A Men's Gymnastics Primer (from USA Gymnastics website)

ARTISTIC SCORING

Rules that govern gymnastics scoring are made by the FIG. At major competitions, four to six judges sit at each piece of apparatus. Two judges determine the start value based on difficulties and bonus met. The other four to six judges deduct for execution and composition only. Each of the judges arrives at a score independently. The high and low scores are discarded while the remaining scores are averaged.

JUDGING CRITERIA

For each routine, the gymnast begins with less than a perfect score. For women, the competitor starts with a 9.00 while men start with an 8.60. Judges make deductions for flaws in execution and for any missing requirements in the composition of the exercise.

The judge may award bonus points, up to 1.0 for women and 1.40 for men. Thus, the perfect routine, including bonus points added, is awarded a score of 10.00.

Gymnastics skills are divided into five levels of difficulty. Levels range from "A," which is the easiest, to "E," the most difficult. Each routine must have a minimum number of parts dependent upon the level of competition.

FLOOR EXERCISE

The entire floor area must be used during the exercise, which consists primarily of tumbling passes performed in different directions. Acrobatic (tumbling) series must be performed, including at least one forward and one backward, all of which cannot be repeated more than one time during the entire routine. There must also be a balance element on one leg or one arm held for two seconds with a minimum of "B" value. Transitional skills, gymnastics movements performed in between tumbling and acrobatic passes, should be executed with proper rhythm and harmony. The exercise must last between 50 to 70 seconds.

Today's floor exercise routines consists of dynamic tumbling skills that only a few years ago were performed solely on the trampoline. The best gymnasts will incorporate tumbling passes with substantial difficulty, performing multiple twisting and flipping saltos at the end of their routines. The area of the floor exercise mat is 40 feet by 40 feet.

POMMEL HORSE

The gymnast must cover all three areas of the horse, the middle and both ends, while performing continuous circular movements interrupted only by the required scissors elements. Swinging through the handstand position, with or without turns are allowed. The only part of the body which should touch the apparatus is the hands. The entire exercise should flow with steady, controlled rhythm. Considered by many to be the most difficult of all men's gymnastics events, the pommel horse is also the most subtle. Each move is defined by complex hand placements and body positions.

The difficulty stems from two factors. First, the gymnasts is performing moves that are dominantly done in a circular movement in a horizontal plane. Second, he spends most of each routine on only one arm, as the free hand reaches for another pommel or part of the horse to begin the next skill.

The pommel horse stands 115 cm tall, and the horse itself is 35cm wide by 160cm long. The pommels must be between 40 to 45 cm apart.

Look for a long series of moves with the hands reaching behind the back. The hand placements should be quick, quiet and rhythmic.

STILL RINGS

The still rings routine must include at least two handstands-one executed with front swing, the other through back swing. At least one element of strength must be held for two seconds.

Examples of strength elements include a cross, an inverted cross or a planche. A cross is performed in a straight body or L position with the body perpendicular to the floor and arms stretched perpendicular to the body, while an inverted cross is executed in an inverted handstand position with arms stretched perpendicular to the body. A planche is a straight body position parallel to the floor above the rings. The rings must remain still throughout the routine. Deductions will be taken for unnecessary swings and instability of all positions.

Today many gymnasts combine strength to swing elements and the reverse for combination bonus points and to achieve the maximum start value for their routine.

The rings are the least stable of the men's apparatus. Stillness and proper body position while performing strength elements is paramount, and those with the best command of the event will display extraordinary skill in arriving at all holds with absolute precision. The rings should be absolutely still and in control at the end of each skill. The body should be straight with no arching, and arms should be sturdy and strong with no shaking.

Look for confidence in the strength elements. The gymnast should move directly into the proper position when performing his cross or planche with control, stop securely for a clear two seconds, and then move easily into the next part. During the swinging elements, watch for stretched body positions and straight handstands.

The rings tower on which the rings are supported stands 575 cm tall. The cable and straps to which the rings are attached are 300 cm long and 50 cm apart. The mats around the still rings, vault and horizontal bar are 18 to 20 cm thick.

VAULT

Each individual vault is categorized in the Code of Points, the official text giving the relevant value of each skill performed. During the pre-flight from the springboard to the horse, the gymnast must demonstrate a rise in the height of his body after pushing off of the horse, travel the minimum distance (2.5 m) and not deviate from the extended axis of the horse. The landing should be firm, without extra steps, and in line with the horse, springboard and runway.

The men's vault stands 135 cm tall. It is 35 cm wide by 160 cm long. The runway is 1 m wide and a maximum of 25m long.

A good vault is sometimes described as a "big" vault. The height, the distance of travel (even though bonus points are no longer awarded for exceptional distance), the overall acceleration into the vault, and the sudden impact of a no-step, suck landing all create a good impression for the judges.

PARALLEL BARS

A parallel bar routine consists of predominantly swing and flight elements. Strength parts may be used, although they are not required and the gymnast should make sure that there are no more than three stops or hold parts during the routine. The gymnast is required to execute two swinging elements, one in support and one from a hang. The gymnast is also required to perform a skill in which both hands release and regrasp the bars, commonly referred to as a release move.

Although not a requirement, some of the better gymnast move outside the two rails, performing handstands and kips on only one bar. When well executed, these movements mark a good performance. The most difficult skills require the gymnast to lose sight of the bars for a moment, as in double front and back saltos. The more of these skills performed in succession (but not repeating a skill more than one time), the more challenging the routine and more bonus points will be given.

The parallel bars stand 195 cm high. Each bar is 350 cm long, and the two bars can be adjusted to between 42 and 52 cm apart.

HORIZONTAL BAR

The routine on horizontal bar consists exclusively of swinging parts without stops. The parts are generally call giant swings, with more specific terms applying to changes in grip, direction and body position.

The gymnast is required to execute at least one move in which he releases and regrasps the bar (release move), and to perform at least one element passing through the lower vertical with both hands in el-grip or in a rearways hang; a dorsal hang position used in inverted and German giant swings or with an eagle grip in which the wrists are rolled outward until the thumbs are on the outside of the grip, pointing away from each other.

The gymnast is also required to perform an in-bar skill like a stalder circle. The higher level routine will have multiple release moves. Gymnasts receive bonus points for connecting higher level difficulty skills. Look for high flying dismounts with multiple somersaults and twists.

Standing 275 cm tall, the horizontal bar is 240 cm long and 2.8 cm in diameter. The horizontal bar is commonly referred to as the high bar.