Function
The Difficulty Judges record the whole routine (all difficulty elements), using the official FIG shorthand. They count the number of difficulty elements. They give a deduction for every difficulty element performed more than the 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) required.
They give a difficulty value of 0.0 – 1.0 for the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed and an extra 0.1 point for each combination, inside the maximum allowed.
They evaluate new difficulty elements on sight (difficulty elements not listed in Appendix II and III and the new difficulty elements list).
They give deductions for missing groups of the element pool, considering all of the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed.
They give deductions for more than 6 (MP, TR, GR) or 5 (IM, IW) difficulty elements on the floor, considering all of the first 12 or 10 difficulty lements performed.
They give deductions for more than 2 difficulty elements landing in push up position and landing in splits, considering all of the first 12 or 10 difficulty elements performed.
They give deductions for repetitions, considering the total number of elements allowed: the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed. The two judges having considered all the previous directives should then compare their scores and deductions to ensure that they are in agreement and then send their scores. In the case of an irreconcilable difference, the scores will be averaged.
They have to make a written report of all new difficulty elements evaluated on sight to the Chair of Judges Panel at the conclusion of the competition.
They give a difficulty value of 0.0 – 1.0 for the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed and an extra 0.1 point for each combination, inside the maximum allowed.
They evaluate new difficulty elements on sight (difficulty elements not listed in Appendix II and III and the new difficulty elements list).
They give deductions for missing groups of the element pool, considering all of the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed.
They give deductions for more than 6 (MP, TR, GR) or 5 (IM, IW) difficulty elements on the floor, considering all of the first 12 or 10 difficulty lements performed.
They give deductions for more than 2 difficulty elements landing in push up position and landing in splits, considering all of the first 12 or 10 difficulty elements performed.
They give deductions for repetitions, considering the total number of elements allowed: the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed. The two judges having considered all the previous directives should then compare their scores and deductions to ensure that they are in agreement and then send their scores. In the case of an irreconcilable difference, the scores will be averaged.
They have to make a written report of all new difficulty elements evaluated on sight to the Chair of Judges Panel at the conclusion of the competition.
Criteria
Writing down and counting the difficulty elements
All difficulty elements performed must be written down using the FIG shorthand shown in Appendix III, (Difficulty Tables / Element Pool and Values), irrespective of whether or not the minimum requirements as described in App. II are met. At Senior International events, difficulty elements with the value of 0.1 and 0.2 will not be written down and counted.
Evaluating the difficulty elements
The value is set according to Appendix III, (Difficulty Tables / Element Pool and Values) provided the element meets the minimum requirements as stated in Appendix II, (Guide to Judging Execution and Difficulty). A value is given only to the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed.
Difficulty elements not meeting the minimum requirements and difficulty elements with a fall will receive a value of 0.0,
New difficulty elements are evaluated on sight, but the maximum value that can be given is 0.3. For the evaluation of the difficulty elements in Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups, see also chapter 3. – 3.1, C.
Difficulty and «repetition of difficulty elements» are described below. The difficulty judges evaluate each difficulty element separately.
Combination of 2 elements
Two elements, from the 12 or 10 chosen elements, can be combined directly without any stop, hesitation or transition. The 2 elements may be from the same or different groups, but must be from different families. They will be counted as 2 elements. These 2 elements cannot be repeated.
To receive the additional value of 0.1 point, these 2 elements must meet the minimum requirements. An element to be combined has to have a number and a value in the difficulty table.
All competitors (MP, TR, GR) must perform the same combination of 2 elements at the same time.
All difficulty elements performed must be written down using the FIG shorthand shown in Appendix III, (Difficulty Tables / Element Pool and Values), irrespective of whether or not the minimum requirements as described in App. II are met. At Senior International events, difficulty elements with the value of 0.1 and 0.2 will not be written down and counted.
Evaluating the difficulty elements
The value is set according to Appendix III, (Difficulty Tables / Element Pool and Values) provided the element meets the minimum requirements as stated in Appendix II, (Guide to Judging Execution and Difficulty). A value is given only to the first 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements performed.
Difficulty elements not meeting the minimum requirements and difficulty elements with a fall will receive a value of 0.0,
New difficulty elements are evaluated on sight, but the maximum value that can be given is 0.3. For the evaluation of the difficulty elements in Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups, see also chapter 3. – 3.1, C.
Difficulty and «repetition of difficulty elements» are described below. The difficulty judges evaluate each difficulty element separately.
Combination of 2 elements
Two elements, from the 12 or 10 chosen elements, can be combined directly without any stop, hesitation or transition. The 2 elements may be from the same or different groups, but must be from different families. They will be counted as 2 elements. These 2 elements cannot be repeated.
To receive the additional value of 0.1 point, these 2 elements must meet the minimum requirements. An element to be combined has to have a number and a value in the difficulty table.
All competitors (MP, TR, GR) must perform the same combination of 2 elements at the same time.
More than 12 (MP, TR, GR) or 10 (IM, IW) difficulty elements
For every difficulty element performed over the required 12 or 10 difficulty elements, a deduction will be made. All difficulty elements peformed, even if they receive a 0.0 value, will be counted in the total number.
