Floor Exercise in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics

Floor Exercise: The first event in the MAG Olympic order

Timeline of the apparatus

9 rules to know

Scoring Floor Exercise

Judges receive comprehensive training to assess gymnastics routines by discerning the skills executed by the gymnast. They evaluate their performance based on a 140-page rule-book referred to as the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points.

A gymnast’s final score comprises two principal components:
1. Difficulty score (D score)
2. Execution score (E score)
The D score reflects the complexity of the routine, whereas the E score assesses the quality of its execution. In determining the D scores for the floor exercise, the intricacy of the skills encompassed within the routine is duly considered.

The Difficulty Score

There are three components to calculate the Difficulty Score:
1. Difficulty Value
2. Composition Requirements
3. Connection Values

Difficulty Value

The ratings assigned to the eight most challenging skills within the routine are compiled to establish the Difficulty Value. The inclusion of hard skills plays a significant role in elevating the overall point total. Each skill is assigned a letter from A to J, with skills rated A being classified as the least difficult and receiving a value of 0.1. Following this, each subsequent letter denotes an incremental increase of 0.1 in value, reaching a maximum of 1 point for skill J.

Composition Requirements

Elements are categorized in 4 groups: they are ‘families’ of skills that are performed in a similar fashion :
1. ELEMENT GROUP I:
Non-acrobatic elements: handstands, flairs, planches, splits, jumps, scales
2. ELEMENT GROUP II:
Forward saltos
3. ELEMENT GROUP III:
Backward saltos
4. ELEMENT GROUP IV:
Forward or backward saltos with one or more turns

Floor Exercise, similar to all events except vault, comprises four composition requirements. In the previous Code of Points, each group was valued at 0.5 points. In the 2025-2028 COP, things are changing:
ELEMENT GROUP I:
0.5
ELEMENT GROUP II, III AND IV:
If the highest-rated elements performed are between A and C, 0.3 will be awarded. if the highest-rated elements performed are D+, 0.5 will be awarded.

These requirements represent essential skill types that ensure gymnasts demonstrate a comprehensive array of elements in their routines. The difficulty of the elements may vary, ranging from fundamental skills to challenging maneuvers, provided they conform to the specified type.

From 2025, gymnasts will have to finish their routines with a multiple salto element. Finishing with triple twist backward will not be possible. Now, the gymnasts must end with skills like a double piked or double layout backward salto, or a double Arabian

Connection Bonuses

Gymnasts can also build their difficulty through connection values. These are bonus points that are given for certain skills performed consecutively, as this is more challenging. There are many possible combinations that can be performed. Each connection is worth either 0.1 or 0.2 in value. These bonuses encourage gymnasts to perform creative and difficult combinations to boost their score.

The Execution Score

The E score represents the deduction of points in gymnastics evaluation. The base score is 10.0 for all routines, reflecting the legacy of the well-known “Perfect 10.” The judging panel for the E score applies deductions for errors in form, execution, technique, and routine composition. Errors are categorized as small, medium, or large, leading to deductions of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 points, respectively. A significant penalty of 1.0 point is imposed for falls. Points are deducted for each execution fault in the routine, as outlined in the Code of Points. Consequently, the final E score is calculated as 10, subtracting all accumulated deductions.

The 2025-2028 MAG Code of Points includes another rule: the stuck landing dismount bonus. On all apparatuses, except the Pommel Horse, gymnasts will receive a 0.1 bonus if the element is rated at least C.

These two components guarantee a balance between challenging skills and effective execution. If gymnasts achieve a high Difficulty (D) score yet execute the routine with numerous errors, their overall score will suffer. Conversely, a gymnast who performs a routine with exceptional execution and minimal errors, yet lacks a high D score, will similarly be disadvantaged in scoring.

Penalty, aka Neutral Deductions

There is one more component of gymnastic scoring, i.e. penalties, also called neutral deductions. These are deductions for faults that occur outside of the skills performed in the routine. The most commonly seen neutral deductions are for exceeding the routine time limit or stepping out of bounds, and less commonly behavior or apparatus violations, and not having enough skills in a routine.

Out Of Bounds: How does it work?
– Landing or touching with one foot or one hand outside the floor area = -0.1
– Touching with feet, hands, foot and hand, or with any other part of the body, outside of the floor area = -0.3
– Landing directly outside the floor area = -0.3
– If the gymnast has stepped outside of the floor area, any steps required to return back into the floor area are not deducted.

The G.O.A.T.S of Floor Exercise at the Olympics

The G.O.A.T.S of Floor Exercise at World Championships

Want to know more?
Men’s Gymnastics: Artistry, Choreography and Non-acrobatics on Floor 
Men’s Artistic Gymnastics: A Guide to the Scoring System
FIG: FX Features & Characteristics