The one where a USAG MAG Judge talks about the return and kinda sorta removal of the most controversial requirement in men’s gymnastics: the Scale.
2025 – Season of the Scale
2025 welcomed the new quadrennium and a handful of rule changes in the realm of men’s gymnastics. Some were championed, others were integrated rather harmlessly, but one stands out among the rest as a change so impactful, so universally derided, that it didn’t even last the year. Yes, I’m talking about the return of the balance element requirement on floor exercise. The scale, a single leg balance element with a handful of variations, was so problematic that the rule has swiftly been changed.
A nostalgic piece of gymnastics’ past-time, I don’t think the scale was on anyone’s radar coming into the start of the 2024-25 season. However, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) wanted to push a return to artistry in men’s gymnastics and brushed this decades-old rule off and surprised everyone in the process. Most of this generation either grew up without doing a scale competitively at all or did it for a season or two when they were a young gymnast. I’m sure there were a few, capital F-E-W, gymnasts in the world that incorporated the artistic element every chance they got. But this wasn’t the case for the majority of gymnasts. Yet here we were in 2025 and gymnasts had a choice to make, try to learn a scale or take the -0.3 neutral deduction that accompanied its absence. Surprisingly enough, it feels like the majority of gymnasts tried their hand and learned whichever scale they thought was easiest.
As it turns out, none of the scales were easy, and gymnasts felt the effects. There were falls, yes actual falls, because of scales this season. Those lucky enough to stay on their feet often found themselves without credit or hit with a plethora of deductions. There were a handful of gymnasts who mastered the scale – my money is the best gymnasts were the ones doing it this entire time.
After a series of international competitions and what feels like a quads worth of negative feedback, the FIG had to make a decision. In an attempt to maintain some semblance of artistry, for the 2025-26 season the FIG has opted to give gymnasts a choice: either perform a balance element (scale), or pick a skill from the following list.
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I.67 Jump bwd. to front support
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I.68 Jump bwd. with pike-stretch or with 1/1 turn to front support
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I.74 Butterfly with 1/1 twist fwd. or bwd.
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I.75 Butterfly with 2/1 twist
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I.15 Jump fwd. with 1/1 turn to front support
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I.16 Jump bwd. with 3/2 twist to front support
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I.17 Jump fwd. with 2/1 twist to front support
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I.43 Jump fwd. with ½ turn to momentary handstand
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II.8 Dive roll with 1/1 twist
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I.73 Stag Leap with 1/1 turn
*** The letter and number at the beginning of each skill is the accompanying skill box in the men’s gymnastics code of points ***
Many of the skills on this list are on the rarer side as well, but I’m optimistic that this change will help strike that balance between artistry and the benefit of the gymnast. Keep your eyes peeled to see some of these skills, and probably some scales too, as we head into the season!
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