Gymnastics Explained

Leap, jump and hop

Three dance skills defined by their footwork: a leap takes off from one foot, a hop takes off and lands on the same foot, and a jump takes off from both feet.

The women’s Code of Points defines the three precisely:

  • Leap — takes off from one foot and lands on the other foot, or on both.
  • Hop — takes off from one foot and lands on the same foot, or on both. A 180° split isn’t required.
  • Jump — takes off from both feet and lands on one foot or both.

For leaps and jumps with a split, 180° of leg separation is required. A shortfall of up to 20° is a small fault, 20°–45° a medium fault, and beyond 45° a different element is credited, or none. Turning versions are credited in half-turn steps for split, straddle and ring shapes.

Values on floor in the 2025–2028 Code range from A for a split leap to D for a switch leap with a full turn, and higher for harder turning leaps.

Leaps and jumps carry two composition requirements: a connection of two dance elements on beam, and a travelling dance passage on floor.

Related guides

  • Leaps, Jumps and Hops on Beam and Floor

    In the Code of Points, a leap takes off from one foot and lands on the other (or both), a hop takes off from one foot and lands on the same foot (or both), and a jump takes off from both feet — all judged partly on the split or body position at the peak.

  • Dance Elements in Women's Floor Routines

    Dance content — leaps, jumps, hops, turns and the choreography connecting them — is a required part of a WAG floor routine: at least three of the eight counting skills must be dance elements, and one composition requirement is a travelling dance passage.

Related terms

  • Turn

    A rotation on one foot around the body's vertical axis, on beam or floor. On bars, the equivalent rotation in handstand is a pirouette.

  • Composition requirement

    In women's gymnastics, one of four required skill types on bars, beam and floor, each worth 0.50 towards the D-score.

  • Series bonus

    On balance beam, an extra 0.10 for linking three or more skills together (at least B + B + C), on top of connection value.

Sources