Section 7 · D-Score
When an Element Is Not Recognised
What makes the D-Jury give an element no value, and what to do in doubt.
Unofficial summary. The FIG Code of Points and its newsletters are the authority; every rule links to its page there.
D-Jury
The Principle
The D-Jury must recognise and credit every element that is correctly performed. It must not recognise an element that departs significantly from its prescribed execution. An element that is not recognised has no value. So it fulfils no Element Group and earns no connection value.
As a rule, the E-Jury also deducts heavily for elements performed so poorly that the D-Jury does not recognise them.
In every case the D-Jury decides with gymnastics sense and in the interests of the sport. The text of the difficulty tables overrides their drawings.
Newsletter 3, p. 1 · in force from 1 December 2025
If in doubt, do not recognise the element. The coach still has the chance to make an inquiry.
What applied before
The previous Code (old Art. 5.1c) told judges to give the benefit of the doubt to the gymnast. The MTC found that this produced scores that were inaccurate, and so unfair. For the E-Jury nothing changed: an E judge who cannot decide still gives the benefit of the doubt to the gymnast (Art. 9.1.5).
Code 7.4, p. 15 · Code 7.4, p. 16 · Code 7.5, p. 16 · Code A.1, p. 136 · NL3, p. 1
D-Jury
Reasons for Non-Recognition
This is the Code's list. The Code says the list is not complete.
- Floor: the element begins outside the floor areaNR
- Vault: an invalid vaultNR
- Horizontal bar: performed with or from the feet on the barNR
- A hold or strength element with straddled legs that is not in the tablesNR
- Completed with a spotter's helpNR
- A fall during the element, or the element altered or interruptedNR
- A fall before reaching an end position from which at least a swing could continueNR
- A strength hold or simple hold that is not heldNR
- A press or pull-out from a strength hold that was itself not recognisedNR
- A twist more than 90° short of, or beyond, its specificationNR
- A swing element ending more than 45° from its perfect end positionNR
- Pommel horse: cross or side support more than 45° off for most of the elementNR
- A hold more than 45° off a horizontal body, arm or leg positionNR
A twist under-rotated by more than 90° may be credited as the lower-valued element that was actually performed.
An example for swing elements: on parallel bars, a Stützkehre must finish at least 45° above horizontal to count.
On horizontal bar, elements through handstand have their own scale. There the D-Jury does not recognise the element only when it is more than 90° past handstand.
Code 7.4, p. 15 · Code 7.4, p. 16 · Code 9.2.13, p. 19 · Code 15.2.1, p. 114 · Code A.2, p. 136
D-Jury
An Element So Altered It Is Another
An element may be performed so differently that it can no longer claim its number or value. Such an element is not recognised.
- A strength element performed almost entirely with swing, or the reverseNR
- A straight element performed distinctly tucked or piked, or the reverseNormally the value of the element as performed
- A legs-together strength element performed with legs straddledNR
- A strength hold with significantly bent armsNR
- Rings: in or to handstand, controlled with legs or feet against the cablesNR
Poorly performed dynamic elements can look like other elements. The gymnast must show without any doubt which element he intends.
The Code's examples:
- a twist under-turned by more than 90°
- a pommel travel in cross support that is oblique by more than 45°
- If he does not
- A large E-Jury deduction, and the element is not recognised.
- On vault
- Credited as the lower-valued vault and group.
D-Jury
The D-Jury's Table
- An error that leads to non-recognitionNR
- A spotter helps complete the elementNR
- A hold not heldNR
- A repeated elementPermitted, no value
- Pushing off with the feet to dismount, or another non-legitimate dismountElement and dismount group not recognised
- Any other prohibited elementNR
D-Jury
Triple Saltos for Juniors
Every triple salto carries a red dot for junior gymnasts. This means every triple-salto dismount and every triple salto in a floor exercise. For a junior it is a prohibited element.
- A junior performs a triple saltoNR
Newsletter 3, p. 1 · in force from 1 January 2026
New rule, for the safety of junior gymnasts. The MTC made it after reviewing how the dismount changes affect junior exercises.