Two Xcel gymnasts can perform routines that look very different but still begin from the same 10.0 Start Value.
That is because Xcel gymnastics does not use the open-ended FIG D-score system. Instead, routines are evaluated under the USA Gymnastics Xcel Start Value (SV) rules.
The current 2022–2028 Xcel Code of Points covers six divisions:
Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Diamond → Sapphire
USA Gymnastics has extended the current Xcel Code through July 2028, with annual updates and revised appendices continuing during the cycle.
Quick Guide: Xcel Start Value by Division
For bars, beam and floor, the basic Start Value structure is:
| Division | Required Value Parts | Base Start Value | Bonus | Full SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 4 A | 10.00 | — | 10.00 |
| Silver | 5 A | 10.00 | — | 10.00 |
| Gold | 6 A | 10.00 | — | 10.00 |
| Platinum | 6 A + 1 B | 10.00 | — | 10.00 |
| Diamond | 5 A + 2 B | 10.00 | — | 10.00 |
| Sapphire | 3 A + 3 B + 1 C | 9.60 | Up to +0.40 | 10.00 |
Bronze through Diamond routines can begin from 10.00 when all required content is credited.
Sapphire works differently. It begins from 9.60 and can earn up to 0.40 bonus to reach a 10.00 Start Value.
What Is a Start Value in Xcel Gymnastics?
A Start Value (SV) is the score a routine begins from before execution and other applicable deductions are taken.
For example:
10.00 Start Value − 0.75 deductions = 9.25 final score
If the routine has only a 9.50 Start Value:
9.50 − 0.75 = 8.75
The Start Value therefore sets the gymnast’s maximum scoring potential before normal performance deductions.
The Main Parts of an Xcel Start Value
On uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, Start Value depends mainly on four things:
- Value Parts (VP)
- Special Requirements (SR)
- Missing or restricted elements
- Bonus for Sapphire
Unlike the current Development Program Levels 8–10 system, Xcel does not use Composition Credit to build Start Value.
1. Value Parts
Xcel elements are classified into Value Parts according to difficulty.
The main categories used for Start Value requirements are:
A → B → C
with higher letters representing more difficult elements.
For Start Value purposes:
- A Value Part = 0.10
- B Value Part = 0.30
- C Value Part = 0.50
The number and difficulty of required Value Parts increase as gymnasts move through the divisions.
| Division | Required Value Parts |
|---|---|
| Bronze | 4 A |
| Silver | 5 A |
| Gold | 6 A |
| Platinum | 6 A + 1 B |
| Diamond | 5 A + 2 B |
| Sapphire | 3 A + 3 B + 1 C |
Bronze routines require only A-level Value Parts. Platinum and Diamond introduce required B difficulty, while Sapphire also requires a C Value Part.
What Happens If a Value Part Is Missing?
Missing Value Parts reduce the Start Value.
The normal reductions are:
- Missing A = −0.10
- Missing B = −0.30
- Missing C in Sapphire = −0.50
For example, a Diamond gymnast needs:
5 A + 2 B
If only one required B receives credit, the routine can lose:
0.30 from the Start Value
before normal execution deductions are applied.
2. Special Requirements
Having enough Value Parts is not enough.
On bars, beam and floor, each Xcel division also has four Special Requirements (SR).
Each one is worth:
0.50
So all four together account for:
4 × 0.50 = 2.00
If one Special Requirement is missing:
−0.50 from the Start Value
The exact requirements depend on the division and apparatus. They may include things such as:
- a required cast or circling skill on bars
- a turn or leap on beam
- an acrobatic series
- specific salto requirements on floor
- a required dismount
For example, Bronze beam includes requirements for a turn, a jump or leap, a non-flight acro element and a dismount, while higher divisions require progressively more difficult dance and acrobatic content.
Value Parts show whether the routine contains enough difficulty, while Special Requirements make sure it includes the specific types of elements required for that division.
