This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-2026 DP Code of Points. It has been modified using the new 2024 composition deductions.
Have you ever watched a floor routine that looked amazing, but then it scored low? I know I have! Especially before I started judging, it just didn’t make sense! What was the problem? Composition deductions!
But what exactly does that mean? We’ll take a closer look today.
This is the third article in a three-part series. In case you missed the first two articles, you can read here about Level 8 and Level 9 composition deductions.
This series discusses composition deductions on floor for levels 8, 9, and 10. In 2018, USAG made changes to their compositional deductions, in order to make the “up to the level” deductions more specific. There are three categories of “Up to the Level” deductions: Acro, Dance, and Dismount. In this article, I will discuss these deductions in detail as they relate to Level 10 floor.
These deductions were once again updated in 2024, so this article has been updated to reflect these changes.
Value Parts in a Level 10 Floor Routine
When a coach and gymnast are constructing a routine, they will first want to consider the skills, or Value Parts, that are allowable for the gymnast’s level. For those who are unfamiliar, skills in the J.O. Program are valued from A to E, with A skills being the easiest, and E skills being the most difficult. Level 10 gymnasts are allowed to perform any elements, A through E, for both acro and dance skills. Level 10’s will want to fulfill their Special Requirements and compositional requirements using skills that showcase the gymnast’s strengths, meet the difficulty level to the best of the gymnast’s ability, and that minimize deductions.
Acro Composition Deductions in a Level 10 Floor Routine
The composition deductions for acro level changed significantly in the summer of 2024. Acro composition deductions are now based on the number of saltos in the routine, and the value of those saltos.
There are no longer separate composition deductions for 2-pass routines and 3-pass routines. However, with the new deductions, it’s very difficult to avoid composition deductions when performing a 2-pass Level 10 routine.
Each routine is expected to contain 4 saltos. If a routine has 3 or fewer saltos, a 0.05 deduction is applied for each missing salto. The judges will determine what the acro composition deduction would have been with a 4th salto, and take an additional 0.05 deduction at the end.
Let’s take a look at some specifics.
Minimum and Maximum Acro Composition Deductions
To receive NO deduction for acro level in a Level 10 routine, the gymnast needs a minimum of 3 D saltos and 1 A salto, OR 2 D’s, a C, and a B. These saltos can be isolated, directly connected, or indirectly connected. It does not matter how many acro passes the gymnast performs, as long as she completes her 4 saltos. If a gymnast is missing a salto, an additional 0.05 deduction is taken. The missing salto is assumed to be an A, when looking up the saltos in the chart.
The maximum deduction is 0.20, if the gymnast has no D/E saltos in her routine. See the chart in the 2024 USAG Minutes for details. If the gymnast is missing a salto, and has no D/E saltos, the maximum deduction is still 0.20.
Let’s look at some examples.
Examples for a 3-pass Routine
- Double pike (D)
2 1/2 twist, punch front (D+A +.20)
Rudi (D)
NO deduction - Full-in (E)
Double back (D)
1 1/2 twist, front layout (C+B +.20)
NO deduction - Arabian double front (E)
Front double full (E)
Front full, front tuck (C+A +0.10)
0.05 deduction - Double back (D)
Rudi (D)
Front tuck through to double full (A+C, no bonus)
0.05 deduction - Double pike (D)
2 1/2 twist (D)
Front-full, front tuck (C+A +0.10)
0.05 deduction - Rudi (D)
Front layout, front-full (B+C +0.20)
Double full (C)
0.10 deduction - Double back (D)
1 1/2 twist (C)
Front pike through to front-full (B+C indirect, no bonus)
0.10 deduction - Front double full (E)
Front-full, front tuck (C+A direct, +0.10)
1 1/2 twist (C)
0.15 deduction - 1 1/2 twist, front layout (C+B +0.20)
Double full (C)
Front-full (C)
0.20 deduction
Examples for a 2-pass routine
- 1 1/2 twist stepout through to 2 1/2 twist (C+D indirect, +0.20)
Front layout, Rudi (B+D direct, +0.20)
NO deduction - Front full stepout through to double back (C+D indirect, +0.20)
Rudi, layout stepout (D+A direct, +0.20)
0.05 deduction - Front tuck through to double back (A+D indirect, +0.10)
2 1/2 twist, front layout (D+B direct, +0.20)
0.10 deduction - Double layout (E)
Front double full, front tuck (E+A)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Front double full (E)
Front tuck stepout through to double pike (A+D indirect, +0.10)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Whip, 2 1/2 twist (A+D direct, +0.10)
Rudi (D)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Full-in (E)
Front-full, front tuck (C+A direct, +0.10)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Double back (D)
Front-full, front layout (C+B +0.20)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Rudi, layout stepout (D+A, +0.20)
Double full (C)
Missing one salto
0.15 deduction - Front-full, front layout (C+B)
1 1/2 twist, front pike (C+B)
0.20 deduction
Tell me you don’t want Level 10’s doing a 2-pass routine without telling me you don’t want Level 10’s doing a 2-pass routine!
