The USAG Level 1 beam routine introduces gymnasts to mounting the beam, balancing, jumping and finishing with a controlled dismount.
It is a prescribed routine: the gymnast follows an established sequence rather than choosing and arranging her own skills. The compulsory cycle runs from August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2029, with amendments published during that period.
For parents watching a meet, the most useful starting point is recognizing the main movements. This guide explains those movements and their key requirements, rather than reproducing every arm position and connecting step from the official choreography.
Level 1 Beam Skills in Order
The routine contains the following major elements. Seated positions, steps and arm movements connect them into the complete exercise.
| Order | Major element |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jump to front-support mount |
| 2 | Needle leg kick |
| 3 | Relevé “lock” balance |
| 4 | Forward passé balance |
| 5 | Stretch jump |
| 6 | Arabesque |
| 7 | Forward leg swings |
| 8 | Cartwheel to three-quarter-handstand dismount |
Treat this as a guide to following the routine, not a replacement for the official movement text. Knowing the names helps identify where the gymnast is in the exercise; the connecting movements still matter.
The Mount and Opening Movements
Jump to front support
A mount gets the gymnast onto the apparatus. Level 1 begins with a jump to front support: the gymnast supports herself through her hands, showing straight arms and an extended body.
She then turns a quarter turn into a straddle sit, facing along the beam. A mounting board or suitable raised surface may be used, but it must be removed as soon as possible after the mount.
The distinction between support and sitting is useful for a viewer. The opening is not simply a jump into a seated position—the supported shape comes first.
Seated positions and the needle leg kick
The opening continues through a tucked seated position and a brief single-leg V sit, with one leg extended upward. The gymnast then moves into a tucked standing position before straightening into a pike stand, with her upper body folded forward and hands on the beam.
From there, one leg kicks backward and upward for the needle leg kick. The lifted leg must reach at least horizontal. The gymnast then returns to a tuck stand.
A needle kick is a moving action, not a long-held balance. It also does not require the gymnast to kick into a full vertical handstand. For a parent following the sequence, look for the transition from sitting to standing, followed by the backward leg lift.
Balances, the Jump and Leg Swings
Relevé “lock” balance
Relevé describes rising onto the balls of the feet. In a lock position, the feet are close together in the prescribed front-and-back arrangement.
For Level 1, the lock balance has a two-second hold. Briefly lifting the heels and immediately continuing is different from showing the required balance.
This is an easy detail to miss from the stands. A gymnast may remain on the beam throughout the routine yet move through a balance too quickly.
Forward passé balance
In forward passé, the gymnast stands on one leg while the other knee bends in front, bringing the pointed free foot toward the supporting knee.
It is not the same shape as lifting a straight leg forward. The supporting leg, bent knee and free foot each have a place in the position.
To distinguish the two early balances, watch the feet: the lock balance uses both feet together in relevé, while forward passé places the gymnast on one supporting leg.
Stretch jump
A stretch jump, also called a straight jump, uses an extended body rather than a tucked or split shape. The gymnast takes off from two feet and lands on both feet together.
For a viewer, the useful checkpoints are whether the body lengthens in the air and whether the feet return together. Staying on the beam is only one part of completing the jump accurately.
Arabesque
An arabesque is a balance with one leg lifted behind the body. Level 1 specifies a minimum 30-degree leg lift, with the position clearly shown or “marked.”
The wording matters: mark the position is not the same instruction as hold for two seconds. The two-second hold belongs to the lock balance. Level 2 introduces an explicit one-second arabesque hold, which should not be copied into the Level 1 requirement.
When watching, try separating the shape from the transition. Can the arabesque be recognized as a distinct position before the gymnast continues?
Forward leg swings
Later in the routine, the gymnast performs forward leg swings. The free leg moves in front as she transfers her weight through the prescribed sequence.
These are moving leg actions rather than held balances or split leaps. They should also not be confused with Level 2’s forward-and-backward swing sequence.
A useful way to follow this middle section is to identify the different tasks: balance, jump, show a position, then swing the legs.
Understanding the Three-Quarter-Handstand Dismount
The Level 1 dismount is a cartwheel to a three-quarter handstand, not a full vertical side-handstand dismount. The hands contact the beam one after the other, and hand contact must be maintained when the gymnast lands.
