Sport explained

How a workout freestyle routine is judged

A short guide to difficulty, execution and composition, the three pillars of freestyle scoring.

An athlete holds a handstand on top of an outdoor bar structure while another holds a horizontal support on parallel bars in the foreground, under a cloudy sky.
A workout athlete holds a handstand on an outdoor bar structure. Image published by RAPAF.Photo: RAPAF

Workout freestyle routines are assessed on how hard the elements are, how cleanly they are performed and how well the routine is put together.

Judges work in separate panels so that each criterion is scored independently. The panels submit marks without seeing each other, and a head judge reviews any large differences before the score is published.

The disciplines covered by WAPAF have distinct rules, and the applicable event documents always take precedence over general descriptions.

Athletes and coaches should consult the current judging handbook for the exact scoring tables.