What is the Development Program? The Development Program is what used to be referred to as the Junior Optional Program, or JO program. The rule book for the Development Program was updated for the new quadrennium (2022-2026). Most of the rules and values of skills stayed the same but there are some changes. We’ve outlined some of the biggest changes below that will affect gymnasts and coaches. GymnasticsHQ’s Skill Progression Charts have the skills you need for each of the Development Program levels.
You can look up the requirements for your gymnastics level here.
The technical committee decides on the changes to the program, based on what they think will be best for gymnasts, and the rules that will prepare gymnasts to be competitive in international competition.
Changes to Routine Composition Requirements
One of the major changes to the new Development Program Code of Points is that more variety is required in routines. The technical committee obviously thinks gymnasts need to learn different turns on beam and different ways to move between the bars on the uneven bars. Here are the new rules:
- Gymnasts will now only be able to complete 1 pivot turn on beam. If a gymnast does more than 1 pivot turn on beam, she will receive a deduction for having additional pivot turns.
- Gymnasts must show 2 out of 3 directions on beam.
- For Level 10, gymnasts will only be allowed to complete 1 squat on in their bar routine – other than if they fall, they can do one to resume their routine
- Must perform saltos in 2 different directions – requirement used to be saltos or aerials
- Level 7 – You still have to have a front tumbling pass and a back tumbling pass. But instead of being required to do a back layout in one of the passes, you can do either a back layout or a front layout to 2 feet.
Changes to Deductions
- Increased deduction for relaxed or incorrect footwork (now up to .3 instead of .2)
- Must hold end pose for 1 second on floor – now there will be .05 deduction
- Increased deduction for poor relationship of movement to music (now up to .3 instead of .2)
Changes to Difficulty Requirements
- Level 9- now Level 9’s can earn bonus with connection value (CV) and difficulty value (DV)
- can earn .1 bonus for the FIRST D/E performed, the next D/E performed will not be considered for bonus
- Level 7- can perform any “C” dance element
- Level 6- can perform 1 “C” dance element
Changes to Equipment
- L6/7 mat stack is now lower at 16″-48″ (previously 32″-60″)
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but we wanted to highlight the major changes that will affect gymnasts in our audience!