The Xcel Bronze level is the first division in the Xcel program. Below you’ll find the event requirements for vault, bars, beam, and floor—plus at-home practice ideas and equipment picks to support safe progress. These requirements are paraphrased from the Xcel Code of Points for easy reading; for precise rules always consult the official USAG documents and your coach.
✅ This skills list was reviewed for the 2025 season. Always verify routine composition with your coach and the latest Xcel Code of Points.
Bronze Vault Requirements
Bronze gymnasts must perform one of the following vaults:
- Stretch jump onto mat, then kick to handstand and fall to flat back
- Jump to handstand and fall to flat back
Bronze Bars Requirements
Bronze bar routines must include:
- A minimum of 4 “A” value skills
- A cast (hips must leave the bar)
- One circling skill (not the mount or dismount)
- A dismount
Example routine: Jump to front support → Cast → Back hip circle → Cast → Stand dismount.
Bronze Beam Requirements
Bronze beam routines must include:
- Minimum of ½ turn on one or two feet
- One jump or leap (e.g., tuck jump)
- One non-flight acro skill (e.g., forward roll)
- A dismount — not a salto/aerial (e.g., straddle jump off)
Bronze Floor Requirements
Bronze floor routines must include:
- Minimum of two directly connected acro skills (e.g., round-off → backward roll)
- A second pass with one acro skill (e.g., cartwheel)
- A dance passage with two elements, one of which is a leap achieving 60° split (direct or indirect connection)
- Minimum of ½ turn on one foot
What to Practice at Home (Safe Ideas)
- Shaping & core: hollow/arch holds, plank variations
- Handstand prep: wall walks, donkey kicks, kick-to-HS against wall
- Floor basics: forward/backward roll progressions, cartwheel and round-off drills
- Jumps & leaps: split leap and tuck jump shapes on a line or floor beam
- Turns: ½ turn balance holds on line, rise to relevé control
- Flexibility: active splits (front/straddle), calf/hip flexor mobility
⭐ Recommended Equipment for Xcel Bronze
If you’re building a safe at-home setup for Bronze basics, these are smart, beginner-friendly picks:
#1 Panel Mat (foundation for rolls, cartwheels, shaping)
Durable and versatile—great for forward/backward rolls, cartwheel/round-off drills, and flexibility.
#2 Floor Beam (confidence for beam basics & turns)
Practice mounts, walks, jumps/leaps, ½ turns safely at floor height.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Xcel Bronze
Q: What age do you have to be for Bronze?
A: Programs vary. Many athletes begin Bronze in the younger compulsory years; your gym’s director/coach sets mobility timing for your child.
Q: Can you compete Bronze without all the skills?
A: Sometimes athletes compete while still developing certain skills. Missing or incomplete elements can receive deductions. Always follow your coach’s guidance.
Q: Do Bronze gymnasts need grips?
A: Grips are generally optional at Bronze. Some athletes wait until more advanced bar work; others start sooner for comfort. Talk with your coach about timing.
Q: What are typical Bronze tumbling passes?
A: Common passes include round-off → backward roll or cartwheel → cartwheel, plus a separate single-skill pass (e.g., cartwheel). Focus is on solid basics and dance quality.
Q: How do you move from Bronze to Silver?
A: Meet your gym’s mobility standards and demonstrate consistent routines that fulfill Bronze requirements with good execution. Next up: Xcel Silver.
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Once a gymnast can perform routines that meet these Xcel Bronze requirements, she may compete in a Bronze meet (per gym policy).
After Bronze, the next Xcel level is Silver.
98 Comments
How can I get to Xcel Silver?
You’re coach decides for you. You’re coach is mainly looking if, you pay attention, work hard, and make corrections.
I am a bronze gymnast what grips should i bye palm grips or jusr regular
You don’t need grips in Xcel Bronze. Grips are usually introduced in Xcel Platinum
K
I’m 11 and can pretty much do all of the above but would I be to old to compete?
nope, you are not too old!
You should never get someone’s hopes down like that I’m 11 and I just started the excel bronze program last summer so she could if her coaches think she is ready
I have all the requirements but I had tryouts and I wasn’t picked for team. 🙁
Hey! Im 11 Too!
Me too! And I’m in Xcel Bronze.
im 10 and im in Xcel bronze!
I’m 11 and when I was 10 I was supposed to move up but couldn’t and I’m in rehab rn, but hopefully I can get back soon and be on xcel too! 😀
Yes I’m twelve and I’m and excel bronze
im 13..
im 14 lol im xcel bronze im just now starting
Holy cow why are y’all so old im 12 and on gold
Hey I’m twelve too! I’m on excel gold though
I am 11 and am on xcel silver, I have just got onto the team too! I ended up skipping xcel bronze since I had already mastered most of the skills needed. I have never been to a comp either but, I am going to start competing in the fall!
