The USAG Level 2 floor routine develops the early compulsory skills with a full handstand, a half turn, split-shaped dance elements and a bridge kick-over. Two requirements help distinguish this exercise: the leap and split jump need 60 degrees of leg separation, and the handstand must be held for one second.
Like the other compulsory routines, Level 2 follows prescribed skills and choreography rather than a sequence the gymnast designs independently. This guide explains the major elements, important positions and selected deductions for the 2021–2029 cycle, including the July 2026 backward-roll amendment.
Level 2 Floor Skills in Order
The official Level 2 floor penalty table identifies nine major elements in the following order. Steps, poses and arm movements connect them into the complete exercise.
| Order | Major element |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cartwheel |
| 2 | Backward roll to push-up position |
| 3 | Half turn in forward passé, using heel-snap technique |
| 4 | Forward chassé |
| 5 | Straight-leg leap with a minimum 60° split |
| 6 | Split jump with a minimum 60° split |
| 7 | Handstand held for one second |
| 8 | Candlestick |
| 9 | Bridge and back kick-over |
This table is a sequence guide, not the complete choreography. Performing the nine rows without their connecting movements would not reproduce the official routine.
For the broader progression, the guide to USAG floor routines from Levels 1–5 compares the exercises across the compulsory levels.
The Level 2 Floor Routine Explained
1. Cartwheel
The cartwheel carries the gymnast sideways through an inverted position, with one hand contacting the floor before the other. The body should pass through vertical rather than travel around in a low, sideways arc.
The prescribed finish brings the feet together into a standing position. The official opening allows either a lunge or the specified “mountain climber” entrance into the cartwheel. These are permitted entrances to the same element, not separate skills.
For a viewer, the hands and body path provide useful checkpoints. Reaching the other side of the cartwheel does not, by itself, show whether its alignment was correct.
2. Backward Roll to Push-Up Position
The backward roll to push-up position finishes with the gymnast supported through her hands and feet, with the body extended and legs together. “Push-up position” describes the finishing shape; it does not require a conditioning push-up afterward.
This differs from Level 1’s tucked backward roll to standing. The gymnast must demonstrate the Level 2 finish before continuing through the prescribed kneeling transition.
The current substitution deduction is 0.30. USAG’s July 2026 amendment reduced the deduction for performing a backward roll to handstand instead of the required version from 0.60 to 0.30. The change does not make the handstand version a deduction-free alternative.
That distinction matters when watching a gymnast who can perform more advanced skills. A harder movement is not automatically a better choice within a compulsory routine.
3. Half Turn in Forward Passé
In forward passé, the gymnast balances with one knee bent in front and the pointed free foot at the supporting knee. The Level 2 turning element rotates 180 degrees, or half a revolution.
It uses the prescribed heel-snap technique. The gymnast rises onto the ball of the supporting foot as the turn develops, then lowers the heel when the turn is complete. The lifted-heel position is called relevé.
This is not a full turn, and the technique is not interchangeable with every turn taught at later levels. For Level 2, both the rotation and the specified heel action belong to the requirement.
4. Forward Chassé
A forward chassé is a traveling dance movement in which the trailing foot closes toward the leading foot in the air. The gymnast passes through plié, a bend of the knees, when entering and leaving the movement.
The closing action distinguishes it from an ordinary running step. The chassé leads into the leap section, but it is a separate major element with its own judging points.
5. Straight-Leg Leap
The straight-leg leap takes off from one foot and lands on the other, with the legs opening front and back during flight. Level 2 requires a minimum 60-degree separation between the legs.
That angle describes the total opening between the legs—not a requirement to lift each leg 60 degrees above the floor. The lead leg should remain straight during takeoff, and the airborne split should be evenly shaped.
When following the routine, look at the takeoff as well as the split. The one-foot takeoff helps distinguish the leap from the split jump that appears next.
6. Split Jump
The split jump also requires a minimum 60-degree split, but it takes off from two feet and lands on two feet. The gymnast opens the legs front and back in the air, then brings them together for the landing.
Both feet should contact the floor simultaneously. The airborne shape and the landing are separate parts of the element, so showing enough split does not remove the need for a controlled, two-foot finish.
The leap and jump may look similar at their highest point. Watching how they begin and end makes the difference clearer.
7. Handstand
The Level 2 handstand has three important requirements: reach vertical, join the legs and hold for one second. Merely kicking the legs overhead does not demonstrate all three.
For example, a gymnast might reach vertical without bringing her legs together, or show the correct shape but lower immediately. Those are different errors.
This full, held handstand is one of the clearest changes from the Level 1 floor routine, which names a three-quarter handstand instead.
8. Candlestick
The candlestick is a rocking movement into a position supported through the upper back and shoulders, with the legs raised. It is not another backward roll, and it should not be confused with the handstand that comes earlier.
