Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Violations in FIG gymnastics result in deductions from the score, disqualification, or other sanctions depending on severity. The following are the principal violations and their consequences as specified in CoP WAG/MAG 2022–2026 and the FIG Technical Regulations.
Execution Deductions (Applied by E Judges)
- Fall from apparatus: 1.00 point deduction from E score. A fall is defined as uncontrolled contact of any body part other than hands/feet with the apparatus or landing mat. A gymnast may remount and continue after a fall; the fall deduction remains (CoP 2022–2026, Chapter 3, Article 3.4).
- Bent knees/elbows (when straight required): Small (0.10) for slight bend (<30°), medium (0.30) for significant bend (30°–90°), large (0.50) for extreme bend (>90°), per CoP deduction table.
- Leg separation (when together required): Small (0.10) for <30°, medium (0.30) for 30°–90°.
- Insufficient amplitude or height: 0.10 to 0.30 depending on degree.
- Balance errors on beam: 0.10 per balance check (touching beam with hands, additional steps). A stumble/additional swing: 0.10; near-fall requiring substantial support: 0.30.
- Landing errors (all dismounts and vaults): Step: 0.10; large step or stumble: 0.30; hop or jump: 0.10; deep squat: 0.30; fall: 1.00. One or two steps on landing are each assessed 0.10; if more than 2 steps, 0.30 applies.
Difficulty/Compositional Deductions (Applied by D Judges)
- Unrecognized element: If a skill is insufficiently performed to meet the element's minimum technical requirements (per element description in CoP), the element receives no DV and is not counted in the 8 elements.
- Missing compositional requirement (CR): 0.10 per unfulfilled CR (maximum 0.50 per event).
- Exceeding 8 counting elements: Only the 8 highest-value elements are counted; excess elements simply do not add to the D score. There is no penalty for including more elements, but they are not credited.
- Repeated element: An element from the same element group and value may only be credited once in a routine. Repeated elements receive no DV on subsequent performances (CoP 2022–2026, Chapter 2, Article 2.2).
- Same vault twice in WAG Event Finals: A 2.00-point deduction is applied to the lower-scored vault if both vaults are identical (same vault number).
Neutral Deductions (Applied by Referee/Line Judges)
- Out of bounds (floor exercise): 0.10 per occurrence when one or both feet touch or land on or beyond the white boundary line (CoP 2022–2026, Line Deductions, Article 7.3). The line itself is out-of-bounds. Assessed by line judges using flags.
- Time violation:
- Beam routine <70 seconds: 0.10 deduction
- Beam routine >90 seconds: 0.10 deduction per 5-second excess
- Floor routine (WAG) >90 seconds: 0.10 deduction; music ends before routine is completed also penalized
- Floor routine (MAG) >70 seconds: 0.10 deduction per 5-second excess
- Starting before the green light: 0.30 ND.
- Missing salute: 0.30 ND per missing salute (before mount or after landing).
- Coach on floor/podium without authorization: 0.30 ND per occurrence (FIG Technical Regulations, Article 6.4).
- Coaching during routine (verbal or physical signals): 0.30 ND; repeated violations may result in removal of coach from competition area.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct by athlete or official: Warning → 0.30 ND → disqualification from event, depending on severity and whether behavior is repeated (FIG Technical Regulations, Article 8 — Discipline).
- Anti-Doping Violations: Subject to FIG Anti-Doping Rules (adopting WADA Code). Sanctions include disqualification of results, suspension, and ineligibility periods as mandated by the WADA Code and CAS rulings. The FIG is a signatory to the WADA Code.
Disqualification
A routine or result may be disqualified (score of 0.000) for: performing on wrong apparatus, using another athlete's turn, performance after disqualification, or severe anti-doping or conduct violations. A team may be disqualified if fewer than the required number of gymnasts complete routines on any apparatus (e.g., fewer than 3 of 4 assigned gymnasts complete a valid routine in a 4-up, 3-count format).