These are the skills that make up the level 2 compulsory routine. Level 2 is the second level in the USAG Junior Olympic program gymnastics level structure, but it’s a level that not all gyms choose to compete. Level 2 is not a required level; the first required level of competition is level 4. For inspiration, your young gymnast can check out our how to do a switch leap.
The checklist and skills below have been updated based on the new routines for 2021.
Level 2 Vault Requirements
Level 2 gymnasts must perform the following vault:
- jump to handstand on mat stack and fall to flat back
Level 2 Bars Requirements
Level 2 gymnasts must perform a bar routine with the following skills:
- glide swing
- pullover
- cast
- back hip circle
- underswing dismount
Level 2 Beam Requirements
Level 2 gymnasts must perform a beam routine with the following skills:
- jump to front support mount
- arabesque to 30 degrees
- pivot turn
- stretch jump
- cartwheel to side handstand dismount
Level 2 Floor Requirements
Level 2 gymnasts must perform a floor routine with the following skills:
- cartwheel
- handstand (must be held for 1 second)
- backward roll to push-up position
- bridge back kick-over
- split leap with 60° leg separation
- 180° heel snap turn in passé
- split jump with 60° leg separation
Gymnastics Gear for Level 2 Gymnasts | Sizes | Description | Price |
Holographic Tie Dye Burst Leotard |
CS – AS | This shiny, shimmery tie dye leotard features a burst with motivational words. | $39.95 |
Kids 3-5 – Adult Large | Great for your gymnast if she feels more comfortable wearing underwear under her leotard. Nude, high cut and seamless. | $24.99 | |
Destira Black Gymnastics Compression Sport Shorts |
Child XXS (3x) – Adult XL | Some gymnasts prefer to wear shorts over their leotard, either for modesty, comfort, or for whatever reason. These are a great option! | $28.00 |
The next gymnastics level after Level 2 is Level 3.
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View Comments (230)
My problem is I was in a level 2/3 split class, and I could not get my backbend kickover, but my coach moved me to level3 anyways. And I still have trouble with the backbend kickover.....
if you mastered everything else then your okay and if you think im a little kid then no in fact im a competitive gymnast in medicne hat
I love this
COOL WHY
Because it is level two only
what is medicine hat
medicine hat is a city
I also have trouble with the kickover
same I do too
yeah the backbend kickover is so hard
I can do it easily,
You just need to practice anywhere you can.
I’m 11 and I had my parents spot me 3 times
Everyday and I would practice on my trampoline, couch, bed, or even my bean bag.
I found the easiest way to learn that is to have your feet higher up then your hands and have something soft you can fall on if you don’t get it. But kick up your feet of your higher surface and eventually you will get it done perfectly.
yea every time i try to do it i cant without the platform i cant do it by myself so weird
I can do a back walkover and back limber but not the back handspring yet
Yes, same! Back handspring is SO hard for me. I’m also a self-taught gymnast so I’ve never had a class. I also practice on my trampoline every day for the back and front handspring. I’ll get it eventually, and this is really helpful, thank you!
OMG same I to am a self taught gymnast and I keep falling on my face when i try
I got mine yesterday and trust me it is so scary but fun if you gat a spotter (I got my sister she dropped me a couple of time though) it’s better and you don’t hurt your self as much
not for me i find a back handspring easy
I am also a self taught gymnast
I’m also self taught and got assessed to level 5 but then I lost my skills and now I’m working my way back up
I am also a self-taught gymnast!
I am also a self-taught gymnast! I can't do a backbend kickover. its so hard! any advice??
I cannot do backhandspring but back limber and back walkover are easy to me so im confused
yea same i can do the backend bit but not the kickover
I can help you with this. Try practicing on a wall and crawl your hands down. Also something* that is very important is that when you are going back make sure you can see your hands and make sure you’re paying close attention to then. Another tip is that you so probably stretch your back first unless you are already flexible cause if you’re not flexible and you reach back than you might reach back to far and then more pressure will be on your heels and you want an equal amount of pressure on your foot. I hope this helps!
thank u so much! this will help me!
I do too but I think you can do it
Your shouldn't have moved you onto level three
Nice almost to level 2
Well I've got my Kickover, It's quite easy when you get the hang of it. Still having trouble with my Backbend :P
Yeah I agree, but I have both of the,
Nice almost to level 2
I do not understand, I mean a kickover IS a backbend, except you are kicking over your legs to get up..
No, a kick over is NOT a backbend. A backbend is where you bend back from standing into a bridge, also called a standing bridge. A kick over is when you are already in a bridge, when you kick one leg over the other first, and land standing up. I’ve never had a class and even I know this.
I found it easier to get my backbend when I trusted my self. I also tried standing about 5 steps from the wall and walking my hands all the way down the wall. While I finally got that done I still had trouble kicking over. Any Advice?
Put ur feet higher than your hands like on a couch or something and go into a bridge then kick over from there
oh i am the opposite i can do the back band but i struggle with the kick over
these are for like comps and shows :)
It doesn’t say backbend it says bridge kick over it means goain’t into a bridge by floor then kicking over.
