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MAG Made Simple: A Guide for New Fans

Just getting started following Men's Gymnastics

and want to understand what's going on?

This guide is for you!

We'll dive into rules for scoring and give examples of some

common deductions & skills on each apparatus to help you follow along! 

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Rules are according to the MAG 2025-2028 Code of Points

Olympic Order

floor.JPEG

Floor

Apparatus:

Floor

Pommel Horse

Rings

Vault

Parallel Bars

High Bar

Memory Aid:

Leg 

Support 

Swing 

Leg 

Support 

Swing 

Olympic Order

Scoring

D (Difficulty) + E (Execution) = Final Score

Scoring

D Score Basics

  • D Score builds from a 0.0 with gymnasts receiving credit for the 8 best elements they perform

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  • Elements have values A-J (A=0.1, B=0.2, C=0.3… J=1.0)

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  • There are 4 Element Groups (EGs) on each apparatus, worth +0.5 each (except vault)

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  • D Score = EGs (up to 2.0) + Element values (up to 10 counting elements) + Stick Bonus (+0.1 for a stick on all apparatus except Pommel Horse) + Connection Bonus (Floor & High Bar only)

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  • Unlike WAG, MAG has very few Composition Requirements, or Special Requirements. If these are not met, the gymnast receives a Neutral Deduction penalty  

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  • Gymnasts, generally, cannot repeat elements for credit

E Score Basics

  • Max Execution Score is 10.0 for a perfect routine. Deductions are taken from the Execution Score for each error a gymnast makes. 

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  • Deductions come in 4 flavors:

    • -0.1 (Small error): Slight knee bend or leg separation; an un-pointed foot; lack of extension; a small step or hop on landing

    • -0.3 (Medium error): Strong bending of legs, arms, or body (45°-90°); legs separated more than shoulder width; swings more than 30° below the height requirement; required positions held for less than 2 seconds.

    • -0.5 (Large error):  Extreme bending of the legs, arms, or body (more than 90°); full intermediate swing

    • -1.0: Fall or spotter assistance

    • Note: some large or extreme errors can also lead to the judge not recognizing the element as being completed 

Neutral Deductions (ND)

  • Penalties subtracted from the Final Score

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  • Some common Neutral Deductions:

    • -0.1 Out of bounds with one hand or foot

    • -0.3 Out of bounds with more than one hand, foot, or other body part

    • -0.3 Behavior related violations (e.g., not acknowledging D1 judge, attire violations, failure to mount or re-mount apparatus within 30 seconds)

    • -0.5 Apparatus related violations (e.g., matting violations, unpermitted changes to apparatus height, incorrect use of chalk, or damaging apparatus)

    • -3.0 (or more) Short routine (5 elements or less)

Specific Apparatus Rules

Floor

Floor

D Score Specifics

  • Element Groups: 

    • I – Non-Acrobatic elements 

    • II – Forward Acro

    • III – Backward Acro 

    • IV – Single saltos with a 1/1 twist or more (Can be either a Forward or Backward Acro element)

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  • Connection Bonus for connecting Saltos (aka “flip")

    • +0.1 for D (or higher) + B or C

    • +0.2 for D (or higher) + D (or higher)

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  • Special Requirements (-0.3 ND Penalty if missing)

    • Must have a multiple flipping salto (as the final pass for seniors anywhere in the routine for juniors)

    • One leg balance (aka "scale")

    • Must have a pass to and/or from each corner

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  • Common Neutral Deductions

    • -0.1: One hand or foot out of bounds, over time by less than 2 sec.

    • -0.3: More than one body part out of bounds, overtime 2-5 sec., More than 2 times same diagonal

    • -0.5: Over time more than 5 sec.

Common Execution Deductions

  • Insufficient height in acrobatic elements 

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  • Steps or hops on landing 

    • -0.1 less than “one foot” distance

    • -0.3 greater than “one foot” distance

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  • Lack of preparation for landings

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  • Incomplete twists

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  • Failure to close heels together, or taking a step to bring feet together (each time)

    • -0.1 feet apart less than shoulder width

    • -0.3 more than shoulder width

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  • Too high on wide-arm handstand 

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  • Strength holds less than 2 seconds (-0.3)

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  • Pause of more than 2 seconds before element or acrobatic series (-0.1)

Pommel Horse

Pommels

D Score Specifics

  • Element Groups:

    • I – Scissors 

    • II – Circles-type elements

    • III – Travel-type elements 

    • IV – Dismount 

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  • Pommel Horse Principles

    • (nearly) All elements begin and end in front support

    • Turning elements end when the turning stops

    • Travel elements end when the travel stops

Common Execution Deductions

  • Insufficient height for leg cuts and scissor elements 

    • -0.1 below shoulder

    • -0.3 below horizontal

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  • Bending of hips (-0.1 or -0.3) and/or lack of extension/amplitude (-0.1) on circle elements

