Xcel Gold Requirements

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Xcel Gold requirements

 

Xcel Gold is the third level in the Xcel Gymnastics Program. To compete gymnastics in the Xcel Gold Division, the gymnast must be able to do routines that meet these requirements, as stated in the Xcel Code of Points. These requirements are paraphrased for easier comprehension; for precise information always refer to the official book published by USA Gymnastics.

The Xcel Gold division is one level in the Xcel program; here is more information about all the gymnastics levels.

While these are requirements, some gymnasts compete in the Xcel Gold level without being able to do all the skills listed below. For what requirements gymnasts don’t fulfill, the judges take deductions.

xcel gold skills list updated thumbnail

Gold Vault Requirement

Gold gymnasts must perform a minimum of a front handspring vault.

Gold Bars Requirements

Gold gymnasts must have the following in their bar routine:

  1. A minimum of 6 “A” value skills
  2. A clear support skill finishing at horizontal or above (ex. cast to horizontal)
  3. 2 Circling Skills – the 2nd skill can be a repeat of the first or a different skill (not the mount or dismount)
  4. A Dismount from the high bar

 

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Gold Beam Requirements

Gold gymnasts must have the following in their beam routine:

  1. Minimum of 1/1 (360°) turn on one foot
  2. Two different dance skills, can be isolated or in a series (ex. split jump and straight jump)
  3. One jump/leap that reaches a 120° angle (ex. split jump with 120° split)
  4. Two acro skills and one of the skills must achieve or go through vertical (ex. cartwheel and backward roll)
  5. A dismount (ex. roundoff off the beam)

Gold Floor Requirements

Gold gymnasts must have the following in their floor routine:

  1. Minimum of two directly connected acro skills, both must have flight (ex. front handspring, front tuck)
  2. Either a 2nd pass of 2 directly connected acro skills with flight or an aerial or a salto(ex. roundoff back handspring back tuck or a side aerial)
  3. A dance passage with two skills, one of which is a leap with a 120° cross or side split –they can be directly or indirectly connected
  4. Minimum of 360° turn on one foot

 

gymnastics skill checklist

 

The next Xcel gymnastics level after Gold is Platinum.

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Xcel Gold requirements

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232 comments… add one
  • Geneva Jewl December 1, 2016, 12:31 pm

    Quick question, on the bar routine do you need to get up on the high bar?

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq December 5, 2016, 8:52 pm

      Yes, you do!

      Reply
      • Gymgirl_goldmedals May 19, 2020, 9:18 pm

        Well it all depends are level and you skill ability. I´m gold and I do a kip cast above horizontal back hip circle cast above horizontal monkey giant jump to high bar 3 tap swings and a fly away. But my teammate does not go to high bar, due to her level and skills she has. So it really all depends.

        Reply
    • mart July 17, 2021, 8:49 pm

      yes

      Reply
    • bee March 9, 2023, 10:55 pm

      you do a squat on

      Reply
  • Laura Sherif December 10, 2016, 6:46 pm

    can you compete a roundoff back handspring for 1 pass and a front tuck for the next? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Nicole January 15, 2017, 12:02 pm

      Yes

      Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:01 am

      A roundoff is not considered an acro skill, so you will have to add a back tuck to the end of your roundoff bhs. The front tuck is fine though.

      Reply
      • Emma August 21, 2017, 9:10 am

        You can do a RBHS without a back tuck, because I am competing that this year and I am in gold level. Not trying to be rude tho it might be different at your gym.

        Reply
    • Sally August 2, 2020, 6:30 am

      No you have to connect three skills in gold, two have to have flight

      Reply
      • Hannah August 8, 2020, 10:33 am

        Its the same at my gym with emma
        we have to do RBHS and a front tuck not two flight skills connected

        Reply
        • Katie Gillette May 2, 2021, 12:00 am

          Actually a round off is a fight skill.

