As a gymnastics judge, I can tell you that there are a couple easy tips for improving your gymnastics score. In this article, we’ll delve into five easy and actionable tips that can make a significant difference in your gymnastics routine, helping you refine your techniques, boost your confidence, and ultimately elevate your scores. Whether you’re aiming for a flawless routine or looking to fine-tune specific elements, these tips are designed to be accessible and applicable to gymnasts of all levels. Let’s dive in and unlock the secrets to achieving your personal best in gymnastics! Along with these tips, you might want to read up on common deductions for compulsory and optional routines.
- Keep your legs straight and point your toes.– During your routine, each time you bend your legs on a skill that requires straight legs, up to .3 will be deducted from your score. Each skill performed with flexed feet earns you a .05 deduction. These deductions add up, so keeping your legs straight and toes pointed is important!
- Keep your arms straight.– This tip is important on bars. Each time you perform a skill on bars with bent arms, up to .3 can be deducted. If you perform 8 bar skills with bent arms that is 2.4 points that can be deducted!
- Minimize wobbles.– This tip is particularly important on beam, but also on floor. For every slight hop/small adjustment of your feet or even staggered feet when landing a skill, every straight direction deviation on landing a skill, arm swings to keep your balance on landings, you can earn up to .10 deduction each wobble.
- Try to jump and leap bigger and higher.– This tip is important on floor and beam. Hitting the degree and angle goals for your level is really important to ensure you get credit for your skill. For each angle or degree not appropriately achieved, you can receive deductions from .05-.2 points depending on how many degrees the leap or jump is lacking, which can add up and make a significant difference in your score. Check out our video on how high you need to leap based on your level.
- Smile!– If you smile and look like you are having fun, the judge will enjoy your routine. Also, judges evaluate each routine in the category of Artistry. By not smiling, you can earn a deduction of .1 in the Artistry category, “Quality of Expression’. This is an easy tip to nail, so Smile and have fun!
Practice these tips and I hope you improve your gymnastics score! You might also be interested in 10 exercises you can do at home to improve your gymnastics skills and 9 basic gymnastics skills you should master.
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View Comments (12)
thx so much hope my scores impove sick of being 5th and 4th
My daughter is batteling with level 2 vault just can't get into handstand, she always rolls. What can help her
Well I am a level 10 gymnast, and osly enough I had that same problem!!! Every day before bed length agent a wall and hold a handstand for 1 to 3 minets! Trust me ir helps!! $
Well I am a level 10 gymnast, and oddly enough I had that same problem!!! Every day before bed lean agent a wall and hold a handstand for 1 to 3 minets! Trust me it helps!!
One tip is practice handstands against the wall with good form. And don’t arch to much in the handstand keep your body nice and straight! Also a tip is to use your fingers to balance ! Hope this helps!
In bronze I got a perfect ten on bars and trust me those little things can be big
I'm an Xcel Silver and we compete handstand-flat back for Vault. I have state meet this Friday, and whenever I go into the skill, I pike in the beginning and then go into handstand. Also, when I jump onto the springboard, I jump with my arms by my ears when I'm supposed to jump with my arms down. I'm also supposed to reach more, and idk how to do that since whenever i try to reach more, i always reach behind where im supposed to reach. sorry this was long lol
I'm an Xcel Silver and we compete handstand-flat back for Vault. I have state meet this Friday, and whenever I go into the skill, I pike in the beginning and then go into handstand. Also, when I jump onto the springboard, I jump with my arms by my ears when I'm supposed to jump with my arms down. I'm also supposed to reach more, and idk how to do that since whenever i try to reach more, i always reach behind where im supposed to reach. sorry this was long lol.
EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED DO 20 PUSHUPS 20 SQUATS AND 20 SIT UPS
I DID THIS EVERY NIGHT AND AFTER JUST THREE MONTHS MY OVERALL SCORE WAS 0.3 HIGHER! IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE MUCH BUT IT IS A LOT TRUST ME JUST DO ITTTTT
Hi!! I am a level 4 gymnast and I have all my skills I just need to work on consistency and perfection. - Especially my vault because I keep not getting over and piking. Any suggestions?
I'm in sapphire and I also am having the same problem getting in the handstand on vault but then my coach help me with a grill and it help a lot. Sometimes you just need to ask for help.
Thanks so much I have a comp on Sunday so I’ll remember this