The Sapphire Division is a pilot sixth division in the USA Gymnastics Xcel Program, running for the 2022–23 competitive year. It is designed to provide a broad choice of skills (like other Xcel divisions) while allowing higher-level gymnasts to showcase more advanced gymnastics than is typical in Diamond.
The pilot program currently applies only to Regions 3, 6, 7, and 8. Competitions in these regions may include the Sapphire Division, while regions 1, 2, 4, and 5 are not hosting Sapphire meets for the pilot year.
Xcel Sapphire: Entry Requirements
Minimum Age: Gymnasts must have reached their 12th birthday.
Prerequisite Scores:
- 34.00 All-Around (AA) at Diamond level or 8.5 Individual Event Specialist (IES).
- Eligible for Levels 8-10 gymnasts from the Development Program.
- She may also have competed Level 8–10 in the Development Program (DP). A gymnast with DP experience can directly enter Sapphire (in a participating region) if she meets the prerequisites.
Mobility from Other Programs:
- Athletes from non-participating regions (1, 2, 4, 5) may compete as Sapphire if traveling to a meet in a pilot region, though they still follow their home state’s rules on declarations for local championships (e.g., for states that do not include Sapphire).
- Any gymnast with previous competition experience outside of USA Gymnastics may petition to enter Sapphire by submitting a video and petition form to the appropriate Regional and National Chairs.
Xcel Sapphire: Routine Construction & Scoring
Each routine in Xcel Sapphire is judged based on value parts, special requirements, bonus connections, and execution deductions.
Routine Requirement Formula (Xcel Sapphire)
Each routine consists of 1.70 points from Value Parts, 2.00 points from Special Requirements, and up to 0.40 in Bonus, with the remaining 5.90 points based on Execution & Artistry, where a maximum of 4.00 points may be deducted for execution errors, including falls.
1. Value Part (VP)
A Value Part is a skill or element assigned a specific difficulty “value.” In Xcel (including Sapphire), elements are categorized as “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D.” Each has a set point worth (e.g., an “A” is 0.10) that contributes to the routine’s Start Value (SV).
On Uneven Bars, Beam, and Floor, gymnasts must include 3 “A,” 3 “B,” and 1 “C” skills to get the full 1.70 for Value Parts (VP).
- Each “A” is worth 0.10, “B” is 0.30, and “C” is 0.50. Summed correctly, they total 1.70.
- On Vault, selecting a single vault from the Sapphire Chart replaces gathering multiple Value Parts.
Missing Value Parts:
- Deduct 0.10 for each missing “A,” 0.30 for each missing “B,” and 0.50 for each missing “C.”
- Skills of higher value (such as “C” or “D”) can replace a lower-level requirement (e.g., “A”), but you still need at least one “C” if the rules require it.
2. Specific Special Requirements (SR)
Each apparatus—Bars, Beam, and Floor—has 4 Special Requirements (SR), each worth 0.50 (total 2.00). On Vault, rather than SRs, gymnasts must choose from the official list of allowable vaults.
Missing Special Requirements:
- Each missing SR is a 0.50 deduction off the Start Value.
3. Bonus
Each Bars, Beam, or Floor routine in Sapphire begins at a 9.60 Start Value. The gymnast can earn up to 0.40 additional tenths in bonus for a maximum potential of 10.0. Here’s how it works:
- Difficulty Bonus:
- +0.10 for each “C” performed successfully.
- +0.10 for one “D” skill (additional “D”s may be performed but only one can earn this bonus).
- Connection Bonus:
- +0.10 for a direct connection of “B + B” or higher on Bars, Beam, and Floor.
- On Floor, certain indirect acro connections (e.g., front salto step-out + round-off + back salto) can also earn connection bonus.
Maximum: The combined difficulty and connection bonus cannot exceed +0.40.
4. Execution & Artistry
Execution deductions (e.g., bent arms, insufficient height, etc.) and artistry deductions (e.g., lack of expression or creativity) come out of 5.90. This portion completes the total to 10.0 when the routine has full Value Parts, SRs, and bonus.
- Maximum Execution Deduction = 4.00 (including falls).
- Artistry and Spotting: If artistry or spotting deductions apply, they are taken in addition to that 4.00 execution cap. This means the final routine score can drop below 6.00 if there are additional artistry or spotting penalties.
How the Final Score Is Calculated
Base Start Value:
- Bars, Beam, Floor: 9.60
- Vault: Based on the specific vault performed from the Sapphire Chart (up to 10.0).
Add Bonus (up to +0.40 for Bars, Beam, Floor):
- Difficulty Bonus for “C”/“D”
- Connection Bonus for linked elements
Subtract Deductions:
- Missing Value Parts (VP)
- Missing Special Requirements (SR)
- Restricted (“E”) skill penalty (-0.50 off Start Value)
- Execution & Artistry deductions (up to 4.0 for execution, plus any artistry/spotting)
The end result is the gymnast’s final score, which tops out at 10.0 when no mistakes or missing requirements are present and maximum bonus is achieved.
Xcel Sapphire: Skill Requirements by Event
The Sapphire Division includes routines on Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. Each event has specific special requirements (SR), value part (VP) needs, and difficulty limitations.
Vault
- Equipment Restriction: Trampoline-style springboards are not permitted; using one results in a void vault.
- Format: Gymnast performs one vault from the official Sapphire Vault Chart.
- Start Value (SV): Each vault has a designated SV (up to 10.0).
- Special Requirements (SR): Vault has no specific Special Requirements (SR); however, gymnasts must perform a permitted vault from the Sapphire Vault Chart. Any unapproved vault, including an “E”-level vault, will result in a void (0) score.
Uneven Bars
- Start Value: 9.60, with up to 0.40 Bonus available.
- Special Requirements: Refer to the Xcel Sapphire Rules for the required elements and composition guidelines.
- Value Parts (VP): 3 “A”, 3 “B”, 1 “C.”
- Difficulty Restrictions: Only A, B, C, and D skills allowed (E skills prohibited).
- Bonus: A maximum of 0.40 can be earned through connection and difficulty bonuses.
Balance Beam
- Start Value: 9.60, with up to 0.40 Bonus available.
- Special Requirements: See the Xcel Sapphire Rules for specific skill and composition requirements.
- Value Parts (VP): 3 “A,” 3 “B,” 1 “C.”
- Difficulty Restrictions: Only A, B, C, and D skills permitted (E skills not allowed).
- Routine Timing: Maximum 1:30 minutes.
Floor Exercise
- Start Value: 9.60 with up to 0.40 in bonus points.
- Special Requirements: Refer to the Xcel Sapphire Rules for the required acro, dance, and turn elements.
- Value Parts: 3 “A,” 3 “B,” 1 “C.”
- Difficulty Restrictions: Only A, B, C, and D skills are permitted (E skills prohibited).
- Routine Timing: Maximum 1:30 minutes.
Additional Rules & Deductions
- Intermediate Swings (Bars): A deduction applies unless the swing is a necessary part of an element’s entry.
- Split Angles: Leaps and jumps on Beam and Floor must achieve a 180° split. Deductions apply for insufficient split angles, with a reduction in credit if the split is deficient by more than 45°.
Source:
Xcel Sapphire Pilot Program Rules (Effective August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023), USA Gymnastics.
For comprehensive information, clarification, and updates, always refer to the official Xcel Code of Points and USA Gymnastics website.