The USA Gymnastics Xcel Program has six competitive divisions, from Bronze to Sapphire. Each gymnast can perform a routine built around her strengths, within the rules for her division. Xcel covers women’s vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
- Xcel Gymnastics Levels at a Glance
- What Changes from Bronze to Sapphire?
- Where Should a Gymnast Start?
- How Are Xcel Routines Scored?
- What Do A, B and C Mean in Xcel Gymnastics?
- Can Development Program Gymnasts Move to Xcel?
- Can Xcel Gymnasts Move to the Development Program?
- Is Xcel Gymnastics Easier Than the Development Program?
- Xcel Gymnastics Current Rules for 2026–27
The divisions progress in this order:
Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Diamond → Sapphire
The routines are designed around each gymnast’s strengths, making Xcel suitable for athletes with a wide range of ages, abilities, goals and training commitments.
To check one event, open the DP & Xcel Requirements Explorer, choose Xcel, select the division and event, and click Get info. For example, choose Gold and bars to see the reviewed requirements and restrictions. Check the source and review date with the result; clicking the button does not fetch live rule changes from USAG.
Xcel Gymnastics Levels at a Glance
| Xcel Division | Minimum Age | Mobility Score Required to Enter | General Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 5 | None | Beginner |
| Silver | 6 | None | Beginner–Intermediate |
| Gold | 7 | None | Intermediate |
| Platinum | 8 | 32.00 AA at Gold or 8.50 IES | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Diamond | 9 | 32.00 AA at Platinum or 8.50 IES | Advanced |
| Sapphire | 12 | 32.00 AA at Diamond or 8.50 IES | Highest Xcel division |
These are USA Gymnastics’ minimum competition ages, not the ages at which most athletes are expected to compete each division.
AA means the combined score from all four events. IES means Individual Event Specialist; an 8.50 event score is an event-specific route, not automatic permission to enter the next division in the all-around. Minimum ages must be reached before competition. See the 2026–27 USAG entry and mobility chart.
For example, being eight years old makes a gymnast old enough for Platinum, but it does not mean an eight-year-old should necessarily be competing Platinum. Skill readiness is much more important than age alone.
What Changes from Bronze to Sapphire?
The examples below show the character of each division. They are not complete routine checklists. Acro means acrobatic work, such as cartwheels or handsprings. A salto is a somersault without hand support; an aerial is a hands-free cartwheel or walkover-type skill. A skill must be allowed for the event and division, and performed well enough to receive credit.
Xcel Bronze Gymnastics
Minimum age: 5
Bronze is the introductory Xcel division. Bronze routines emphasize basic body positions, control, strength and fundamental skills.
Typical skills may include:
Vault: introductory handstand-style vault progressions
Bars: casts, basic circling skills and simple dismounts
Beam: basic jumps, turns, non-flight acrobatic skills and a dismount
Floor: cartwheels, round-offs, handstands, rolls, jumps, leaps and simple acro connections
For example, Bronze floor does not allow saltos or aerials, keeping the division focused on basic tumbling technique.
Xcel Silver Gymnastics
Minimum age: 6
Silver is the next step after Bronze. Gymnasts continue developing basic gymnastics but begin performing more connected acrobatics, stronger bar work and more difficult dance elements.
Typical Silver skills may include:
Vault: handspring-style vault progressions over a mat stack
Bars: casts, 360-degree circling skills and non-salto dismounts
Beam: cartwheels or other basic acro skills, jumps, leaps and turns
Floor: round-off back handsprings, front handsprings and other introductory flight skills
USA Gymnastics’ Silver floor requirements include multiple acrobatic passages, dance work and turning requirements.
Xcel Gold Gymnastics
Minimum age: 7
Gold is where Xcel gymnastics begins to become significantly more demanding. Athletes generally need stronger tumbling, better bar skills, more confidence on beam and improved vault technique.
Typical Gold-level gymnastics may include skills such as:
Vault: handspring-family vaults and other allowable Gold vaults
Bars: kips, casts, circling skills and high-bar work
Beam: acro elements or series, more developed leaps and turns
Floor: back handsprings, front handsprings, saltos and stronger tumbling combinations
Exact routines vary considerably because Xcel allows coaches to choose skills that suit the gymnast. A kip or salto appearing in an example does not mean every Gold gymnast must perform it. Check the actual event requirement and permitted alternatives.
