In the United States, gymnastics is divided into two main categories: compulsory levels and optional levels. Governed by USA Gymnastics, the Junior Olympic (JO) program provides a clear progression path for athletes, with each level designed to challenge gymnasts in terms of both skill and artistry.
Optional gymnastics begins at Level 6 and progresses through Level 10. After Level 10, gymnasts can compete at the Elite level, which leads to the highest forms of competition, including national championships and the Olympics.
Levels of Optional Gymnastics
Each level of optional gymnastics, from Level 6 to Level 10 (and Elite beyond), has specific required elements that gymnasts must include in their routines. While gymnasts have the freedom to choose how they incorporate these elements, the skill requirements increase with each level, demanding greater difficulty, technique, and artistry.
- Level 6: At this level, gymnasts are expected to include at least five “A” skills and one “B” skill in their routines. These skills are basic but important elements, such as basic tumbling passes, jumps, and basic bar or beam skills.
- Levels 7-10: As gymnasts progress through the levels, the skills required become more challenging. They must include higher-value skills (C, D, or E-level skills), including complex tumbling passes, twisting vaults, and more advanced release moves on bars. Gymnasts are also expected to incorporate more advanced artistry into their routines, demonstrating fluid transitions between movements.
Each level in the optional program has its own skill requirements, but the gymnast has the freedom to select the skills they perform, based on their strengths.
Transitioning to Optional Gymnastics
The transition from compulsory gymnastics to optional gymnastics is a significant milestone in a gymnast’s development. After mastering compulsory gymnastics’ basic skills and routines, athletes move into optional gymnastics as they reach higher levels, typically starting at Level 6.
This transition opens up new opportunities for gymnasts to showcase their creativity, artistry, and advanced skills. It allows them to express themselves more fully, making the sport not just about technical execution but also about performance and artistry.
Key Features of Optional Gymnastics
While compulsory gymnastics focuses on fundamental skills and pre-set routines, optional gymnastics provides gymnasts with the freedom to create personalized routines. Here are the key features that define optional gymnastics:
1. Freedom of Routine Design
One of the most exciting aspects of optional gymnastics is the ability to design routines that reflect a gymnast’s style. Unlike compulsory routines, where every gymnast performs the same sequence of moves, optional gymnastics allows for greater individuality.
- Personalized Skills: Gymnasts can select skills that highlight their strengths, whether it’s impressive tumbling passes on the floor, powerful moves on the bars, or graceful and challenging acrobatic feats on the beam.
- Choreography and Artistic Expression: Routines, especially on the floor and beam, are often performed to music. This adds an artistic dimension to the performance, allowing gymnasts to showcase their creativity. The choreography can reflect the gymnast’s personality, making each performance unique.
Although gymnasts have the freedom to choose their skills, they still need to adhere to specific technical requirements. For instance, floor routines must include a minimum number of tumbling passes, and bar routines often require specific release moves. Within these guidelines, gymnasts have the flexibility to incorporate their own style.
2. Increased Difficulty
Optional gymnastics routines typically feature higher levels of difficulty compared to compulsory routines. As gymnasts progress through the levels, they are expected to perform more advanced skills and demonstrate greater control and precision.
- Challenging Elements: Vaults, release moves on the bars, twisting tumbling passes on the floor, and complex acro skills on the beam are standard in optional routines. These skills demand strength, flexibility, and precise timing.
- Personalized Challenge: At each level, gymnasts are required to include skills that challenge their abilities while still being achievable. As athletes advance, the difficulty continues to rise, pushing them to master new, more complex moves.
While difficulty is an important factor in scoring, it must be balanced with flawless execution. To earn maximum points, a gymnast must execute high-difficulty elements with precision.
3. Artistry and Expression
In contrast to compulsory gymnastics, which focuses primarily on technical execution, optional gymnastics places a strong emphasis on artistry and performance. Gymnasts are encouraged to incorporate personal style, fluidity, and creative expression into their routines.
- Floor Routines: These routines are performed to music, offering gymnasts the chance to select a piece that enhances their performance and matches their personality. The choreography should flow seamlessly and reflect the gymnast’s unique style, combining tumbling with artistic movement.
- Beam Routines: On the balance beam, gymnasts perform a combination of acrobatic moves and dance-like elements, showing grace, flexibility, and fluid transitions. Artistic expression is judged based on the smoothness of movements and how well the gymnast integrates dance elements with acrobatics.
Artistry is a significant part of scoring on floor and beam, with judges evaluating the gymnast’s ability to perform with emotion, connection, and creativity, in addition to technical skill.
Required Elements in Optional Gymnastics
Even though gymnasts have the freedom to design their routines, they must still meet certain technical requirements to ensure they follow competitive standards. These required elements ensure that athletes maintain a high level of technical proficiency while showcasing their creativity.
Vault Requirements
At the optional levels (6-10), vault routines become more complex as gymnasts progress through the levels.
- Level 6: Gymnasts may perform vaults like a front handspring or a Yurchenko timer (roundoff onto the board, back handspring onto the vaulting table). These vaults are designed to develop power and control.
- Higher Levels: Vaults become more difficult at higher levels, with gymnasts incorporating twisting and somersaulting elements. These advanced vaults challenge gymnasts’ body control and landing precision.
Uneven Bars Requirements
On the uneven bars, gymnasts must demonstrate a combination of strength, fluidity, and precision.
- Level 6: The routine should include a cast above horizontal, a 360° circling skill, a bar change, and a salto dismount.
- Higher Levels: Advanced elements such as release moves, clear hip circles, and complex dismounts with multiple flips or twists are introduced as gymnasts progress.
Balance Beam Requirements
Balance beam routines blend acrobatic skills with dance elements, requiring balance, control, and artistry.
- Level 6: Gymnasts must perform two non-flight acro series and a 180° leap or jump, along with a 1/1 turn on one foot and a salto dismount.
- Higher Levels: Advanced acrobatic skills such as back handsprings and aerials are required, along with more complex dance elements.
Floor Exercise Requirements
Floor routines are a dynamic mix of tumbling, dance, and artistic expression.
- Level 6: Routines must include acro passes with at least two flight elements, a second acro pass with a salto or aerial, and a dance passage with specific jumps and turns.
- Higher Levels: As gymnasts advance, the tumbling passes become more complex, incorporating multiple flips and twists, and the choreography becomes more intricate.
Scoring in Optional Gymnastics
Scoring in optional gymnastics is determined by two primary components: the Difficulty Score (D-Score) and the Execution Score (E-Score).
- D-Score (Difficulty Score): This score is based on the complexity of the skills performed in the routine. It includes bonus points for certain skill combinations or sequences that meet specific criteria.
- E-Score (Execution Score): The E-Score starts at a maximum of 10.0 and is deducted for any form errors, balance issues, or lack of artistic expression. Common deductions include bent arms, flexed feet, or lack of fluidity in the routine.
The final score is the sum of the D-Score and E-Score, minus any deductions. A gymnast’s ability to combine high-difficulty elements with flawless execution and strong artistry is key to achieving a high score.
In conclusion, optional gymnastics represents a significant step in a gymnast’s progression, offering the opportunity for creativity, artistic expression, and increasingly complex skills. While gymnasts are required to meet certain technical standards, they also have the freedom to design routines that highlight their strengths and personal style.
