Degree of difficulty

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Degree of difficulty (DD, sometimes called tariff or grade) is a concept used in several sports and other competitions to indicate the technical difficulty of a skill, performance, or course, often as a factor in scoring. [1] Sports which incorporate a degree of difficulty in scoring include bouldering, cross-country skiing, diving, equestrianism, figure skating, freestyle skiing, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, surfing, synchronized swimming and trampoline. Degree of difficulty is typically intended to be an objective measure, in sports whose scoring may also rely on subjective judgments of performance.

Contents

By sport

Diving

The International Swimming Federation computes the degree of difficulty of dives according to a five-part formula, incorporating height, number of somersaults and twists, positioning, approach, and entry. [2] The total judges' score is multiplied by the dive's degree of difficulty to determine the total score. [3]

Figure skating

In figure skating, each jump element is assigned a base value, reflective of its difficulty. These base values take into account factors including the number of rotations and edges used. When skaters perform a jump element, it is identified by the technical panel. For each element identified, the judging panel assigns a grade of execution (GOE) score ranging from -5 to 5 based on its execution by the skater. The GOE score is then added to or subtracted from the jump element's base value to determine a total score for each element. The sum of scores for each element performed forms the technical score component of the skater's total score. [4] [5] [6]

Freestyle skiing

In the freestyle skiing discipline of aerials, the International Ski Federation pre-assigns a degree of difficulty score for each jump ranging from 2.050 to 5.000 for men and 2.050 to 5.300 for women. [7] Each total judge's score is multiplied by the jump's degree of difficulty to determine a competitor's final score. A greater number of flips and twists increases degree of difficulty scores for jumps. [8]

Gridiron football

In American football, kicking a field goal is worth three points regardless of the distance from which it is kicked; however, the distance plays into the likelihood that a field goal is successfully scored. For instance, from 30 yards out, there is roughly a 95% chance of success, compared to 65% from 50 yards. [9]

In fantasy football, the degree of difficulty for a field goal factors into scoring, by awarding more points for longer field goals: 3 points for 17-39 yards; 4 points for 40-49 yards; 5 points for 50-59 yards; and 6 points for 60 or more yards. [10]

Gymnastics

In artistic gymnastics, each skill is assigned a letter grade and difficulty value ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) based on the Code of Points . The eight highest-rated skills performed by women or the ten highest-rated skills moves performed by men are counted to give the difficulty score component of the final score. An exception to this is the vault event where each move has a pre-determined difficulty score. [11] [12]

In rhythmic gymnastics, each skill is also assigned a letter grade and difficulty value. However, the difficulty score is based on every skill performed during the routine, rather than the eight or ten highest-rated skills like in artistic gymnastics. [11]

Degree of difficulty is also enhanced by connecting skills together in combination. [13]

Trampoline

The FIG gives difficulty points for number of somersaults, number of body twists and the body position in somersaults (piked or straight). The total sum of the individual elements forms the difficulty score component of competitor's final score: [14] [15]

  • Each 1/4 rotation of a somersault = 0.1 DD
  • Completed 360° somersault (bonus) = 0.1 DD
  • Each 1/2 twist = 0.1 DD
  • Single somersaults without twist in pike/straight position = 0.1 DD
  • Somersaults over 720° in pike/straight position = 0.2 DD

Other sports

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trampolining</span> Acrobatic sport

Trampolining or trampoline gymnastics is a competitive Olympic sport in which athletes perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. In competition, these can include simple jumps in the straight, pike, tuck, or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward and/or backward somersaults and twists. Scoring is based on the difficulty and on the total seconds spent in the air. Points are deducted for bad form and horizontal displacement from the center of the bed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synchronized skating</span> Ice skating discipline

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Trampolining terms are used to describe various positions and types of skill performed in the sport of trampolining.

<i>Code of Points</i> (gymnastics) Rulebook that defines the scoring system in artistic gymnastics

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pair skating</span> Discipline of figure skating

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline defined by the International Skating Union (ISU) as "the skating of two persons in unison who perform their movements in such harmony with each other as to give the impression of genuine Pair Skating as compared with independent Single Skating". The ISU also states that a pairs team consists of "one Woman and one Man". Pair skating, along with men's and women's single skating, has been an Olympic discipline since figure skating, the oldest Winter Olympic sport, was introduced at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The ISU World Figure Skating Championships introduced pair skating in 1908.

