If a gymnast is starting competitive gymnastics in the United States, the USA Gymnastics Development Program is one of the main pathways from beginner skills to advanced competition.
- USAG Gymnastics Levels at a Glance
- What Is the USAG Development Program?
- USAG Level 1 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 2 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 3 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 4 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 5 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 6 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 7 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 8 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 9 Gymnastics
- USAG Level 10 Gymnastics
- USAG Mobility Scores: How Gymnasts Move Up
- What Happens After Level 10?
- Can Gymnasts Skip Levels?
- Compulsory vs. Optional Gymnastics
- How Does Scoring Change from Level 1 to Level 10?
- Does Every Gymnast Need to Reach Level 10?
- How Far Can Gymnasts Compete at Each Level?
The Women’s Development Program has 10 levels. Levels 1–3 focus on basic development, Levels 4–5 use compulsory routines, and Levels 6–10 introduce optional routines that become progressively more difficult.
A gymnast does not need to reach a certain level by a certain age. Instead, USA Gymnastics sets minimum ages and mobility requirements, while coaches determine when an athlete is technically and physically ready to advance.
Here is how the entire system works.
USAG Gymnastics Levels at a Glance
| Level | Program Stage | Minimum Age | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Developmental | 4 | Basic shapes, balance and body control |
| Level 2 | Developmental | 5 | Fundamental skills and strength |
| Level 3 | Developmental | 6 | Connecting skills and preparing for competition |
| Level 4 | Compulsory | 7 | First major compulsory competitive level |
| Level 5 | Compulsory | 7 | Advanced compulsory skills and optional preparation |
| Level 6 | Optional | 7 | Introduction to customized optional routines |
| Level 7 | Optional | 7 | Stronger tumbling, flight and routine construction |
| Level 8 | Optional | 8 | Advanced skills and composition requirements |
| Level 9 | Optional | 8 | High-level optional gymnastics |
| Level 10 | Optional | 9 | Highest level of the Development Program |
USA Gymnastics officially divides the program into three sections: developmental Levels 1–3, compulsory Levels 4–5 and optional Levels 6–10. Levels 1–3 can be used primarily for in-gym development or introductory competition, while competitive opportunities expand considerably at the higher levels.
This guide covers the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Development Program, which includes vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
What Is the USAG Development Program?
The Development Program is USA Gymnastics’ primary competitive pathway for female artistic gymnasts outside the Xcel and Elite programs.
The system is designed so that skills become progressively more difficult as the gymnast moves through Levels 1–10.
At the beginning, the emphasis is on fundamentals such as body positions, rolls, handstands, cartwheels, swings and basic strength. Later levels introduce skills such as back handsprings, saltos, bar releases, aerial skills and more difficult combinations.
The current compulsory routines for Levels 1–5 are part of the 2021–2029 cycle, while a new 2026–2030 Development Program Optional Code of Points took effect for Levels 6–10 in August 2026.
USAG Level 1 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 4
Level 1 introduces the basic shapes, movements and positions that will appear repeatedly throughout gymnastics. The emphasis is not on difficult skills. Instead, gymnasts learn how to perform simple movements with correct technique.
Common Level 1 floor elements include a cartwheel, tucked forward and backward rolls, a ¾ handstand, basic jumps and balance positions.
Young gymnasts also begin developing basic bar support, beam confidence and introductory vault mechanics.
Level 1 can be used as an achievement or pre-team level rather than a formal competitive level. USA Gymnastics allows Levels 1–3 to operate as non-competitive developmental programs, although some states and gyms also offer competitions.
USAG Level 2 Gymnastics
Level 2 builds on the fundamentals learned at Level 1.
Floor skills become slightly more complex. The current compulsory program includes elements such as a cartwheel, backward roll to push-up position, handstand, bridge/back kick-over, leaps and jumps.
On bars, gymnasts continue developing basic support and circling skills. Beam routines introduce more balance, dance and coordination.
The important change is not simply learning new tricks. Gymnasts are expected to perform basic skills with increasingly better form.
