Xcel and the Development Program are USA Gymnastics’ two competitive programs for women’s artistic gymnastics. The Development Program, often shortened to DP, used to be called Junior Olympic, or JO. That’s why so many families still search for “Xcel vs JO.”
The two programs are built differently. DP is a ladder of Levels 1–10, with set routines at the lower levels. Xcel has six divisions, from Bronze to Sapphire, and every routine is built by the coach within the division’s rules.
No official chart converts an Xcel division into a DP level. USA Gymnastics does publish entry rules for moving between the programs. Those rules are below, along with the main differences and the questions to ask before choosing a team.
Xcel vs. DP at a glance
| Development Program (DP) | Xcel | |
|---|---|---|
| Former name | Junior Olympic (JO) | — |
| Structure | Levels 1–10 | Six divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Sapphire |
| Routines | Set routines at Levels 1–5 (1–3 developmental, 4–5 compulsory); optional routines at Levels 6–10 | Optional routines in every division, within that division’s requirements |
| Moving up | One level at a time, with a mobility score from Level 4 up | No score needed from Bronze to Gold; Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire need a 32.00 all-around in the division below, or 8.50 on an event as an Individual Event Specialist |
| Youngest entry age | Level 1: 4th birthday | Bronze: 5th birthday |
| Top of the program | Level 10 | Sapphire (12th birthday minimum) |
| Training hours and cost | Set by each club | Set by each club |
USA Gymnastics describes Xcel as an alternative program. It’s meant to give athletes of any age, ability or training commitment a chance to compete, with a wide choice of skills to meet each requirement. That flexibility is about how routines are built, not a lower ceiling: the upper divisions include advanced skills. Our Xcel levels guide walks through each division, and the Development Program guide does the same for Levels 1–10.
Is there an official Xcel-to-JO chart?
Not as a conversion. The same cartwheel, kip or salto can appear in both programs, but the routines have different requirements, restrictions and entry rules. A shared skill doesn’t make an Xcel division equal to a particular DP level.
What USA Gymnastics does publish is an entry chart for gymnasts moving from DP into Xcel. It lists the Xcel divisions open to a gymnast based on the DP level she has already competed:
| DP level already competed | Xcel division she may enter |
|---|---|
| Level 1 or 2 | Bronze |
| Level 1, 2 or 3 | Silver |
| Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 | Gold |
| Level 5, 6 or 7 | Platinum |
| Level 7 or 8 | Diamond |
| Level 8, 9 or 10 | Sapphire |
To use a route, she must have competed all-around in at least one sanctioned meet at that DP level.
Read the chart as a list of entry routes, not a ranking of difficulty. The ranges overlap, and the chart doesn’t work in reverse: a gymnast moving from Xcel into DP follows a different rule, explained below.
To compare the requirements themselves, put any Xcel division next to any DP level in the Level Comparison tool. It compares requirements event by event; it doesn’t treat any division as equal to a level.
Moving from Xcel to the Development Program
An Xcel gymnast can switch to DP, but her division doesn’t carry over. Under USA Gymnastics’ rules:
- A gymnast whose competitive experience is in Xcel, or any other system, enters DP at Level 4 or below.
- Xcel is a separate program, so its scores can’t count toward DP mobility. She moves up by earning mobility scores at live, sanctioned DP meets.
- A gymnast who is at least 12 and has competed in Xcel or another program can petition to enter at Level 7 or below. Her coach sends a written request with a skill video to the State Administrative Committee, which decides. A petition can be refused.
From Level 4, the usual path is a 34.00 all-around to move up to Level 5, then a 32.00 at Level 5 to move to Level 6. Two all-around scores of 36.00 or higher at Level 4 let a gymnast skip Level 5. A 32.00 at Level 5 also lets her skip Level 6. Our mobility scores guide has the full table for every level.
Before her first DP meet, her USA Gymnastics athlete profile must show the DP level she’s competing. A gymnast who competes in both programs in the same year needs the right program checked for each meet. Also ask about your state’s declaration date: the program she competes in first after that date becomes her program for the rest of the season.
Plan the move around the competitive year, which runs from August 1 to July 31, and leave time to learn the DP routines. Ask the coach which level she is ready for on each event; the Level 4 requirements are the usual starting point.
Moving from the Development Program to Xcel
A DP gymnast can enter Xcel at the divisions the entry chart allows. To start in a lower division than the chart allows, her coach can submit a “reason for change” petition. For Level 8 and below it goes to the state committee chair; for Levels 9 and 10, to the regional technical committee chair.
Coming back later isn’t automatic. A gymnast with DP experience who competes at a State meet in Xcel must petition to re-enter DP at the level she’s eligible for. Petitions for Levels 5–8 go to the state committee and for Levels 9–10 to the regional committee.
Older newcomers have one more route. A gymnast with USA Gymnastics experience who is at least 14, or at least a high-school freshman, can petition to enter Xcel at Platinum, Diamond or Sapphire.
How to choose between Xcel and DP
Start with the gymnast and the teams actually available. USA Gymnastics sets each program’s rules, but each club sets its own schedule, fees and coaching approach. The program name alone doesn’t tell you how many hours a team trains or what a season costs.
Ask what the gymnast enjoys and what she wants from the coming season, and include her in the conversation. Then put the two offers side by side in writing:
| Topic | Question for the gym |
|---|---|
| Weekly schedule | What are the required hours, attendance expectations and holiday arrangements? |
| Season costs | What does tuition include, and what is charged separately for meets, travel, clothing and choreography? |
| Competition plans | Which meets are expected, and how much travel do they involve? |
| Progression | How is readiness assessed, and how are the gymnast’s goals included? |
| Other commitments | Can she realistically combine this team with school, rest and other activities? |
Compare the whole season, not the monthly fee: lower tuition can be offset by meet and travel charges. Count travel time and late finishes alongside gym hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance on overtraining stresses recovery and time away from a single sport.
Neither program guarantees a college place or an elite career. Before joining, ask how the club handles a later move between programs, a request for fewer hours or extra time on one event. Then agree on a point in the season to review how it’s going.
Common questions
What does JO mean in gymnastics?
JO stands for Junior Olympic, the former name of the USA Gymnastics Development Program (Levels 1–10). Many coaches and parents still use it.
Is Xcel easier than the Development Program?
Not necessarily. Xcel is more flexible, so routines can be built around a gymnast’s strengths, but the upper divisions include advanced skills. Whether one is “easier” depends on which division and which level you’re comparing.
Can a gymnast compete in both programs in the same year?
Yes, as long as her athlete profile shows the right program for each meet. Check your state’s declaration date: the program she competes first after that date becomes her program for the rest of the season.
Do Xcel scores count toward moving up in DP?
No. USA Gymnastics’ rules say Xcel can’t be used to meet Development Program mobility requirements.
Final Takeaway
Xcel and DP aren’t two speeds of the same ladder. DP moves level by level with set routines at first, while Xcel gives coaches more choice within each division’s rules.
No chart converts one into the other, but USA Gymnastics’ entry rules show how a gymnast can move between them. Choose the team whose schedule, costs and coaching suit her, and check the current rules with the coach before planning a switch.
Main Sources
- USA Gymnastics 2026–2027 Women’s Rules & Policies, Chapter 8 (Xcel Program) and Chapter 9 (Development Program)
- USA Gymnastics Xcel event charts
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Too Much, Too Soon (overtraining)