Bridging the Gap: Uganda’s First Online WAG Judging Course

Bridging the Gap: Uganda's First Online WAG Judging Course

standardised education for WAG in Uganda

Uganda’s gymnastics scene has long been constrained by limited resources—scarcity of equipment, funding, and trained officials—especially outside Kampala. While the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)has provided equipment grants, building human capacity remains a vital next step.

As such, it is with great pleasure that, on 9 - 10 September 2025, Uganda Gymnastics Federation (UGF) participated in its first online Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) judging course, hosted by the African Union of Gymnastics (UAG). The sessions were facilitated by Dr Nehad Zayed, the Vice President of the FIG WAG Technical Committee. The course is crafted to expand access, especially for aspiring judges in remote regions. It’s about inclusivity, flexibility, and laying the groundwork for deeper development.

What Is WAG Judging Course About?

The course focused on the WAG Fundamentals, that is, all four events (vault, bars, beam, floor), scoring basics, and the Code of Points. Participants learnt how each skill is valued and integrated into the D-score. It also took a deep dive into the scoring mechanics such as Difficulty (D-) and Execution (E-) scores, deductions, and how to combine them into final scores. This allowed the participants to get familiar with common deductions and how small execution errors can add up—e.g., foot form, balance wobbles, or posture breaks. Participants should now be able to analyze pre-recorded routines, annotate deductions, and discuss scores. Taking on D-panel and E-panel roles would improve their understanding of judging perspective—who focuses on what, and why.

Key Apparatus For WAG

Below is a summary of the key elements of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics which include the balance beam, floor routine, vaults and uneven parallel bars. It also gives an idea of the equipment used as well as the requirements of each participant as they perform their routine.

The online training for coaches and judges, by FIG experts, is an integral part of the FIG Academy Programme and the FIG AGE Group Programme in collaboration with the Sports Training System, which provides tools to educate and assess judges and coaches. It was established to ensure coaches and judges from all national federations, without being hindered by travel hurdles, have access to appropriate expert-led training material covering all the FIG disciplines (Gymnastics for All, Men’s Artistic, Women’s Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic, Acrobatic and Parkour).

As part of the FIG Academy Programme, participants on the judging path have the opportunity to enroll for assessment. The test date is 31 October, while the exam date is 7 November 2025. They would earn a “Foundation WAG Judge” certificate, enabling them to judge at local, regional and international competitions.

The benefit of this course is that it brought otherwise inaccessible, technical training to screens around the Uganda. The analysis of real routines inspired the inbuilt instinct every judge needs. It was motivating to see how other judges across Uganda learn, share, and grow. Armed with knowledge and, hopefully, future certification, the participants will be able to test what they have learnt on real gymnasts at the regional and national competitions that UGF plans to host. In the meantime, UGF encourages the formation of peer review groups where, even remotely, the participants can meet to score routines together and build a local cohort of judges.

In the future, UGF would love to expand the training process to include live practical clinics or mentorship by experienced judges from national federations in Africa and the rest of the world.

We congratulate Coach Lea Ampaire, Head of WAG, who championed this successful event.

If you would like more information on WAG or gymnastics in general, please contact UGF via our email info@ugandagymnasticsfederation.com or let’s chat on our social media channels.