Scoring 101: The Basics Behind Elite Gymnastics Scoring
Image from The Wall Street Journal
OVERVIEW
For a newcomer to the sport or just a casual gymnastics fan, the scoring can be a bit confusing. Especially since values change from time to time.
Historically, gymnasts could receive a maximum score of a 10 for a perfect routine. Nadia Comaneci from Romania made her mark in history by being the first gymnast to ever receive the highly touted "perfect 10" at an Olympic Games. As the sport progressed, however, and after some "scoring disputes" in 2004, the FIG adopted the current scoring system in 2006. Though exact values and equations have been adjusted since, the overall scoring methods are the same.
Now when you watch a gymnastics competition, you'll hear announcers talk about a D-score and an E-score, or how much a specific trick or routine is worth. The E-score, or execution score, is still out of 10, but now there is a difficulty score added to that to get the final score. Difficulty scores vary per routine, and change drastically from gymnast to gymnast, and apparatus to apparatus.
D-SCORE
A D-score is determined by adding together the 8 highest difficulty values (a combination of acrobatic and dance elements on floor and beam), composition requirements, and connection values.
Let's break that down...
Each trick has a difficulty value (DV). These values are determined by which "letter" or "level" a specific skill is assigned. Difficulty Values are as follows:
A = 0.10
B = 0.20
C = 0.30
D = 0.40
E = 0.50
F = 0.60
G = 0.70
H = 0.80
I = 0.90
An example for context - Simone coined The Biles II on floor at Worlds in 2019. This is a triple double, a skill in which she twists three times and does two tucked rotations. This new skill was determined to have a "J" DV, which is a full point. There are other gymnasts who do a double double, which consists of two complete twists and two tucked rotations (known as a Silivas). That skill has a DV of "H" and is worth two tenths less than The Biles II. A tenth might not seem like a large difference, but in a sport where results are determined by hundredths or even thousandths of points, having a high D-score can be to the gymnasts‘ advantage.
For each routine, the 8 highest DVs are taken and added together for a portion of the D-score. They then add to that the composition requirement points. There are elements required in a routine (think compulsory), and gymnasts can receive a maximum of 2.0 for completing those requirements.
The last element of a D-score is the connection points. These are "bonus" points given to a gymnast for connecting two or more skills together. Consecutive release moves on bars or a "series" on beam are common examples of this.
Let's create an imaginary routine as a visual. Say a gymnast has 3 D skills, 3 C skills, and 2 E:
(3 D=1.2, 3 C=.9, 2 E=1.0) 3.1
(2.0 comp requirements) 2.0
(0.6 connection value) 0.6
TOTAL D-SCORE OF 5.7
***An important note, if a gymnast does not complete a specific skill correctly, it will be downgraded in their starting D-score. Using the example above, Simone's floor routine had a start value of 6.9 with her triple double. If during her performance something happened causing her to only do a double double instead, her D-score would be downgraded to a 6.7.
E-SCORE
If a gymnast successfully completes a routine, their starting D-score is added to their final E-score. Throughout a routine, judges are watching the form and technique closely to award their final E-score. Things like leg separation, flexed feet, a handstand on bars that doesn't completely hit vertical, and a balance check on beam are examples of breaking form, thus lowering the E-score. A gymnast's artistry can also affect their E-score.
A perfect E-score would be 10.0.
If the same gymnast from above executed a routine beautifully and received an E-score of 9.333 and did not receive any deductions, her final score would be 9.333+5.7, or 15.033.
DEDUCTIONS
There are specific deductions that can be taken from a final score if necessary. Going over the time limit, stepping out of bounds, and falling off of an apparatus are the three major deductions taken. These have a set mathematical total, meaning, for example, no matter the skill or the gymnast, if they step out of bounds with one foot on floor, they will all receive the same 0.1 deduction for that infraction.
VAULT
Vault requires its own brief explanation. Each specific vault has a start value prior to a gymnast's performance. An Amanar (2 ½ twisting Yurchenko), for example, in the current code of points has a start value of 5.8. If the gymnast completes her vault successfully, her D-score will be 5.8.
This is a very brief and somewhat simplified explanation of the current scoring method for elite gymnastics in this quad. Attached below is the complete Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points from the FIG, which gives a strict breakdown of all things scoring. Scoring begins in Part II or Section 6.
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