Code of Points (gymnastics)

The Code of Points describes the scoring of artistic gymnastics. It is published by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG).

Related Topics:
Artistic gymnastics - International Federation of Gymnastics

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Gymnastics skills are valued as A, B, C, D, E, or Super E based on their difficulty (A is easiest, super E is hardest). Bonus points for difficult skills and combinations of skills are added to a routine's base score (which is the same for all gymnasts as long as all requirements are fulfilled) to determine the routine's start value. Most of today's gymnasts rely on difficult skills in combination in order to get a start value of 10.0.

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The Code of Points is valid for a period of 4 years and usually changes after the Olympic games, when the skills are devalued and harder skills are added to the code.

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The next change in the code, which will be implemented soon, is a complete revamping of the gymnastics scoring system. The perfect ten will be abolished, replaced with a 2-panel scoring system. The first panel will determine a score based on the difficulty of the routine (out of a theoretically possible ten, but that means that a routine would include 10 skills harder than today's "super E"). The second panel will give a score on execution out of a 10, giving .1 for a minor error, .3 for a medium error, .5 for a large error, and a fall will be a .8 deduction instead of .5.

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This change stems from the scoring controversy at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, which brought the reliability and objectivity of the current code into question. The new code is causing a huge stir in the gymnastics world, with strong feelings on both sides of the issue. Supporters of the new plan believe it is a necessary step for the advancement of gymnastics, promoting difficult skills and fair judging. Opponents feel that without the perfect 10, non-gymnasts will not understand the scoring and will lose interest in the sport, and that without the emphasis on artistry, the essence of the sport will change.

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