Gymnastics level 1, 2 and 3 balance beam routine has a time limit of 30 seconds

Ten seconds before your time is up the person timing will either ring a bell or say “warning.” Once your time is up you will either hear a bell ring again or the person timing say “time.” If you go over time you will receive a 0.10 deduction from your average score. If you are a level  7-10 and your routine is shorter than 30 seconds you will receive a 2.00 point deduction from your final score plus a deduction for whatever is missing in your routine. The time for a beam routine will began as soon as the gymnast takes off from the mat or springboard.  And the time ends as soon as the gymnast lands on the mat after her dismount. If the gymnast falls during her beam routine the person timing will stop the time once the gymnast makes contact with the floor.  The time will restart as soon as the gymnast makes her first move to continue her beam routine. The gymnast only has 30 seconds to remount the balance beam after she falls off. This time will be timed separately; this means there must be two stop watches. The person timing  will notify the gymnast when she has 20 seconds and also 10 seconds remaining  to remount the beam. If she doesn’t remount the beam within the  time limit the balance beam routine will be terminated. Within the 30 second fall time a gymnastics coach is allowed to coach and talk to the gymnast without receiving any deduction.  During the fall time the gymnast may perform a skill on the mat but will receive a 0.20 deduction.

USAG has established 10 levels of gymnastics, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Gymnastics level 1-6 are known as compulsory levels. Compulsory gymnastics mean each gymnast competes the same routine on all events and has the same gymnastics floor music. Compulsory gymnastics is set up to have a steady progression of skills that start out from the basics and build until a gymnast reaches levels 7. Level 7-10 are called optional gymnastics levels.

One a gymnast reaches level 7 they are known as optional gymnasts. Optional means that the routines and music are no longer the same. Each routine is original and choreographed to fit the gymnast’s individuality, style, skill and gymnastics dance ability. Not having a standard routine allows gymnasts to display their talents, strengths and personality while decreasing their weaknesses. Optional gymnasts are also allowed to pick their own gymnastics floor music. Make sure to pick music that fits with your style of gymnastics dance.

Gymnastics level 7-10 have a few required skills and a specific degree of difficulty they must put into each routine to avoid deductions and receive a start value of a 10.00. Optional level skills have 5 categories, A, B, C,D and E. The skills are categorized by difficulty, A being the easiest and E being the hardest. Levels 7-10 have a specific amount of skills from particular categories that they are required to incorporate in their routines. For example, a level 7 must include 5 A’s and  2 B’s in their balance beam routine to have a 10.00 start value.

Optional levels 7 and 8 do have skill and difficulty restrictions. One small example is a level 7 and 8 are not allowed to perform any E skills in their routine. If they do they will receive a huge deduction. Gymnastics level 9 and 10 do not have any skill restrictions. They are allowed to put any skill in their routine as long as they meet the requirements. There is also age and score requirements for each level.

In order to compete as a level 7, a gymnast must have reach her 7^th birthday and had to receive an all-around (AA) score of a 31.00 as a level 6 at a sanctioned gymnastics meet. To compete as a level 8, the gymnast must reach her 8^th birthday and have received a minimum AA score of a 31.00  as a level 7 at a sanctioned meet. To be a gymnastics level 9, a gymnast must also be at least 8 years old and had to have received an AA score of a 34.00 as a level 8 at a sanctioned meet. A level 10 must be at least 9 years of age and had to receive an AA score of 34.00 at a sanctioned level 9 meet to be able to compete.

All of these rules and guidelines are established by USAG.

Levels 1-3 are usually non competitive gymnastics levels. There is no official or sanctioned meets for theses level. Although some gyms may have small competitions so the gymnasts can have fun and gain experience. USAG has set forth mandatory ages for each level of competition. To compete as a gymnastics level 1 or 2 the gymnast has to have reached her 4^th birthday. To compete as a level 3 the gymnast has to have reached her 5^th birthday.

Gymnastics level 1-3 teach basic gymnastics skills, body positions and techniques. At these levels the gymnasts should be learning skills on floor, balance beam, vault and uneven bars. All of the gymnastics skills learned in these levels are the foundation and building blocks needed to start making a great gymnast.

Here are the main basic skills you will learn in level 1, 2 and 3!!