The routine places the candlestick before the bridge work. These movements use different support positions: the handstand supports the gymnast through her hands, the candlestick through her shoulders and upper back, and the bridge through her hands and feet.
The complete routine text supplies the transitions between them. A short skill list should not be used to invent a return to standing or a different connection.
9. Bridge and Back Kick-Over
The closing major acrobatic element is a bridge and back kick-over. The gymnast establishes the bridge position, then kicks over through an inverted position to return to her feet.
Judges assess the bridge as well as the kick-over. The Level 2 table includes specific deductions for shoulders that are not positioned over the hands in the bridge and for additional kicks needed to reach the inverted vertical position. (USA Gymnastics)
This is the prescribed bridge-and-kick-over sequence, not a freely chosen back walkover or back handspring. Learning it requires qualified coaching and appropriate equipment; the description here is intended to help readers recognize the element.
How Level 2 Floor Is Scored
The prescribed Level 2 floor routine has a 10.0 start value. Judges subtract applicable deductions for errors rather than adding difficulty points for harder skills.
The evaluation covers more than whether each major element appears. Body positions, control, rhythm and the prescribed movements all contribute to the performance. General compulsory deductions also address concentration pauses and movement that does not match the musical beat.
Selected Level 2 Deductions
The following examples are taken from the Level 2 requirements and checked against the July 2026 penalty table. They are not a complete judging sheet.
| Error | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Backward roll does not show the required push-up position | 0.20 |
| Half turn does not use the required heel-snap technique | 0.30 |
| Supporting heel is not lowered at the end of the turn | 0.05 |
| Handstand does not reach vertical | Up to 0.30 |
| Legs do not join at vertical in the handstand | 0.10 |
| Required one-second handstand hold is not completed | Up to 0.10 |
| Extra kick needed to establish the inverted vertical position during the kick-over | 0.30 each |
“Up to” gives a maximum for that particular fault, not an automatic deduction of the full amount. The judge evaluates the size of the error.
Separate faults can occur during the same skill. A handstand can reach vertical yet still lose points because the legs do not join or the hold is too short. Conversely, the deduction for one identified error should not be treated as the total loss for an entire routine.
A Simple Scoring Example
Suppose a judge records 0.95 in total deductions for a complete routine evaluated from 10.00:
10.00 − 0.95 = 9.05
This is a hypothetical calculation, not a prediction of what a particular performance should receive.
For families watching from the stands, the useful task is recognizing progress rather than trying to reproduce every deduction. A clearer handstand or more controlled landing may be noticeable even when the final score reflects other errors elsewhere.
Music, Starting Position and Choreography
USA Gymnastics provides official compulsory floor music for Level 2. Its W316 Compulsory Materials include the complete compulsory book, floor music for Levels 1–5 and official demonstration videos for each event and level. (USA Gymnastics)
The routine’s poses, kneeling transition, steps and arm movements are part of the exercise. They are not unrestricted spaces where a gymnast can add preferred choreography.
The official opening permits a start in a corner or near the side of the floor, with the exercise traveling in a straight pattern or on the diagonal. A full diagonal is therefore not the only permitted arrangement.
For exact movements and timing, coaches should use the current written routine and amendments alongside the official demonstration. Competition videos can help families recognize the sequence, but the gymnast in a recording may make mistakes.
What Changes in Level 3 Floor?
Level 3 introduces a handstand forward roll and a closing pass of round-off, one back handspring and a rebound, among other changes. Its backward roll also uses a different required opening angle before lowering to push-up support.
The separate Level 3 floor routine guide explains those movements in their prescribed sequence.
For a gymnast currently working on Level 2, moving toward the next level does not require replacing the competition elements early. The current exercise still needs its own finishes, shapes and connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Must a Gymnast Be to Compete Level 2?
A gymnast must have reached her fifth birthday to meet the national Level 2 minimum-age requirement under the 2026–27 USAG rules. Being old enough does not establish that she is ready to perform every skill.
Is a Back Handspring Required in Level 2 Floor?
No. The prescribed Level 2 major-element list does not include a back handspring. Its closing acrobatic requirement is the bridge and back kick-over.
Does Every Gymnast Have to Compete Level 2?
No. USA Gymnastics permits Levels 1–3 to be used for developmental classes, achievement testing or introductory competition. A competitive season at every introductory level is not a national requirement.
Can a Left-Dominant Gymnast Reverse the Routine?
Yes. The entire routine may be reversed. Individual elements may be reversed only where the official text permits them; the gymnast cannot freely switch the side of every movement.
What to Remember
Level 2 floor is a complete exercise, not simply a cartwheel and kick-over with dance in between. The required finishes and smaller details deserve as much attention as the most noticeable skills.
For families, a useful way to follow progress is to watch whether each movement has a clear shape, a controlled finish and a smooth transition. Those observations provide a more meaningful picture than checking only whether the gymnast completed the hardest element.