If a coach spots a skill on Uneven Bars, Beam, or Floor, which outcome is correct?

If a coach spots a skill on Uneven Bars, Beam, or Floor, which outcome is correct?

• A. Deduct 0.50 for the spot. Award Value Part and Special Requirement credit, if applicable.
• B. Deduct 0.50 for the spot. DO NOT award Value Part and Special Requirement credit, if applicable.
• C. Deduct 0.30 for the spot and award Value Part credit but not Special Requirement credit, if applicable.
• D. Spotting is allowed in the Xcel program. No deduction; award Value Part and Special Requirement, if appropriate.

Answer: (B)

When a coach physically assists during a skill on Uneven Bars, Beam, or Floor, the skill is considered spot-assisted. In this case you apply a 0.50 deduction for the spot, and you do not award Value Part credit or Special Requirement credit for that element, even if those credits would normally apply. The rest of the routine is scored as usual, with only the spot deduction affecting the spot-assisted portion. This matches the rule that coaching assistance affects both the execution credit and the independent element credits, reflecting that the gymnast did not perform that part of the skill entirely on their own. It would be incorrect to give Value Part or Special Requirement credit for a spot-assisted element, and it would be incorrect to omit the spot deduction. It’s also not accurate to say that spotting incurs no deduction.

When a coach physically assists during a skill on Uneven Bars, Beam, or Floor, the skill is considered spot-assisted. In this case you apply a 0.50 deduction for the spot, and you do not award Value Part credit or Special Requirement credit for that element, even if those credits would normally apply. The rest of the routine is scored as usual, with only the spot deduction affecting the spot-assisted portion.

This matches the rule that coaching assistance affects both the execution credit and the independent element credits, reflecting that the gymnast did not perform that part of the skill entirely on their own. It would be incorrect to give Value Part or Special Requirement credit for a spot-assisted element, and it would be incorrect to omit the spot deduction. It’s also not accurate to say that spotting incurs no deduction.