The Xcel Gymnastics Program, created by USA Gymnastics (USAG), provides a flexible and accessible competitive pathway for gymnasts of all levels. Unlike the Junior Olympic (JO) Program, which follows a structured progression of compulsory and optional levels, the Xcel Program allows gymnasts to customize their routines to showcase their strengths while competing at an appropriate level.
Xcel is ideal for gymnasts who:
✔ Want to compete at a high level without the intense training hours required in JO.
✔ Prefer personalized routines rather than rigid compulsory requirements.
✔ Enjoy gymnastics as a sport, even if they don’t plan to pursue elite or collegiate gymnastics.
The Xcel program consists of six competitive divisions, arranged in ascending order of difficulty:
- Bronze – Entry-level competition for beginners.
- Silver – Intermediate skills with improved execution.
- Gold – More advanced skills, including flight elements.
- Platinum – Increased difficulty with stronger tumbling and acrobatics.
- Diamond – High-level skills, including twisting vaults and connected flight elements.
- Sapphire – The most advanced Xcel level, equivalent to JO Levels 8-10.
Each level has its own minimum age requirement, skill expectations, and scoring guidelines.
Minimum Age and Entry Requirements
To ensure gymnasts progress at an appropriate pace, each level has minimum age and eligibility requirements:
| Division | Minimum Age Requirement | Entry Requirement | Equivalent JO Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 5 years old | None | Levels 1 & 2 |
| Silver | 6 years old | None | Levels 1, 2, 3 |
| Gold | 7 years old | 31.00 AA at Silver or 8.0 IES* | Levels 3 & 4 |
| Platinum | 8 years old | 31.00 AA at Gold or 8.0 IES* | Levels 5, 6, 7 |
| Diamond | 9 years old | 31.00 AA at Platinum or 8.0 IES* | Levels 7 – 10 |
| Sapphire | 12 years old | 34.00 AA at Diamond or 8.5 IES* | Levels 8 – 10 |
- AA (All-Around) – A gymnast’s total score across all four events (Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor).
- IES (Individual Event Specialist) – Gymnasts can qualify for the next level by achieving a set score on a single event, even if their total AA score is lower.
- JO Gymnasts can transition to Xcel at a comparable level based on previous scores.
Detailed Skill Requirements for Each Xcel Level
Xcel gymnasts compete on the four women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG) events: Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. Each division introduces progressively more difficult skills.
Bronze Division
The Bronze level is for gymnasts new to competitive gymnastics, focusing on fundamental skills, body control, and confidence-building.
- Vault: Straight jump onto a mat stack or a handstand fall to a flat back.
- Bars: Basic pullover, back hip circle, simple casts, and an under-swing dismount.
- Beam: Walking skills, basic jumps, a half-turn, and a simple dismount.
- Floor: Forward rolls, cartwheels, handstands, and simple dance elements.
✔ Ideal for young beginners transitioning from recreational gymnastics to competition.
Silver Division
At Silver, gymnasts refine their tumbling, acrobatics, and balance skills while improving execution.
- Vault: Handspring onto a mat stack or handspring over the table.
- Bars: Pullover, back hip circle, cast to horizontal, and under-swing dismount.
- Beam: Cartwheel or back walkover, a full turn, and a leap/jump series.
- Floor: Round-offs, backbend kickovers, handstands, and split leaps.
✔ Suitable for gymnasts building stronger execution and skill connections.
Gold Division
The Gold Division introduces more complex acrobatics, including flight elements on beam and vault.
- Vault: A handspring over the table with a quarter-turn repulsion vault.
- Bars: Kip (optional), tap swings, circling elements, and flyaway dismounts.
- Beam: Acro skills like back walkovers, connected jumps, and higher turns.
- Floor: Back handspring (or alternative), front tuck, aerials (optional).
✔ Best for gymnasts with solid fundamentals looking to advance in power and artistry.
Platinum Division
Platinum gymnasts must perform more dynamic skills with better execution and fluidity.
- Vault: Handspring vaults, Yamashita vaults, or twisting vaults.
- Bars: Kips, cast to handstand, release skills, and high-difficulty dismounts.
- Beam: Acro series with flight, 180° leaps, and aerials.
- Floor: Back handspring series, front tuck, and advanced dance elements.
✔ Prepares gymnasts for high-level skills without the commitment of JO.
Diamond Division
Diamond is for advanced gymnasts ready for higher-level tumbling and flight skills.
- Vault: Handspring full, Tsukahara, or Yurchenko entry vaults.
- Bars: Giants, release skills, circling elements, and flyaway dismounts.
- Beam: Aerial cartwheel, back handspring, and twisting dismounts.
- Floor: Two salto passes, layouts, and expressive dance elements.
✔ Equivalent to JO Levels 7-10, with an emphasis on execution and performance quality.
Sapphire Division (NEW Level)
Sapphire is the highest Xcel level, introduced as a pilot program in 2022 for Regions 3, 6, 7, and 8.
