How do rhythmic gymnastics judges deduct for mistakes?
B · Beginner · Faults and penalties · 3 of 5The execution score starts at 10. Each judge takes off 0.10 for a small fault, 0.30 for a medium one and 0.50 or more for a large one, every time one appears. Faults are of two kinds: in the body, such as a bent knee or a lost balance, and in handling the apparatus. A fall costs 0.70.
How it works
- The standard: elements must be "performed with aesthetic and technical perfection".
- Three sizes: "Small error 0.10 p.", "Medium error 0.30 p." and "Large error 0.50 p. or more".
- Every time: "Execution faults must be penalized every time and for each element at fault."
- Body segments: a bent knee or an unpointed foot costs 0.10 for each kind of segment, each time. Both knees bent at once count once.
- Loss of balance: there are three rising levels: an extra movement on the spot, a step or hop that travels and support on a hand or the apparatus.
- A fall: "Total loss of balance with fall: 0.70".
- Shape: a jump, balance or rotation short of its shape loses 0.10, 0.30 or 0.50 by the size of the deviation.
- Static apparatus: an apparatus held still for four seconds or more is an apparatus fault.
- A static gymnast: standing still for four seconds or more is a body fault.
- The ribbon: knots, wrapping round the body or stick and the end staying on the floor are ribbon faults. A medium or large knot costs more than a small one.
- Imprecise throws: steps taken to reach a throw that went off line are penalised by the number of steps.
- Not about difficulty: the execution judges deduct equally for the same fault, whatever the value of the element.
The glossary has the execution entry, the D, A and E scores entry, the fall, the body difficulty entry and the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon entry.
Tricky cases
Both of a gymnast's knees are bent in a leap. Is that 0.10 or 0.20?
0.10. The same segment on both sides of the body at the same time is penalised once.
A small knot forms in the ribbon and grows into a large one. Are there two penalties?
No. Only one penalty for the knot is taken, the higher one.
She puts a hand on the floor to stop herself falling. Is that a fall?
No. Support on one or two hands is its own level of loss of balance, below a fall. It also makes any body difficulty she was performing invalid.
She stops to untie a knot. Is she penalised again for standing still?
No. While a gymnast stands still to untie a knot, no penalty is taken for a static gymnast.
Why the rule exists
Fixed sizes of fault let four judges watching a fast exercise arrive at comparable totals. Penalising "every time" means small untidiness adds up across ninety seconds. The apparatus faults matter as much as the body ones because a ribbon dragging on the floor is as much a loss of control as a wobble.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | 0.70 | FIG RG Part 1, D 3 |
| Artistic gymnastics | A fall costs 1.00 | ../artistic/ set |
| Group | Adds faults for synchronisation, formations and collisions | FIG RG Part 2, D 3 |
| During an interruption of four seconds or more | Only the first fault is penalised | FIG RG Part 1, C 10 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, Code of Points 2025-2028, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Part 1, section D, articles 1 to 5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: 2025-2028 Code of Points, Rhythmic Gymnastics (PDF).