3. Missing Dismounts and Restricted Elements
A routine can also lose Start Value when an element is not allowed for the division or when the required dismount does not receive credit.
Restricted Elements
Each Xcel division has limits on the difficulty and types of elements that may be performed.
If a gymnast performs a restricted element:
- the element receives no Value Part credit
- 0.50 is deducted from the Start Value
If that element was also intended to fulfill a Special Requirement, the gymnast may lose that credit as well.
For example, Bronze bars does not allow B or higher Value Parts, high-bar skills, salto dismounts or low-bar giants. Higher divisions allow progressively more difficulty, but each still has its own limits.
Missing or Invalid Dismount
Dismounts are part of the Special Requirements on bars and beam.
If the exercise is performed without a dismount:
−0.30 from the Start Value
If a dismount is performed but does not satisfy the division’s Special Requirement, the gymnast may also lose:
−0.50 for the missing Special Requirement
A restricted or unrecognized dismount can be treated differently, so these deductions should not automatically be combined in every situation.
4. Sapphire Bonus
Sapphire is the only Xcel division where bars, beam and floor routines begin below 10.0 and use bonus to build upward.
The base Start Value is:
9.60
A gymnast can then earn up to:
+0.40 Bonus
for a maximum:
10.00 Start Value
The calculation is:
9.60 + up to 0.40 Bonus = 10.00
Sapphire bonus comes from two categories:
- Difficulty Bonus
- Connection Bonus
The full 0.40 can come from either category or from a combination of both.
Difficulty Bonus
Higher-value elements can add bonus to the routine.
- Each eligible C element can earn +0.10
- A maximum of one D element per event can earn +0.10
The required C Value Part can also earn its +0.10 Difficulty Bonus.
A C element can receive Difficulty Bonus only once, even if the same skill appears again later in the routine. Additional D elements may be performed, but only one D can receive Difficulty Bonus.
Connection Bonus
Eligible combinations of:
B + B or higher
can earn:
+0.10 Connection Bonus
These connections can involve dance or acrobatic elements, as well as eligible mounts and dismounts, depending on the event.
An element may also contribute to both types of bonus. For example, two eligible C elements connected together could receive Difficulty Bonus for each C as well as Connection Bonus for the combination.
To receive bonus, the elements must receive Value Part credit and meet the applicable Xcel bonus rules. Elements performed with a fall or spotting deduction are not eligible for bonus.
A Sapphire routine might reach 10.0 like this:
9.60 base
+0.20 Difficulty Bonus
+0.20 Connection Bonus
= 10.00 Start Value
Sapphire is therefore different from Bronze through Diamond. Those divisions generally work to preserve a 10.0 Start Value, while Sapphire gymnasts must add enough eligible difficulty and connections to build from 9.60 to 10.00.
How Each Xcel Division Reaches a 10.0 Start Value
The progression from Bronze to Sapphire is easiest to see in one table:
| Division | How the Routine Reaches 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Bronze | 4 A + 4 SR = 10.00 |
| Silver | 5 A + 4 SR = 10.00 |
| Gold | 6 A + 4 SR = 10.00 |
| Platinum | 6 A + 1 B + 4 SR = 10.00 |
| Diamond | 5 A + 2 B + 4 SR = 10.00 |
| Sapphire | 3 A + 3 B + 1 C + 4 SR → 9.60 + up to 0.40 Bonus = 10.00 |
For Bronze through Diamond, the goal is to meet the required Value Parts and all four Special Requirements so the routine can keep a full 10.0 Start Value.
As gymnasts move up the divisions, the required difficulty increases:
- Bronze: A difficulty only
- Silver: more A difficulty
- Gold: even more A difficulty
- Platinum: introduces required B difficulty
- Diamond: requires more B difficulty
- Sapphire: adds required C difficulty and bonus
Sapphire is the main exception to the usual Xcel pattern. A Sapphire routine begins from 9.60, then earns up to 0.40 in Difficulty and/or Connection Bonus to reach 10.00.
