Exercise

There is there is an A and a B judge. The A judge adds up certain points (that are known to all gymnasts and coaches) for each skill that is completed sucessfully. The B judge score out of ten and deducts for any mistakes i.e. falls, wobbles, extra swings/steps, bent arms/legs, low landings, "closed shoulders, incorrect body positions etc.These to scored are then added together to give a final score for the gymnast. On vault a score is tabulated for each vault and then the average is found( at major competitions and the olympics). On other occasion the higher score is taken. A good detailed explaination of this is shown on the NBC Website(http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/insidethissport/scoring/newsid=116807.html) This is what it states: Scoring Basics Since the 2004 Games in Athens, a code of points system was introduced in 2005 to replace the old scoring system for all events. The Perfect 10 as a maximum score was abolished in favor of an open-ended system, designed to allow greater separation of gymnasts' scores. Here is how it works: * One panel of judges starts from 0, adding points for requirements, difficulty and connections.

* A second panel of judges starts from 10.0, and deducts for execution and artistry. * The final score is determined by adding the difficulty score and the execution score. A typical score under today's rules ranges from 14 to 17 points.Outside of the change in a gymnasts' final score, the most notable change is that gymnasts are more heavily penalized for execution errors. Falls now cost eight-, instead of five-tenths of a point. Who's to judge? For each Olympic gymnastics event, 9 judges are chosen from a FIG pre-approved pool of multi-national judging candidates. The chosen judges are categorized into 3 groups:

1. The Apparatus Supervisor, or head judge (1 judge)

2. The A panel, who calculate the Difficulty Score (2 judges)

3. The B panel, who judge the Execution Score (6 judges)Difficulty Score (A Panel) The Difficulty Score represents what was previously known as the start value and includes difficulty and credit for connections (two high-level skills that are connected) and element group requirements, which are the basic categories of skills/elements that must be included in a routine. The element group requirements vary by apparatus. This score is determined by the A Panel, which is a two-person panel. The difficulty score is determined by totaling values for the 10 most difficult skills, which includes the dismount. Each skill has a set difficulty value, as outlined in the Code of Points, and for the women are divided into seven classifications, with six for the men. The difficulty value of a skill or element is not recognized if it fails to meet its technical requirements. Also, credit is also only given once for a skill.

For vault only, each vault has a predetermined Difficulty Score, which the gymnast or his/her coach enters on an electronic scoreboard at the beginning of the runway. The number of the specific vault and its Difficulty Score are flashed to the judges.

On every event but vault, connection value is awarded when specific skills or skill types are executed successfully in succession. The women can earn connection values for the balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise, while the men can earn it for the floor exercise, still rings and horizontal bar. For men and women, each connection value is either 0.1 or 0.2 points.

Element group requirements are the basic skills or elements that must be included in each routine and vary by apparatus. If all of the requirements are included, a maximum of 2.5 points is awarded.

Execution Score (B Panel) The Execution Score, determined by a six-person B Panel, now begins at 10 and deductions are made for errors and faults in technique, execution and artistry/composition. The deductions for various errors have increased from previous years. They now range from 0.1 points for a small error to 0.8 points for a fall (previously, a small error was .05 points and a fall was 0.5 points). Neutral Deductions Neutral errors include those for stepping out of bounds or violating time requirements, as well as attire or podium violations. Determining the final scoreEach judge on the A Panel independently reaches his/her Difficulty Score and then the two compare and reach a consensus. Each judge on the B Panel independently determines his/her score. The highest and lowest scores are dropped, and the gymnast's execution score is the average of the remaining four judges' scores FINAL SCORE = [DIFFICULTY + EXECUTION] - ANY APPLICABLE NEUTRAL DEDUCTIONS Inquiries After the score has been posted, a coach may inquire about the Difficulty Score, first verbally and then in writing. An inquiry may be resolved by using video review. The initial inquiry must be made prior to the completion of the next gymnast's routine. The written inquiry must be submitted before the end of the rotation, and the Superior Jury reviews the inquiry. A fee is assessed for filing an inquiry; it is returned if the inquiry is upheld.