USAG Level 3 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 6
Level 3 is where gymnastics begins to look noticeably more advanced.
The floor routine includes progressions such as a handstand forward roll, handstand to bridge/back kick-over, 90-degree leap and more advanced tumbling development. The compulsory program also develops skills that prepare gymnasts for back handsprings and stronger acrobatics.
Bars, beam and vault similarly become more demanding.
By Level 3, coaches are usually looking for more than simply completing the skill. Form and technique become increasingly important because poor habits can make later gymnastics much harder.
Does a Gymnast Have to Compete Level 3?
Not necessarily.
USA Gymnastics describes Levels 1–3 primarily as developmental levels. There is no sanctioned competition mobility score required to advance from Levels 1–3. The compulsory materials instead emphasize proficiency in the developmental skills before moving into Level 4.
This is why some gyms compete Level 3 extensively while others use it mainly as a training or pre-team level.
USAG Level 4 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 7
Level 4 is an important transition because it is the first level where the formal USAG mobility-score system becomes especially relevant.
Gymnasts perform the same compulsory routines, so judges can compare athletes using standardized choreography and skill sequences.
The current Level 4 floor routine includes elements such as a back walkover, front handspring step-out, cartwheel, straight-arm backward roll to handstand, jumps and leaps.
On uneven bars, Level 4 introduces more significant skills such as the glide kip, casts, bar transitions and additional circling elements.
Level 4 Mobility Requirement
A gymnast normally needs: 34.00 all-around at Level 4 to advance to Level 5.
There is also an accelerated pathway. A gymnast who earns two 36.00 all-around scores at Level 4 may move directly to Level 6 and skip Level 5.
Beginning with the 2026–27 season, those two 36.00 scores may come from the current or previous season.
That exception is important because otherwise gymnasts generally progress through the Development Program level by level.
USAG Level 5 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 7
Level 5 is the highest compulsory level.
Athletes still perform standardized routines, but the skills are considerably more demanding than at Level 4.
For example, the current Level 5 bars routine includes a glide kip and long hang kip, while floor includes higher-level acrobatics such as a front salto tucked and options involving aerial or front handspring skills.
Level 5 is designed to prepare gymnasts for optional gymnastics.
Level 5 Mobility Requirement
A gymnast needs: 32.00 all-around at Level 5 to satisfy the mobility requirement.
A gymnast who earns that 32.00 at Level 5 may also skip Level 6 and move directly to Level 7, provided the other entry requirements are met.
So two important skipping rules exist:
| Path | Requirement |
| Level 4 → Level 6 | Two 36.00 AA scores at Level 4 |
| Level 5 → Level 7 | 32.00 AA at Level 5 |
This is one reason some competitive gymnasts spend very little time at Level 5 or Level 6.
USAG Level 6 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 7
Level 6 is the beginning of optional gymnastics.
Instead of every athlete performing exactly the same beam and floor routine, coaches can create routines around the gymnast’s strengths while still meeting USAG requirements.
USA Gymnastics describes Level 6 as a beginning optional level, with a strong emphasis on execution, artistry and development of basic optional skills.
For the current 2026–2030 rules, Level 6 includes specific requirements rather than one identical routine.
For example, the Level 6 floor exercise must include acrobatic passes, a dance passage containing a leap reaching the required split position and a turn on one foot. Beam similarly combines acrobatics, dance and a dismount, while bars requires casts, a bar change, clear-circling work and a salto dismount.
Level 6 Mobility Requirement
To move from Level 6 to Level 7: 32.00 all-around is required. However, Level 6 may be skipped when a gymnast already earned the required 32.00 at Level 5.
USAG Level 7 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 7
Level 7 is sometimes described as an advanced beginner optional level.
Routines are individualized, but difficulty is still restricted so that athletes can focus on strong execution rather than trying skills that are unnecessarily difficult.
Compared with Level 6, Level 7 requires more advanced combinations. Under the 2026–2030 rules, Level 7 bars requires additional clear-circling work, beam includes both an acro series and an acro flight element, and floor requires multiple acrobatic passes including forward and backward salto work.
