2025 - 2028 WAG COP - A Deeper Dive

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Section 13 - Floor Exercise - D Score

A. 13.3 Composition Requirements

1. Dance Passage
  • CR is not fulfilled by back and forth travel pattern, i.e. if the gymnast performs the first element of a dance passage, then reverses direction and performs the second element traveling along the original pattern
Example:


  • While turns are typically not allowed in a dance passage, using a 1/2 turn or 3/4 turn (piroutte with no DV) for changing directions is permitted
Example:



B. Technical Requirements for Specific Elements

1. Double Salto Stretched with Twist
  • Criteria for double layout (with no twist) now applies to receive credit for stretched position.
    • Majority of salto must be maintained in stretched position
    • If piking on entry into second salto, then recognize as pike salto
    • When grasping legs to initiate second salto, then consider as pike

Section 13 - Floor Exercise - E Score

A. Specific Elements

1. Turns in Tuck Stand / Wolf Turn
  • Common execution errors resulting in 0.3 deduction is bent knee at beginning of turn + not ideal body posture throughout turn (two small errors -> medium deduction)
2. Landings of dance elements
  • If rebound in same place upon landing, no deduction for hop

Vault and Artistry to come...
 
EDITED — I had the images backwards!

It says "two small errors -> medium deduction." That language was removed after 2021, seemingly implying that it should be two separate 0.1 deductions.

2017-2021
1731905733547.png


2022-2024
1731905685837.png


So is there language somewhere going back to the (unfair) 2017-2021 rule?
 
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So is there language somewhere going back to the (unfair) 2017-2021 rule?

The rule has not changed since the previous COP. My note regarding the 0.3 deduction on the wolf turn was just simplifying the full language of the line about how multiple small faults will be deducted as 0.3.
 
The rule has not changed since the previous COP. My note regarding the 0.3 deduction on the wolf turn was just simplifying the full language of the line about how multiple small faults will be deducted as 0.3.
Where do you see that language in either the 2022-2024 Code or the 2025 code? My screenshots show that this language was removed in 2022. But I could be missing something.
 
Where do you see that language in either the 2022-2024 Code or the 2025 code? My screenshots show that this language was removed in 2022. But I could be missing something.

In true WTC fashion, it’s buried within the presentation slides. Each slide toggles between the main principle and additional notes, and it’s mentioned there. Also, some of the examples use this principle as well.
 

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Thank you for sharing that. Can you share 2 examples you saw where it's really clear that 1 + 1 turned into 3? or 3 + 1 turned into 5?

BTW, I didn't say thank you yet, and I really appreciate you sharing excerpts from the presentation. It's not right that so much of the implementation is embedded in supplementary documentation, but you have helped not just me but I am sure many other people here understand more fully what is not written in the Code itself, and you've distilled the key stuff to save us all time. That's very generous of you.
 
Section 10 - Vault - D Score

- Unlike the other three apparatus, no clarifications required(straight forward in-line with the COP)

Section 10 - Vault - E Score

A. Pre-Flight / First Flight Phase

1. Hip Angle
  • Visual examples provided for 0.00 / 0.10 / 0.30 deductions
  • 0.00 / hips completely/almost completely straight
  • 0.10 / hip angle appears to be 45 degrees (no actual angle given)
  • 0.30 / hip angle is close to 90 degrees
2. Arch
  • Visual examples provided for 0.00 / 0.10 / 0.30 deductions
  • 0.00 / no to minimal arch
  • 0.10 / no formal description, but to me it looks like the arch shape often shown in Pak saltos on uneven bars
  • 0.30 / 'J' curve where the head and torso are nearly parallel to the floor
B. Repulsion / Support Phase

1. Bent Arms
  • On Group 3 / Tsukahara vaults, the first arm is permitted to be bent with no deduction
C. Second Flight Phase

1. Excessive Snap
  • The WTC presentation splits this into excessive snap for backward vaults and excessive hip angle for forward vaults with the same deductions for each. However, the COP currently only shows a deduction for Excessive snap.
2. Insufficient Height
  • Judges should be looking for the difference in height of the gymnast's center of gravity at repulsion and the maximum height attained.
3. General Note for Form Errors
  • Deductions for leg form can be taken across the different phases of the vault. However, deduction for feet not pointed is only taken once for the vault as a whole.
4. Under rotation of vault
  • Apply deduction when the step or fall is in the opposite direction of the vault (e.g. front pike vault and gymnast steps backwards)
5. Dynamics
  • Defined as active, forceful, energetic, explosive change in the intensity of performance
Section 10 - Vault - Line Deductions

- Gymnast must land and finish to a stable stand in the marked corridor. Until this point, if the gymnast goes out of the border line, deductions are applied. (e.g. gymnast lands vault and attempts to salute immediately, but shows lack of balance and meanwhile steps over the line)

Example:

 
Hips must be no higher than slightly above knee level for the body shape to be credited in a turn in tuck stand
I've been moaning about this for YEARS. But I think this is better addressed via the E Panel. Think of the utter confusion between a E Panel judge hitting this with a 0.5 body shape, and the D Panel downgrading a Double Wolf (D) to Double Turn (B).
 