And I’m 12 and I compete in xcel bronze
So I’m 11 and I’ve been doing gymnastics for a couple of years but lately for some reason I have not been going!! But I will be heading back in august 1st will I still be in the team AAU Bronze will they teach me the things I for got how to do what if I for got how to do my back walkover (the team I was in before I left)
You may or may not be in the same level. My guess would be you would go in a lower level and they would teach you the stuff you forgot, and then once you got the skills, you could go back to bronze.
My daughter is in pre Xcel does she need a back handspring for Xcel bronze
Most certainly not I am in Excel and I do not have my backhand spring
I needed my back handspring
It’s not too hard…
It is not hard to learn one i have 24 backhandsprings in a row and I am only 11
isn’t that like a world record???? Im ten and I’m and bronze but I can literally only do three
NO, she does not need a back handspring to be on bronze, the will most likely work on back handsprings in bronze and when she gets her back handspring be able to move up to silver if she can do all the other requirements for xcel silver. I also think it is really cool that your gym does a pre xcel. In my gym you go straight from advanced, where you work on back hip circles on bars, handstand flat backs on vault, back handsprings on floor, and handstands/cartwheels on beam, to xcel where you work on kips on bars, half ons on vault, round off back handspring back tucks on floor, and round off back tucks off beam, they must do a really good job with the transition between recreational gymnastics to team!
Is there a maxium number of skills a gymnast can do in a floor routine? And can you get deducted for skills being to hard on the value chart?
Hey I have all those skills butt im in level 3
Hi I’m 6 years old and I really want to get a round off back tuck but I just started to work on it
I am in Xcel bronze and I do not have my backhandspring yet im kinda scared to go backwards but I can do a bak walkover do you have any tip or tricks for me?
Yeah I do! It can be scary, but all you need is someone you trust to spot you.
I’m only ten and I’m in Exel platinum and just about to move to Exel diamond
Wow!!!!!! you are soooo good im 11 and xcel silver!
So I can roundoff flick-flick, roundoff – tuck and I can handspring which grade will I be in
excel gold probably but dpinding on ur other skills excel silver-excel platinum
If I’m 10 can I still compete bronze
i am twelve , i can do all the bronze skills, if i can do most of the silver skills but back handspring will i be i still be in xcel bronze pr silver
I am in Xcel silver and I don’t have a back handspring
I,m eleven on excel gold…BOOM!
I started when I was 11, and I ( if I do say so myself) good. You might be the oldest or tallest, but as long as you are having fun that’s all that counts
thanks for that I’m not the oldest but I am almost the tallest and I’m in bronze
Is the xcel bronze level program a lower level of JO? And can you still advance to elite? Is this a competitive team in the hope of advancing to more competitive levels. Just trying to gage where this level goes? Would JO Team be a more competitive level?
Bronze is not a lower level for JO. JO stands for Junior Olympics, Xcel and JO are two different programs when it comes to competitions.
What is the age to be able to start xcel, i have a 5 yr old that is in our jr program and she has skills, but they are not moving her up and she is getting bored. She can do a standing back handspring, many leaps, a back hip circle around the bar, my only concern would be balane beam….she has not learned any form of dismounting. Thanks for your time!!
My daughter is 12 year old . She was a cheerleader in school . Went to gymnastic summer camp and got place in excel program. My question, is she to old for jo gymnastic levels
Have these Xcel level requirements been updated with the new changes 2018-2022 or did this not affect the requirements.
There isn’t an excel program in Canada, so what should i do? It’s so not fair, no one cares about gymnastics in Canada, all they care about is USA gymnastics. I wanted to order gymnastics equipment and they had to ship it from USA, because they don’t have any gymnastics equipment here in Canada ( they have them in gyms only ). I also had to buy my leotard from a strangers basement because they didn’t’t have any leotard stored!
Sorry for the grammar….
Oof
What’s an A Value Skill? You mentioned it in bars.
The only things I need are 4 A Value, Whatever those are. I also need a circling skill, then I’m good to go!
I am turning 13 this summer, but I am trying out for excel bronze in May, is there an age limit to any level to compete?
Hey! Idk if you already tried out or not but no there is not a age limit
I’m 11 and can do all of the above and more but do you think I’m too old to compete?
No, I competed Bronze as an 11 year-old last year. But if you can do many more advanced skills, talk to your coach about doing Xcel Silver instead.
Did you need a birth certificate to sign up?
No, you do not need a birth certificate to sign up.
i want to start xcel, probably in either bronze or silver. i took some rec classes from age 6-11, but i quit 2 years ago. i was wondering if there are any gyms near seattle, washington that don’t require invitation from coaches, does anyone know of any?