That creates a clear progression:
Bronze–Diamond: meet the requirements → 10.0
Sapphire: meet the requirements + earn bonus → up to 10.0
Note: This table applies to bars, beam and floor. Vault uses separate assigned Start Values.
How Is Xcel Vault Start Value Calculated?
Vault works differently from bars, beam and floor.
Instead of building a Start Value from Value Parts, Special Requirements and bonus, each allowable vault has a predetermined Start Value.
The calculation is:
Vault Start Value − Deductions = Final Vault Score
Bronze Vault Start Values
Bronze uses two developmental vault options:
| Bronze Vault Option | Start Value |
|---|---|
| Stretch jump onto mat stack + kick to handstand, fall to flat back | 4.50 + 4.50 = 9.00 |
| Jump to handstand, fall to flat back | 10.00 |
Silver Through Sapphire
The vault system changes as gymnasts move into the higher Xcel divisions.
| Division | How Vault Start Value Works |
|---|---|
| Silver | Allowable developmental vaults have a 10.00 SV |
| Gold | Allowable vaults normally have a 10.00 SV; 9.50 when an approved alternative springboard is used |
| Platinum | Each allowable vault has an assigned value on the official Xcel vault chart |
| Diamond | Each allowable vault has an assigned value on the official Xcel vault chart |
| Sapphire | Each allowable vault has an assigned value on the official Xcel vault chart |
For Silver, the allowable developmental vaults share the same 10.0 Start Value.
For Gold, allowable vaults also normally start from 10.0, although using an approved alternative springboard reduces the Start Value to 9.50.
At Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire, the exact Start Value depends on the vault performed. The current USA Gymnastics Allowable Vaults & Values chart determines the exact value.
The scoring process is:
Vault performed → assigned Start Value → deductions → final score
Unlike bars, beam and floor, vault does not use the usual Xcel formula of Value Parts plus four Special Requirements.
Note: Allowable vaults and their Start Values can change with Xcel updates, so the current USA Gymnastics vault chart should be used when checking a specific Gold, Platinum, Diamond or Sapphire vault.
Xcel vs. Development Program Start Value
Xcel and the USAG Development Program both use the term Start Value, but the calculations are not identical.
| Xcel | Development Program Levels 6–10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Main score concept | Start Value | Start Value |
| Value Parts | Yes | Yes |
| Special Requirements | Yes | Yes |
| Composition Credit | No separate Xcel CC system | Levels 8–10 |
| Bonus | Sapphire | Levels 9–10 |
| Normal maximum SV | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Vault | Assigned values | Assigned values |
One of the biggest differences is Composition Credit.
The Development Program uses Composition Credit at Levels 8–10, while Xcel does not use that separate system.
Instead:
Bronze–Diamond: normally begin from 10.0 and lose Start Value when required content is missing.
Sapphire: begins from 9.60 and adds bonus toward 10.0.
Xcel Start Value vs. FIG D-Score
Xcel scoring should also not be confused with the FIG system used in elite international gymnastics.
| Xcel | FIG Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Main term | Start Value | D-Score |
| Scoring structure | Built around 10.0 | Open-ended |
| Element difficulty | Xcel Value Parts | FIG Difficulty Values |
| Requirements | Special Requirements | Composition / Element Groups |
| Connections | Sapphire bonus rules | FIG Connection Value / bonus rules |
| Vault | Assigned Start Value | Assigned numerical DV |
In FIG gymnastics, recognized Difficulty Values contribute to an open-ended D-score. Xcel instead uses its own division-specific Start Value system built around 10.0.
That means Xcel A, B and C Value Parts should not simply be treated as FIG Difficulty Values when calculating a routine.
For exact competition rules, the current 2022–2028 Xcel Code of Points, Event Rules Charts, and official USA Gymnastics updates should always be used.
