Minimizing Risk of Injury Focus of High School Girls Gymnastics Rules Changes

A focus on minimizing risk of injury highlighted the 15 rules changes approved in high school girls gymnastics playing rules – most of which will take effect with the 2026-27 season.

The NFHS Girls Gymnastics Rules Committee also addressed rules related to equipment failure, dismounts, matting and acro passes on floor exercise. All changes recommended by the committee subsequently were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rules approved that addressed risk minimization include 3-1-2e, which allows the use of a softer foam skill cushion during both warm-ups and competition; 6-3-1h, which adds a new requirement that the vault take-off must be from two feet; 7-1-2a, which specifies the length of the working and dismount areas on the uneven bars; and 8-1-2g, which requires the dismount landing area on the balance beam to be padded. 

The new language in 8-1-2g states that the “balance beam dismount area, on both ends of the beam, must include a minimum of 4 feet by 4 feet of padding extending out from both sides of the dismount matting between the end of the matting under the beam and the dismount matting. To prevent this matting from slipping, it shall be taped to the floor. The matting may consist of panel mats, carpet-bonded foam or similar materials.”

Rule 2-2-1b(9) was revised to expand examples of equipment failure related to uneven bars and balance beam to ensure consistent application when a second trial is permitted.

Regarding uneven bars, although the tightening of the cable tension is the responsibility of the coach, if the cable tension slips while an athlete is competing, it is considered equipment failure. The fall deduction does not apply. On balance beam, if the end cap detaches while the gymnast is performing a dismount, it is considered equipment failure. The fall deduction does not apply. However, if the end cap detaches at any other time during the routine, it is not considered equipment failure.

Regarding dismount deductions in the various events, the committee noted that the elimination of the dismount deduction was the result of an analysis of multiple deductions for a routine without a dismount of value. The 0.30 deduction for no dismount has been removed. However, the 0.20 deduction for lack of a superior dismount under event requirements will still apply.

Another point of emphasis adopted by the committee was matting for equipment which, as noted previously, was approved to minimize risk of injury.

On balance beam the dismount area must now include matting extending out 4 feet x 4 feet from both sides of the dismount area. On floor exercise, additional matting must be placed prior to the start of the routine. No deduction is taken if a coach briefly enters the floor area from the nearest boundary to remove a mat. An alternate skill cushion may be used during warm-ups; however, it may only be used during competition on bars for release elements and must be immediately removed.

Finally, several changes were adopted regarding acro passes on floor exercise. The rules now embrace a single element pass, indirect connections within a pass and changes to a two-element pass. The committe noted that these changes reflect the current trends in high school gymnastics.

A complete listing of the girls gymnastics rules changes is available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Girls Gymnastics” and then “Rules.” The print version of the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Girls Gymnastics Rules Book will be available for purchase in late May at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in May via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org. 

According to the 2024-25 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, there are 14,996 girls participating in gymnastics at 1,762 schools nationwide.