The Code of Points
The Code
During a competition a gymnast is cored by a panel of judges. There are usually between 1 and 4 judges that observe the gymnasts routine. They determine the deductions due to something done incorrectly in the routine as well as bonus value of connections and fulfilment of requirements. In the J.O. program of gymnastics, the highest attainable skill is a 10.0. Level 1-8 gymnasts also have a starting value of 10.0 form which points are deducted unless they are missing a requirement. Level 9s have a start value of 9.7 and level 10s have a start value of 9.5. This lower start value can be raised with various skills and connections up to a 10.0. The best 9s and 10s have far more bonus than necessary to reach a 10.0. In the F.I.G. program there are two scores that make up the total score for the event: execution, which is judging for flaws in the performance, and difficulty, which is adding together the bonus based on the value of connections and skills. These values have all been laid out in the Code of Points.
The Code of Points is like a gymnastics bible. It gives the standards for all equipment settings, regulations for coaches, judges, and gymnasts in competitions, value of skills, and regulations for judging in terms of both difficulty and execution (F.I.G.). Coaches, gymnasts and judges all have rights, responsibilities, penalties, and an oath that are listed in the Code of Points. Coaches also have regulations on how to make an inquiry on a score of a gymnast’s routine when they think it had a score it did not deserve. There are many judges involved in gymnastics. Some time the routine or watch for the gymnast stepping out of bounds while others watch the actual routine to determine the score. Most of the Code of Points is made to regulate the judging so that it is consistent throughout the nation. It regulates the amount of tenths that can be taken off for any infraction. Judges are given some subjectivity based because the Code gives a range for deductions. On balance beam, a wobble can be .1 to .3 tenths off so one competitor may get .1 off for a wobble while another may get all .3. Routines happen very fast so instead of writing using words, the judges use a series of codes linked to a meaning. This code looks similar to cursive.
Each skill in a gymnast’s routine is valued from A to H (so far). A valued skills are the easiest and rarely receive any bonus unless connected to another skill or set of skills. An example of an A valued skill is a back tuck, while an example of an H valued skill is a double twisting double tuck. This system is designed to give the most bonus for the hardest skills. Some skills are valued lower than their difficulty such as a dismount off the beam that is similar to a Tsukahara vault, which is only valued as a C, primarily to discourage people from competing them. In this system, as gymnasts accomplish greater difficulty, they are able to add letters and to convey increased difficulty. Also, athletes get bonus connection points from connecting skills. For example, a half pirouette connected directly to an overshoot that goes to handstand will rake in 2 tenths in bonus. Bonus is like a reward to gymnasts for competing hard skills and connections.
The code of points is highly complex and well thought out. It effectively regulates gymnastics in nearly all aspects. People are able to compete against similarly skilled athletes because of the level regulation. The judging is fair because of the training and common code among judges. The code of points reduces the subjectivity in the sport and allows people to become more competitive by knowing the rules and regulations, and having access to them. The code of points has made gymnastics better.
The Code of Points is like a gymnastics bible. It gives the standards for all equipment settings, regulations for coaches, judges, and gymnasts in competitions, value of skills, and regulations for judging in terms of both difficulty and execution (F.I.G.). Coaches, gymnasts and judges all have rights, responsibilities, penalties, and an oath that are listed in the Code of Points. Coaches also have regulations on how to make an inquiry on a score of a gymnast’s routine when they think it had a score it did not deserve. There are many judges involved in gymnastics. Some time the routine or watch for the gymnast stepping out of bounds while others watch the actual routine to determine the score. Most of the Code of Points is made to regulate the judging so that it is consistent throughout the nation. It regulates the amount of tenths that can be taken off for any infraction. Judges are given some subjectivity based because the Code gives a range for deductions. On balance beam, a wobble can be .1 to .3 tenths off so one competitor may get .1 off for a wobble while another may get all .3. Routines happen very fast so instead of writing using words, the judges use a series of codes linked to a meaning. This code looks similar to cursive.
Each skill in a gymnast’s routine is valued from A to H (so far). A valued skills are the easiest and rarely receive any bonus unless connected to another skill or set of skills. An example of an A valued skill is a back tuck, while an example of an H valued skill is a double twisting double tuck. This system is designed to give the most bonus for the hardest skills. Some skills are valued lower than their difficulty such as a dismount off the beam that is similar to a Tsukahara vault, which is only valued as a C, primarily to discourage people from competing them. In this system, as gymnasts accomplish greater difficulty, they are able to add letters and to convey increased difficulty. Also, athletes get bonus connection points from connecting skills. For example, a half pirouette connected directly to an overshoot that goes to handstand will rake in 2 tenths in bonus. Bonus is like a reward to gymnasts for competing hard skills and connections.
The code of points is highly complex and well thought out. It effectively regulates gymnastics in nearly all aspects. People are able to compete against similarly skilled athletes because of the level regulation. The judging is fair because of the training and common code among judges. The code of points reduces the subjectivity in the sport and allows people to become more competitive by knowing the rules and regulations, and having access to them. The code of points has made gymnastics better.
WHat Happened to the Perfect 10.0?
Until 2006, elite gymnastics operated under a perfect 10.0 scoring system. Gymnasts had a start value of 8.8, from which points were deducted by judges for flaws in the execution of the routine and bonuses were added for skill connections. Under this system, a perfect routine that’s easier could receive only a 9.6 (Ellenberg). That is alike to optional level J.O. competitions. In the elite program, which has no skill limit, a difficulty value was added to the score to make it easier to judge. If the difficulty of a routine was valued at 6.8 and the execution was a 9.9, then the score of that routine would be a 16.7. Each skill or connection has a degree of difficulty. All of the skill difficulties are added together to get the total difficulty score. This system of having both an execution score and a difficulty score is really quite genius. It incentivizes the development of new skills and the attempt of harder routines. It rewards the gymnasts for these attempts. The execution of different skills are evaluated based on the Code of Points, published by the F.I.G every four years. Execution is where a gymnast loses points and difficulty is where a gymnast gains points. The best gymnasts have execution scores as close as possible to a 10.0. In the Olympics, the new scoring system is much more effective in determining the champion.