VAULT

• Level 1 Vault- arm circle, punching the spring board, straight jump on an 8 inch mat
• Level 2 Vault- Handstand on spring board, blocking off, landing in a flat back position on a 16 inch mat
• Level 3 Vault- run, hurdle, punch board, dive forward roll to a stand on a resi mat (waist height)

UNEVNE BARS

• Level 1 Bars- 2 foot pullover, casting, back hip circle, push away dismount
• Level 2 Bars- 2 foot pullover, casting, back hip circle, straddle on, sole circle dismount
• Level 3 Bars- 2 foot pullover, casting, back hip circle, cut over, mill (stride) circle, cut back, squat on, pike sole circle dismount

BALANCE BEAM

• Level 1 Balance beam- front support, candle stick, arabesque, coupe walks, releve (tiptoe) walks, straight (stretch) jump on beam, straight (stretch) jump dismount.
• Level 2 Balance beam- front support, v-sit, forward roll, arabesque, leg swings, releve balance, tuck jump, tuck jump dismount.
• Level 3 Balance beam- front support, swing push-up, arabesque, partial handstand, running steps, pivot turns, split jump, cartwheel to side handstand dismount

GYMNASTICS FLOOR

• Level 1 Gymnastics floor- forward roll, backward roll, cartwheel, candlestick, bridge up, side roll, leg swings, coupe walks, tuck jump
• Level 2 Gymnastics floor- straddle roll to straddle stand, headstand, back bend from knees, cartwheel, backward roll to pike, handstand, leg balance, split jump, pivot turn, chasse
• Level 3 Gymnastics floor- handstand forward roll, round-off, backward roll with straight arms to pike, backbend kick-over, leg balance, chasse, leap, heel-snap turn, straight jump, tuck jump

Here are is a list of the  required gymnastics skills along with faults and deductions.

***STRETCH  JUMP- must push through toes. Feet must come together in the jump (cannot have a gap).

You must not have an arch or curve in your body.

***STRADDLE JUMP- must separate legs a minimum of 120 degrees (up to 0.20 deduction).

Make sure to pull feet together before landing (up to 0.10 deduction).

***DIVE FORWARD ROLL- maintain a straight hollow body position (up to 0.20 deduction)

Must show flight before hands touch the floor (up to 0.20 deduction)

Re-contacting the floor with hands to land in a tuck position (0.30 deduction)

***FRONT HANDSPRING TO 2 FEET, REBOUND-arms must stay up by ears while focusing on hands (up to

0.10 deduction)

Must have flight before your hands contact the ground (up to 0.20 deduction)

Hands must land at the same time and must be side by side (0.10 deduction)

Insufficient blocking off hands (up to 0.20 deduction)

Total lack of blocking…doing a front limber instead of a front handspring (0.60

deduction)

not landing with feet side by side at the same time (0.10 deduction)

Failure to rebound immediately after the front handspring (0.10 deduction)

***STRAIGHT LEG LEAP- do not bend the front leg on the take-off (up to 0.10 deduction)

You must have a minimum of a 120 degree leg separation (up to 0.20 deduction)

***LEG SWING WITH HOP QUARTER TURN- Leg  must swing forward and reach a minimum height of

horizontal (up to 0.10)

***SPLIT- split must be all the way down on the floor- 180 degrees (up to 0.20 deduction)

***WEIGHT TRANSFER- Make sure to show a rocking action through the use of plie- feet must be turned out

some (up to 0.20 deduction)

***BACK EXTENSION ROLL- Do not place hands on floor before rolling backwards (0.30 deduction)

Hands staged or not placed at the same time (0.10 deduction)

Make sure you pass through vertical (up to 0.30 deduction)

DO NOT DO a backward roll step out, this is an element change (0.60 deduction)

***FULL TURN IN COUPE- foot must remain at ankle in high releve while completing a 360 degree turn (up

to 0.40 deduction)

***HITCHKICK- Each leg must reach a minimum height of horizontal (up to 0.10 deduction of EACH kick)

***BACK WALKOVER- Make sure your leg lifts continuously while going into the back walkover-do not let

your leg drop after you begin arching backwards (up to 0.10 deduction)

Do not stag your hands or place them on the gymnastics floor one at a time (0.10

deduction)

Must have a minimum leg separation of 150 degrees (up to 0.20 deduction)

***ROUND-OFF – You must not lack acceleration in the series (up to 0.20 deduction)

Make sure to pass through vertical (up to 0.30 deduction)

Feet must land at the same time (0.10 deduction)