More than 6 (MP, TR, GR) or 5 (IM, IW) difficulty elements on the floor
Difficulty elements on the floor are difficulty elements of all groups (A, B, C, D) which are performed or land on the floor (e.g. push-up, wenson and split positions, straddle jump to PU).
More than 2 difficulty elements in landing to push up and 2 difficulty elements landing in splits position
Difficulty elements in landing to push up position or in split position are all difficulty elements from Group C Jumps & leaps which land into a push up or splits position.
Repetition of an element
All difficulty elements performed must be from different families (eg. L-support, Straddle support, for Jumps and leaps : Straddle family, Pike family, Cossack family, Gainer, …, etc).
For GROUPS: If the competitors perform up to two different difficulty elements at the same time or consecutively, the element of the lowest value will receive the difficulty score.
If the competitors perform up to two different difficulty elements at the same time or consecutively and then consecutively repeat the same 2 difficulty elements but with different members of the group, this will not be considered as a repetition and the group will be credited for both difficulty elements.
Example: Competitors 1,2 and 3 perform a straddle jump and competitors 4, 5 and 6 perform a free fall. Then immediately, 1,2,3 perform a free fall and 4,5, and 6 a straddle jump.
For every difficulty element performed over the required 12 or 10 difficulty elements, a deduction will be made. All difficulty elements peformed, even if they receive a 0.0 value, will be counted in the total number.
More than 6 (MP, TR, GR) or 5 (IM, IW) difficulty elements on the floor
Difficulty elements on the floor are difficulty elements of all groups (A, B, C, D) which are performed or land on the floor (e.g. push-up, wenson and split positions, straddle jump to PU).
More than 2 difficulty elements in landing to push up and 2 difficulty elements landing in splits position
Difficulty elements in landing to push up position or in split position are all difficulty elements from Group C Jumps & leaps which land into a push up or splits position.
Repetition of an element
All difficulty elements performed must be from different families (eg. L-support, Straddle support, for Jumps and leaps : Straddle family, Pike family, Cossack family, Gainer, …, etc).
For GROUPS: If the competitors perform up to two different difficulty elements at the same time or consecutively, the element of the lowest value will receive the difficulty score.
If the competitors perform up to two different difficulty elements at the same time or consecutively and then consecutively repeat the same 2 difficulty elements but with different members of the group, this will not be considered as a repetition and the group will be credited for both difficulty elements.
Example: Competitors 1,2 and 3 perform a straddle jump and competitors 4, 5 and 6 perform a free fall. Then immediately, 1,2,3 perform a free fall and 4,5, and 6 a straddle jump.
Missing groups of the element pool
A deduction will be made for each missing group of the 4 groups of the element pool. Only the first 12 or 10 difficulty elements written down will be considered. All elements with 0 value and all combinations of 2 elements are not counted toward the group.
Difficulty elements in Lifts and Physical Interactions
All difficulty elements performed while in a lift, will not be written down and counted. If in Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups, athletes perform a difficulty element while touching or during physical interaction with another competitor, the difficulty element will NOT be counted.
A deduction will be made for each missing group of the 4 groups of the element pool. Only the first 12 or 10 difficulty elements written down will be considered. All elements with 0 value and all combinations of 2 elements are not counted toward the group.
Difficulty elements in Lifts and Physical Interactions
All difficulty elements performed while in a lift, will not be written down and counted. If in Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups, athletes perform a difficulty element while touching or during physical interaction with another competitor, the difficulty element will NOT be counted.
Deductions:
More than 12 or 10 difficulty elements => per additional element 1.0
More than 6 or 5 difficulty elements on the floor => per additional element 1.0
More than 2 difficulty elements in landing to push up and / or to split position => per additional element 1.0
Repetition of an element => per element 1.0
Missing element groups => per missing group 1.0
More than 12 or 10 difficulty elements => per additional element 1.0
More than 6 or 5 difficulty elements on the floor => per additional element 1.0
More than 2 difficulty elements in landing to push up and / or to split position => per additional element 1.0
Repetition of an element => per element 1.0
Missing element groups => per missing group 1.0
Scoring
Difficulty elements will get a value according to their difficulty level. (see Appendix III, Difficulty Tables / Element Pool & Values)
All difficulty elements and combinations that have received a value will be added together and the total will be divided by :
- 2 points for IM, IW, MP, TR (men) and GR (men)
- 1,9 point for TR (women or mixed) and GR (women or mixed) This results in the difficulty score. The score is therefore given in 3 decimal points.
All deductions made are added together. The total will be divided by 2, resulting in the deductions of the difficulty judges.
The deductions are therefore given to two decimal points.
All difficulty elements and combinations that have received a value will be added together and the total will be divided by :
- 2 points for IM, IW, MP, TR (men) and GR (men)
- 1,9 point for TR (women or mixed) and GR (women or mixed) This results in the difficulty score. The score is therefore given in 3 decimal points.
All deductions made are added together. The total will be divided by 2, resulting in the deductions of the difficulty judges.
The deductions are therefore given to two decimal points.