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  • Angular deviation (skew) in cross support circle elements 

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  • Lowering of legs or use of strength on elements to handstand

Some Common Elements with Unusual Names

PH Li Ning.png

Li Ning

Scissor to handstand

Rings

Rings

D Score Specifics

  • Element Groups:​

    • I – Kip and swing elements 

    • II – Strength and hold elements

    • III – Swing to strength hold elements 

    • IV – Dismount 

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  • Special Requirements (-0.3 ND Penalty if missing)

    • Swing to handstand hold

Common Execution Deductions

  • Angular deviation on strength holds 

    • Deduction for deviation of 5° or more from perfect hold position (-0.1, -0.3, or -0.5)

    • Deviations more than 45° = Non-recognition of element

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  • Angular deviations entering hold positions on swing to strength elements (-0.1, 0.3, -0.5) 

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  • Bent arms on hold elements and swing to strength elements (-0.1, -0.3, or -0.5)

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  • Required holds less than 2 seconds (-0.3)

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  • Pauses longer than 2 seconds between elements (-0.1)

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  • Excessive swinging of cables (-0.1 each element)

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  • False grip (-0.1) 

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Some Common Elements with Unusual Names

R Yamawaki.png

Yamawaki

A swinging front salto between the rings (tucked)

Vault

Vault

D Score Specifics

  • Vault Groups:

    • I - Single salto vaults with multiple twists​

    • II - Front handspring vaults

    • III - Tsukahara-style vaults

    • IV - Round off entry (Yurchenko-style) vaults with more than one twist

    • V - Round off entry (Yurchenko-style) vaults with one twist or less

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  • Vault values are according to a vault value chart 

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  • 2nd Vault (Not required) 

    • Only performed by those wishing to compete in Vault finals

    • May not perform 2 vaults from the same vault group

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  • Common Neutral Deductions

    • -0.1 One hand or foot out of bounds

    • -0.3 More than one body part out of bounds

    • -0.3 More than 2 vaults during one-touch warm-up

    • -1.0 Taking an additional approach to vault

Common Execution Deductions

  • Insufficient height 

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  • Lack of extension in preparation for landing 

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  • Steps or hops on landing

    • -0.1 less than “one foot” distance

    • -0.3 greater than “one foot” distance

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  • Failure to close heels together or taking a step to bring feet together (each time) 

    • -0.1 less than shoulder width

    • -0.3 more than shoulder width

Some Common Elements with Unusual Names

V tsukahara.png

Tsukahara

(aka Tsuk)

Handstand sideways on the table to back salto

Parallel Bars

PBars

D Score Specifics

  • Element Groups: 

    • I – Elements which start from upper arms

    • II – Support elements (elements above the bars) 

    • III – Long swing and underbar elements 

    • IV – Dismount 

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  • An upgrade in value is possible for some elements in combination with single-bar Healy elements

Common Execution Deductions

  • Note: Only press handstands need to be held

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  • Angular deviations from final handstand position 

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  • Empty swings (swings which merely change direction) 

    • Includes not continuing in the same direction for some handstands​

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  • Walking or adjustments of hand positions (-0.1 each time)

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  • Touching (-0.1) or hitting (-0.5) the apparatus or floor

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  • Lack of extension and uncontrolled regrasping on salto elements

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  • Bending legs before horizontal on Moy and Giant-type elements

Some Common Elements with Unusual Names

PB Stutz.png

Stutz

Swing forward with 1/2 turn to handstand

High Bar

HBar

D Score Specifics

  • Element Groups: 

    • I-Long hang swing elements 

    • II-Flight elements

    • III-Elements close to the bar (e.g. Clear hip, Stalder, Endo, and Adler) 

    • IV-Dismount 

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  • Connection Bonus for connecting flight elements

    • +0.1 for C + D (or higher)

    • +0.2 for D (or higher) + D (or higher)

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  • Connection Bonus for connecting EG I or II elements to flight elements

  • +0.1 for D (or higher EG I/II) + D (or higher flight)

  • +0.2 for D (or higher EG I/II) + E (or higher flight)

Common Execution Deductions

  • Angular deviations on elements to handstand and turning elements 

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  • Lack of amplitude on hop or flight elements 

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  • Bent arms (particularly on regrasping or following flight elements) 

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  • Bent knees on swings 

    • -0.1 less than 60°

    • -0.3 more than 60°

Some Common Elements with Unusual Names

HB back giant.png

Giant Swing

A large swing  that goes all the way around the bar. 

(Can be forward or backward)

What else would you like to see in the next guide?
(You can use the contact form below to let me know!)

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