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The following is a glossary of figure skating terms, sorted alphabetically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single skating</span> Discipline of figure skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating in which male and female skaters compete individually. Men's singles and women's singles are governed by the International Skating Union (ISU). Figure skating is the oldest winter sport contested at the Olympics, with men's and women's single skating appearing as two of the four figure skating events at the London Games in 1908.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acrobatic gymnastics</span> Competitive gymnastic discipline

Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive discipline of gymnastics where partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform routines consisting of acrobatic skills, dance and tumbling, set to music. There are three types of routines; a 'balance' routine where the focus is on strength, poise and flexibility; a 'dynamic' routine which includes throws, somersaults and catches, and a 'combined' routine which includes elements from both balance and dynamic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tumbling (sport)</span> Tumbling Gymnastics discipline

Tumbling, sometimes referred to as power tumbling, is a gymnastics discipline in which participants perform a series of acrobatic skills down a 25 metres (82 ft) long sprung track. Each series, known as a pass, comprises eight elements in which the athlete jumps, twists and flips placing only their hands and feet on the track. Tumblers are judged on the difficulty and form of their routine. There are both individual and team competitions in the sport.

This is a general glossary of the terms used in the sport of gymnastics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial skiing</span> Freestyle skiing discipline

Aerial skiing or aerials is a freestyle skiing discipline where athletes ski down a slope to launch themselves off a kicker and perform multiple twists and flips before landing on an inclined landing hill. Aerialists are scored on their jumps based on air, form and landing with their score multiplied by the degree of difficulty of the jump they performed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double mini trampoline</span> Gymnastics discipline

Double mini trampoline, sometimes referred to as double mini or DMT, is a gymnastics discipline within trampolining. Participants perform acrobatic skills on an apparatus smaller than a regular competition trampoline. The apparatus has both an angled section and a flat section. Unlike individual trampoline, where scoring is predominantly determined by Execution, Time of Flight and Difficulty, the Difficulty in DMT plays a more prominent role in the final score.

The men's synchronized 3 metre springboard diving competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was held on 28 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the 6th appearance of the event, which has been held at every Olympic Games since the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The women's synchronized 3 metre springboard diving competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was held on 25 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the 6th appearance of the event, which had been held at every Olympic Games since the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The men's 10 metre synchronized platform diving competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was held on 26 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the 6th appearance of the event, which has been held at every Olympic Games since the 2000 Summer Olympics.

The women's 10 metre synchronized platform diving competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was held on 27 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the 6th appearance of the event, which has been held at every Olympic Games since the 2000 Summer Olympics.

References

  1. ↑ "Degree of difficulty". Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "FINA Degree of Difficulty / Formula and Components". USAdiver.com. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Goodman, Eric (10 March 2021). "Diving 101: Scoring". NBC Olympics. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Understanding the International Judging System" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating . Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Newman, Richard (13 February 2022). "Winter Olympics 2022 - How are figure skating scores judged? Who chooses outfits?". Eurosport . Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Maura Sullivan Hill; Tamara Fuentes (4 February 2022). "Everything to Know About How Olympic Figure Skating Gets Scored". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Aerial Jump Code and Degree of Difficulty Chart" (PDF). International Ski Federation. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Pattison, Andrew (14 February 2018). "Aerial Skiing - how is it judged?". Australian Olympic Committee . Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Kickers Are Forever". FiveThirtyEight. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Ultimate Fantasy Football Scoring & Points System Guide". Cheatsheet War Room. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Rhythmic and artistic gymnastics explained". International Olympic Committee. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Gahndi, Aditi (19 July 2021). "Gymnastics scoring system explained — Here's all you need to know before Tokyo Olympics". The Bridge. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "Definition: Degree Of Difficulty". Gymnastics Zone. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "FIG Code of Points 2013-2016 - Trampoline Gymnastics - Part I (TRA)" (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Trampoline 101: Scoring". NBC Olympics. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
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