Bridging the Gap of Gymnastics Lingo
Skills, Drills, Progressions, Conditioning, & At Home Training
XCEL
The XCEL program is national program that runs under the USAG regulations and coincides with the Junior Olympic gymnastics program. Although the program coincides, it is an alternate program that is structured differently. In contrast to the JO program, Xcel athletes do not need to score out of levels to move up. The entire program is considered optional, where no compulsory routines exist.
Age Requirement:
Details:
Must be at least 5 years old
Similar to the JO Program levels 1-2. Athletes can compete in Xcel bronze without meeting all the skill requirements, but will receive deductions based on missing skills.
VAULT: stretch jump onto mat and then kick to handstand flat back OR jump to handstand flat back.
BARS: minimum of 4 'A' value skills, cast with hips level to bar, a circling skill (not in the mount or dismount), a dismount
BEAM: minimum of 1/2 turn on one or two feet, one jump or leap, one non-flight acro skill, a dismount (not a salto or aerial dismount
FLOOR: minimum of 2 connected acro skills, a second pass of one acro skill, minimum of 1/2 turn, dance pass with 2 skills- one must be a leap (>60*)
BRONZE
Age Requirement:
Details:
Must be at least 6 years old
Similar to the JO Program level 3. Athletes must meet all skill requirements in order to compete in Xcel Silver.
VAULT: handspring onto vault table to flat back on stacked mats
BARS: minimum of 4 'A' value skills, cast with hips level to bar, a circling skill (not in the mount or dismount), a dismount
BEAM: minimum of 1/2 turn on one or two feet, one jump or leap (>90*), one non-flight acro skill, a dismount (not a salto or aerial dismount
FLOOR: minimum of 2 connected acro skills ( one must have flight), a second pass of connected acro skills without flight OR one acro skill with flight, minimum of 360* turn, dance pass with 2 skills- one must be a leap (>90*) or side split
Silver
Age Requirement:
Details:
Must be at least 7 years old
Similar to the JO Program level 4. Athletes must meet all skill requirements in order to compete in Xcel Gold. Athletes must score a minimum 31 AA to progress to Platinum or an event score of 8.0 to be an Individual Event Specialist.
VAULT: handspring onto vault table
BARS: minimum of 6 'A' value skills, cast with hips level to bar, a circling skill (not in the mount or dismount), a dismount from the high bar
BEAM: minimum of 360* turn on one foot, one jump or leap (>90*), dance series with 2 skills, two acro skills (one must reach vertical), a dismount
FLOOR: minimum of 2 connected acro skills (both must have flight), a second pass of connected acro skills with flight OR a salto, minimum of 360* turn, dance pass with 2 skills- one must be a leap (>120*) or side split
Gold
Age Requirement:
Details:
Must be at least 8 years old
Similar to the JO Program levels 4-5. Athletes must meet all skill requirements in order to compete in Xcel Platinum. Athletes must score a minimum 31 AA to progress to Diamond or an event score of 8.0 to be an Individual Event Specialist.
VAULT: minimum of a handspring onto vault table
BARS: minimum of 6 'A' value skills and 1 'B' value skill, cast to horizontal or higher, a circling skill (not in the mount or dismount), kip, a dismount from the high bar
BEAM: 6 'A' and 1 'B' value skills, 360* turn, dance series with at least 2 skills, one jump/leap (>120*), one acro skill with flight or acro series (with or without flight)
FLOOR: 6 'A' and 1 'B' value skills,minimum of 2 connected acro skills (both with flight and one must be an A/B salto), second pass of minimum of 2 connected acro skills with flight or an isolated 'B' salto, dance with two skills with a leap (>150*), minimum of 360* turn
Platinum
Age Requirement:
Details:
Must be at least 9 years old
Similar to the JO Program levels 6-7. Athletes must meet all skill requirements in order to compete in Xcel Diamond.
VAULT: minimum of a handspring onto vault table
BARS: minimum of 5 'A' value skills and 2 'B' value skills, cast to 45* from vertical, a circling skill (minimjium of 'B' value), a release/pirouette/2nd different circle skill of at least 'B' value, salto dismount from the high bar
BEAM: 5 'A' and 2 'B' value skills, 360* turn, dance series with at least 2 skills, one jump/leap (>150*), one acro skill with flight or acro series (with or without flight), salto or ariel dismount
FLOOR: 5 'A' and 2 'B' value skills, 2 separate acro connections each with a minimum of 2 directly connected acro flight elements, 2 different saltos and one must be a minimum 'B' value, dance pass with at least 2 leaps (>150*) minimum of 'B' value turn