The USAG Level 3 beam routine combines a handstand, a half turn, connected straight jumps, a held arabesque and a split leap. It finishes with a cartwheel-style entry into a side handstand and a quarter-turn dismount. The routine has a 55-second time limit, with a warning at 45 seconds.
Level 3 follows a prescribed exercise within the women’s 2021–2029 compulsory cycle. The skills, connecting steps and permitted variations belong to that exercise; gymnasts do not arrange the movements independently. This guide explains the major sequence and important judging points rather than reproducing every arm movement and choreographic detail. (USA Gymnastics)
Level 3 Beam Skills in Order
The table groups the routine into eight main sections. Two rows contain paired movements: the connected stretch jumps and the two half pivot turns. Additional steps, poses and arm movements connect the sections.
| Order | Major element or section | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front-support fish-pose mount | Show the prescribed support position and bent-leg shape |
| 2 | Cross handstand | Reach vertical with the legs together |
| 3 | Half turn in forward passé | Complete 180° using heel-snap technique |
| 4 | Two connected stretch jumps | Show two straight-body jumps with two-foot landings |
| 5 | Arabesque | Meet the 45° leg-position requirement and hold one second |
| 6 | Straight-leg leap | Show at least 90° of leg separation |
| 7 | Two half pivot turns | Complete two separate 180° changes of direction |
| 8 | Cartwheel to side handstand with quarter-turn dismount | Reach vertical and complete the prescribed 90° turn |
For parents, these sections provide useful landmarks. Recognizing the sequence makes it easier to notice whether the gymnast completes each movement before continuing.
The Level 3 Beam Routine Explained
1. Front-Support Fish-Pose Mount
A mount gets the gymnast onto the beam. Level 3 begins in front support with straight arms, an extended body and one knee bent backward into the fish pose. The knees remain together.
The opening continues through a stag sit and kneeling movements toward standing. The fish pose is therefore part of the supported mount, not a separate kneeling balance performed afterward.
For a viewer, follow the change from support to sitting and then standing. That helps separate the actual mount from the choreography that follows it.
2. Cross Handstand
The cross handstand is performed on the beam and returns to it. The gymnast reaches a vertical position with both legs together.
“Cross” describes the orientation of the skill relative to the beam. It does not mean that the gymnast crosses her arms or legs. Correct hand placement and a clear body line remain important.
Level 3 does not specify the one-second handstand hold found at Level 4. However, the gymnast still needs to reach the intended vertical position; a low kick-up is not the same movement.
This handstand should also be kept separate from the handstand-based dismount at the end. One finishes back on the beam; the other takes the gymnast to the landing mat.
3. Half Turn in Forward Passé
In forward passé, the gymnast balances on one leg while bending the other knee in front, with the pointed free foot at the supporting knee. The turn rotates 180 degrees, or half a revolution.
Level 3 beam requires heel-snap technique. The prescribed heel action helps initiate the turn, and the supporting heel lowers when the turn is complete. Simply rotating halfway does not establish that the correct technique was used.
This requirement is specific to the event. Level 3 floor also contains a half passé turn, but its turning technique differs. The floor instructions should not be transferred to beam merely because the level number matches.
4. Two Connected Stretch Jumps
Both jumps are stretch jumps, also called straight jumps. The gymnast extends the body with the legs together in the air, then lands on both feet simultaneously.
The second jump is not a split jump. That change comes in the Level 4 jump combination. The Level 3 task is to perform two straight-body jumps in the prescribed connection.
When watching, follow the landing of the first jump into the takeoff of the second. An extra step, loss of balance or complete stop can break the connection; simply completing both jumps somewhere in the routine does not show the required series.
5. Arabesque
An arabesque is a balance with a straight free leg lifted behind the body. Level 3 requires the specified 45-degree leg position, held for one second.
The leg position and the hold are separate requirements. A gymnast may balance steadily with the leg too low, or reach the required position but lower it too soon. Those are different faults.
For a parent, try watching the establishment of the balance before counting its duration. A leg that is still moving into position has not yet demonstrated the same shape as a clearly settled arabesque.
6. Straight-Leg Leap
The straight-leg leap takes off from one foot and lands on the other, showing at least 90 degrees of separation between the legs in the air.
The angle describes the split between the legs. It is different from the leg-position requirement used for the arabesque. The lead leg should remain straight during the prescribed takeoff.
The landing is also part of the element. After the leap, the gymnast briefly shows a low arabesque position, with the free leg extended behind, before continuing. This landing pause should not be confused with the separate one-second arabesque performed earlier.
Watching the takeoff helps distinguish a leap from a jump: the leap begins from one foot, while the earlier stretch jumps begin from two.
7. Two Half Pivot Turns
Later in the routine, the gymnast performs two half pivot turns, each changing direction by 180 degrees from the prescribed two-foot position.