A Few Notes Regarding the Evaluation of Dance Elements:

Based on examples in STS, gymnasts need to be showing full positions in real time to avoid body shape deductions.

Example:

Real Time - Split jump appears to be just short of 180 degree split
Slow Motion /Freeze Frame - Split jump attains 180 degree split
Judging Result -> 0.1 deduction for body shape

Obviously things like the quality of the video(clarity, frame rate, angle, etc.) can make an element look better or worse than it does in person so I can understand why you are posting the still images. Also, I do agree with a number of points that you are making with regards to the WTC's approach to evaluating execution as being overly harsh or nonsensical.

So this is –0.5. I mean, it's not the best, but 0.5???????
View attachment 11465

This is a 0.5 because:

  • In real time, the front leg appears to be much closer to 45 degrees below horizontal when she hits the peak ring position -> Medium fault
  • Insufficient arch (head not over back thigh)
  • In addition, per the WTC presentation, when the gymnast uses this technique(called 'rocking horse') where the leap looks segmented (kick forward to split position with forward leg, then hit the ring position while the forward leg drops to 45 degrees), it is an automatic 0.5 body shape deduction.


In real time the front foot looks to be pointing up / slight flex as opposed to pointed, but agree that it seems unnecessarily harsh.


I believe this is a 0.5 because:

  • Extended leg below horizontal -> Medium fault
  • Flexed foot and left knee is slightly under the level of the right leg
  • Combining the above errors -> 0.5


In real time the back leg appears to be further below horizontal than in this image.

–0.1. Leg bend doesn't matter so much I guess.
View attachment 11470

Correct - Back leg stretched / If 135 degree bend criteria not meant = Small fault

–0.5. Her back upper leg is a LITTLE low. MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
View attachment 11471

In real time, the back foot and forward leg appear to be a bit lower than in this still image.
 
The athletes should protest this. What the committee is doing is downright harmful.

They are telling gymnasts that that no matter what they do, it is nearly impossible to earn full points for an element. They are there simply to tear down the gymnasts, punishing them way more harshly than they should and fabricating mistakes that aren't there.

What a disgrace.

What can WE do about this? I feel like there should be some sort of campaign here.
 
They way they are evaluating real time is the exact opposite of how I was trained back when I was judging. We literally trained to spot when 180 was hit when it wasn't as obvious to the casual observer. It boggles my mind, especially when it basically requires an oversplit now.
 
I agree. I almost feel like who's to say what is visible in realtime? If I have poor eyesight or am not well-trained enough to spot a 180 split, does that mean I get to deduct it because it wasn't "visible" to me? It just feels very unobjective, which is strange considering that all of the micro-managing in the code seemed aimed at making things more objective.
 
I agree. I almost feel like who's to say what is visible in realtime? If I have poor eyesight or am not well-trained enough to spot a 180 split, does that mean I get to deduct it because it wasn't "visible" to me? It just feels very unobjective, which is strange considering that all of the micro-managing in the code seemed aimed at making things more objective.
Yes. And also adds credence to those who argue gymnastics should not be considered a "real" sport because of the high level of subjectivity in judging.
 
Artistry - Part I

Some of the criteria may not be new. However, I thought it would be helpful for people to see the criteria defined and how it translates into severity of deductions. This segment is more focused on beam, with another segment focusing on floor exercise and musicality to come.

A. Insufficient Amplitude of Movements

The description was modified from Insufficient Amplitude (Maximum Elongation of the Movements) to Insufficient Amplitude of Movements because elongation is only part of amplitude of movements.

