What happens to the starting value (SV) if a gymnast earns 0.5 in Voluntary Composition (VC) but has no D/E?

The starting value (SV) for a Level 10 routine typically begins at 10.00. In this context, if a gymnast earns 0.5 in Voluntary Composition (VC), it indicates a positive performance aspect that aligns with the requirements of the routine. However, if there is no Difficulty (D) or Execution (E) score assessed, the starting value does not reflect the positive adjustment from the VC.

In gymnastics scoring, the SV can have reductions based on various deductions, such as lack of difficulty or execution failure. Since the gymnast has no D/E, the starting value is reduced in this scenario due to a failure to meet the minimum expectations of the routine, which implies that a deduction is necessary. The 0.5 earned in VC does not counteract the absence of a D or E score, resulting in a deduction from the original starting value of 10.00.

Therefore, the appropriate deduction leads to a new starting value of 9.90. This illustrates how the scoring system balances positive aspects of a routine with the necessity of meeting difficulty and execution standards.