Floor (gymnastics)

WAG scoring and rules

Floor exercise routines last up to 90 seconds, and there is one timekeeper for this event. The routine is choreographed in advance, and is composed of acrobatic and dance elements. Above all others, this event allows the gymnast to express their personality through their dance and musical style. The moves that are choreographed in the routine must be precise, in sync with the music, and entertaining.

At the international elite level of competition, the composition of the routine is decided by the gymnast and their coaches. Many gymnasiums and national federations hire special choreographers to design routines for their gymnasts. Well-known gymnastics choreographers include Adriana Pop (Romania, France, China), Dominic Zito (United States), and Geza Pozar (Romania, United States). Others opt to choreograph their FX routines in-house. Some gymnasts adopt a new FX yearly; others keep the same routine for several competitive seasons. It is not uncommon for coaches to modify a routine's composition between meets, especially if it is used for an extended length of time. It is uncommon for gymnasts to use multiple FX routines in the same season. However, it is not entirely unheard of; for instance, at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Russian Dina Kotchetkova's routine in the FX event finals had completely different music, choreography and composition than that of her all-around exercise.

The music used for the routine is also the choice of the gymnast and their coaches. It may be of any known musical style and played with any instrument(s), but it may not include spoken words or sung lyrics. Vocalization is allowed if the voice is purely done as an instrument. It is usually the responsibility of the coach to bring the music to every competition.

Scores are based on difficulty, artistry, demonstration of required elements, and overall performance quality. The score is divided into two pieces, D-score and E-score, which are added together to get the overall score. D-score is a bonus added on to the overall score for the difficulty level of the routine. The D-score is calculated by adding values for the eight most difficult skills, connections, and compositional requirements.

The E-score is based on execution and begins at a value of up to 10.0; deductions are taken for poor form and execution, lack of required elements, and falls. The gymnast is expected to use the entire floor area for their routine and to tumble from one corner of the mat to the other. Steps outside the designated perimeters of the floor incur deductions. The gymnast will also incur a deduction if there are lyrics in the music.

International level routines

For detailed information on score tabulation, please see the Code of Points article

Routines can include up to four tumbling lines and several dance elements, turns, and leaps. A floor routine must consist of at least:

• Connection of two dance elements (one must be a 180 degree split)
• Saltos forward/sideways and backward
• Double saltos
• Saltos with a minimum of one full twist

MAG scoring and rules

Men's floor exercise routines are no longer than 70 seconds, and there is one timekeeper for this event. A loud beep will be sounded to alert gymnasts when they have 10 seconds left within the allocated time to finish their routine before receiving a penalty for exceeding the legal time allowed. Routines are typically made up of acrobatic elements combined with other elements that display the gymnast's strength and flexibility while using the entire floor area.

As with Women's Artistic Gymnastics, scores are based on difficulty, form, and overall performance quality, with the overall score being the addition of the D-score and the E-score. Deductions are taken for lack of flexibility, not using the whole floor area, and pausing before tumbling lines.

International level routines

A floor routine should contain at least one element from all element groups:

• I. Non-acrobatic elements
• II. Acrobatic elements forward
• III. Acrobatic elements backward, & Arabian elements

The dismount can come from any element group other than group I. Those competing as seniors must include a double salto in their routines.

Floor exercises in rhythmic gymnastics

Floor exercises are also in rhythmic gymnastics for the youngest gymnasts, up to 10 years old, who perform their routines freehand, which means without any apparatus (contrary to the remaining five - rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon). Their length and content are still clearly specified and differ in each age category.