          Reply
    • A gymnast October 20, 2020, 9:46 pm

      At are gym one person is competing ROBHS and they rest are competing ROBT and some are doing ROBHSBT. I’m competing round off back tuck. And front tuck this was made 6 years ago but yeah your fine

      Reply
  • deedee January 23, 2017, 5:15 pm

    hi

    Reply
    • Jordan October 2, 2022, 7:54 am

      Golds is the perfect spot for my kids to go

      Reply
  • wes January 23, 2017, 9:38 pm

    My daughter is under the impression that on the beam routine that there is a maximum amount of skills they can do. For instance.. She can do a cartwheel and a backward roll but isn’t allowed to have a hand stand in the same routine. Is this true?

    Reply
    • Kaitlyn January 27, 2017, 10:11 pm

      I think so, yes. Also, having less skills gives her less of a chance of falling. There won’t be any benefit to the score from having 3 acros.

      Reply
      • wes January 27, 2017, 10:32 pm

        So just a follow up if you have any thoughts. What if she fell doing the first skill but did the second and “third” right. She would get deduction for the fall but wouldn’t she get points for completing the other two skills.

        Reply
        • egg on legs January 12, 2019, 11:46 am

          So the program there depends on the exact nature of the fall (and how she’s been coached).

          For a skill to count for SR, you have to land it on the beam. Let’s consider the example of a back walkover. Say that the gymnast completes the back walkover, wobbles on the landing and falls. This scenario nets her a .5 fall deduction (max score possible now 9.5). Now let’s say she starts her BWO, gets to handstand, loses her balance and falls before she steps down. This results in both the .5 fall deduction AND, if she only has two acro in the routine, a .5 deduction for missing SR, as the BWO is not considered completed and won’t be counted as an acro skill (max score possible now 9.0).

          Now there are two ways to deal with this –

          – you can build redundancy into the routine by having three acro, but this gives the judges an extra skill to find deductions on. Nothing the gymnast does on the third skill can “earn back” the .5 she lost for falling, but she won’t get the extra .5 taken off for missing SR. (Note – if one particular acro skill is a consistent problem, it is a better idea to substitute it with something that the gymnast is confident with, that way there is no fall AND no third skill to find more deductions on. This strategy is more for gymnasts like me who are scared to death of beam in general and will randomly fall on anything, including choreography.)
          – or you can teach the gymnast that when she has a fall like this, she needs to repeat the skill and land it before she moves on with her routine, but this relies on her to remember what to do when still shaken up by a fall, and runs the risk of her falling a second time as well.

          A lot of coaches actually do neither, composing the routine with the minimum number of skills and relying on the gymnast to hit. Admittedly, it’s Xcel and not the Olympics, but not having a strategy can turn a fall from a .5 mistake you can recover from, to a 1.0+ mistake that can cost you the whole meet.

          Reply
          • Rebecca June 5, 2019, 10:01 am

            Hi
            I’m 12 and I’m in xcel and I am in diamond is it okay if my floor tumb ling passed are

            1.roundoff backhandspring double back
            2.Fronthandspring front full
            and am I to young to be competing diamond cause most of the people I competed against are alot older than me?

          • Reni March 23, 2020, 11:46 pm

            Rebecca you are not too young the minimum age for diamond is 9

          • SilverA July 7, 2023, 12:44 am

            Slay Rebecca I wish I was your level at 12

    • gymnasticshq January 31, 2017, 2:42 pm

      There isn’t a maximum number of skills they can do, but most coaches choose to limit the skills because as Kaitlyn said, it will help her have a higher score since there are less chances for her to earn deductions.

      Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:12 am

      No, but coaches will likely only include her two best acro skills in the routine. If you would like her to have all three, you can just talk to her coaches about that.

      Reply
    • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:03 am

      You can have a handstand in your routine. my two acro skills are cartwheel and a handstand. You do NOT need a backword roll you can have one but you dont need one. You only NEED a cartwheel and a cartwheel.

