The Code of Points is a document that regulates scoring of artistic gymnastics. It is published by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG). Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics in which competitors perform short routines (ranging from approximately 30 to 90 seconds) on different apparatus, obviously less for vaulting (see lists below). ... The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) or International Federation of Gymnastics (IFG) is the governing body of competitive gymnastics. ...

Traditionally, the Code has been updated at the end of every Olympic cycle. Major revisions are made to reflect changing trends in the sport, devalue or delete skills from the Table of Elements, add new skills that have been submitted by gymnasts and change rules as necessary. Minor changes to the Code have often been made following World Championships. The World Gymnastics Championships are held every year. ...

The FIG also governs rhythmic gymnastics, Sports aerobics, Trampolining and Sports acrobatics, and designs and publishes seperate Codes for these disciplines. The 5 apparatus: Clubs, Rope, Ball, Hoop, Ribbon Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which single competitors or five-person teams manipulate five types of apparatus: Ball, Clubs, Hoop, Ribbon, and Rope. ... Aerobics is an effective physical exercise which is often done to music. ... Trampolining is a competitive sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. ... Sports acrobatics, or sport acrobatics, is a fairly recently developed sport which can be competed in pairs or groups on the floor, or individually on a tumble run. ...

The New Code

In 2006, the Code of Points and the entire gymnastics scoring system were completely overhauled. The change stems from the judging controversy at 2004 Olympics in Athens, which brought the reliability and objectivity of the scoring system into question; and arguments that execution had been sacrified for difficulty in artistic gymnastics. It follows a similarly radical scoring change in figure skating that was also prompted by irregularities in judging at major events. The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, commonly known as the 2004 Summer Olympics were the 28th Summer Olympic Games. ... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα Athína IPA ) is the capital of Greece and one of the most famous cities in the world. ... Figure skating is an ice skating sporting event where individuals, mixed couples, or groups perform spins, jumps, and other moves on the ice, often to music. ...

Although the new Code has not yet been used in a major competition, it has already caused a major stir in the gymnastics community. Proponents of the new system believe it is a necessary step for the advancement of gymnastics, promoting difficult skills and more objective judging. Opponents feel that people outside the gymnastics community will not understand the scoring and will lose interest in gymnastics, and that without the emphasis on artistry, the essence of the sport will change. There has also been dissent over the fact that the new Code effectively abolishes the "perfect 10" score, for many years one of the hallmarks of gymnastics.

Code 2006 basics

As in the old Code, every acrobatic and dance element is assigned a specific difficulty rating. The Super-E classification has been eliminated, and the difficulty ratings now range from A (easiest) to G (most difficult). Gymnasts can still invent original skills and submit them to the FIG for possible inclusion in the Table of Elements.

Two panels of judges score every routine, evaluating different aspects of the performance. The final mark is the combined total of these two scores.

The D-score evaluates the content of the exercise on three criteria, the Difficulty Value, Element Group Requirements and Connection Value.

• DV: The nine most difficult elements of the routine, plus the dismount, are added together. For a G skill a gymnast earns .7; for an A, he or she earns .1 points.

• EGR: Gymnasts must demonstrate skills from five required Element Groups on each apparatus. A gymnast may use skills to fulfill the DV and the EGR simultaneously. For each EG presented, .5 points are awarded. A maximum score of 2.50 points may be earned here.

• CV: Additional points are given for connections of two or more elements.

Although the D judging panel does not take deductions, they may decide not to give gymnasts DV or EGR points for elements that are performed with falls. A gymnast may also lose CV credit if there are extra steps or pauses between skills that are meant to be connected.

The D-score is open-ended; in theory a gymnast could obtain unlimited points by performing connected skills.

The E-score evaluates the performance, ie, the "execution, composition and artistry" of the routine.

• The base score is 10.0. Judges do not add to this, but rather, take away points for errors in form, artistry, execution, technique and routine composition. Deductions for falls are included in this mark, and have been raised from .5 to .8.

The D-score and E-score are added together for the gymnast's final mark.

This judging system applies to all WAG and MAG events except vault. Vault scoring is somewhat different: The vault, formerly known as vaulting horse, is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. ...

• Every vault has been assigned a specific points value in the Code. The D-score is simply this value. Every gymnast performing the same vault will receive the same number of points.
• The E-score is the most important score on this apparatus. The judges on this panel work from the 10.0 base mark and deduct for form, technique, execution and landing.

The D-score and E-score are added together for the gymnasts's final mark.

There are several acts that completely invalidate the vault and result in a score of 0. These include receiving spotting (assistance) from a coach and not using the U-shaped safety mat for Yurchenko-style vaults.

The old Code in brief

The old Code worked on the 10.0 scoring system.

Skills: Every acrobatic and dance element was awarded a specific difficulty rating, ranging from A (easiest) to Super E (hardest) in the Table of Elements. Gymnast earned bonus points by performing difficult skills alone or in combination.

Required elements: Routine composition was decided by the gymnast and his or her coaches, however, on every apparatus except vault there was a list of required elements (similar to the EGR in the new Code) that had to be performed during the routine. Examples of required elements included 360 degree turns on balance beam and a backwards salto on floor exercise. The Balance Beam is a artistic gymnastics apparatus. ... Salto may refer to: Places Brazil Salto, Brazil (pop: 103,844 2004), São Paulo Cape Verde Salto, Cape Verde, a parish in the municipality of São Filipe in the southern part of Fogo Island Portugal Salto, Portugal, a parish in the municipality of Montalegre Uruguay Salto, Uruguay, a... A Canadian gymnast trains on a floor. ...

Base score': The base score was the default Start Value of the routine, provided the gymnast fulfilled all required elements. This changed over the years, but was usually about 9.4.

Start Value: The Start Value (SV) of each routine was determined by adding the base score to the bonus points earned from performing difficult elements and combinations. Ideally, a gymnast wanted to have a SV as close to 10.0 as possible.

On vault, every vault was assigned a specific Start Value in the Code.

The score was determined by subtracting any deductions--for poor form, execution, steps, falls or other infractions--from the SV.

External links

• Code of Points at the official website of the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG)