The USAG Level 5 beam routine combines an approved acrobatic skill, a full turn, connected jumps and leaps, a held scale and a back-tuck dismount. Its split jump and straight-leg leap require at least 150 degrees of leg separation.
Level 5 remains a compulsory exercise, even though gymnasts have several choices for one acrobatic section. Those choices fit into an established routine; they do not allow the gymnast to rearrange the entire exercise.
This guide explains the major skills, their order and key requirements for the 2021–2029 compulsory cycle. USA Gymnastics’ official materials provide the complete choreography and permitted variations.
Level 5 Beam Skills in Order
The following table groups the routine into eight main sections. Several rows contain connected skills, while additional steps, poses and arm movements link the sections.
| Order | Major element or section | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Front-support fish-pose mount | Show the prescribed supported shape and transition toward standing |
| 2 | One approved acrobatic choice | Perform one of the six permitted options |
| 3 | Full turn in forward passé | Complete a 360° turn on one supporting foot |
| 4 | Split jump connected to sissonne | Show the 150° split jump and the sissonne’s prescribed shape |
| 5 | Scale | Lift the free leg above horizontal and hold one second |
| 6 | Straight-leg leap connected to stretch jump | Show a minimum 150° leap followed by the straight-body jump |
| 7 | Cartwheel connected to stretch jump | Use the prescribed step-in and immediate jumping action |
| 8 | Back-tuck dismount | Perform the backward tucked somersault to the landing mat |
For a broader comparison, the guide to USAG beam routines from Levels 1–5 explains how the compulsory exercises develop.
The Level 5 Beam Routine Explained
1. Front-Support Fish-Pose Mount
A mount gets the gymnast onto the beam. Level 5 begins with straight-arm front support and an extended body. One knee bends backward while the knees remain together, creating the fish pose.
The gymnast then moves through seated and kneeling positions toward standing. The fish pose belongs to the supported mount, not a separate kneeling balance.
For a parent watching, follow the transition from support to sitting and then standing. That makes the opening easier to recognize without memorizing every arm movement.
2. One of Six Approved Acrobatic Skills
Level 5 allows one of six options in this part of the routine. A back walkover or back handspring is not the only permitted choice.
| Permitted skill | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|
| Back walkover | Backward movement through hand support, with at least a 150° split |
| Backward roll to a minimum three-quarter handstand | A backward roll that opens into the specified inverted position |
| Back handspring step-out | Backward flight through hand support, returning to the beam one foot after the other |
| Back handspring to two feet | Backward flight through hand support with a simultaneous two-foot finish |
| Front walkover | Forward movement through hand support, with at least a 150° split |
| Round-off | A turning acrobatic movement through hand support, with flight from the hands to a two-foot landing |
The round-off appears in the revised 2024 material. Lists showing only five choices omit this option. USA Gymnastics uses flic-flac as another name for a back handspring.
Each choice has the same assigned compulsory element value. Selecting a harder-looking option does not add a difficulty bonus to the routine.
For families comparing performances, begin by identifying which option each gymnast uses. Two different acrobatic skills can both be correct within this section.
3. Full Turn in Forward Passé
The gymnast completes a 360-degree turn on one supporting foot. In forward passé, the free knee bends in front and the pointed free foot touches the supporting knee.
The turn is performed in relevé, with the supporting heel raised. The gymnast marks the finishing position in relevé before the heel may lower. Heel-snap technique is not permitted for this major turn.
Completing the rotation is only one part of the movement. The free-leg position and control at the finish also help distinguish a clear turn from one that merely arrives facing the original direction.
4. Split Jump Connected to Sissonne
The split jump opens the legs front and back to at least 150 degrees, then returns to both feet. It connects to a sissonne, which takes off from two feet but lands on one.
The prescribed sissonne has different position requirements: the front leg lifts to 45 degrees, while the back leg reaches at least horizontal. The gymnast finishes with a brief pause in a low arabesque landing position, with the free leg behind.
The two jumps therefore differ in both shape and landing. Watch the feet after each movement: two feet after the split jump, one supporting foot after the sissonne.
The sissonne should not simply be described as another 150-degree split jump. Its front- and back-leg positions have their own requirements.
5. Scale
A scale is a one-leg balance with the free leg extended behind and the torso inclined forward.
Level 5 requires the lifted leg to rise above horizontal, with a one-second hold. Reaching only horizontal is the Level 4 standard, not the full Level 5 requirement.
The Level 4 beam routine uses a similar-looking balance, making this a useful detail to notice when comparing levels.
Height and duration are separate checkpoints. Holding a low position longer does not compensate for missing the required leg height.
6. Straight-Leg Leap Connected to Stretch Jump
The straight-leg leap takes off from one foot and lands on the other, showing at least 150 degrees of separation between the legs.
It connects to a stretch jump, a straight-body jump with the legs together. The gymnast closes the feet as prescribed and springs into the jump, landing on both feet simultaneously.
The leap and jump are different movements within one required connection. A larger split does not replace the need to continue accurately into the second skill.
For viewers, follow the change from a one-foot leap to a two-foot jump rather than watching only the airborne split.
7. Cartwheel Connected to Stretch Jump
The later cartwheel finishes with the second foot closing behind the foot that lands first. This prepares the immediate stretch jump.
