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Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented.
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2024

SITUATION 1: During a gymnast’s uneven bar routine, the cable detaches from the floor plate. The Meet Referee determines that the gymnast may continue the routine from the point of interruption after the cable is repaired. The gymnast starts the routine from the beginning, and the judges start scoring from the beginning of the second routine to the end of the routine. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: It is permissible for the gymnast to restart the routine either from the point of interruption or from a point that allows the gymnast to safely complete the performance. The judges should score the routine from the point of interruption. All deductions that were taken prior to the interference remain and are added to the deductions that happened after the point of interruption to determine the final score. [2-2-1b (9)]

SITUATION 2: Prior to mounting the beam, the chief judge notices the gymnast is wearing two earrings in each ear. The chief judge informs the gymnast to remove one earring from each ear leaving one earring in per ear. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: It is considered good preventative judging if the judge notices a problem prior to the gymnast competing and correcting the problem. (3-3-4b)

SITUATION 3: On beam, a gymnast performs back handspring, back handspring, layout back dismount. The judges award two low-level, back-toback superiors in Bonus. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: In a direct connection of three or more elements, the middle element can be used twice for back-to-back superior credit in Bonus. [4-1-2e (3)]

SITUATION 4: On bars, the coach leaves the pit pillow under the high bar after the gymnast completes a release skill so the gymnast could land the dismount on the pit pillow. The chief judge deducts 0.3 for failure to remove the pit pillow. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: The pit pillow must be removed immediately after completing the release skill and may not be used as a landing mat. (7-1-2h, 7-3-7l)

SITUATION 5: A gymnast falls, is injured and remains on the mat after the first vault. After medical clearance and the gymnast is on her feet, the fall timer begins the 45-second fall time watch. The gymnast returns to the start of her run for the second vault within the 45 seconds, but: a) stands with her back to the chief judge as the fall time expires; b) stands looking down at the floor and then looks at the coach without acknowledging the chief judge as the fall time expires; c) stands looking at the chief judge ready to acknowledge the signal to begin the second vault as time expires. The chief judge terminates the second vault in all three cases. RULING: Correct procedure in a) and b); incorrect procedure in c). COMMENT: The chief judge is correct in terminating the second vault in a) and b). It is the responsibility of the gymnast to get to the start of the run for the second vault and to look at the chief judge for the signal to begin the second vault within the 45 seconds. Once the 45 seconds has expired, the vault is terminated. No extra time is given to the gymnast to speak with the coach, ignore the judge by turning her back to the chief judge or for failure to look at the chief judge. In c), the chief judge should give the signal to the gymnast to begin the second vault and would not terminate the second vault. In all cases, the chief judge is responsible for monitoring the fall time. (6-2-1)

SITUATION 6: On floor exercise, the gymnast lands an acro element in a squat position (hips lower than the knees), then falls. The judges determine that the position of the squat before the fall was a 0.2 deduction, and they also deduct for the fall. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Landing in a squat position with the hips lower than the knees is an up to 0.3 deduction. The deduction for the fall is 0.5. Deducting for both faults is not double deducting because the fall (0.5) is a separate deduction, and is the result of landing with the hips lower than the knees (up to 0.3). [9-3-4C (3)]

SITUATION 7: During a floor exercise routine, the coach walks onto the floor mat to remove a landing mat. The chief judge deducts 0.5 from the average score for the coach on the Floor Exercise area. RULING: Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: There is no deduction for the coach on the Floor Exercise area to remove a mat. If the coach enters the floor area to spot, a chief deduction of 0.3 would be taken. (9-3-7o 1 & 2)

SITUATION 8: At the conclusion of a floor routine, the gymnast runs off the mat while saluting the judge. The judges deduct 0.05 for failure to hold the ending pose for one second. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: A gymnast must hold the final pose for one second which indicates that the routine has concluded. [9-3-4c (7a)]