Hi! I’m not sure of any gyms in your area (we are in FL), but I would suggest going to an open gym in your area to wake up those skills and scheduling a try-out with a few local gyms that you like. My daughter was out of the gym for a year (and it showed). She did end up joining Xcel Bronze for this competition season. If you have the skills, coaches should be willing to work with you to be competition-ready.
It basically means you need at least 4 skills on bar (like for instance a pullover back hip circle mill circle and a dismount.)
Can you do a side handstand dismount in xcel bronze?
You can! My daughter did one on beam today
Don’t worry! I am 11 and I am the youngest and smallest, yet tallest and oldest in my class. I think i should be in silver or at least competing for my roundoff back handspring. Just keep working hard. It only took me a year to get on Xcel and I believe anyone can do it if they work for it!
I can do all of these,I can also do everything on the Xcel Silver list except a back handspring.I don’t want to be in Bromze but will I be held back for not having this one silver skill?
I really want to do gymnastics, but I’m 12. Am I too old to start competing?
I am 16 and want to do gymnastics but feel I am too old to start on an Xcel bronze team the only 2 skills I have are my right good leg split and a backbend
I am 16 and want to do gymnastics but feel I am too old to start on an Xcel bronze team the only 2 skills I have are my right good leg split and a backend and is there any advice I can get
I am about to turn 16 and I am about to join bronze. It really depends on the gym you are at but it doesn’t matter what age you are for each level.
Is there a deduction if your skills are “too difficult” for your level? And what would be considered “too difficult”? When I competed Bronze I did a RO BHS tumbling pass and a cartwheel swing thru handstand forward roll (basically a cartwheel and a HS forward roll connected). It says you’re supposed to have a pass with 2 connected acro skills, and then another isolated acro skill. I had 2 passes with 2 connected skills. Would that be a deduction (and if so, how much?) Thanks for any help/advice.
Do you need a back hand spring to be in XCEL bronze? Thanks:)
I’m ten and I go to open gym. Once I went to gymnastics classes for 1 month but I quit because it was to easy. when I go to open gym some of the coaches said I should try out for excel. I wanted to know if I am to old to get onto excel bronze, should I try out for silver?
I was wondering if a bronze gymnast can use grips in meets? Thanks
i am in excel gold and i dont where grips. i dont think you need them but you can wear them if u want
I am in xcel bronze I am 10 years old I compete in the team called
Firebronze
At my gymnastics place there is Xcel purple, gold and platinum. Does that mean that Xcel purple is bronze? Also what is a “A” value skill?
i am 12 and just moved on to silver! i was in bronze for a few months i just turned 12 recently. my advice bronze is easy work hard and you will move to silver!
Hi! I am also 12 and have been training for about 5 months, I don’t make very quick progress but I really want to compete! I know I am twice the age as the regular xcel bronze girls but I need tips to move up quicker
Hey! I would reccomend getting a backhandspring, a round off, a handstand on beam, a half turn, a back hip circle, a pullover, a backwalkover on floor, a handstand flat back on vault and a split jump, straight jump and tuck jump. It will be tricky since most people start when they’re very young, but i think you can do it. Have a skill each practice that you want to get that day and try to focus on it. I had practice today and got a backwalkover on beam, a clear hip on bars, a round off double bhs on floor, and im working on back tucks off the beam. (Don’t worry, you dont need these skills, I’m in gold) but yeah. Ur probably 13 by now, but i turned 12 in march so were similar ages i guess. Toodleoo and hope this helps!
I am 11 I am level 2
So all 4 of those bars skills are rated an A? What is the back hip circle rating? Also where do you find the skill ratings for excel? Thanks.
I want to try out for xcel team at bay aerials gymnastics in Fremont, ca. is anyone on the teams there? And do I need my back handspring to get on the team, like join xcel bronze?
I’m 11 in xcel gold last year I was in bronce and I skipped silver I have a back tuck and working on a cast handstand on bars
I’m 11 in xcel gold last year I was in bronze and I skipped silver I have a back tuck and working on a cast handstand on bars
No u don’t need a back handspring for bronze
I lost my back handspring in one day what do I do?
focus another and then try again later
wondering if xcel levels are in canada
I’m 10 and can do mostly all of these I am on gymnastics classes for a mix of level 1/2nam I too old or can I talk to my coach about joining a team I stretch everyday and practice a lot so I can improve quickly
I’m 10 and can do mostly all of these I am on gymnastics classes for a mix of level 1/2nam I too old or can I talk to my coach about joining a team I stretch everyday and practice a lot so I can improve quickly!!
I’m 11 and trying out for pre-xcel today!
How did it go?
I’m 10 and in silver
What is a A level gymnastics level skill
What is a A level gymnastics level skill
is 13 too old to compete bronze
is 19 too old to compete