Level 7 Mobility Requirement
To advance to Level 8, the standard all-around requirement is:
32.00 AA
USA Gymnastics also provides an Individual Event Specialist (IES) mobility route of 8.50 on the applicable event.
For many gymnasts, Level 7 represents the point where individual strengths become much more visible. One gymnast may excel at tumbling while another develops stronger bar skills or beam difficulty.
USAG Level 8 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 8
Level 8 is the first intermediate optional level.
USA Gymnastics describes Level 8 as the point where an athlete develops an individual optional exercise on all four events, with an emphasis on good execution and presentation rather than simply maximizing difficulty.
The routines become more sophisticated.
Under the current rules, Level 8 floor requires multiple saltos and an acrobatic pass containing two saltos. Beam requires an acro series with flight, while bars introduces stronger difficulty and flight or turning requirements.
Level 8 also introduces greater attention to routine composition.
Level 8 Mobility Requirement
To advance to Level 9: 34.00 all-around or the applicable 8.50 IES score is required.
Level 8 athletes may progress through local, state and Regional Championships. USA Gymnastics lists Regional Championships as the culminating level of competition for Level 8.
USAG Level 9 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 8
Level 9 is an advanced optional level and represents a major increase in difficulty.
Gymnasts begin performing combinations that look much closer to high-level college and elite gymnastics.
Under the 2026–2030 rules, Level 9 uneven bars includes requirements for bar changes, flight and a minimum B-level salto dismount. Beam requires an acro series, a 180-degree split leap or jump, a full turn and an aerial or salto dismount of at least B difficulty. Floor includes multiple saltos and requires at least a B salto in the final acrobatic pass.
Level 9 also uses bonus and connection rules to reward more difficult routines.
Level 9 Mobility Requirement
To move to Level 10: 34.00 all-around or an applicable 8.50 Individual Event Specialist score is required.
Successful Level 9 gymnasts can advance beyond Regional Championships to the Level 9 Eastern or Western Championships, depending on their region.
USAG Level 10 Gymnastics
Minimum age: 9
Level 10 is the highest level of the USA Gymnastics Development Program.
Level 10 routines contain advanced tumbling, difficult bar releases and transitions, flight combinations on beam and increasingly difficult vaults. Unlike Levels 6–9, USA Gymnastics does not place the same type of difficulty restrictions on Level 10 skill selection.
The current 2026–2030 requirements illustrate how demanding this level is.
On uneven bars, Level 10 requires C-level flight, a second flight element, longitudinal-axis turning difficulty and at least a C salto dismount. Beam requires a high-level flight series and advanced dismount, while floor requires three different saltos and at least a C salto in the final acrobatic pass.
Level 10 is also the highest Development Program level with a national championship. The season can culminate at the Development Program National Championships for qualifying athletes.
USAG Mobility Scores: How Gymnasts Move Up
In gymnastics, “scoring out” usually means achieving the required mobility score that makes an athlete eligible to move to the next level.
For the 2026–27 season, the official USAG mobility chart is:
| Current Level | Minimum Age | Score Needed to Advance |
| Level 1 | 4 | None |
| Level 2 | 5 | None |
| Level 3 | 6 | None |
| Level 4 | 7 | 34.00 AA to Level 5 |
| Level 5 | 7 | 32.00 AA |
| Level 6 | 7 | 32.00 AA |
| Level 7 | 7 | 32.00 AA or 8.50 IES |
| Level 8 | 8 | 34.00 AA or 8.50 IES |
| Level 9 | 8 | 34.00 AA or 8.50 IES |
| Level 10 | 9 | None |
Only scores earned at live USA Gymnastics-sanctioned competitions can be used for normal mobility purposes.
AA means All-Around, which combines scores from vault, bars, beam and floor.
IES means Individual Event Specialist, a pathway for gymnasts who compete specific events rather than the full all-around.
Importantly, earning the mobility score does not mean a gymnast must immediately move up. The score establishes eligibility. Coaches still need to consider strength, consistency, mental readiness and whether the athlete has the skills required at the next level.
