What is a "Bent Knees" deduction in gymnastics?
The "Bent Knees" deduction is taken for legs not fully extended during skills requiring straight legs. Judges typically take 0.10 for it.
Knees were slightly bent on a skill the judge expects to see fully straight.
What it costs
The typical value for bent knees is 0.10. Judges scale it by how noticeable the error was, and Stickd's rule set splits it into the severity levels below.
| Deduction | Severity | Typical value | Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bent Knees (Minor) | Small | −0.10 | Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise |
| Bent Knees (Moderate) | Medium | −0.30 | Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise |
These are typical values used for practice feedback. Official values come from the code your meet is judged under: USA Gymnastics — Rules & Policies, FIG Code of Points.
Where it shows up
Events: Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise.
Skills where bent knees is common:
- Clear HipUneven Bars
- Stalder CircleUneven Bars
- Back WalkoverBalance Beam
- Beam CartwheelBalance Beam
- Beam Round-Off DismountBalance Beam
- AerialFloor Exercise
- Back HandspringFloor Exercise
- CartwheelFloor Exercise
- HandstandFloor Exercise
- L-TurnFloor Exercise
- RoundoffFloor Exercise
How to fix it
Drill straight-leg shapes (hollow body, leg lifts) and film leaps in slow motion so the bend becomes obvious to correct.
Common corrections:
- Strengthen leg extensors
- Focus on straight line
- Drills with knee checks
Muscles involved
Primary
- Quadriceps: Front thigh muscles for jumps, landings, and knee extension
- Hamstrings: Back thigh muscles for splits, leaps, and leg curls
Secondary
- Core: Abdominals and deep stabilizers for body tension and hollow/arch positions
- Hip Flexors: Iliopsoas and rectus femoris for pike, leg lifts, and cast positions
Drills that help
Related deductions
Common questions
- What is a "Bent Knees" deduction in gymnastics?
- Legs not fully extended during skills requiring straight legs. It falls under the execution category of deductions.
- How many tenths is the bent knees deduction?
- The bent knees deduction is typically 0.10, and the judge scales it by how noticeable it was. Stickd's rule set scores it by severity: Bent Knees (Minor) is 0.10 (small) and Bent Knees (Moderate) is 0.30 (medium). Official values come from the USAG or FIG code your meet uses.
- Why do judges take the bent knees deduction?
- Straight legs are one of the basics judges check on every leap, jump, and landing.
- How can my gymnast stop getting the bent knees deduction?
- Drill straight-leg shapes (hollow body, leg lifts) and film leaps in slow motion so the bend becomes obvious to correct.
- Which events is the bent knees deduction called on?
- In Stickd's rule set, the bent knees deduction applies on Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise.
- Which skills commonly get the bent knees deduction?
- Stickd's skill data links the bent knees deduction to 11 skills, including Clear Hip (Uneven Bars), Stalder Circle (Uneven Bars), Back Walkover (Balance Beam), Beam Cartwheel (Balance Beam), Beam Round-Off Dismount (Balance Beam), and Aerial (Floor Exercise).
- What drills help fix the bent knees deduction?
- Standard Stickd drills that target the bent knees deduction include Back Hip Circle Drills, Beam Jump Series, Pullover Drills, and Straight Jump Series.
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