Round three is judged using the following criteria:
Variety of Skills: This is the number of different tumbling skills, jumps, stunts, flairs performed. Each different skill is given a variety point for the first time it is performed. For example: if an extension is done four times, it is only given one variety point. In order to get variety points for tumbling, more than one competitor has to perform the skills in unison.
Difficulty of skills: Each judge evaluates the difficulty of the tumbling, gymnastics, stunts, flairs, transitions, and jumps performed on a 1-20 scale. Different skills are given different point values. The judges use a chart that lists the total points awarded compared to the number of girls in the round to get the total difficulty points to award to each team.
Execution: The judges evaluate tumbling, jumps, stunts,gymnastics, flairs, transitions, and preps for proper execution. If there are more than twelve girls in the round the team can earn extra execution points. Deductions are made for bobbles, falls, balance checks, steps, and so on.
Execution Bonus: Teams that do not have a lot of execution deductions may earn execution bonus points from the judges.
Choreography Bonus: Teams that perform one leg extensions, double twists, single twists, team tumbling, and back tucks can be awarded choreography bonus points if they perform the needed amount determined by the number of girls on the floor.
*The coaches have to hand in a round three description the day before the meet. The officials evaluate this sheet prior to the meet and then look at the sheet during the meet. It is a tool the judges need to make sure the coaches and teams are performing the required amount of skills.
* The execution is usually the part of the sheet that parents and athletes don't understand. If a flier falls hard to the ground it is a 2 point deduction, a fall that is caught, but just comes down clean is usually a 1 point deduction, a balance check might only be a .3 to .5 deduction, and a bobble could be a .5 deduction.
In the stands a fall may look worse than it does in the judges eyes. A team that has a 2.0 fall but is clean through the rest of the round can still end up with a very high total score while a team with no falls that is messy can have a much lower score than the team that fell. Also, keep in mind that if a back tuck falls to the ground in this round, it is the same deduction as a flier falling to the ground.