Yes it says BRIDGE back kickover
Different gyms have different “likes” of the hardness for that skill
Zoe same here
Hi, can I just say that is perfectly ok. As a gymnast and a student coach myself this is quite popular for kids to struggle with. Just keep working on it until you get it!
OMG me too like I am not at level 3 yet but kick over is hard man
you cant go to level 2 to begin with if you dont have backbend kickover
i have trouble with that too. But i keep working for it. It you want to get it try putting your feet on a taller object to help.
Well if u have Tik tok then I can help
If u have tik tok I can help u
Zoe, try moving the leg your not putting in the air closer to your head, it gives you more power to push off of.
I am so lucky that my gym has a mat that we can kickover from. tbh trampoline and a higher surface helps
I was self taught until 8 years old. I learned temporarily skills like a cartwheel but, I failed and failed. Still I didn't give up and I kept going so, now I am in a high level gymnastics class all because of my temporarily skills like, a front and back handspring, flips, jumps, and different cartwheels. So, even if you fail you can get back up and try again. Everyone has more than a second chance.
even my daugter can and she is 4
I'm practicing for level 2 I tryout tommorow wish me luck
Thanks for sharing…..
Very helpful
Hi
A gymnastic meet is a compotion
I am technically a level 2 gymnast. Accept 4 my bars skills- I have not been able 2 get 2 bars.
Does anybody know anything about switching from xcel to JO because I am trying to but I am different levels on different events currently I am going to be competing Xcel Gold but I want to be in JO. I am level 4 on vault level 5 on bars and Level 6 on floor and beam
you should take tests on each level. coaches should know what level best fits you. i had that happen too. i was in xcel platinum and i switched to level 9. i was tested and they wanted me on their team! just whatever level they have you at, it is probably the best for you.
I tumble locally and I am switching gyms to one a little more advanced and we disintegrated have levels at my old gym I am going to finish my last week perfecting these and then go to level 3 but my gym is only comp tumbling ✌
Same MG, my gym doesn't have a bar or vault, it's just beam and floor, and we rarely do beam.
Well, my old gym didn't have those things, but I switched gyms. I go to Perfect 10.
I am 12 years old and want to start going back to gymnastics. I've mastered some skills, but have completely forgotten others. If I go back, will they put me with the little kids?
I am sure they will find a good class for you with older kids!
Thank you
I am also 12, I am shy, and was scared to be with just little kids ( I didn't want to be the oldest one at my level) but I was put with smaller kids , but I still love it! They are nice and funny and a good time. If you ever look at the older kids, do NOT compare them to you! A lot of people do this and end up sad (because they were the same age and weren't as good as the higher levels) but a recommendation is be proud of them and when ever you see them doing all the big skills, just imagine you doing those skills! I'm sure you will love gymnastics no matter what(like me) it's a good work out and can get hard at times but no matter what it's a good time!!!!
Same here! Nice to know other people feel that way!
I'm 12 and a level 2. we have 6th graders to 3rd graders in our class,but we are all the sane level and we are happy with our class
Help! I can't get my back kickover. It's really hard on the ground, but I can do it on a cushion. Any tips?
simple try doing it with one leg on the ground and one on the cusio do that till you master it then try both legs on the ground
You mean team
Oh my I'm 10 and level 2
I thought I sucked cuz my Sister was lvl 3 at my age
So thank you for helping my pride.
same i was scared that as well but they didn't do that when i came back they put me in general gymnastics with kids my age eleven to fifteen and then when i caught up they put me back in the squad where i was before i left so don't worry
No you will be with your age group, unless you're going to do competitive. If you are any age can be in it.
Same im 9 and want 2 start going to gymnastics but im worried that i will be put in level 1 with the little kids.
don't worry! One girl in our level 2 class is 9 ,and i'm 12.
Is it to late to start gymnastics at age eleven
Not too late at all! I've been in gymnastics since i was little, but my best ever friend started when she was 10 and she's better than me!
I'm 11 and really want to start gymnastics as well
Is it to late to start gymnastics at age eleven?
Definitely not. Gymnastics is a sport for any age at all. I'm 9 and my sister is 2, and we both just started gymnastics.
When I try to do my back kickover, my wrists hurt REALLY bad! And I can't do it fully on the ground. How do I do my back kickover without my wrists hurting, and fully on the ground?
It’s okay it’s takes time I started gymnastices when I was about 3/4 and now I’m 10 I’m a level 6 gymnast training 7 which IS so hard for a back bend try to get something soft and then try holding a bridge for about 30 seconds to a minute and it should help a little do that everyday for a week and do that around 10 times everyday.It should help you with backFlexibility and also when you try a back walk over this is just a little extra but if you try your back walk over try to lift 1 foot up and do it for a week and around 10 to 15 times a day and then try to kick over every time after you hold it for about 15-30 seconds
your welcome for the help!!!!!!!!
a back bend kick over was a SUPER hard skill for me but what I did was do it on the wall and get lower and lower and then do it on a trampoline (if you don’t have one I would go to a friends house who has one or something) and do it then do it on the lowest thing you have and then try it on your own. it’s really hard at first but i recommend building your leg skills and splits which will help you kick over.
Wth you did not understand what if you don't know what or how you do that