      Reply
    • gymnast 2007 May 7, 2019, 7:20 pm

      she needs a handstand it is a skill needed in gold in the beam routine.

      Reply
      • gymnasticsgirl February 5, 2020, 9:07 pm

        No, a handstand is not needed. I do a backward roll and a backwalkover.

        Reply
      • Michelle July 6, 2020, 11:31 am

        You do not need a Handstand, but is often used meet one of your criteria. ONE must pass through vertical…so if your handstand isn’t vertical, but you do a FWO, BWO or CW, you are cleared. 🙂

        Reply
  • Shaunte Monti February 3, 2017, 11:02 am

    Thank you for sharing this great internet site.

    Reply
  • Kendra February 5, 2017, 6:15 pm

    On a Gold Bars routine there are 6 A level skills required. We have:
    1. pull-over
    2. cast back hip circle
    3. cast
    4. stoop-on
    5. tap swing
    6. tap swing
    7. tap swing dismount
    Are each of the above considered A level and, if so, are we getting a deduction for having an extra A level skill?
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:03 am

      No, but you can get very tired from doing extra skills, so you should stay away from that.

      Reply
    • Ann January 22, 2018, 2:09 pm

      Is it possible to have to many non A skills there for getting a deduction for having bar skills beyond the xcel Gold level? . Ex. my daughter’s routine for xcel Gold is Kip – squat on – high bar kip – cast to 90 – back hip circle – fly away.

      Reply
      • GC January 14, 2019, 6:53 pm

        If somebody in Xcel Gold does certain advanced skills (giants, clear-hip-circles, etc.) that are used in optional levels, then yes, they would receive a deduction. However, I have seen many girls doing the same routine as your daughter’s. A kip is commonly used, and almost every girl does a back-hip-circle. Fly-Aways are less common, but you are still allowed to use one. I would trust her coaches; they know what’s best!

        Reply
        • Reni March 23, 2020, 11:48 pm

          You can do clear hips in Xcel gold but not giants.

          Reply
  • leasly March 13, 2017, 5:56 pm

    gymnastics is thebomb.com and this is a great website for bigginer gymnasts

    Reply
  • Lboggie April 19, 2017, 11:33 pm

    Hello! I’m curious, do gymnasts ever do the level 4 or 5 compulsory floor routines in Excel by choice? My daughter is 8 years old and an Excel Gold gymnast. Her gym doesn’t do JO until level 7, but I would love for her to progress to level 7 the right way.

    Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:06 am

      The gymnast is allowed to, since the xcel levels allow you to have your own routines, but you are not required to and coaches likely will not give your daughter those routines unless it it is requested by you.

      Reply
  • Abby April 22, 2017, 5:36 pm

    Can you do a round off-back handspring for one pass and an ariel for the other?

    Reply
    • Beth May 2, 2017, 6:33 pm

      No u have to have at least one salto (backtuck or frontuck)

      Reply
      • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:05 am

        You do NOT need a back tuck. back tucks are optional until level4/5 and above. You are allowed to do a tuck but it is not required.

        Reply
        • Ava April 30, 2021, 3:48 pm

          Back tucks are a requirement for gold, gold is excel and a back tuck for level 4-5 are optional (gold and level 4-5 arn’t the same thing)

          Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 10:56 am

      You’ll have to add a back tuck to your roundoff back handspring, because it is required to have a pass of two acro skills that both have flight, and a roundoff is not considered an acro skill. You can do a regular aerial though, because you are required to have a pass of either an aerial or a pass with a salto (back tuck and front tuck) included.

      Reply
      • Jill October 6, 2018, 7:01 am

        A round off is a flight skill. The hands and feet leave the floor/beam at the same time. So is a dive cartwheel for that matter. There are many options for passes. Xcel is all about getting creative.

