Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations Girls Gymnastics Rules Interpretations Review

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Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations

Inclusion of Students with Disabilities Guidelines for Schools and State Associations for Consideration of Accommodations

Bonus - Category 3 Rule 4-1-2E (3)  A maximum of 0.2 may be earned to fulfill Bonus in Category 3  The 0.2 may be earned in one of 3 ways

Category 3, Option #1 – LL BBS Rule 4-1-2E (3a)  A maximum of 0.2 may be earned for LL BBS’s  Each LL BBS receives 0.1  May be the same or different  Each element must be eligible to receive Value Part credit  Can be awarded if there is a fall following the second element if both elements are complete and receive Value Part credit

Category 3, Option #2 HL BBS Rule 4-1-2E (3b)  0.2 may be earned for a 2 nd HL BBS  May be the same or different  Each element must be eligible to receive Value Part credit  Can be awarded if there is a fall following the 2 nd element if both elements are complete and receive Value Part credit

Category 3, HL BBS Rule 4-1-2E (3b)  HL BBS can be earned by directly connecting: HS + AHS (in any order) HS + HS AHS + AHS BB only – AHS acro + S acro (in any order) FX only – AHS acro + S salto (in any order)

Category 3, Option #3 – AHS Rule 4-1-2E (3c)  0.2 may be earned for a 3 rd AHS  3 rd AHS must be different  AHS may not have a fall or spot

Hand Placement Mat Rule 1  Must be a manufactured round-off pad  Any available manufactured size may be used Common sizes include, but not limited to: 36 x 36 x 1 3/8 inches 36 x 54 x 1 3/8 inches 39 x 51 x 1 3/8 inches Other available sizes of manufactured hand placement mat

Uneven Bars - Judging After a Fall Rule  A gymnast has 45 seconds to continue or the routine is terminated  A gymnast may jump/climb or be lifted to the bar and is allowed 2 swings to initiate momentum with no deduction

Uneven Bars - Judging After a Fall Rule  Judging resumes with the first element performed that is listed in the rules book If gymnast remounts with a pullover (M), judging begins with the pullover All movements following the pullover (including the pullover) are judged and deductions are taken (i.e., extra swings, uncharacteristic, climbing between bars, rhythm errors, form errors, etc.)

Uneven Bars - Direction Change Rule 7-2-2b  One direction change is required in Event Requirements (-0.20 if missing)  Mounts and dismounts with turns/twists may not be considered  Turn/twist must be within an element of value  Following the turn/twist, the body must continue in the opposite direction  Full turns do not count as a direction change because they continue in the same direction i.e. giant with full turn

Balance Beam - Connecting Acro Series Rule 8-2-3c  Some acro series are not connectable  If an acro element lands on one leg and steps back into a lunge, a gymnast may not lean forward and take off from the front leg  Examples that do not connect are: Back walkover to lunge – round-off Handstand to lunge – handstand Back handspring to lunge - cartwheel

Balance Beam - Connecting Acro Series Rule 8-2-3c  For acro elements landing on one leg the second leg may be the takeoff leg for the second element  Examples that connect are: Cartwheel, swing second leg thru to round-off Handstand to left leg, swing right leg thru to cartwheel Back walkover passing thru lunge and continue backwards to second back walkover

Balance Beam - Connecting Acro Series Rule 8-2-3c  For acro elements landing on one leg the second leg may join the first leg for a two-foot takeoff into the second element  Examples: Back walkover - back handspring Handstand – dive forward roll

Balance Beam – Composition Acro Direction Rule 8-3-3b  Must have an acro element in each of two directions If no backward – deduct 0.1 If no forward or sideward – deduct 0.1 If one is the dismount – deduct 0.05 Mounts may count when evaluating direction Maximum deduction is 0.1

Balance Beam - Acro Direction Examples Rule 8-3-3b  No deduction – has acro elements in each of two directions and both start and finish on the beam Back walkover and cartwheel  -0.1 – acro elements in each of 2 directions is missing or there is no acro that starts and finishes on the beam -0.1 – one is missing No acro on beam and round-off dismount (no bwd) Back walkover on beam and back tuck dismount (no fwd/swd) Cartwheel on beam and round-off dismount (no bwd)

Balance Beam – Acro Direction Examples Rule 8-3-3b  0.05 – has both directions but one is the dismount Cartwheel on beam and back tuck dismount (0.05 because the only bwd is the dismount) Back walkover on beam and round-off dismount (0.05 because the only fwd/swd is the dismount) Forward roll mount and back tuck dismount (0.05 because the only bwd is the dismount)

Floor Exercise - Additional Matting Rule 9-1-2a  Up to two additional mats may be placed separately on the floor  A sting mat placed on top of a skill cushion or another sting mat is counted as one additional mat

Floor Exercise - Additional Matting Rule 9-1-2a  Any 2 of the following (same or different) may be used in separate areas: One skill cushion (8 inch or 4 inch) One sting mat One skill cushion (8 inch or 4 inch) plus one sting mat Sting mat plus sting mat

Floor Exercise - Removing Additional Mats Rule 9-3-7n  A coach may not walk out onto the floor to remove or place an additional mat  One step inside the floor area near the boundary line to remove a mat is permissible  Walking out onto the floor to retrieve a fallen object is permissible

Floor Exercise - Use of Chalk/Tape Rule 9-3-7j (4)  No Velcro or tape markings are allowed  Chalk markings are allowed only in the corners of the floor exercise area Small chalk markings in the corners are allowed A single-line arc in the corners is allowed Not Allowed X X Allowed

Floor Exercise - Back Layout ½ vs. Arabian Layout  A back layout ½ is a backward salto Immediately upon takeoff a back salto is performed in the stretched position After the body reaches the vertical inverted position a ½ turn is performed  An arabian layout is a forward salto Immediately upon takeoff a ½ turn is performed Following the ½ turn a forward salto in the stretched position is performed

Layout ½ or Arabian Layout?  Judges must evaluate the timing of the twist in order to determine which element was performed Twist first – Arabian layout (HS) Twist last – Back layout ½ (S)

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™ National Federation of State High School Associations NFHS Online Resources Judges’ Manual Scoresheets FAQs and Element Clarifications

Girls Gymnastics Judges’ Manual NFHS Girls Gymnastics Judges’ Manual available online: Excellent resource to supplement Rules Book for judges of all levels of experience

Scoresheets NFHS Event Scoresheets are available online: Designed as a full page to provide more room for ease of writing

Online FAQs and Element Clarifications  Throughout the year, frequently asked questions are posted online  Marked with date when last FAQ posted content/frequently-asked-questions / content/frequently-asked-questions /  Element Clarifications appear in same fashion content/girls-gymnastics-element- clarifications / content/girls-gymnastics-element- clarifications /

NFHS Girls Gymnastics Rules Book  The Rules Book can be ordered: Online at By calling

NFHS E-books  Electronic versions of NFHS Rules and Case Books are now available for purchase as e-books  Apple users can visit iTunes for available books  Apple, Android and Kindle users can buy e-books from Amazon.com and view them through the Kindle app  $5.99 Visit for more informationwww.nfhs.org/ebooks

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