Common Gymnastics Deductions (Compulsory Levels)

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Here is a list of common gymnastics deductions you might receive at the compulsory level.

Here is a list of some of the most common or most used gymnastics deductions taken by judges. These deductions are applicable to compulsory gymnastics levels 1-5. If you are looking for ways to improve your gymnastics score this might be a good place to start. By being more aware of what deductions judges are looking for, you can work hard to make sure you don’t earn them! The error is listed first followed by the deduction that is taken from the start value. When the deduction listed is an “up to” deduction, the judge uses their discretion to decide how much should be taken, up to the maximum value. Also remember that in compulsory gymnastics deductions are taken on any mistakes you make in performing the routine as well as any mistakes made in the execution of the skills. So knowing the exact routine is important!

gymnastics scoring cheat sheet

Update 7/27: These HAVE been updated for the new gymnastics rules for 2013-2021.

General Compulsory Gymnastics Deductions:

(These apply on Uneven Bars, Beam and Floor Exercise.)

  • Toes not pointed on major skills: each time .05
  • Legs separated when they should be together: up to .20
  • Not maintaining tight body position on skills: up to .20
  • Bent arms or legs: up to .30
  • Balance errors- small, medium,large: up to .30
  • Fall: .50

Uneven Bars Compulsory Gymnastics Deductions:

(The general deductions apply as well as these specific Uneven Bars deductions.)

  • Extra cast or swing: .30
  • Extra arm swing after landing dismount: up to .10
  • Taking steps after landing dismount: each .10 (max .40)
  • Very large step or jump after landing dismount: .20
  • Additional upper-body movements to maintain balance on landing dismount: up to .30
  • Squat upon landing dismount: up to .30

Balance Beam Compulsory Gymnastics Deductions:

(The general deductions apply as well as these specific Balance Beam deductions.)

  • Failure to kick leg horizontal or above when required: up to .10
  • Uneven leg separation in leaps/jumps: up to .10
  • Insufficient split when required: up to .20
  • Extra kick up to handstand: .30
  • Grasping beam to avoid a fall: .30
  • Swinging arms upon landing of dismount: up to .10
  • Taking steps after landing dismount: each .10 (max .40)
  • Very large step or jump after landing dismount: .20
  • Additional upper-body movements to maintain balance after landing dismount: up to .30
  • Squat upon landing dismount: up to .30

Floor Exercise Compulsory Gymnastics Deductions:

(The general deductions apply as well as these specific Floor Exercise deductions.)

  • Failure to kick leg horizontal or above when required: up to .10
  • Uneven leg separation in leaps/jumps: up to .10
  • Insufficient split when required: up to .20
  • Extra kick up to handstand: .30

 

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We haven’t listed vault deductions because the deductions are different for each compulsory gymnastics level. And for the other events, this is not a comprehensive list of the deductions gymnastics judges use to score compulsory gymnastics routines, these are just some of the most commonly used. We hope this helps to give you a better idea of how gymnastics routines are scored. Here is a list of common optional gymnastics deductions.

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47 comments… add one
  • Jennifer November 9, 2014, 12:41 pm

    Thanks for sharingf. What is the deduction for undergarment showing?

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq November 10, 2014, 8:10 pm

      Hi Jennifer,

      Most judges would ignore a slip of underwear or bra strap, but if it’s blatant and a clear violation then there is a .2 deduction for incorrect attire. Let me know if you have more questions 🙂

      Jessica

      Reply
      • Lily February 9, 2024, 8:19 pm

        What is the lowest score u can get on bars?

        Reply
  • Margaret November 12, 2014, 2:52 pm

    What about music and nail polish deductions?

    Reply
    • Anonymous July 9, 2017, 8:41 pm

      No but some coaches prefer for you to not wear nail Polish.

      Reply
      • Jazmyn Stokes September 30, 2020, 11:50 am

        Why can’t we wear nail polish.

        Reply
        • Sophie November 6, 2023, 11:45 am

          because it can be a distraction to some people

          Reply
  • Emily December 10, 2016, 6:09 am

    I have a comp tomorrow and I am nervous , I’m trying so hard to kick up to a handstand on beam but it’s not full what’s the deduction for that and also my bars, my legs keep separating is that a high deduction??

    Reply
    • Anonymous February 12, 2017, 9:11 am

      For not kicking up to vertical on handstand can be up to .03 and for every time your legs are separate on bars is up to 0.2 depending on how far apart they are.

      Reply
  • Kerri January 15, 2017, 6:46 am

    Hello. My daughter had a level 4 completion this weekend and lost her grip prior to performing first kip on lowbar. She did not fall but instead swung twice prior to recovering and basically doing a kip from no swing. Would there be .3 deductions for each swing prior to the kip?

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq January 16, 2017, 12:12 pm

      Yes there would be.

      Reply
  • Merry January 23, 2017, 6:24 pm

    What is the deduction for finishing off the music on a floor routine?

    Reply
    • Emory January 26, 2018, 3:08 pm

      That is a 0.1 deduction.

      Reply
  • Marissa February 27, 2017, 4:31 pm

    How much of a deduction would it be to arch in a jump to high bar?

    Reply
    • someone November 1, 2018, 2:18 pm

      0.2 about

      Reply
  • Kaitlyn February 28, 2017, 9:37 pm

    Is there a deduction on any/all of the events for your head sticking out?