        Reply
    • SB November 5, 2017, 12:10 pm

      Yes, because an aerial is a flight skill. I’m competing a round off back handspring back tuck for my first pass and then a front tuck for my second pass, but you don’t need a back tuck. I competed a round off back handspring and front tuck and got first place with a 9.4

      Reply
    • Kalea March 28, 2019, 11:27 am

      You can compete a RBHS and a side aerial, I have competed that several times before without deductions.

      Reply
  • Avrie April 25, 2017, 5:57 pm

    Can an Xcel Gold gymnast do a switch leap for their leap?

    Reply
    • Beth May 2, 2017, 6:34 pm

      Yes they can do a switch leap as long as it reaches a 120 degree angle

      Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:08 am

      You can do any kind of leap (including switch leaps), as long as it reaches a 120 degree angle.

      Reply
    • Gymnast February 1, 2021, 10:59 pm

      Yes, I do a switch leap and I’m in gold.

      Reply
  • Beth May 2, 2017, 6:32 pm

    @abby no u have to have at least one salto (backtuck or front tuck)

    Reply
  • Daniela May 16, 2017, 11:05 pm

    Hi, I am a silver gymnast, I don’t have a back walkover on beam or a kip on bars , will I still be able to get to compete gold this upcoming season. Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 11:09 am

      Yes, you can!! Instead of a kip, you can do a pullover, and instead of a back walkover on beam, you can do a cartwheel or backward roll.

      Reply
  • Zoe June 4, 2017, 8:05 pm

    @Daniela yes i am exceal sliver gymnast as well and you can do a back ward roll insted of a back walk over and a pullover instead of a kip

    Reply
  • Payton June 27, 2017, 11:06 pm

    Do you have to do a kip

    Reply
    • Autumn July 3, 2017, 10:59 am

      No. You can do a pullover instead, but just know other girls will probably have a higher score for doing a kip, so you might want to learn one just in case.

      Reply
      • Marisa November 23, 2017, 11:25 pm

        No, they won’t get a higher score if they do a kip rather than a pull-over because they are both considered “A” skills.

        Reply
        • courtney October 25, 2019, 3:15 pm

          If a gymnast has a good kip they will beat those who do a good pull over because it allows for more of a flow in the routine.

          Reply
  • Addison July 21, 2017, 6:29 pm

    What levels are Xcel Gold equivalent to?

    Reply
    • Ali July 30, 2017, 10:43 pm

      Xcel gold is about equivalent to level 4 but mostly level 5, depending on the difficulty of the skills you do.

      Reply
    • Ali July 30, 2017, 10:45 pm

      Xcel gold is about equivalent to level 5, maybe some level 4 depending on the difficulty of the skills you do.

      Reply
  • rain July 24, 2017, 7:08 pm

    Is a roundoff over the vault table an acceptable Xcel gold vault?

    Reply
    • Ali July 30, 2017, 10:39 pm

      Yes, that would be a half on and you are allowed to do that. However, there would be deductions if your hands aren’t fully turned around when you hit the table.

      Reply
  • Daisy July 27, 2017, 2:54 pm

    Do you have to have a back handspring?

    Reply
    • Ali July 30, 2017, 10:40 pm

      Yes, on floor you do have to. You would have to do a round off back handspring back tuck, but there are some other things you could do if necessary.

      Reply
      • Sophie October 15, 2017, 10:20 pm

        Actually you don’t have to. In my routine I do a round off back tuck and an side aieral and I don’t get deducted

        Reply
      • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:09 am

        YOU DON’T NEED A BACK TUCK. YOU ONLY NEED ROUNDOFF BACK HANDSPRINGx2

        Reply
    • Sally August 2, 2020, 6:34 am

      Yes, at my gym we do RBHS back tuck as the first pass and an aerial or front tuck for our second pass.

      Reply
  • Ali July 30, 2017, 10:37 pm

    I am competing xcel gold this year. Am I allowed to do round off back handspring back tuck and front handspring front handspring connection for my tumbling passes?

    Reply
    • Lizzie August 20, 2018, 7:07 pm

      Yes, I am an excel gold gymnast and I compete a round off back handspring and a front handspring step-out front handspring to two foot

      Reply
  • The talented one August 12, 2017, 2:17 am

    Could you do a front toss for a tumbling pass

    Reply
    • Ali January 14, 2019, 10:33 pm

      yes you can!!

      Reply
  • Maia September 13, 2017, 11:49 pm

    Hi what are some passes without a backhandspring

    Reply
    • Ali September 14, 2017, 3:43 pm

      Front tuck, aerial, front handspring, front handspring front tuck, round off back tuck, etc

      Reply
  • Lianna October 14, 2017, 10:30 pm

    I am competing as an Xcel Gold gymnast this year, but some of my teammates don’t have a salto or aerial in their routine. I am concerned that they’re starting score will not be high, but my coach says it will be fine. Should I take action or just go with what my coaches say?

    Reply
    • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:11 am

      Coaches are correct. You do not need an aerial or salto in your routine you can do a front step out fronthandspring or front step out roundoff

      Reply
  • Sophie October 15, 2017, 9:26 pm

    I kept falling off the beam with my cartwheel is there any chance I could do a handstand and backward roll instead? I only have to reach vertical in my handstand right?

    Reply
    • SB November 5, 2017, 12:03 pm

      Yes you can. I’m competing a cartwheel and a backwalkover, but you only have to have a skill that passes through vertical and one other skill.

      Reply
  • Eva October 17, 2017, 2:10 pm

    Can I compete a back walkover back tuck dismount (connected) off of beam?

    Also is a beat jump aloud in my jump series?

    Reply
  • Marisa November 23, 2017, 11:27 pm

    Hi, I was just wondering if i could do a Round-off Back tuck for my fist tumbling pass and a front tuck (or potentially a front-handpring stepout into a round-off) for my 2nd pass.

    Reply
  • karen brooks November 29, 2017, 10:53 am

    can you do round off backhand spring backhand spring

    Reply
  • Sunset Siliver December 14, 2017, 5:46 pm

    I’M WILL BE IN XCEL GOLD IN 2019

    Reply
  • Sunset Siliver December 14, 2017, 5:48 pm

    I’MWILL BE IN XCEL GOLD IN 2019
    I’M IN XCEL BRONZE

    Reply
  • Alexa January 20, 2018, 10:41 pm

    My coach is a certified judge for USAG Gymnastics and she said we cannont do a roundoff handspring tuck is that true. And will two connected back walkovers be good enough for beam acro. Also how do ou get rid of an arch in your vault????

    Reply
    • Eva January 21, 2018, 2:58 am

      You are aloud to do a roundoff back handspring back tuck in Xcel Gold

      And yes a back walkover back walkover series would work fine. The requirements for acro in Xcel Gold is two acro skills with (at least) one going through vertical.

      Also the best way to not arch on vault is to do a arm circle into it (and squeeze the whole time), that will get your chest back and make it easier to hollow off the table.

      Reply
    • Ali January 21, 2018, 10:20 am

      Yes, you can do a round off back handspring back tuck. You cannot do a back walkover back walkover because you need to have two different acros. Only one has to pass through vertical. And you can make your front handspring not arch by right when you pop leave your feet up and try to stay in the same position you were originally.

      Reply
    • Geneva January 22, 2018, 2:46 pm

      You can do a double back walkover, you just need to have two acro skills with at least one of those skills going through vertical.

      Reply
  • Taylor January 27, 2018, 9:47 am

    Hi! I’m an xcel gold gymnast and i can do cast handstand so is that allowed in the routine ?

    Reply
    • GC August 6, 2018, 1:24 pm

      Is cast handstand an “A” value skill? You could include that in your required 6

      Reply
    • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:14 am

      No you cannot. That is not an “A” level skill. Its is a “B” level and is not allowed in gold. You can do it in level 4 though.

      Reply
      • Reni March 23, 2020, 11:52 pm

        You actually can do a B skill but it is not required.

        Reply
  • Jennifer January 27, 2018, 10:19 pm

    2 questions on excel gold can a spot be used on the floor for front tuck and can a backwards roll be done as an acro skill on the bean along with an cartwheel.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Gymnast February 1, 2021, 10:57 pm

      You can have a spot, even at the meet, although it is a deduction, so stay away from that if you can. Yes a backwards roll can work as an acro for gold but it has to go all the way up not just out.

      Reply
  • Ellie March 10, 2018, 11:36 pm

    So, I’m confused about the floor requirements for tumbling. Does a roundoff back handspring meet the requirement of two connected acro skills with flight? And can the second pass be the same as the first or do you need different skills? Thanks!

    Reply
  • Anna Baumgaertner April 8, 2018, 9:00 am

    Can an xcel bronze gymnast skip to gold if she has already completed all of the Silver skills in a season? In other words, by the end of her first year in broNze she has actually completed all of the silver skills as well

    Reply
  • Ava April 17, 2018, 12:04 am

    Can I, in gold, have my first pass be a side aerial and the second and last pass a front tuck?

    Reply
  • Mary April 29, 2018, 10:18 pm

    For a bar routine could you do:
    1. Kip
    2. Cast back hip circle
    3. Squat on
    4. Jump to high bar
    5. Pull over on the high bar
    6. Cast back hip circle
    then to the 7. Fly away?

    Reply
  • Mary April 29, 2018, 10:19 pm

    For a bar routine could you do:
    1. Kip
    2. Cast back hip circle
    3. Squat on
    4. Jump to high bar
    5. Pull over on the high bar
    6. Cast back hip circle
    then to the 7. Fly away

    Reply
    • thatonerandomperson 012 September 1, 2018, 12:11 pm

      Mary – I know this is a late response, but yes you can do that bar routine. You don’t need to do the back hip circle twice though. If you did:
      1. kip
      2. cast to horizontal
      3. back hip circle
      4. squat on
      5. long hang pullover
      6. cast off to flyaway
      you would meet all of the requirements.

      Reply
    • Keara May 7, 2019, 10:28 am

      You can but you do not need to go onto the high bar that is just more work and a risk of more deductions. Most people at gold do kip, cast back hip circle, squat on, tap swing, tap swing, tap dismount.

      Reply
  • Ana May 19, 2018, 4:45 pm

    My daughter is currently in the excel program and competes on the gold level. I am trying to decide if we need to stay with the excel program or move to the compulsory program. Pros and cons please. Thank you

    Reply
    • Lisa July 10, 2018, 12:45 pm

      @Ana My daughter completed level 4 in compulsory’s. Her coach suggested Excel Gold instead of Level 5 for her to get ready for optionals (Levels 6-10). Her thought process is that she will enjoy this season & it not be so repeatious from Level 4. Someone else may correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve heard from some parents of athletes who aspire to be a college gymnasts, that college coaches prefer Optionals over Excel Platinum.

      Reply
  • Kaitlyn May 21, 2018, 11:23 pm

    So I recently had tryouts for my gyms xcel team. Since the requirements are changing this year I don’t know if I would still be in silver. But I competed at another gym the yer before that did not have sanctioned meets, so even though I competed as a silver before I cannot count that season because the meets weren’t sanctioned. So, is there any way I could compete at one meet as a silver, and qualify for gold out of that, and become a gold for the rest of the season?

    Reply
  • Mona June 1, 2018, 12:10 am

    Are you allowed to do a back handspring step out on beam for Gold?

    Reply
  • Gold June 13, 2018, 4:25 pm

    No

    Reply
  • Emma June 27, 2018, 9:47 pm

    How long does your floor music need to be in xcel gold?

