Skills & Levels

Explore gymnastics skills and level requirements, including USAG Levels 1–10, Xcel, apparatus skills, progressions, and mobility rules.

Four Core Turning Skills on the Mushroom (Pommel Horse Basics)

Pommel horse has a reputation for being one of the most confusing…

How Xcel Levels Compare (and Don’t) to DP/JO Levels

Parents often ask a simple question with a complicated answer:“What DP level…

6 Essential Dance Skills Every Gymnast Should Master (Beginner to Advanced)

Dance plays a huge role in how gymnasts move, perform, and express…

5 Gymnastics Skills That Make Better Dancers (and Vice-Versa)

Gymnastics and dance might look different, one is acrobatic and explosive, the…

From Level 4 to Level 10: How Scoring Out Works in Gymnastics

If your gymnast is moving through the USA Gymnastics Development Program, you’ve…

Optional Levels (6–10): Choosing an AA vs. IES Path (Strategy Guide)

In the optional levels of the USA Gymnastics Development Program, gymnasts no…

Gymnastics Rings Skills Ranked by Difficulty: From A to F Elements

Gymnastics rings are among the most demanding apparatus in men’s artistic gymnastics.…

Tsukahara vs. Yurchenko: What Sets These Iconic Vault Entries Apart?

Tsukaharas and Yurchenkos are two of the most important vault entry styles…

The Art of Release Moves on Bars: Tkachevs, Jaegers, & Giengers

On the uneven bars, nothing captures the crowd’s attention quite like a…

Mushroom vs. Pommel Trainer vs. Full Horse: When to Progress

Progressing on pommel horse means building skills step by step. Gymnasts start…

Balance Beam Moves and Skills: Names and FIG Values

A balance beam routine combines an entry onto the apparatus, movements along…

From Level 1 to Level 10: How to Choose Floor Music That Fits Your Routine

Floor music isn’t just background sound—it’s the heartbeat of a gymnast’s routine.…