Xcel Platinum Gymnastics
Minimum age: 8
Platinum is the first upper-level Xcel division and represents a noticeable increase in difficulty. Routines now require B-level difficulty in addition to A skills.
Typical Platinum gymnastics may include:
Vault: more advanced handspring-family and other approved vaults
Bars: kips, stronger casts, clear-circling skills and higher-level dismounts
Beam: flight skills, acro connections, leaps and more difficult turns
Floor: salto tumbling, connected flight skills and more advanced dance elements
The exact skills are flexible as long as the routine meets the division’s Value Part and Special Requirements.
Xcel Diamond Gymnastics
Minimum age: 9
Diamond is an advanced Xcel division. Gymnasts at this level typically perform substantially more difficult tumbling, bar work, beam acrobatics and vaults than athletes in the lower divisions.
Typical skills can include:
Vault: advanced vaults from the approved Diamond chart
Bars: higher casts, advanced circling skills, turns, releases and salto dismounts
Beam: flight series, higher-level dance elements and salto or aerial dismounts
Floor: multiple saltos, more difficult acro combinations and advanced dance
However, there is no single “Diamond routine.” Two athletes can use very different skills and still satisfy the same requirements.
Xcel Sapphire Gymnastics
Minimum age: 12
Sapphire is the highest division in the Xcel Program.
It was created to provide another competitive option for highly advanced Xcel athletes and now sits above Diamond in the national Xcel structure.
Sapphire gymnasts can perform considerably more difficult skills, and the scoring structure is also different from the lower five divisions.
Where Should a Gymnast Start?
A gymnast with no previous competitive experience may enter Bronze, Silver or Gold at the coach’s discretion, provided she meets the minimum age. Bronze is therefore not a compulsory starting point for everyone.
Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire have prerequisite scores or other approved entry routes. Coaches should check competition history as well as age and skills. The Sapphire minimum age can be petitioned with supporting video; an application is not automatic approval.
Readiness also includes consistency across the events and whether the gymnast can manage the proposed routines. Ask the club about its training schedule, competition commitments and approach to moving up. Xcel does not promise the same weekly hours or costs at every gym.
How Are Xcel Routines Scored?
Xcel gymnastics uses a 10.0 scoring system, but the way the Start Value is built depends on the division.
On bars, beam and floor, Bronze through Diamond routines can start from 10.00 when all requirements are met. Judges can reduce that Start Value if the gymnast is missing required skills or requirements. Sapphire works differently: routines begin at 9.60 and can earn up to 0.40 in bonus to reach a maximum 10.00 Start Value.
What Makes Up an Xcel Routine?
On bars, beam and floor, judges look at several parts of the routine:
- Value Parts: Required skills of a certain difficulty, such as A, B or C elements.
- Special Requirements: Each division has four specific requirements worth 0.50 each.
- Execution: Deductions are taken for errors such as bent knees, flexed feet, poor body position, steps on landings and falls.
- Artistry: Beam and floor can receive deductions for areas such as posture, rhythm, expression and movement quality.
- Bonus: Used only in Sapphire, where athletes can earn up to 0.40 for qualifying difficulty and connections.
For bars, beam and floor, the required difficulty mix is:
| Division | Required Value Parts | Special Requirements | Starting Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 4 A | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Silver | 5 A | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Gold | 6 A | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Platinum | 6 A + 1 B | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Diamond | 5 A + 2 B | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Sapphire | 3 A + 3 B + 1 C | 2.00 | 9.60 + up to 0.40 bonus |
For example, if a Gold gymnast has all required Value Parts and Special Requirements, the routine can start from 10.00. If one Special Requirement is missing, 0.50 is taken from the Start Value, reducing it to 9.50 before execution deductions are considered. Missing Value Parts and performing restricted elements can also reduce the Start Value.
What About Vault?
