowed

• There are no skill restrictions for levels 1-3.

Beam

• Beam routines must include acro skills, a leap/jump series, a full turn, and a dismount.

• Wobbles, balance checks, bent knees, missed connections, and falls are the most common deductions.

• Routine must flow smoothly — long pauses are deducted.

• Start Values are the total of difficulty (3.0) Event requirements (1.0) Composition (0.6) Execution and Amplitude (4.6) and Bonus (0.8)  Only the Highest level athletes will start with a 10.0 SV

• There are no skill restrictions for levels 1-3.

Floor

• Floor routines must include saltos, leaps/jumps, a full turn, and a dance/tumbling connection.

• Deductions come from bent form, lack of artistry, low leaps, incomplete twists, and stepping out of bounds.

• Expression and music interpretation matter!

• Start Values are the total of difficulty (3.0) Event requirements (1.0) Composition (0.6) Execution and Amplitude (4.6) and Bonus (0.8) Only the Highest level athletes will start with a 10.0 SV

• There are no skill restrictions for levels 1-3.