The word cartwheel describes the entry into the dismount. It does not describe a separate cartwheel that finishes back on the beam.
For parents, three parts are worth recognizing: the cartwheel-style entry, the intended inverted position and the finish on the landing mat. Calling the entire movement simply a “handstand” can hide the differences between compulsory levels.
The dismount should be learned with a qualified coach and appropriate equipment. A written description is useful for recognizing it, not for independently teaching the hand placement or descent.
How Long Is the Level 1 Beam Routine?
The Level 1 beam routine has a 35-second maximum, with a warning at 25 seconds.
Timing begins when the gymnast’s feet leave the mounting board or mat and ends when she lands the dismount. The warning itself is not a deduction. Overtime carries a 0.10 penalty, subject to the official timing procedure, which includes an allowance for a fraction of a second beyond the limit.
The aim is not to finish as quickly as possible. Rushing through a required balance does not make the routine more complete.
For example, a gymnast who hurries past the lock balance may finish comfortably within the time limit but still fail to demonstrate the hold. Routine timing and accurate execution are separate questions.
How Level 1 Beam Is Scored
In competition, the prescribed Level 1 routine starts from 10.0. Judges deduct for errors rather than awarding extra difficulty points for adding harder skills.
The judging covers more than falls. Body position, balance corrections, jump height, landing control and changes to the prescribed movements can all affect the score. Adding or replacing movements is not a way to earn a bonus in this compulsory routine.
Selected Level 1 deductions
These examples show why a routine can lose points even when the gymnast stays on the beam. They are selected deductions, not a complete judging sheet.
| Error | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Needle kick does not reach horizontal | Up to 0.10 |
| Lock balance is not held for two seconds | Up to 0.20 |
| Free leg is incorrectly positioned in forward passé | 0.10 |
| Stretch jump lands one foot before the other | 0.10 |
| Arabesque does not reach the required leg height | Up to 0.20 |
| Arabesque position is not clearly marked | 0.05 |
| Dismount uses simultaneous rather than successive hand placement | 0.10 |
| Hand contact is not maintained on the beam upon landing the dismount | 0.10 |
“Up to” identifies the maximum for that particular fault, not an automatic deduction of the full amount on every imperfect attempt.
A fall on or off the apparatus carries a 0.50 deduction. An incomplete major element can have an additional consequence, so the total loss associated with a failed skill is not always limited to the fall deduction.
A simple scoring example
Suppose a judge evaluates a complete routine from 10.00 and records 0.80 in total deductions:
10.00 − 0.80 = 9.20
This is an arithmetic example, not a prediction of what a particular routine should receive. The difficult part of judging is identifying and assessing the errors; the subtraction comes afterward.
Required holds are different from hesitation
Holding a prescribed balance and stopping because the gymnast is unsure what comes next are different actions. Compulsory beam rules include deductions for concentration pauses as well as deductions for incomplete movements.
That distinction helps explain why “move continuously” should not be interpreted as “never stop.” The gymnast needs to show the required positions while maintaining the intended rhythm between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every gymnast have to compete at Level 1?
No. USA Gymnastics allows Levels 1–3 to be used for noncompetitive development, achievement programs or introductory competition. Learning the foundational skills and entering a sanctioned Level 1 meet are separate decisions.
A club may use the routine in a pre-team program without sending every gymnast to a Level 1 competition.
Can a left-dominant gymnast reverse the routine?
Yes. The whole routine may be reversed. Reversing an individual element is allowed only where the official text permits it; gymnasts should not independently switch sides throughout the exercise.
Can harder skills replace the prescribed movements?
Not simply because the gymnast can perform them. Compulsory judging distinguishes between completing the required routine and changing it. An added or substituted skill can create a deduction rather than improve the score.
Training more advanced skills and choosing what belongs in the competition routine are different matters.
Where can families find an official demonstration?
USA Gymnastics’ W316 Compulsory Materials include the complete compulsory book and official videos for every event at each level. Access is provided through the organization’s registration and membership system.
For precise choreography, use the current official text alongside the demonstration. A competition recording can help a parent follow the sequence, but the gymnast in that recording may make mistakes.