    Reply
    • Meri April 4, 2019, 4:19 pm

      It could be depending on how bad
      Up to .2

      Reply
  • Liyah March 22, 2017, 8:00 pm

    What’s the deduction for only having 2 skills in a tumbling pass?

    Reply
    • Ashley April 23, 2019, 6:23 pm

      That depends on the level, in level 6, you can do a front tuck as a pass with no deductions besides how well the tuck is performed. Also, in Xcel, at least in the lower levels, many gymnasts will have passed with less than three skills.

      Reply
  • anonymous May 13, 2017, 2:00 am

    Hi – This site is really helpful. Thanks. I also have a question – in a young children’s competition (elite) if the coach has to step in unexpectedly and use his hand to support the child over the vault due to incorrect hand placement – what would be the deduction?

    Reply
  • Lisa Jannaway July 19, 2017, 5:35 am

    Do you get marked down for natural hyperextension of the elbows? My daughter has this and I cannot seem to find out if its classes as bent arms or not? Its natural for her not caused by an injury?

    Reply
  • Aimee October 3, 2017, 2:18 pm

    I have a competition on Friday and had my last practice today, I’m really worried about my bar routine. I can link my kip to my cast but the cast is not very high, and in this competition you lose 0.5 for the cast not being above horizontal. I don’t know whether to pause after my kip to allow myself to get the cast higher or not? The additional problem is that I can link my back hip circle to my squat on and kip on high bar but I cannot link my high bar kip to my undershoot off. I want to do the best I can in this comp, so I don’t know what to do? Pause or go for it?

    Reply
  • tay December 22, 2017, 10:58 pm

    What about bra strap deductions???????

    Reply
    • someone April 22, 2020, 11:04 am

      I think most judges just ignore it, but if it’s blatant and/or a clear violation there is a 0.2 deduction.

      Reply
  • Sadie Shanley February 18, 2018, 3:42 am

    How many points do they deduct if your legs are bent and not together in your back-handspring?

    Reply
  • Melanie January 27, 2019, 8:03 pm

    Is there a deduction for an anklet/braided friendship string style?

    Reply
  • pam February 8, 2019, 12:27 pm

    how about feet crossing/covering one another on bars instead of side by side?

    Reply
  • Maty March 4, 2019, 11:54 pm

    What about contractions, or proper placement in the floor, even not doing required skills?

    Reply
  • Kitty March 26, 2019, 5:25 am

    Hi! What is the deduction for stepping out of the square in floor? Also, what is the deduction for having bent legs in a back handspring? Thanks!

    Reply
  • Gia February 10, 2020, 9:27 pm

    Whats the deduction of not holding your hanstand on beam long enough

    Reply
  • Isabella April 2, 2020, 4:15 pm

    What is the deduction for having a hair tie fall out in a routine?

    Reply
  • No one February 26, 2021, 7:56 pm

    What deductions would it be if you forgot to salute at the end of your routine?

    Reply
  • Tessa May 6, 2021, 11:43 am

    How much is it if you are level five and you do a round of back hand spring back handspring

    Reply
  • Corinne Lurey November 12, 2021, 7:46 pm

    For my bar tap swings what’s the most u can get off for it togther

    Reply
  • Jessica Fincher November 30, 2021, 7:57 pm

    Can the gymnast do a shoulder press on level 3 1/4 turn dismount if falling the wrong way to correct it ?

    Reply
  • Mishka December 8, 2021, 1:27 am

    What’s the deduction for a skirt no long then the very upper thigh in ARTISTIC gymnastics??
    Cause I just bought one & going to where for a competition please inform me fast

    Reply
    • Mishka December 8, 2021, 1:34 am

      I also have another question is it okay if you do a backhandspring step out on FLOOR instead of a regular backhandspring

      Please reply to both my questions

      Reply
  • Mishka December 8, 2021, 1:35 am

    I also have another question is it okay if you do a backhandspring step out on FLOOR instead of a regular backhandspring

    Please reply to both my questions

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq December 9, 2021, 10:26 am

      Hi – all of your questions would best be answered by your coaches. The answers depend on what level you are and could depend on a few other things as well, so it’s best to ask your coaches.

      Reply
  • Layan December 8, 2021, 2:02 pm

    What is the deduction for bending your legs during pullover

    Reply
  • Mishka December 8, 2021, 11:44 pm

    Bending your arms/legs on any event/position is up to a .3 deduction

    If possible please answer my question as well

    Reply
  • No one January 17, 2022, 3:31 pm

    How much is the duduction if you go the wrong derection on FLOOR

    Reply
  • Alissa February 22, 2022, 3:32 am

    is there a deduction for sticking your head out in handstand on beam?

    Reply
  • Laura May 11, 2022, 5:19 pm

    What’s the deduction for wearing shorts?

    Reply
    • Kayden August 27, 2023, 2:47 pm

      There is no deduction as long as they are plain black and have no logos

      Reply
  • Kayden August 27, 2023, 2:46 pm

    What’s the deduction for having a bracelet on during a competition?

    Reply
  • Jess October 19, 2023, 4:34 am

    Any deduction fir standing on the floor in level 3- 6

    Reply

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