2025-2028 Code of Points High Bar Review
How the 2025-2028 MAG Code of Points impacts High Bar routines
This article includes the updates released by the FIG in August and October 2025
Updates about the EG Dismount value and 5 flight elements
The 2025-2028 MAG Code of Points has been used since the beginning of the year. Here are the main changes in the evaluation of MAG’s High Bar routines and what’s been happening on the podiums since January.
It includes the update released by the FIG in August and October 2025.
1. 2025-2028 Code of Points High Bar Review :
General Information
1. NUMBER OF ELEMENTS
8 elements
The difficulty value of a routine is the combined total of the 8 elements with the highest value.
2. ELEMENT GROUPS VALUES (EG)
The value by default was 0.5 for each of the four Element Groups in the 2021-2024 MAG COP. In the 2025-2028 MAG COP, the value will be calculated as follows:
EG 1:
0.5
EG II and EG III:
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.
EG IV:
The FIG initially proposed a new rule, stating that the EG value would equal the value of the element performed. For example, if the Fardan (rated G) was the dismount of a High Bar routine, the gymnast would receive 0.7 for the element and 0.7 for the EG value, i.e. 1.4, instead of 1.2 with the previous COP.
In October 2025, the FIG removed this current open value for the dismount EG. Instead, it caps its maximum value at 0.5, consistent with the other element groups within the MAG Code of Points.
NUMBER OF SKILLS BY EG:
Maximum 4 elements from the same EG (as opposed to 5 in the 2022-2025 MAG COP)
3. ELEMENT GROUPS NAMES
Group 1:
Long hang swings and turns
Group 2:
Long hang swings and turns
Group 3:
Acrobatic elements backward
Groups 4:
Dismounts
4. COMPOSITION
Deviations through handstands deductions: the new MAG COP includes an additional angle deduction for deviation through handstand
<3 0° = none
30° – 60° = -0.1
60° – 90° = 0.3
> 90° = -0.5 and no recognition
Special repetitions: only two Tkatchev & Piatti, Kovacs, Gienger, Jäger, Markelov or saltos forward over the bar style flight elements are permitted.
The gymnast may perform a 5th flight if at least two flights are connected.
5. CONNECTION VALUES
| ELEMENT TYPE | ELEMENT TYPE | CONNECTION VALUE |
| Flight | Flight | |
| C | D or + | 0.1 |
| D | D | 0.1 |
| D or + | E or + | 0.2 |
| EG I or III | Flight | |
| D or + | D | 0.1 |
| D or + | E or + | 0.2 |
2. 2025-2028 Code of Points High Bar Review :
Upgraded and Downgraded Elements
1. UPGRADED ELEMENTS
- The “Walstrom” – Back uprise and Hecht straight with 3/2 t. to hang: F => G
- The “Liukin” – Tkatchev straight with 1/1 t.: F => G
- The “Suarez” – Piatti layout with 1/1 turn: G => H
- The “Balabanov” – Salto forward layout also from el-grip: D => E
- The ” Winkler” / The ” Pogorelev” – Salto forward layout with 1/1 t. also from el grip: F => G
- Salto forward layout with 2/1 t. also from el grip (unofficially The “Crockett”): G => H
- The “Gienger”: Swing forward and salto backward. piked w. ½ t. to hang: C => D
- The “Sapronenko” – Gienger from Czech giant: C => D
- The “Deff’ – Swing fwd. and salto backward. with 3/2 t. to hang: F => G
- The “Gaylord I” – Salto forward, tuck over the bar, also from el-grip : D => E
- The “Gaylord I” piked: E => F
- The “Pegan” – Gaylord I with 1/2 t.: F => G
- The “Maras” – Pegan piked: G => H
- The “Koudinov” – Gaylord I with 1/1 t.: G => H
2. DOWNGRADED ELEMENTS
No downgrades
UPDATE AUGUST 2025
Start of exercise:
A cast, consisting of a maximum of three swings, is permitted in order to begin an exercise without deduction. Each movement forward and/or backward counts as a swing. Further, either a jump to a swing or a coach pushing the gymnast into a swing counts as a swing.
Grip Changes:
An additional grip change is considered an “additional or intermediate hand support” and will be deducted 0.1 each time.
Examples include:
– Zou Li Min to mixed grip followed by an immediate grip change will be deducted 0.1, but the Zou Li Min is recognized.
– Adler 1/1 turn to mixed grip followed by an immediate grip change to undergrip will be deducted 0.1.
– Endo, Kip or Uprise backward with overgrip followed by two consecutive grip changes to undergrip will be deducted 0.1 for the second grip change
Elements in mixed grip (Giant Forward, Endo, Uprise backward, Kip etc.) followed by one grip change to undergrip will not receive a deduction.
Uprise backward to Free hip circle:
As a mount, if a gymnast performs an Uprise backward to support followed by a free hip (or other movement) they will receive a 0.3 deduction for Reversal of Direction (CoP 15.2.1.2.d) If no support is shown during the swing rearward, then there will be no deduction. Support is when the arm angle is less than 45° from arm to body.
Kovacs Style flight elements:
A salto backward. with ½ turn over the bar (II.82) and Gaylord 2 (II.83) are considered as Kovacs style flight elements when applying the special repetition rule, which allows a maximum of two elements of each flight style.
Five Flight Elements:
The gymnast may perform a 5th flight (EG II) among the 7 counting elements if at least two flights are directly connected (minimum C+C).
3. 2025-2028 Code of Points High Bar Review :
Impact on Current Routines
NEW WAYS OF PERFORMING
The recent upgrades have significantly diversified the contents of routines: 14 flight elements have been upgraded, and the required number of elements has diminished from 10 to 8. This change has compelled gymnasts to refine their routines and incorporate flight elements that were previously less prevalent. In prior cycles, a considerable proportion of releases featured Kovacs-type elements; the objective of the FIG was to promote greater diversity in routines and encourage gymnasts to integrate a broader variety of skills.
As a result, the Liukin and the Walstrom, both upgraded to G, have become more common since the beginning of the year. The most zealous gymnasts even connect them to other elements in order to get connection bonus. Tang Chia-hung (TPE) now includes both these release skills in his routine, and a triple back dismount (rated F).
More info: MAG Code of Points 2025-2028: Review & Analysis
2025-2028 Code of Points High Bar Review
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