USAG’s workshop clarification emphasizes the step-in and quick spring into the jump. The gymnast should not switch which foot is in front to make the connection more convenient.
The cartwheel–stretch-jump combination is not directly connected to the back-tuck dismount. Prescribed poses and steps come between this combination and the dismount preparation.
A short list written as “cartwheel, jump, back tuck” can therefore give the wrong impression. The first two skills form a connection; the dismount belongs to a later section.
8. Back-Tuck Dismount
A dismount takes the gymnast from the beam to the landing mat. Level 5 finishes with a backward tucked salto, commonly called a back tuck.
The gymnast rotates backward without hand support during the somersault, opens from the tuck before landing and finishes with control. This replaces the handstand-based dismount used in the earlier compulsory levels.
The landing is important, but it is not the only part judges assess. Height, tuck shape and landing posture also affect the evaluation.
Walkovers, handsprings and somersault dismounts should be learned with qualified coaching and suitable equipment. These descriptions are for recognizing the routine, not attempting the skills independently.
How Long Is the Level 5 Beam Routine?
The Level 5 beam routine has a 1 minute 10 second maximum, with a warning at 1 minute. The warning signals that ten seconds remain; it is not 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. The entire exercise is still evaluated when the time limit is exceeded.
Finishing earlier is not automatically better. The scale’s required hold and the rest of the prescribed movements still need their place in the exercise.
How Level 5 Beam Is Scored
The prescribed Level 5 beam routine has a 10.0 start value, including its approved acrobatic choices. Judges subtract applicable deductions rather than add difficulty points for unlisted skills. (USA Gymnastics)
A gymnast can remain on the beam yet lose points for an incomplete position, a short hold or a broken connection. Completing the hardest-looking skill does not establish the quality of the whole routine.
Selected Level 5 Deductions
These examples illustrate several specific faults. They are not a complete judging sheet or a fixed total deduction for each skill.
| Error | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Heel-snap technique is used in the full passé turn | 0.30 |
| Split-jump–sissonne connection is broken | 0.05 |
| Scale leg does not rise above horizontal | Up to 0.20 |
| Scale’s one-second hold is incomplete | Up to 0.10 |
| Straight-leg-leap–stretch-jump connection is broken | 0.05 |
| Second foot closes in front after the cartwheel | 0.20 |
| Cartwheel–stretch-jump connection is broken | 0.05 |
| Back-tuck dismount has insufficient height and extension with hip lift | Up to 0.30 |
“Up to” identifies a maximum for the named fault, not an automatic deduction of the largest amount. Other applicable execution errors can occur during the same movement.
For example, showing enough split does not establish that the legs were straight or the landing controlled. Those are separate aspects of the performance.
A Broken Connection Is Different From a Small Change in Tempo
For the listed Level 5 connections, the tables distinguish insufficient continuity alone from a broken connection. Insufficient continuity by itself has no deduction; a broken connection costs 0.05.
The general rules identify breaks such as stopping, losing balance, repositioning the feet or taking an extra step. They also address fully straightening the legs after the first landing and bending again to begin the next jump. A slight change in tempo should not automatically be treated as a broken connection.
A Simple Scoring Example
Suppose a judge records 1.05 in total deductions for a complete routine evaluated from 10.00:
10.00 − 1.05 = 8.95
This is a hypothetical calculation, not a prediction of what a particular performance should receive. The judging task is deciding which errors occurred and how they should be assessed.
What Happens After a Fall?
An ordinary fall carries a 0.50 deduction. An incomplete major element may have additional consequences, so counting falls alone does not explain the final score.
After a fall off the beam, routine timing stops. The separate 45-second fall period begins once the gymnast is standing or a necessary medical assessment is complete. Routine timing resumes with her first movement to continue after remounting.
Choreography and Official Demonstrations
USA Gymnastics’ W316 Compulsory Materials include the complete compulsory book and official demonstration videos for every event at each level. Registered users access the videos through their USA Gymnastics profiles.
The major-element table in this article does not reproduce every connecting movement. The official written exercise also identifies permitted variations that may not all appear in a single demonstration. When an illustration is unclear, USAG directs readers to follow the written text.
For families reviewing a performance, watching one section at a time can help. First identify the chosen acrobatic skill. On another viewing, follow the jump and leap connections. Then look at the scale and dismount. This is more manageable than trying to assess every detail at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Must a Gymnast Be to Compete Level 5?
A gymnast must have reached her seventh birthday to meet the national Level 5 minimum-age requirement. Other entry requirements also apply; age alone does not establish eligibility or readiness for every skill.
Can a Gymnast Use a Switch Leap on Level 5 Beam?
The prescribed beam routine names a straight-leg leap, not a switch leap.
The choice between a straight-leg leap and a switch leap belongs to the Level 5 floor routine. It does not transfer to beam simply because both exercises are Level 5.
Can a Left-Dominant Gymnast Reverse the Routine?
Yes. The complete exercise may be reversed. Individual elements may be reversed only where the official text permits it; gymnasts cannot freely switch the side of every movement.
What Changes After Level 5?
Optional gymnastics begins at Level 6 in the women’s Development Program. Routines can then be arranged within the level’s requirements rather than following the national compulsory exercise. Advancement remains subject to the applicable entry rules.
The guide to moving from compulsory to optional gymnastics explains that change in more detail.