These are different from the earlier passé turn on one supporting foot. Two half pivots do not replace that element, even though their rotations add up to a full revolution.
For viewers, the feet provide the clearest clue. During the passé turn, one leg is lifted and bent. During the pivots, the gymnast uses the two-foot arrangement.
8. Cartwheel to Side Handstand With Quarter-Turn Dismount
The dismount begins with a cartwheel-style entry into a side handstand and includes a quarter turn—90 degrees—as the gymnast completes the exit to the mat.
The gymnast must reach vertical and complete the required turn. Hand contact is maintained until the body passes the beam’s horizontal plane during the descent. Releasing too early and failing to turn are separate faults.
This is more specific than “handstand and land.” The quarter turn distinguishes it from Level 2’s side-handstand dismount.
The Level 3 dismount does not have an explicit one-second handstand hold. That additional hold appears at Level 4.
The entry, turn and descent should be taught with qualified coaching and appropriate landing protection. A written explanation helps identify the movement; it is not a substitute for supervised instruction.
How Long Is the Level 3 Beam Routine?
The maximum is 55 seconds, with a warning at 45 seconds. The warning signals that ten seconds remain; it is not itself a penalty.
Timing begins when the gymnast’s feet leave the mounting board or mat and ends when she lands the dismount. Overtime carries a 0.10 deduction, subject to the official fraction-of-a-second allowance. Judges continue evaluating the exercise after the time limit.
Finishing quickly is not the only goal. The gymnast still needs to complete the arabesque hold and the prescribed landing pause after the leap.
How Level 3 Beam Is Scored
The prescribed Level 3 beam routine has a 10.0 start value. Judges subtract applicable deductions for errors rather than award extra difficulty points for adding harder skills.
Completing every named movement does not guarantee a particular score. The quality of the positions, connections and landings matters throughout the exercise.
Selected Level 3 Deductions
These examples come from the Level 3 beam penalty tables. They are not a complete judging sheet.
| Error | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Cross handstand does not reach vertical | Up to 0.30 |
| Legs do not join in the cross handstand | 0.10 |
| Required heel-snap technique is not used in the passé turn | 0.30 |
| Supporting heel is not lowered when the passé turn finishes | 0.05 |
| Connection between the two stretch jumps is broken | 0.05 |
| Arabesque’s one-second hold is incomplete | Up to 0.10 |
| Low-arabesque landing pause after the leap is missing | 0.05 |
| Quarter turn in the dismount is not performed | 0.20 |
“Up to” identifies the maximum for a particular fault, not an automatic deduction of the full amount. Other applicable form, balance and landing errors may occur during the same skill.
A Broken Connection Is Different From a Small Change in Tempo
The compulsory rules distinguish a broken dance connection from insufficient continuity alone. For this jump series, insufficient continuity by itself has no deduction, while a broken connection carries 0.05.
Examples of a break include an extra step, a loss of balance or stopping between the jumps. The rules also address fully straightening the legs after the first landing and bending them again to start the next jump. A viewer should not assign the same penalty to every slight hesitation.
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 an estimate of what a particular performance should receive. Identifying the faults and deciding their values is the judging task.
What Happens After a Fall?
An ordinary fall carries a 0.50 deduction. An incomplete element may have additional consequences, so a failed dismount can cost more than the fall deduction alone.
When the gymnast falls off the beam, the routine clock stops. A separate 45-second fall period begins once she is standing or a necessary medical assessment is complete. The routine clock resumes with her first movement to continue after remounting. Falling onto the beam without falling off does not stop the routine clock.
Choreography and Official Demonstrations
USA Gymnastics’ W316 Compulsory Materials provide the complete compulsory book and official demonstration videos for every event at each level. Registered users access the videos through their USA Gymnastics profiles. (USA Gymnastics)
The major-element table in this article leaves out connecting steps and arm movements. Those details still belong to the exercise. The written instructions also identify permitted variations that may not all appear in a single demonstration.
For families reviewing progress, a useful approach is to watch one section at a time. On one viewing, follow the jumps and leap; on another, look at the handstand and dismount. This makes the different tasks easier to recognize without trying to judge the entire routine at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Must a Gymnast Be to Compete Level 3?
A gymnast must have reached her sixth birthday to meet the national Level 3 minimum-age requirement under the 2026–27 USAG rules. Age eligibility does not establish readiness to perform the routine.
Does Level 3 Beam Require a Cartwheel or Back Handspring on the Beam?
Neither is a separate required acrobatic element that finishes back on the beam. Level 3’s main on-beam acrobatic element is the cross handstand; the cartwheel-style entry belongs to the dismount. Level 4 introduces a separate cartwheel on the beam.
Does Every Gymnast Have to Compete Level 3?
No. USA Gymnastics permits Levels 1–3 to be used for noncompetitive development, 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 complete routine may be reversed. Individual elements may be reversed only where the official text permits it; the gymnast cannot freely change the side of every movement.