If the coach inadvertently touches the gymnast without assisting, what are the consequences?

• A. 0.50 deduction per judge; Value Part and Special Requirement credit awarded.
• B. 0.25 deduction per judge.
• C. No deduction.
• D. 1.0 deduction per judge.

Answer: (A)

In this situation, coach contact during a routine is treated as improper contact, but not as a full assist. The rule assigns a small deduction for this type of coach interaction: 0.50 from each judge. So the penalty is applied per judge, and the total depends on how many judges are scoring the routine.

At the same time, the gymnast can still earn credit for the required elements, specifically the Value Part and any Special Requirement that the routine includes. Those credits are tied to the performance of the elements themselves, not to the coaching contact, so they remain intact as long as the elements were executed correctly.

So the correct outcome is a 0.50 deduction per judge, while still receiving Value Part and Special Requirement credit. For example, with five judges, the total deduction would be 2.50, but the Value Part and Special Requirement credit would be awarded.