***2 BACK HANDSPRING REBOUND- Do not squat deeply in either back handspring (up to 0.20 deduction

for each)

Land feet next to each other at the same time (0.10 deduction for each)

Landing of the last  back handsprings must be followed by an immediate rebound

(0.10 deduction)

Must show a controlled, paused, and stuck landing (0.05 deduction)

These are not  ALL the gymnastics skills or  deductions for the gymnastics level 5 floor routine. These are the MAIN skills required for level 5 and the deductions for those skills.  There is more deductions in the level 5 routine that I did not list. One will receive deductions for lack of gymnastics dance, fluidity and rhythm. You will also receive a deduction for going out of bounds or not completing your routine with the music.

When a gymnast is performing their level 4 gymnastics bar routine they will only use one bar, the low bar. A gymnast may use a mat or a spring board to mount the bar; this must be removed as soon as the gymnast mounts. If the gymnastics mat or spring board is not removed the gymnast will receive a deduction from her gymnastics bar routine score.

MAIN LEVEL 4 GYMNASTICS BAR SKILLS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEDUCTIONS!

*Glide Swing- Must take off with two feet and land with two feet. Must have great body extension. Hands must remain on the bar between the glide and pullover.

*Pullover-Must pull over with two feet. Do not jump, hop, or step into the pullover. Make sure the landing is in a front support with straight arms and a tight body.

*Front Hip Circle-Maintain a straight hollow body. Must connect a small cast while coming out of the front hip circle.

*Shoot Through (Single Leg Squat Through)-Leg /foot cannot contact or touch the bar when shooting through. Show a stride support at the end of the shoot through (hands are the only thing touching the bar).

*Mill Circle (Forward Stride Circle)-Must show clear stride support at the beginning and end (only thing touching the bar is your hands). Do not hook knee on the bar when doing this skill. Be sure to  flip your hands backwards before doing this gymnastics bar skill.

*Cut Back- Be sure to change your hand position before cutting back. Keep arms straight and end in an extended front support when cutting back.

*Cast- Keep proper body alignment. Maintain a hollow, straight body from shoulders to toes.

*Back Hip Circle- Keep a straight hollow body position while maintaining hip/thigh contact on the bar the entire time. Must connect the back hip circle and underswing dismount.

*Underswing Dismount-Once again, maintain a straight hollow body with straight arms and a great body extension with flight. Stick your landing!

A gymnastics bar routine should not be choppy but should show connections and fluidity throughout the entire routine. Each gymnastics bar skill should lead to the next without any breaks in rhythm.



Gymnastic beam is one of two events in gymnastics that are timed. A level 4 gymnastics beam routine time limit is 50 seconds. If a gymnast goes over her time she will receive a 0.10 deduction from her beam score. Based on the height of the beam and gymnast, a mat or spring board may be needed to mount the gymnastics beam. This is allowed as long as the extra mounting surface is removed as soon as the gymnast mounts. If it is not removed the gymnast will receive a deduction from her beam score.

LEVEL 4 GYMNASTICS BEAM- MAIN GYMNASTICS VAULT SKILLS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEDUCTIONS!

*Leg Swing Mount-Must turn 180 degrees in a continuous motion ending in a straddle sit with correct body position

*V-Sit to Tuck Stand-must maintain a straight and hollow body position until both feet are above the beam. Once legs are above the beam pull them in to land in a tuck stand.

*Heal Snap Turn-When stepping in coupe you must remain on toe until foot arrives next to ankle. Once the foot arrives at ankle go flat then rise in releve to perform a heal snap turn. Once the turn is finished, immediately drop to a flat foot and pause.

*Leap-leg separation on the leap must be a minimum of 60 degrees. Must maintain straight legs and pointed toes throughout the leap and land in a low, paused, arabesque position

*Handstand-Handstand must be ¾ minimum. Be sure to lever in and out of the handstand while stretching out body and closing legs at the top. Hands must be side by side while in the handstand; they cannot be staged.

*½ Turn-Must complete a 180 degree turn on toe; show control before stepping out to finish.

*Straight Jump (Stretch Jump)-Push through toes to get great height while maintain a straight body and close feet together during the jump.

*Tuck Jump-Tuck must be a minimum of 90 degrees. Tuck must be tight and quick and must open before landing back on the beam

*Arabesque- Back leg must lift behind at a minimum of 45 degrees and must be held for at least 1 second.

