Neutral deduction

Not every deduction is about how a skill was performed. A neutral deduction — the men’s Code of Points uses the abbreviation ND, the women’s Code calls them penalties — punishes a procedural breach, and is taken by the D-judges from the final score, after the D-score and E-score have been added.

Common causes:

• Time. Women’s beam and floor have a 90-second limit, penalised from 91 seconds; men’s floor has a 70-second limit, with 0.1 off for up to two seconds over, 0.3 for up to five, and 0.5 beyond.
• Boundaries. Stepping or landing outside the floor area, or outside the marked corridor on vault.
• Too few skills. A short routine is penalised heavily — in women’s gymnastics, 4.00 for five or six skills.
• Conduct and equipment. Coach assistance, failing to present to the judges, incorrect attire, moving mats or changing apparatus height without permission.