Trampoline and tumbling competitions are considerably different from
gymnastics competitions. The biggest difference is in the number of competition
combinations. Our competitions have both genders competing in up to 4 events, 8
levels, and 5 age groups all at the same time. Organizing a competition around
this many combinations is difficult and dictates that rotations are done by age
groupings rather than by level. This means that the judging panels must
constantly adjust to seeing different levels, but it eliminates conflicts for
athletes between events. This may make the competition harder to follow, but a
tradeoff is that awards can be prepared as soon as a group leaves an event.
Another difference is age groupings. In senior and junior elite events,
participation is based on meeting all the requirements for that level, but
there are no age groups. At level 10 the age groups are 10& under, 11 - 12,
13 - 14, 15 - 16, and 17 & over. Below level 10 there are recommended age
groups, but those that are actually used are left up to the states based on
their circumstances. At our meets the level 5 to level 9 athletes are grouped
based on the participation at their level, as long as they are competitive with
each other.
The actual judging of the events is as follows:
Trampoline: Levels 5 - 9 do only a 10 skill compulsory, while levels 10 and
above also do a 10 skill optional. Each completed skill is worth 1 point
(maximum 10.0), less deductions for execution faults*. For compulsory routines,
the scores from the 3 judges are added together for the final score. Optional
routines are scored the same, except that an award for the difficulty of the
routine is also added. For athletes doing 2 routines the scores for the
compulsory and optional routines are added together for the total score.
Synchro: The requirements and skill values are the same as individual
trampoline*. Each athlete gets 2 execution scores (maximum 10.0), which are
averaged and then added together. Optional routines also get a difficulty award
added. In addition, the team gets 2 sync scores added, where each completed
skill is worth 1 sync point (maximum 10.0), less deductions which increase as
the athletes synchronization decreases. Judging will stop beyond the point
where the athletes do different skills or are more than a half skill apart.
Tumbling: All levels do 2 passes. Levels 5 - 7 do compulsory passes, while
higher levels do optional passes, with requirements which vary by level. Each
completed skill is worth 1 point (maximum 10.0), less deductions for execution
faults*. For compulsory routines, the scores from the 3 judges are added
together, averaged, and doubled for the final score. Optional routines are
scored the same, except that an award for the difficulty of the pass is also
added. The scores for the 2 passes are added together for the total score.
Double Mini: All levels do 2 passes. Levels 5 - 9 do compulsory passes, while
higher levels do optional passes, with requirements which vary by level. Each
completed skill is worth 1 point (maximum 2.0), less deductions for execution
faults* and all deducted from 10.0. For compulsory routines, the scores from
the 2 judges are added together for the final score. Optional routines are
scored the same, except that an award for the difficulty of the pass is also
added. The scores for the 2 passes are added together for the total score.
* For all events, compulsories must be done exactly as written or judging stops
at the point of deviation, but the athlete(s) will receive credit for
everything up to that point. In addition to execution deductions, the judges also
deduct for landing errors for all events. The more severe the landing problem
the greater the extra deduction.