This meetcritique blog is a biggie. One of our MAG senior judges summarizes the rule changes coming in the 2024-25 Men’s Gymnastics season. Please note – these rules can and most likely will evolve as we get closer to the start of the season. And also, these are our interpretation of the changes. Please let us know on social media or via email if you see something in error!

New Men’s Gymnastics Rules: A sneak peek into the next quad!

The Paris Olympics are less than two months away and while the excitement is building, and we thought it’d be cool to take a moment to shed some light on what the men’s gymnastics world will look like post-Olympics. Gymnastics operates on a quad or 4-year cycle. The Summer Olympics conclude every quad but there’s another big event that happens, the new code of points is released. The code of points is essentially the gymnastics rulebook, it has all of the rules, skills, and requirements that govern the gymnastics world for the next four years. Sometimes the changes are minor, skills get promoted and demoted but the foundation stays the same; sometimes the changes are major, like when Men’s Gymnastics shifted from 5 element groups to 4 following the 2016 Olympics in Rio. The new code of points for 2025-2028 ranks medium-high in terms of changes. This article will cover the rule changes generally:

FIG

Overall

• Routines will be shortened from 10 skills to 8 skills
• The dismount element group will equal the difficulty value of the dismount
  • Example: Double front dismount on parallel bars will receive 0.5 for the skill (E-value) and 0.5 for the dismount element group
• To get full credit (0.5) for Element Groups II, and III, a D-value element from those groups must be performed
  • Element Group I only needs an A-value element to get full credit
• A Stick Bonus of 0.1 will be awarded to stuck dismounts for all events except pommel horse
  • The dismount must be a minimum “C” value and the Vault must include a salto

Floor

• There are now 4 element groups (non-acrobatic elements, forward acrobatic elements, backward acrobatic elements, and single salto forward and/or backward elements with 1 or more turns)
• Seniors (International) must dismount with a multiple salto element (double back tuck, double front, etc.)
• The length of the routine is shortened to 70 seconds
• Each routine must include a balancing element on one-leg

Pommel Horse

• Sohn (Kehr with 1/1 turn on 1 pommel) is devalued to a “D” instead of an “E”
• Basic Russians (360, 720, and 1080) were all devalued 1 tenth
  • Single Russian is now an “A” instead of “B”
  • Double Russian is now a “B” instead of “C”
  • Triple Russian now a “C” instead of “D”

Still Rings

• Yamawaki (double front tuck) and Jonasson (double front pike) are devalued to a “B” and “C” respectively
• Many Cross elements are increased in value
  • Iron Cross is now a “C” element instead of a “B”
• Delchev (Felge to support with leg between your arms and the rings) is now a “B” swing to strength (E.G. III) element instead of a swinging element
• Double back tuck dismount with 3/2 turn is devalued to a “C” instead of a “D”

Vault

• There now 5 vaulting groups as compared to 4 last cycle
  • Group IV (Round off-entry vaults) were split into Groups IV (Round off entry and single salto vaults with complex twists) and Group V (Round off entry vaults with or without simple twists, and all double salto forward or backward)

Parallel Bars

• The element group numbers were rearranged
  • Element Group I is elements starting in upper arm position (previously element group II)
  • Element Group II is elements in support (previously element group I)
• A Maximum of two front uprise through handstand style elements (i.e. Front uprise Stutz and Front Uprise Diam)
• Swing to handstands must continue in the same direction (½ turn, Gatson, Healy, ETC.)
  • I.e. Front Uprise, swing to handstand (hold 2s), swing down to Diamidov is no longer allowed
  • Front Uprise, swing to handstand, ½ turn (hold 2s), swing down to Diamidov is allowed

High Bar

• Angle deductions for In-bar elements and turning elements were divided
  • In Bar Element Angle Deductions
    • 0-15 = no deduction
    • 15-30 = -0.1
    • 30-60 = -0.3
    • 60-90 = -0.5
    • >90 = -0.5 + non-recognition
  • Turning (long hang) Element Angle Deductions
    • 0-30 = no deduction
    • 30-60 = -0.1
    • 60-90 = -0.3
    • >90 = -0.5 + non recognition
• Many Release elements were increased in value
  • Gienger was promoted to a “D” value instead of a “C”
  • Jaeger piked was promoted to a “D” value instead of a “C”
  • Balabanov (layout jaeger) was promoted to an “E” instead of a “D” 
  • Liukin (Tkachev straight with 1/1 turn) and Walstrom (Yamawaki with 1/1 turn) were both promoted to a “G” instead of an “F” 

USAG

• Compulsory Levels (levels 3-6) will return to a 10.0 scoring scale
• Optional levels (specifically levels 8-10) will follow FIG rules along with USAG Rule Exceptions. Exceptions include:
  • Level 8
    • Full Element Group (E.G.) credit will be given for an “A” value element
  • Level 9
    • Full Element Group (E.G.) credit will be given for a “C” value element
  • Optional Gymnasts may still perform Approved Junior “A” skills 
  • Multiple Salto Elements (i.e. double front tuck) are not required on Floor Exercise for all levels

Gymnastics is a complicated sport, especially when it comes to understanding the rules and skills. This is an overview of the major changes that will take effect next season. We will continue to publish articles that help the men’s gymnastics community understand the basics of the scoring and rules of gymnastics which will hopefully improve your knowledge and appreciation of the sport!

Best of luck to all the gymnasts working hard this summer to get ready for next season!