What Happens After Level 10?
There is no normal Development Program mobility score above Level 10.
Some Level 10 gymnasts pursue the elite program, while many continue competing Level 10 throughout high school and work toward college gymnastics.
Reaching Level 10 does not automatically make an athlete elite. Elite gymnastics is a separate competitive pathway with additional qualification procedures and substantially different requirements.
At the Development Program level, the season can culminate at the Development Program National Championships.
Can Gymnasts Skip Levels?
The Development Program is designed as a progressive system, but there are specific exceptions.
The most important are Levels 5 and 6.
A gymnast can move directly from Level 4 to Level 6 after earning two scores of at least 36.00 AA at Level 4. For the 2026–27 season, those two scores may come from either the current or previous season.
A gymnast who earns 32.00 AA at Level 5 can also skip Level 6 and move to Level 7 if her coach believes she is prepared.
This produces several possible progressions:
Level 4 → Level 5 → Level 6 → Level 7
or
Level 4 → Level 5 → Level 7
or, when the special Level 4 requirement is satisfied,
Level 4 → Level 6 → Level 7
The fastest route is not necessarily the best route. Gymnasts usually benefit more from strong technique and preparation than from reaching the highest possible level as quickly as possible.
Compulsory vs. Optional Gymnastics
One of the biggest changes in the Development Program happens between Levels 5 and 6.
| Compulsory Levels 4–5 | Optional Levels 6–10 |
| Prescribed routines | Individualized routines |
| Same major routine structure for everyone | Skills selected for each gymnast |
| Official choreography | Individual choreography |
| Strong emphasis on exact execution | Execution plus routine construction |
| Designed to establish fundamentals | Difficulty grows progressively |
| Current cycle: 2021–2029 | Current cycle: 2026–2030 |
Optional routines give gymnasts more opportunity to show their individual strengths. The higher the level, however, the more important difficulty, connections and composition become.
How Does Scoring Change from Level 1 to Level 10?
At the early levels, scoring is primarily about how accurately and cleanly the compulsory routine is performed. Judges deduct for errors such as bent arms, bent knees, flexed feet, poor body position, insufficient amplitude, balance errors, falls and incorrect technique.
At the optional levels, execution still matters, but gymnasts must also satisfy requirements for the types and difficulty of skills included in their routines.
The 2026–2030 optional system makes this especially noticeable at Levels 8–10.
| Level | General Routine Construction |
| 6 | 4 A + 2 B value parts; requirements can produce 10.0 SV |
| 7 | 4 A + 3 B; requirements can produce 10.0 SV |
| 8 | 4 A + 4 B; 9.80 plus up to 0.20 Composition Credit |
| 9 | 3 A + 4 B + 1 C; 9.50 plus bonus and Composition Credit |
| 10 | 3 A + 3 B + 2 C; 9.20 plus bonus and Composition Credit |
Vault works differently because each permitted vault has its own assigned Start Value.
For beginners, the most important idea is that difficulty alone does not create a high score. A clean routine containing appropriate skills can often score better than a more difficult routine filled with execution errors.
Does Every Gymnast Need to Reach Level 10?
No. Level 10 is the highest Development Program level, but reaching it is not required to have a successful gymnastics experience.
Some athletes compete only at the lower Development Program levels. Others move to the Xcel Program, which provides a different competitive structure with more flexibility in routine construction and progression.
Some gymnasts eventually reach Levels 8, 9 or 10, while a much smaller group may pursue the Elite pathway. The appropriate goal depends on the athlete rather than the number attached to the level.
How Far Can Gymnasts Compete at Each Level?
Championship opportunities grow as athletes progress.
| Level | Highest General Competition Opportunity |
| 1–3 | State competition may be offered |
| 4–5 | State Championships |
| 6–7 | State and possibly Regional Championships |
| 8 | Regional Championships |
| 9 | Eastern or Western Championships |
| 10 | Development Program National Championships |
The exact opportunities at some lower levels depend on the state and region. USA Gymnastics specifically allows states and regions to determine parts of the competitive structure for these levels.