*Scale- Back leg must lift a minimum of 90 degrees and be held for at least 2 seconds. The Gymnast must keep both legs locked out and chest up while performing both the scale and arabesque.

*Pivot Turn-Stay in full releve while completing a sharp and tight 180 degree turn.

*Dismount- Must maintain a straight tight body while doing a cartwheel to side handstand. Once at the top legs much touch together and be held for a minimum of 1 second. After being held, do a ¼ turn dismount. Body should remain straight from start to finish.

Gymnastics beam is all about balance. Make sure your routine is not lacking in connections and/or rhythm. Each gymnastics skill needs to lead into the next with grace and aggressiveness.

The level 4 gymnastics vault is a handstand flat back. This gymnastics vault is competed on a gymnastics skills cushion that must be a minimum of 32 inches high, 5 feet wide, and 10 foot long. The gymnastics skills cushion may be a resi mat or a stack of landing mats, or an inflatable mat. You can add gymnastics skills cushions to make it higher based on your gymnast’s vault capabilities. Every vaulting mat must have a tape line that is 32 inches from the front of the vault mat (this is the landing zone). This tape line must go across and down the sides of the mat. The gymnast must have her hands contact within this landing zone. If her hands go past the tape line, she will receive a deduction from her overall gymnastics vault score.

LEVEL 4 GYMNASTICS VAULT- MAIN GYMNASTICS VAULT SKILLS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEDUCTIONS!

*Run must show accelerate

*Must not slow down when contacting the spring board

*When punching  the board, feet should be in front of body

*In the pre-flight, shoulders need to me open, head in a neutral position, with a straight extended body (no arch or pike)

*Keep straight legs and pointed toes throughout

*Contact mat with both hands, straight arms, in an inverted vertical position.

*Hands must be within the landing zones

*Do not take steps or hops with hands

*Be sure to land in a straight, stretched out lying position on the mat. Do not arch or bent legs. Keep toes pointed the entire time.

Each gymnast gets two chances to perform a gymnastics vault. The judge will award the gymnast the best score out of the two. A gymnast may have three running approaches without any penalty if they do not touch the springboard or vaulting mat. A level 4 gymnastics vault will be voided if the gymnast does the wrong vault, does a handstand and returns back to the springboard, is assisted by a coach between the time of leaving the board to touching the mat stack, or touches the mat stack or springboard without doing the vault.

USA Gymnastics has specific required routines for compulsory levels (gymnastics level 1 through level 6). USAG has precise guidelines, rules, time limits, and a code of points for each event. USA gymnastics level 4 floor routine has specific gymnastics skills that have required guidelines one must meet. If these guidelines are not met, the gymnast will receive deductions from their overall score.

LEVEL 4 GYMNASTICS FLOOR ROUTINE- MAIN GYMNASTICS FLOOR SKILLS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEDUCTIONS!

*Split Jump- Leg separation in the split jump must have a minimum of 90 degrees.

*Handstand Straight Arm Forward Roll- when performing a handstand forward roll the gymnast must hit vertical with legs together and hold for a minimum of 1 second.

*Handstand Bridge Kick-Over- While doing a handstand bridge kick over, arms must remain straight and up at ears the entire time. When the gymnast hits the top of the handstand legs must me together before continuing into the bridge. When in the bridge you must shift shoulders over hands before kicking over. Make sure a minimum leg split of 120 degrees is achieved when kicking over. Show a levering action and obtain control throughout this gymnastics skill.

*Leap Step Hop- Push off with front leg when taking off for leap. Leap must have a minimum of a 90 degree split. Make sure legs swings forward to a minimum of horizontal on the hop.

*Split- Must be all the way down with straight legs.

*Straight Arm Backward Roll into Pushup- Hands must touch the ground before rolling backwards. While rolling, maintain straight arms and land in a push-up position.

*Coupe Half Turn- When turning one must complete 180 degrees turn while in releve (on toe) and coupe (your foot at your ankle). Show control throughout the entire turn.

*Round-off Back Handspring Rebound- When performing a round-off back handspring rebound the gymnast must show acceleration. Be sure the round-off passes through vertical and both feet land at the same time. Legs must stay together throughout the back handspring and it must be landed with two feet. As soon as the back handspring is landed, immediately rebound , stick and control the landing.

Make sure you keep good fluidity and rhythm throughout the entire level 4 gymnastics floor routine.