We’re very excited to bring to you the first installment of what will be a series of various judging videos!
One of our goals is to be able to provide valuable information to help competitive gymnasts and their coaches/parents have a better understanding of the deductions they’re receiving in their routines. Often we have readers tell us they’re confused as to why their gymnast received a low score when her routine looked great.
Because gymnastics requires various skills performed to perfection, it is the job of a judge to pick apart routines to ensure they meet specific requirements. While at first glance it might appear that a routine should receive a higher score, once you get a feel for the complexities behind all the judging deductions, we think you’ll gain a better understanding of your gymnastics score or at least have a better appreciation for all the deductions that might have been taken.
To help with this, we’ve broken down four different videos of varying levels and programs in terms of their potential deductions. While you or your gymnast’s level might be different than the gymnasts below, try to use the information in the videos to help you apply it to your own routines.
Please note: All four gymnasts have given us permission to use their videos for these purposes.
Video 1: Level 6 Front Handspring Vault by Daniela
One of the reasons we wanted to showcase Daniela’s Level 6 vault is because at first glance many readers would be shocked to hear she scored an 8.0. In this video we break down the potential sources for her deductions to show you all the variables that go into scoring a vault of this nature and why you might be scoring lower than you think on a similar vault.
Video 2: Xcel Platinum Bar Routine by Kyriana
This bar routine grabbed our attention because it had one very specific deduction that most readers might not realize would lower a score as much as it did. In this video we break down the potential sources for Kyriana’s deductions on her Platinum bar routine and show you why hitting those angles in your requirements is so important to your score.
Video 3: Xcel Silver Beam Routine by Kaylee
Kaylee’s does a great Xcel Silver beam routine which shows us how little balance checks and form errors can add up. Also, her split leap is a great example of how lack of height can affect score.
Video 4: Level 4 Floor Routine by Kyleigh
Kyleigh does a great Level 4 floor routine with relatively few deductions. However, we think this video is valuable in showing you how making some minor form corrections can help even a good score improve.
We hope the videos above have given you a better sense of what goes into a score and why at times your score might be lower than expected. For more in GymnasticsHQ’s Judging Series, check out Part Two.
If you’d like your routine to be in consideration for a feature in our GymnasticsHQ’s Judging Series, you can email your video to anna@gymnasticshq.com. The video of your routine must be a clear view and of good quality. Because of the magnitude of submissions, we cannot respond to your emails but we will watch and consider all videos we receive. If your video has been chosen for a feature spot you will be contacted. By submitting your video you agree to allow GymnasticsHQ to use your video for our Judging Series and to make it public on our blog and social media channels.
View Comments (36)
These are awesome! You can use my daughters videos anytime
Thanks for the comment Darcie!! What level is your daughter?
I’ve been waiting for someone to breakdown routines... can you do it for all level 8 and 9 ?
Hi Matt! Yes, we're going to definitely add more levels and do more videos in the future.
Thank you so much for these. After watching 5 years of competitions, I still question what I think I see and what the judges see. This is so helpful and so clearly explained. Please keep this series going.
Thank you for your feedback Kate! We're glad this was helpful to you.
Unfortunately this is not how routines are scored in every state. If my girls did a level 4 routine like that in Wisconsin they would get a low 8. I’m noticing score differences between states and I don’t really understand why some states are taking 1 out of 3 tenths while others are taking all 3 no matter what it seems like. Very frustrating.
We're sorry to hear that Jaclyn. These routines were taken from all different states so there is a nice mix of scores from all over the country. We can understand how frustrating that must be. Hang in there and hopefully the stricter scoring will help your girls become more aware of their form and give them a better foundation moving forward.
Great information, this will really help our level 3 gymnast understand that it really is ALL about straight, tight arms and legs and keeping those toes pointed.
Yes! Straight arms and legs and pointed toes!!
For the platinum bar routine she does not have to have the clear hip to horizontal to meet requirement as long as her cast is above horizontal. She needs either a cast or a clear hip to finish above horizontal. So, she will have a 9.5 start value if she doesn’t meet one of those requirements. It does not need to be both to meet requirement. Unfortunately in this routine she did not meet either. Platinum is tough though! Great start. Keep working hard and she will improve.
Yes that is correct but when she didn’t have either we just said it there that she was missing the requirement.
Thanks for that Erica. This has been something I’ve discussed with my daughter’s coach. I thought it was more about the cast being above horizontal according to the Xcel code of points although it does mention also skills finishing in clear support along with casts. At her practice meet she was only around horizontal for both the preceding cast as well as the clear hip. She did hit an above horizontal cast preceding her dismount, but still received a 9.5 start value. I thought it might be because her higher cast was considered part of her dismount because it was a cast, back hip circle, undershoot and therefore didn’t count as a cast above horizontal on its own?? Also, do you know if the legs touch the bar at all on the underside part of the clear hip does that disqualify it?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this!! My daughter loves it. These are great video's.
Thanks for your comment Laura!
Thank you for this! This is very helpful for parents who don’t know anything about gymnastics!
Hi Patricia, Thanks for your comment. We're glad this was helpful!
Thank you for this!!
You're welcome Kate!
Great very valuable....shocked no one else has ever done it. Well Done....keep up the good work
Thanks for your response!! Glad you found this valuable.