Gymnastics·Individual Sports

NCAA

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NCAA Gymnastics Rules of the Game· 2025-26 NCAA Gymnastics Rules Book (USA Gymnastics base with NCAA modifications, M's vs W's apparatus differ, NCAA Championships April)Open source

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Section 1: Introduction

NCAA Gymnastics is the collegiate variant of artistic gymnastics contested by NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions in the winter semester. NCAA Women's Gymnastics is the larger competition and culminates in the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship in mid-April; NCAA Men's Gymnastics is contested by a smaller cohort of D1 programs (limited to ~12 schools as of 2026) culminating in the same week. NCAA Gymnastics uses the USA Gymnastics + FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) technical baseline with NCAA-specific modifications around scoring scale, lineup composition, and difficulty requirements. The current edition is the 2025-26 NCAA Gymnastics Rules Book. For the international FIG framework see the sibling FIG Code of Points entry.

Section 2: Equipment

Apparatus per FIG specs (vault table, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise spring floor for W's; floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, high bar for M's)
Personal equipment: leotard (W) / singlet+shorts (M); chalk; grips for bar events; springboard for vault
NCAA-approved competition apparel; modesty standards apply

Section 3: Playing Area

Competition area per FIG spec for each apparatus
Vault runway: 25m
Floor exercise: 12m × 12m sprung floor
Balance beam: 5m × 10cm × 1.25m height
Uneven bars: 1.7m + 2.5m heights
Indoor venue with regulation gymnastics flooring
Warm-up area + competition area + judges' tables

Section 4: Players & Officials

NCAA W's team: 6 gymnasts compete per event; top 5 scores count toward team total (drop the lowest)
NCAA M's team: 5 gymnasts compete per event; all 5 scores count (no drop)
Roster: typically 15-20 athletes for D1; only 6 (W's) or 5 (M's) compete per event
Officials: 2-4 judges per apparatus + chief judge; lineup official; meet referee
NCAA Championship advances 8 teams + individual qualifiers

Section 5: Rules of Play

Each event: gymnast performs a routine demonstrating required elements + connections + dismount
Routines must include specified number of "Special Requirements" per the NCAA Code (e.g., dance + acrobatics on floor)
Time limits per apparatus: vault one attempt; bars/beam/floor: 30 sec - 1:30 limits per FIG/NCAA spec
Falls: deduction + remount allowed if time/apparatus permit
Touch warm-up before competition; salute judges before + after routine

Section 6: Scoring

NCAA scoring: 10.0 maximum scale per routine (different from FIG open-ended Code of Points)
Composed of D-Score (difficulty/composition) + E-Score (execution); NCAA caps at 10.0 by combining
Each routine evaluated by 2-4 judges; high+low dropped; remaining averaged
Team total: sum of 6 individual event totals; W's drops lowest of 6 per event = 5 scores; M's all 5 count
NCAA Championship: top 4 teams in semifinals advance to "Super Six" final (W's) / similar M's bracket

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Form deductions: bent legs, separated legs, body position, height of skill
Composition deductions: missing required elements, insufficient difficulty
Falls: 0.5 deduction per fall (NCAA standard)
Time over limit: 0.1 per second over
Out of bounds: 0.1-0.3 deduction
Coach interference during routine: 0.2-0.5 deduction
Apparel violations: 0.1 deduction per violation
Unsporting conduct: NCAA Sportsmanship Code; ejection + disciplinary review

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Spotters required at coach's discretion for high-risk skills. NCAA-mandated safety mats meeting FIG spec. Apparatus inspection pre-meet. Concussion protocol: removal + graduated return-to-play assessment for any actual or suspected concussion (apparatus falls and rotation-related impacts are primary risks). Spinal-injury emergency action plan required (vault and bars dismounts have highest spinal-injury risk). Required: certified athletic trainer at every meet; team physician + EMT/ambulance + AED at championship-level. Mental health support emphasized given the high-pressure nature of judged competition.

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Full Rulebook(7 sections)

Overview

How to win

The game

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Equipment

Section 3: Playing Area

Section 4: Players & Officials

Section 5: Rules of Play

Section 6: Scoring

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Playing the ball

Fouls & penalties

Equipment

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