What body movements count for difficulty in rhythmic gymnastics?
I · Intermediate · The individual exercise · 1 of 5Jumps and leaps, balances and rotations, each taken from the code's tables. The eight with the highest values count, and the exercise must contain at least one of each kind. Each must show a fixed, recognisable shape and be performed together with an apparatus element, or it is not counted.
How it works
- Three groups: "Jumps/leaps", "Balances" and "Rotations".
- Eight count: "The 8 highest Difficulties in the exercise will be counted."
- One of each: at least one from each group must be attempted. A missing group costs 0.30.
- Once each: every box in the tables is a different difficulty, and each "is counted only once".
- A fixed shape: the trunk, legs and other body parts must be in the positions that define the element.
- Small deviation: 10 degrees or less. The difficulty counts, with 0.10 off in execution.
- Medium deviation: 11 to 20 degrees. It counts, with 0.30 off.
- Large deviation: more than 20 degrees. It does not count, and loses 0.50.
- With the apparatus: each one "must be performed with a minimum of 1 apparatus technical element".
- Not valid: with a hand on the floor or the apparatus for support, with a fall, with a dropped apparatus, on landing on the knees, when started outside the floor or after the music ends.
- Not in the tables: an element that is not listed receives no value.
- New elements: a federation may submit a new one to the FIG with a description, drawings and a video.
The glossary has the body difficulty entry, the leap, the split, the difficulty value, the non-recognition entry and the execution entry.
Tricky cases
A leap reaches 165 degrees of split and not 180. Does it count?
Yes, with a medium execution penalty of 0.30. Past 20 degrees short, it does not count.
A gymnast performs the same leap twice. Is the second one counted?
No. A repeated difficulty is not valid, though there is no penalty. The same leap may be done in a series, where each one is judged separately.
She holds a balance beautifully but drops the ball during it. Does the balance count?
No. A loss of apparatus while performing a body difficulty makes it invalid.
How can a judge tell 10 degrees from 11?
The code answers this itself: the angles are a guideline, and judges learn to think in terms of small, medium and large deductions.
Why the rule exists
Three groups make sure a gymnast can jump, hold still and turn. The cap of eight stops an exercise becoming a list. Tying every body difficulty to an apparatus element is the heart of the sport: a perfect leap with the ribbon hanging still is not rhythmic gymnastics.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | The eight highest body difficulties count | FIG RG Part 1, B 2.3.1 |
| Group | Four or five without exchange, plus exchanges | FIG RG Part 2, B 1.6 |
| Back bend of the trunk | A large deviation may still leave the base value | FIG RG Part 1, B 2.5.5 |
| Slow-turn balance | At most one on the toes and one on a flat foot | FIG RG Part 1, B 7.2 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, Code of Points 2025-2028, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Part 1, section B, articles 1, 2 and 7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: 2025-2028 Code of Points, Rhythmic Gymnastics (PDF).