A Guide to Understanding Trampoline and Tumbling Competition

Trampoline and Tumbling competitions are considerably different from other gymnastics competitions. The biggest difference is in the number of competition combinations. In one meet, we 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 be assigned by age group rather than by level. This structure eliminates conflicts for athletes between events and allows results and awards to be prepared and presented immediately after each rotation. It makes the meet somewhat more difficult for spectators to follow, and Judging panels must constantly adjust to seeing different levels, but athletes' and coaches'  time can be used quite efficiently.   

The actual judging of the events is as follows:

Trampoline:

    Levels 5 - 8 do only a 10 skill compulsory routine
    Levels 9 and above do a compulsory routine and a 10 skill optional routine.
    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 Trampoline:

 

    The requirements and skill values are the same as for individual trampoline, but two athletes compete simultaneously*.
    Each athlete gets 2 execution scores (maximum 10.0), which are averaged and then added together.
    Optional routines are also given a difficulty score.

In addition, the team gets two scores for synchronization: each competed skill is worth one sync point (maximum 10.0), less deductions which increase as the athletes' synchronization decreases.  Judging stops at the point where the athletes do different skills or their timing is more than a half skill apart. 

Tumbling:

    All levels do 2 passes.
    Levels 5 - 7 do compulsory passes, while higher levels do optional passes.
    Skill requirements 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 for the final score.
    Optional routines are scored the same, except that an award for the difficulty of the pass is also added.
    Scores for the 2 passes are added together for the total score.

Double Mini (DMT):

    All levels do 2 passes.
    Levels 5 - 7 do compulsory passes, while higher levels do optional passes.
    Skill requirements 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.
    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.  Athlete(s) receive credit for everything up to that point. In addition to execution deductions, the judges also deduct for landing errors on all events. The more severe the landing problem the greater the extra deduction.

Thank you to Skyview T & T Coach and Maryland State Chairman, Paul Goodwin, for this information!