MAG Technical Committee · 19 September 2025
Newsletter 2
Between editions of the Code, the MAG Technical Committee publishes newsletters. They clarify the Code's rules and name the new elements gymnasts have performed. This page goes through the newsletter in its own order: what each item changed, the rule as it stands now, and the newsletter's own video.
Unofficial summary. The FIG Code of Points and its newsletters are the authority; every rule links to its page there.
Terms on This Page
- Final Score
- Final Score = D-score + E-score − neutral deductions − penalties.
- D‑score, D‑Jury
- The D-Jury. The content of the exercise: difficulty, Element Group requirements, connections, and the stick bonus (Art. 7.2.9).
- E‑score, E‑Jury
- The E-Jury. Deductions from 10.00 for composition, technique and body position.
- From the Final Score
- The D-Jury, D1 or the Superior Jury President. Neutral deductions (time, line, a short exercise) and penalties (conduct, attire, apparatus).
- NR
- Not recognised by the D-Jury.
Clarifications of the Code
Parallel Bars
Gatson-Style Elements
In force from 19 September 2025
We continue to develop the Fujitsu Judges Support System (JSS) to ensure accuracy and fairness in our competitions. A fundamental part of the systems development is to establish Element Recognition Criteria that clearly define the accurate completion and recognition of an element. Examples of this can be seen on the FIG Website.
We have recently set the criteria for Gatson style elements and communicated this in Newsletter 1; however, we wanted to provide further clarity.
From support, swing backward with hop 3/4, 1/1, or 3/2 turn to handstand must be performed with at least a hop with 3/4 turn before regrasping of the first arm. Gatson style elements performed with less then 3/4 turn, i.e. Patron, hop with ¼ turn, then turn ¾ on one arm will be recognized one letter lower. A clear and distinct hop is expected in all these types of elements or they will not be recognized.
The following table shows updated element numbers and descriptions of these Gatson style elements. Also refer to the video examples:
Before
The book left II.87 to II.89 empty and drew the Patron in the box of II.83, an E.
The rule now
- NewII.87 — ¾ turn to one rail, hop less than ¾ turnC
- NewII.88 — 1/1 turn, hop less than ¾ turnD
- NewII.88 — hop with reverse ¼ turn to one rail, ¾ turn on one rail to handstand (Patron)D
- NewII.89 — 5/4 turn to one rail, hop less than ¾ turnE
- NewNo clear and distinct hopNR
Changed in
Horizontal Bar
El-Grip and Russian Giants
In force from 19 September 2025
We want to provide clarity on how to differentiate a Russian Giant and an El-grip giant with specific focus on the inlocated angle required at the top of the swing.
An inlocation action is required while swinging through the bottom in el-grip. The gymnast must remain inlocated over the top of the bar. At the point where the shoulders are directly above the hands, the angle taken from the shoulders through the lower spine base (lite blue line) in relation to the horizontal line should be a maximum of 60°. (Picture 1) If this angle (lite blue line) is greater than 60°, then an El-grip giant will be recognized. (Picture 2)
Body and shoulder extension from el-grip should only occur at a point past 60° for Russian giant recognition.
The rule now
- NewRussian giant: with the shoulders directly above the hands, the line from the shoulders through the base of the spine more than 60° to the horizontalEl-grip giant
- Adler to 65° from handstand, el-grip through the bottom and over the top, through the bottom again and hop out to undergripAdler (0.5 angle) + B el-grip giant
- Adler to handstand, el-grip over the top into el-grip Endo, through the bottom, then el-grip through the bottom and hop outC Adler + B el-grip giant + C el-grip Endo
Horizontal Bar
Winkler / Pogorelev (II.42)
In force from 19 September 2025
A Winkler or Pogorolev (Element II.42) must be performed with a straight body. If the body is bent more than 45° during the release, then it will receive a 0.5 deduction and Non-Recognition. See Video
The following errors in the CoP may apply to the performance of the Winkler/Pogorolev:
Changed since
- Newsletter 3 → · 1 January 2026The body must be straight only up to where the feet pass nearest to the bar. A bend of more than 45° before then makes it a D, with 0.3 for non-distinct position.
The rule now
- Body bent more than 45° before the feet pass the barby the E-Jury−0.3D value
- Non-distinct position or bent body, up to 30°by the E-Jury−0.1
- Non-distinct position or bent body, more than 30°, up to 45°by the E-Jury−0.3
- Deviation from the plane of movement, up to 15°by the E-Jury−0.1
- Deviation from the plane of movement, more than 15°by the E-Jury−0.3
- Bent legsby the E-Jury−0.1or−0.3or−0.5
- Bent anklesby the E-Jury−0.1
- Low amplitudeby the E-Jury−0.1or−0.3
Floor·General
Newsletter #1 Clarification
As a clarification, all items in newsletter #1 related to floor exercise are effective immediately. These include, but are not limited to:
- Update to Balance requirement to allow listed jumps/leaps as an alternative to the scale
- All choreographic leaps, jumps and turns must show artistry, amplitude and appropriate extension, otherwise a 0.1 deduction will be applied. See video.
- A gymnast must start his exercise with an acrobatic tumbling pass (not with a non-acrobatic element), otherwise a 0.3 neutral deduction will be taken by the D Jury.
As an exception, only two items from newsletter #1 will NOT take effect until 1 January 2026. These include:
- Each transition in a floor exercise must be unique and not repeated
- The Dismount will count first when evaluating D score
Floor
Stag Leap With 1/1 Turn (I.73)
The Stag Leap with a 1/1 turn must be performed with the 1/1 turn entirely in the air to fulfill that balance/leap requirement and to receive an A value. A stag leap with ½ turn in the air followed by ½ turn on one leg is an acceptable transition, but it does not fulfill the leap/jump requirement. See Video.
Changed since
- Newsletter 3 → · 1 January 2026No stag leap variation fulfils the requirement any more.
- Newsletter 4 → · 1 September 2026Jumps with turns to front support fulfil the requirement only from two feet. Every jump to support needs a controlled landing on the hands.