Vault is different from bars, beam and floor. Gymnasts choose from the vaults allowed for their division, and the applicable vault chart determines the Start Value. More advanced divisions generally have a wider range of allowable vaults.
In simple terms, an Xcel score depends on two things:
Start Value − execution and other deductions = Final Score
A gymnast therefore does not need to perform the hardest skills possible to score well. Especially in Bronze through Diamond, a clean routine that fulfills all requirements can often score better than a more difficult routine performed with significant errors.
What Do A, B and C Mean in Xcel Gymnastics?
A, B and C describe the difficulty category of a recognized skill. They are not grades for how neatly it was performed. A gymnast can perform an A skill beautifully or lose execution points on a B skill.
The routine needs the difficulty mix shown above, as well as its event-specific requirements. A permitted higher-value skill can replace a lower-value requirement on a one-for-one basis, but a lower-value skill cannot replace a required higher-value skill. Division restrictions still apply.
For the detailed calculation, including missing skills and Sapphire bonus, see how Xcel Start Value works.
Can Development Program Gymnasts Move to Xcel?
Yes. USA Gymnastics provides an entry chart for athletes who previously competed in the Development Program.
| Previous Development Program Experience | Xcel Division Available |
| Levels 1–2 | Bronze |
| Levels 1–3 | Silver |
| Levels 1–4 | Gold |
| Levels 5–7 | Platinum |
| Levels 7–8 | Diamond |
| Levels 8–10 | Sapphire |
The gymnast must have competed all-around at least once in a sanctioned meet at the specified Development Program level to use that entry route.
Because some ranges overlap, the appropriate division depends on the athlete’s previous level and circumstances.
Can Xcel Gymnasts Move to the Development Program?
Yes, but Xcel scores do not automatically satisfy Development Program mobility requirements.
USA Gymnastics explicitly states that Xcel is a separate program and cannot be used to satisfy DP mobility requirements.
Under the current rules, an athlete whose competitive experience has been in Xcel normally enters the Development Program at Level 4 or below. Certain older athletes may petition for higher entry under the applicable rules.
So moving between the two programs is possible, but it is not as simple as converting one Xcel division directly into one DP level.
Is Xcel Gymnastics Easier Than the Development Program?
Not necessarily. Xcel is generally more flexible than the Development Program, but that does not automatically make it easier.
At the lower divisions, Bronze, Silver and Gold may feel less demanding because routines can often be built around skills the gymnast performs confidently. However, upper Xcel divisions such as Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire can include advanced tumbling, beam flight, difficult bar skills and higher-level vaults.
Why there is no exact DP equivalent
A gymnast may perform some of the same skills in Xcel and DP, but the programs ask for different combinations, restrictions and entry qualifications. The transfer chart above lists an official entry route; it is not a table of equal difficulty.
Use the gymnastics level comparison tool to explore the differences, then read the Women’s Development Program overview if considering that pathway.
Xcel Gymnastics Current Rules for 2026–27
For the 2026–27 season, USA Gymnastics continues to use the 2022–28 Xcel Code of Points for Bronze through Sapphire. The original 2022–26 Code was officially extended through July 31, 2028, so there is no completely new Xcel Code beginning in 2026.
USA Gymnastics does, however, issue replacement pages and annual rule updates. The replacement pages reviewed for this guide were published on August 12, 2026, and several Xcel appendices, including the Event Rules Charts, shorthand symbols and score sheets, were also updated in August 2026.
For 2026–27, gymnasts and coaches should therefore use three main sources:
- 2022–28 Xcel Code of Points for skill values, Special Requirements, restrictions and scoring rules.
- 2026–27 Women’s Rules & Policies for age requirements, mobility scores, competition procedures and entry rules.
- Current Xcel replacement pages and appendices for any changes made after the original Code was published.
The first National Xcelebration is scheduled for June 10–13, 2027, in Minneapolis. Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire athletes qualify through their Regional Championships. Meet qualification is separate from the mobility score used to move into a new division.
Because replacement pages can change individual skill values, vault charts or judging details during the life of the Code, the latest USA Gymnastics materials should always take priority over older charts or unofficial Xcel skill lists.
Reviewed September 28, 2026. Later official updates take priority.