- Vault: Yurchenko full twist, Tsukahara tuck, or handspring full.
- Bars: Giants, release moves, multiple circling elements, and advanced dismounts.
- Beam: Acro flight series, aerials, full turns, and a B-level dismount.
- Floor: Connected saltos, twisting elements, and high-level dance.
✔ Ideal for highly skilled gymnasts who want to compete at an elite level while staying in Xcel.
Xcel Gymnastics Program Routine Construction
Constructing routines in the Xcel Gymnastics Program requires adherence to specific guidelines tailored to each division, from Bronze through Sapphire. Each level has distinct requirements to ensure gymnasts develop skills progressively while maintaining safety and fostering personal expression.
Value Parts (VPs)
A Value Part (VP) is a skill or element assigned a specific difficulty “value.” In the Xcel program (including Sapphire), elements are labeled as “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D,” with each category worth an assigned number of tenths. These values help determine the gymnast’s Start Value (SV).
For instance, an “A” element is worth 0.10, a “B” is 0.30, and so on. Each division in Xcel requires a certain number of Value Parts to be included in a routine.
- Bronze: 4 ‘A’ skills.
- Silver: 5 ‘A’ skills.
- Gold: 5 ‘A’ skills and 1 ‘B’ skill.
- Platinum: 5 ‘A’ skills and 2 ‘B’ skills.
- Diamond: 4 ‘A’ skills and 3 ‘B’ skills.
- Sapphire: 3 ‘A’ skills, 3 ‘B’ skills, and 1 ‘C’ skill.
This progression ensures that as gymnasts advance, they incorporate more complex elements into their routines.
Special Requirements
Each Xcel Sapphire routine has four Special Requirements on Bars, Beam, and Floor (Vault uses a different system of listed vaults rather than “requirements”).
Each Xcel Sapphire routine on Bars, Beam, and Floor must meet four Special Requirements (SR), while Vault follows a different system based on an approved vault list.
- Uneven Bars: Refer to the Xcel Sapphire Rules for details on required skills.
- Balance Beam: Special requirements align with division-specific acro, dance, and dismount criteria.
- Floor Exercise: Specific acro, dance, and turn elements must be included per program guidelines.
Missing any Special Requirement typically results in a 0.50-point deduction from the Start Value.
For complete details, consult the official Xcel Code of Points – Sapphire Division.
Maximum Allowed Skill Difficulty
To keep routines fair and level-appropriate, Xcel rules often place a cap on difficulty values that can be counted or credited for each division.
- Bronze & Silver: Restricted from performing high-difficulty skills like saltos on Beam or advanced vaults.
- Gold: Allows basic saltos on Floor; Beam flight elements remain simple.
- Platinum & Diamond: Permits a broader range of advanced skills, including various saltos, aerials, and release moves.
- Sapphire: Encourages the inclusion of ‘C’ elements, with opportunities for bonus points through additional ‘C’ skills and specific skill connections.
Performing skills beyond the allowed difficulty can lead to deductions or non-recognition of the skill.
Routine Evaluation: Start Value and Deductions
A routine’s Start Value begins at 10.0, with deductions applied for:
- Missing Value Parts or Special Requirements: Each omission typically results in a 0.50-point deduction.
- Execution Errors: Deductions for form issues, balance checks, and artistry concerns.
- Composition Deductions: At higher divisions, routines may incur deductions for lacking skill variety or not meeting compositional guidelines.
Ensuring all requirements are met and minimizing execution errors is crucial for achieving a high score.
For comprehensive and up-to-date information, consulting the official USA Gymnastics Xcel Code of Points is recommended.
Comparison to the JO (Junior Olympic) Program
The Xcel Program differs from the JO (Junior Olympic) Program in several key ways. Below is a side-by-side comparison to highlight their main differences:
Xcel vs. JO Gymnastics Chart
| Feature | Xcel Program | JO Program |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | More flexibility, less time commitment | Elite track, rigorous training |
| Levels | 6 (Bronze–Sapphire) | 10 Levels |
| Skill Progression | Flexible, skill-based | Strict, compulsory progression |
| Routine Requirements | More individualized routines | Compulsory routines at lower levels |
| Training Hours | Typically 4–15 hours per week | Can exceed 20+ hours per week |
| Competition Structure | Less intense, region/state levels | Can lead to elite and college gymnastics |
Key Differences:
- Xcel allows more customization, while JO has strict skill progression.
- Xcel gymnasts can compete at a high level with fewer training hours.
- The JO program is the pathway to elite gymnastics, while Xcel provides a more balanced approach.
In summary, for those seeking a less time-intensive but still competitive gymnastics journey, Xcel is an excellent alternative to the Junior Olympic (JO) program. Meanwhile, gymnasts with aspirations for college gymnastics, elite competitions, or high-performance training may find that transitioning to JO Levels 8-10 is the best fit.
Regardless of the path chosen, the most important thing is for gymnasts to have fun, challenge themselves, and develop a lifelong love for the sport.