    Reply
    • Lisa July 10, 2018, 12:47 pm

      Your floor music must be 1 minute max

      Reply
  • Marissa July 25, 2018, 12:57 am

    Is it required to have a tuck in your routine? Or could I do a roundoff back handspring back handspring, and an ariel or front handspring?

    Reply
    • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:06 am

      You do not need a tuck.

      Reply
  • Georgette July 30, 2018, 10:37 am

    Are the requirements above correct? I know there was an update to the Code of Points July 2018. My gym is waiting on the copy with the updates and my daughter has an appointment this week to create her floor routine.

    Reply
  • Allison August 2, 2018, 11:31 pm

    Hi, I have a question about the tumbling passes. Could I do a round off double backhand spring and then a front handspring, or would I have to do either a front tuck, back tuck, or ariel in one of the passes? Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • GC August 6, 2018, 1:19 pm

      I think it has to be two DIFFERENT connected acro skills, so you would not be able to do that. But you may have to look at others’ routines to make sure You should check on USAG’s official rules site and see first.

      Reply
    • thatonerandomperson 012 September 1, 2018, 12:14 pm

      You can do a roundoff two back handsprings but your second pass can’t be a single acro skill that isn’t a salto/aerial. So you could either do a front handspring stepout front handspring or do a front tuck/side aerial for your pass.

      Reply
  • Kim August 9, 2018, 4:32 pm

    Does a dive roll qualify as a flight requirement for Gold?

    Reply
  • Michelle McKelligan September 7, 2018, 6:34 pm

    Hi. In regards to the Xcel level requirements for composing the routines. I notice that the Bronze and Silver were just updated in Aug I’m assuming because of the release of the new code of points. But the Gold, Platinum, and Diamond have not since 2014 and 2015. Is this because there has been no changes to these levels.

    Reply
  • Sarah September 17, 2018, 11:49 pm

    Can I do a front handspring with a half twist entry for my vault?

    Reply
  • Dedra Kearson October 20, 2018, 4:39 pm

    When were these requirements last updated?

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq October 21, 2018, 11:16 am

      This summer. They are the new rules.

      Reply
  • beth December 2, 2018, 12:25 pm

    am i able to do a switch leg leap for my leap pass on floor.

    Reply
  • beth December 2, 2018, 12:26 pm

    can i pick any floor music for gold level

    Reply
    • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:25 am

      Yes but it has to be at least and at most 1 minute long

      Reply
  • Keara December 3, 2018, 11:22 am

    On beam you can do:
    Backwalkover, cartwheel, handstand, backward roll. Must do Cartwheel and handstand. Can do level four dismount, Round off dismount, side aerial dismount, and front tuck dismount.
    On floor you can do:
    Front tuck, Aerial, Leap to 120 degrees, switch leap to 120, round-off 2 back-handspring, round-off back-handspring back tuck, front handspring step out front handspring two feet, front handspring front tuck.
    On bars you can do:
    Pull over, Kip, cast back hip circle (cast must be horizontal), cast squat on, 3 tap swings to a tap swing dismount or flyaway, you can do long hand kip to cast back hip-circle under swing with 3 taps to tap dismount.
    On vault you can do:
    Front handspring over table off of TABLE, round-off/half on off of the table, and you can do a half on half off.

    Thanks for reading!! Hope this was helpful!!!

    Reply
  • Kim December 7, 2018, 10:26 pm

    What is the deduction amount if you do a round off backhanspring and omit the back tuck? My daughter keeps freezing on it.

    Reply
    • GC December 9, 2018, 11:32 am

      You don’t need the back tuck. There are some girls from my gym that are only doing the ROBH. On the 2nd pass they are doing a front-handspring step-out to a round-off.

      Reply
  • Ali December 31, 2018, 11:06 am

    Can I have a front walkover-round off &
    a round off back handspring for my tumbling passes?

