What penalties are there in trampoline apart from the judging?
A · Advanced · Mistakes and the competition · 2 of 2Penalties the chair of the judges' panel takes from the total. The gymnast has one minute from the signal to begin the first element, and loses 0.2, 0.4 or 0.6 for going over. Dress faults cost 0.2. A spotter who talks or signals to the gymnast during the exercise costs 0.6.
How it works
- The signal: each gymnast starts on a signal from the chair.
- One minute: the first element must begin within a minute. From 61 seconds the penalty is 0.2, from 91 seconds 0.4 and from 121 seconds 0.6.
- Too late: at 181 seconds the gymnast may not start and is recorded as "Did Not Start".
- A warning: a sound is given after 151 seconds.
- A false start: the gymnast may restart on the chair's signal.
- Spotters silent: "talking to or giving any form of signal to a gymnast by their own spotters during the exercise" costs 0.6, once.
- Men: a sleeveless or short-sleeved leotard with gym shorts or trousers.
- Women: a skintight leotard or unitard. Covering the face is not allowed.
- Jewellery: none, and no watches. Rings without stones may be worn if taped.
- Dress penalty: 0.2 from the exercise where it occurs. A major violation may mean disqualification from the round.
- Warm-up: going over the 45 seconds costs 0.2 from the next exercise.
- Not ready: a gymnast not ready in the listed order receives no score.
The glossary has the Chair of Judges Panel, the trampoline scoring entry, the neutral deduction, the trampoline exercise and the bounce.
Tricky cases
A gymnast bounces for 70 seconds before the first element. What is the penalty?
0.2, for starting after 61 seconds.
The trampoline is found to be faulty and the gymnast waits. Is the delay penalised?
No. If the limit is exceeded because of faulty equipment or another substantial cause, no deduction is applied.
A spotter shouts "stop" to prevent an accident. Is that the 0.6 penalty?
The rule as written covers any talking or signal from the gymnast's own spotters during the exercise. The code read gives no safety exception, and the decision is the chair's.
Can a gymnast wear a wedding ring?
Yes, if it has no gemstone and is taped.
Why the rule exists
A gymnast could otherwise bounce for as long as it took to feel right, so the clock sets a limit while still leaving time to build height. Spotters are there for safety and not to coach from the side. The dress rules are mostly about safety near springs and a moving bed.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trampoline | One minute to start, out at 181 seconds | FIG TRA 12.2 |
| Tumbling | 20 seconds to start, out at 61 seconds | FIG TUM 11.2 |
| Teams and synchronised pairs | Identical uniform, or possible disqualification | FIG TRA 5.6 |
| Coaches and spotters | Tracksuit or shorts and T-shirt, no hats | FIG TRA 5.8 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, Code of Points 2025-2028, Trampoline Gymnastics, Trampoline, articles 5, 11, 12 and 19.11. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: 2025-2028 Code of Points, Trampoline Gymnastics (PDF).