Dance Composition Deductions
To receive no deduction for dance composition, the gymnast must perform 3 C elements OR 2 D/E elements, either in combination or isolated. She will receive the maximum deduction if she performs only 1 C element, or 2 B elements.
- Switch-side, Popa (C+C)
Double turn (C)
NO deduction - Cat leap, switch-full (A+D)
Tuck jump double (D)
NO deduction - Switch-ring, switch-1/2 (C+C)
1 1/2 turn (B)
0.05 deduction - Tour jete 1/2, tuck jump (C+A)
Ring jump 1/1 (D)
0.05 deduction - Split jump full, wolf jump full (C+C)
0.10 deduction - Switch leap, sissone (B+A)
Triple turn (D)
0.10 deduction - Cat leap 1 1/2 (C)
Split leap, side leap (A+B)
0.15 deduction - Split leap, cat leap 2/1 (A+D)
0.15 deduction - Double turn (C)
Split leap, jump 1/1 (A+A)
0.20 deduction - Switch leap, straddle jump (B+B)
0.20 deduction
Dismount Composition Deductions
To receive no deduction for dismount composition on floor, the gymnast must perform a D/E salto, or a C+B direct connection of two saltos. She will receive the maximum deduction if she performs an indirect A+C connection, or an isolated C salto or less difficult.
- D/E (Double back, Rudi, 2 1/2 twist, etc)
NO deduction - Front-full, front pike (C+B direct)
NO deduction - 1 1/2 twist stepout through to double full (C+C indirect
NO deduction - Front pike stepout through to 1 1/2 twist (B+C indirect)
0.05 deduction - 1 1/2 twist, front tuck (C+A direct)
0.05 deduction - Front tuck stepout through to double full (A+C indirect)
0.10 deduction - Isolated front-full (C) or less difficult
0.10 deduction
The one gray area with Level 10 dismount deductions is a B+B direct tumbling pass. This pass still receives bonus, however, neither skill is a minimum C value, so the full 0.10 deduction will likely be applied.
Other Composition Deductions
- Lack of minimum “B” turn: 0.2. If the gymnast attempts a B turn but it is more than 90 degrees incomplete, or if she does not attempt one at all, she will receive this deduction. It doesn’t come off the start value, but instead is taken at the end of the routine.
- Lack of minimum of C salto: 0.3.
- Failure to perform saltos or aerials in two different directions: 0.1. The gymnast must perform a backward salto/aerial, and a forward or sideward salto/aerial. An Arabian salto is considered a forward salto. Aerial cartwheels or walkovers will fulfill this compositional requirement, even though they do not fulfill the salto Special Requirement.
- Overuse of dance elements with same shape: 0.1. This deduction would be taken only for more than two straddle jumps (with/without turn), or more than two elements with a wolf or tuck position (with/without turn).
- Insufficient use of floor exercise area: up to 0.1. This deduction could be applied if the gymnast stays in the same section of the floor mat for most of her routine.
As you can see, there are many different components of composition deductions for Level 10 floor. If you’re meeting all of these categories and are still unsure of the deductions, general deductions and specific execution are the next place to look. Put it all together and the result will be fantastic!
I love watching Level 10 floor because of the exciting skills and combinations you will see! Are there any of your favorites that I didn’t mention here?
Further Reading
The Ideal Composition for a Level 10 Bar Routine
Making Sense of Composition: Level 10 Beam
Making Sense of Composition: Level 8 Floor
Making Sense of Composition: Level 9 Floor
How to Demonstrate Artistry in Gymnastics
References
USA Gymnastics Development Program Code of Points, 2022-2026.