Changes to the Xcel Program
Every 4 years the rules books are updated for both the Development Program and Xcel Program. This post addresses the changes to the Xcel Program for 2022-2026. The majority of the rules stayed the same, but we will highlight the biggest changes here. Check out our gymnastics levels guide to download the checklist of requirements for your level.
General Changes
Xcel Sapphire Pilot Program
In our Xcel Sapphire Requirements post, we outlined the new Xcel Level that is being piloted in a few regions.
Starting Values
There are new value part requirements for bars, beam and floor routines. Here are the value parts that each Xcel gymnastics level needs:
- Bronze – minimum of 4 “A” value parts for bars, beam and floor
- Silver – minimum of 5 “A” value parts for bars, beam and floor
- Gold – minimum of 6 “A” value parts for bars, beam and floor
- Platinum – minimum of 6 “A” and 1 “B” value parts for bars, beam and floor
- Diamond – minimum of 5 “A” and 2 “B” value parts for bars, beam and floor
- Sapphire – minimum of 3 “A”, 3 “B” and 1 “C” value parts for bars, beam and floor
C skills are open to bonus points
All “A” skills have a 0.10 value/deduction, “B” skills have a 0.30 value/deduction, and “C” skills have a 0.50 value/deduction.
Prerequisite Scoring and Entry Level Guidelines
One of the biggest changes in this aspect is that Xcel Gold is now an entry level, meaning a gymnast may begin their Xcel journey at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels with no score out requirements. Important to note that current Xcel gymnasts must follow the mobility guidelines.
Xcel Mobility Chart
| Bronze | Age 5 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 1, 2 | N/A |
| Silver | Age 6 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 1, 2, 3 | No bronze score out required |
| Gold | Age 7 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 3, 4 | No silver score out required |
| Platinum | Age 8 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 5, 6, 7 | 31.00 AA at a sanctioned Xcel Gold meet |
| Diamond | Age 9 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 7, 8, 9, 10 | 31.00 AA at a sanctioned Xcel Platinum meet |
| Sapphire | Age 12 by first meet | Can enter from DP levels 8, 9, 10 | 34.00 AA at a sanctioned Xcel Diamond meet |
Development Program gymnasts who wish to enter the Xcel Program must have completed all-around at a sanctioned meet to not have the score out requirement.
Bar Changes
2nd Circling Skill Required for Gold – Gold gymnasts now need a second circling skill on bars that can be the same or different from the first.
Insufficient Amplitude Deduction for Casts and Circles
There is also now a flat 0.10 deduction for insufficient amplitude for casts and circles for 1º-10º BELOW the angle requirement. If the insufficient amplitude is greater than 10º, gymnasts will not receive the VP or SR credit.
New Bar Skills
- All levels are now able to compete basket swings
- New mount for Silver/Gold/Platinum/Diamond gymnasts – jump to squat on
- Bronze/Silver gymnasts are now able to compete a forward leg swing in addition to the backward leg swing
Mountain of Mats Rule Clarification
- Build a mountain of mats -for Bronze/Silver/Gold gymnasts, a mountain of mats as high as needed/necessary for the gymnast to feel comfortable mounting the low bar is allowed
Beam Changes
Angle Requirements for Vertical Handstands
Similar to the new angle requirements for casts and circles, vertical handstands must now be within 10º of vertical to receive special requirement & value part credit. Vertical handstands have a 10º grace angle before receiving the standard 0.10 deduction for insufficient amplitude in a vertical handstand. If the angle is greater than 10º from vertical, the gymnast will not receive the value part or special requirement credit.
Cross and Side Handstands
The new code of points specifies that a cross handstand is now DIFFERENT than a side handstand.
Hold Requirements for Handstands
There is no hold requirement for an “A” handstand. “B” elements or higher that specify a hold in the Xcel Code of Points, will require a 2 second hold. For example, there is a “B” valued arched handstand hold that requires a 2 second hold.
Floor Changes
Deductions
Two of the biggest changes on floor are that gymnasts will now receive a 0.10 deduction if they do not demonstrate synchronization of the music to their ending pose. Gymnasts will also receive a 0.05 deduction for failure to hold their ending pose for 1 second.
New Floor Skills
- Gold gymnasts may now perform “B” non-twisting saltos (either front pike or front layout) “B” twisting saltos are restricted
- Backward roll to push-up shape has now been added as a variation to the existing backward roll element definition for all xcel levels, with either bent or straight arms
There are more smaller changes and addition of elements to the Xcel Code of Points, but we have tried to highlight the major changes. Hope this article was helpful!
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11 Comments
Hi,
First of all, truly find your emails to be informative. Thank you.
Secondly, the new edition of Xcel Code states “since the Xcel Program is an alternative/separate program, it cannot be used to satisfy mobility requirements into the DP Program.” Is this no longer the case? I’m confused by previous chart showing Level “entry” into DP program
Xcel has never been able to qualify a gymnast to enter the DP levels. Many gymnasts who train DP eventually decide they have had enough of the high hours and stress, especially if they don’t seem to be college or elite prospects, and move to Xcel – that chart shows what DP gymnasts should enter which Xcel levels. If you as a DP gymnast want to enter an Xcel level lower than the one on the chart you must go through a similar petition process as if you were dropping back a level in DP, and if you want to enter an Xcel level higher than that indicated by the chart you must first score out or petition the state committee.
To move from a high Xcel level to the equivalent in DP there are two options:
If the gymnast is under the age of 12 she can start with DP 4 and do one meet apiece from 4 through whichever level she wishes to compete to “score out” (although, obviously, she will have to actually get the mobility score for this to work).
If the gymnast is 12 or older she may petition directly to level 5, 6, or 7 and continue scoring out or competing as normal from there.
Aw, thank you! We appreciate that so much!
Yes, the Xcel program cannot be used for mobility through the DP levels. This chart is showing where DP levels can enter Xcel, or if the Xcel gymnast was moving to DP, what level she would most likely be. To move through the DP levels, you have to follow their mobility rules, which includes scoring out of levels 4 & above. So even if a gymnast would be a DP level 6, she would need to do a mobility meet at levels 4 earning a qualifying score to then compete at a level 5 mobility meet and earning a qualifying score as well.
Hi,
We recently received 3 Gold’s from another gym. We don’t have an Excel program, so they will be transitioning to DP. Do they have to compete and score out of Level 4, or can they transition right into Level 5?
You can find info on this, in far greater detail than what anyone here is going to give you, in chapter 8 sections 2 and 3 of the Rules and Policies, which is available for free online at https://usagym.org/pages/women/pages/rules_policies.html
Great question – they would need to do a mobility meet at level 4 and score the qualifying score of 34 AA to mobilize to level 5.
Hi there, I’ve seen that for the gold second circling skill, it has to have a different entrance or exit? for an example, kip, cast, back hip circle, cast, back hip circle, squat on, wouldn’t work since its the same exact entrance? is that true? Thanks.
So for the second circling skill, can it be a double back hip circle or would they need to be broken up? Does a double have a higher value? I cant seem to find the skill ratings for excel..
Hello, thank you first for such amazing information! I have an additional question though. Platinum bars, cast well above horizontal (meeting the requirement) clear hip coming out, with switched wrists on top of the bar, at horizontal, is there an amplitude deduction for the Clear-hip, even though the requirement of a skill ending in clear support above horizontal was met by the first cast?
I was wondering if from gold i can transfer to level 6.
How exactly does the new Sapphire level fit into long-term progression, and will it eventually become a standard level everywhere or stay limited to certain regions?