B. Poor Body Posture

Body posture is defined by the following criteria:
  • Head UP or neutral
  • Shoulders DOWN
  • Ribcage OUT in front of the stomach
  • Stomach IN
The deduction criteria is as follows:
  • If all are satisfied or one is missing -> Good / Acceptable, No Deduction
  • If 2 of the 4 are missing -> Not Good Enough, 0.1
  • If 3 of the 4 are missing -> Poor / Weak, 0.2
C. Amplitude

Defined as movement with elongation, power, strength, accents, large movements and steps

D. Releve
  • Poor work in releve is not an overall / whole routine deduction. If the gymnast shows poor releve at any point of a routine, the 0.1 deduction is applied.
  • The presentation placed a particular emphasis on the need to show good releve in turns that are not elements (e.g. transitions like the 1/2 turns done either on one foot or two feet at the end of the beam to change direction)
  • Good releve was defined as when a straight line can be drawn between the shin and the foot
E. Rhythm and Tempo
  • Rhythm is described as variation of fast and slower movements throughout the beam routine
  • Tempo is described as the speed at which the routine is performed
G. Exercise as a Series of Disconnected Elements and Movements (Lack of Fluency)
  • Judges should be looking for stops(shorter than 2 seconds) in the routine.
  • Lack of fluency is also when there are unnecessary stops (e.g. gymnast waits a few counts after landing before moving into choreography or the next element)
H. Rhythm and Tempo Deductions
  • Three criteria of variation in rhythm, good tempo, and fluency must be demonstrated.
  • If 1 of the 3 is missing -> Not Good Enough, 0.1
  • If at least 2 of the 3 are missing -> Poor / Weak, 0.2
I. Gymnast Examples
  • Good Speed / Tempo, but Without Variation if Rhythm -> Catalina Ponor, 2012 Olympics
  • Slow Tempo, but Without Variation in Rhythm -> Vasiliki Millousi, 2018 World Championships
  • Good Tempo and Good Rhythm -> Peng Peng Lee, 2018 NCAA routine
  • Lack of Fluency -> Wang Yan, 2016 Olympics
J. Complexity of Movements

Defined as large movements involving many body parts, levels, and movements that stand out as difficult and unique

Examples of Complex Movements are:
  • Fast Coordinative Arm Movements - Erika Pinxten 2023 World Championships
  • Choreography Touching Floor, for which you can see gymnast needs to train to perform well
  • Movements with different part of the body or different joints arms/trunk or legs including changes of directions and or levels (Example: the opening of Allyse Ishino's 2004 floor exercise)
  • Steps in large moving patterns in combination with moving body parts executed in a creative way with direction changes, body waves, etc. (Examples: Floor Exercise from Yvonne Tousek 2000 Olympics, Ellie Black 2022 World Championships, and Ariella Kaeslin 2019 World Championships)
    • It was noted that Kaeslin's shows a high degree of complexity in the beginning of the routine and less complex at end of the routine, but still demonstrates sufficient complexity to avoid a deduction.)
Examples of Insufficient Complex Movements are:
  • Solveig Berg - 2017 World Championships
  • Zhao Yaqin - 2023 World Championships, choreography between double tuck and Memmel turn (Insufficient because no combination of different body parts, only few movements, no change of level and no direction changes, no large moving pattern. The slide also made a point to state that the choreography is beautiful and well executed, but lacks complexity needed to avoid a deduction)
K. Poor Expressive Engagement According to Style of the Music

Expressive engagement is evaluated based on:
  • Facial Expression (Four expressions of Angry, Fear, Happy, or Sad)
  • Body Language
  • Movement and Music are in harmony with style and energy of the music
Deductions:
  • If 1 of the 3 is missing -> 0.1
  • If 2 of the 3 is missing -> 0.2
  • If all are missing -> 0.3
Example of Insufficient Facial Expression, but Good Body Language and Movement:
  • Cintia Rodriguez 2019 World Championships
Example of GoodFacial Expression, With Good Body Language and Movement:
  • Eythora Thorsdottir 2016 Olympics
 
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Some of this is... extremely prescriptive. Four expressions only? Beautiful and well-executed choreography getting a deduction because a portion of the routine doesn't include complex choreography even if it is artistically pleasing?

At the same time, I'm surprised they did not include excessive arch in the posture deductions. I suppose "stomach in" covers that somewhat, but there are certainly a number of gymnasts who still manage to arch too much at the base of the rib cage or carry a forward pelvic tilt that they disguise.

Also why are we calling deductions "not good enough," "poor," and "weak," instead of using language that indicates degree of fault from the ideal (small, medium, large deviation)? It seems odd?
 
Example of GoodFacial Expression, With Good Body Language and Movement:
  • Eythora Thorsdottir 2016 Olympics
So was her facial expression angry, fearful, happy or sad?

(Aloof, sinister, amused, demented obviously didn't make the cut).
 
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