    Reply
  • Kat S January 1, 2019, 10:46 pm

    Hello!
    Can my two tumbling passes in my Gold Xcel floor routine be
    1. round off back handspring
    2. round off back tuck ?
    I am curious because obviously they are both back passes and I am unsure if gymnasts need both a frontward pass and backward pass.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  • Suzanne May January 6, 2019, 7:44 am

    You do not need a front and back pass in xcel. Just have to have two passes that are different, but meet requirements. Some gymnasts are stronger back tumblers other front. That’s the great thing about xcel you can design routines to the gymnasts strengths.

    Reply
  • Marissa January 6, 2019, 3:06 pm

    Hi, just wondering what the deduction is for only a front handspring that’s not connected with another flight skill? I keep freezing up for the front tuck 🙁

    Reply
    • GC January 14, 2019, 6:57 pm

      You don’t need a front tuck afterword. That may be too advanced. You can do a front-handspring step-out connected to round off as well. Or you can do one salto without the extra flight skill. (punch-front, side-ariel, etc…) Hope this helps!

      Reply
  • MeiYuShan January 10, 2019, 6:31 am

    Can you start wearing grips in xcel gold?

    Reply
    • Keara May 7, 2019, 10:29 am

      You can start wearing grips at XCEl silver

      Reply
  • egg on legs January 12, 2019, 11:19 am

    @ Marissa: as long as the freeze doesn’t lead to an execution deduction (eg. stumbling and falling) the only thing you should lose is the SR for one of your passes (.5 off start value IIRC). But if it’s giving you a lot of trouble, talk to your coach – there are plenty of other passes you could put in that place at competitions until you get the confidence to start going for the FHS front tuck – for example, an FHS step out to roundoff would fulfill any SR the FHS FT fills.

    @ MeiYuShan: grips are allowed at all levels of competition; if your individual gym has different rules you will have to talk to your coaches. Xcel Gold (and its roughly equivalent JO levels) is considered a good time to start switching from palm to dowel grips as this is when many gymnasts start doing work like bar changes, large tap swings, high casts, baby giants/long hang pullovers, etc. where the extra security the dowel provides becomes advantageous.

    Reply
  • Julia January 12, 2019, 10:04 pm

    Can I do a Ariel and a round off back handspring back tuck in my gold floor routine

    Reply
    • Ali January 14, 2019, 10:34 pm

      yes!!

      Reply
  • Michelle Chontos January 14, 2019, 10:31 pm

    Can my gymnast do a front tuck for her first pass, and then a connected front handspring front tuck for her second pass without getting any deductions?

    Reply
  • teagan January 19, 2019, 11:37 am

    am i too old for this?im 12 years old and i meet all the silver and somewhat meet the gold requirements but am i too old to actually get anywhere?Do you think i could still get places with gymnastics?

    Reply
    • GC January 19, 2019, 2:00 pm

      No! You’re DEFINITELY not too old! There are Gold gymnasts at my gym that are 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16! There are many different age groups at this level, so you’ll fit right in. Excel offers flexible practice times, so if you are busy with other activities in middle school, you can still compete. Ask your gym’s coach if you can try out. You’ll have so much fun!

      Reply
    • GC January 19, 2019, 2:03 pm

      BTW, I’m in your same boat. But, I’m working as hard as I can. You shouldn’t feel too old!

      Reply
    • Keara May 7, 2019, 10:31 am

      Im going to be competing gold as a 16 year old and I am competing silver at 15 I know its sad but I started gymnastics when I was 13

      Reply
      • GC May 8, 2019, 9:09 pm

        Better late than never! And don’t worry, I know golds who are 16.

        Reply
  • LadyZ January 31, 2019, 7:38 am

    For Xcel Gold Bars, what are the allowable 6A skills? I know a kip is one, but are there others, my daughter is still working very hard on getting her kip.

    Thank you

    Reply
  • LadyZ January 31, 2019, 7:40 am

    Hello!

    For Xcel Gold Bars, what are the allowable 6A skills? I am aware the kip is allowable is there anything else. My daughter is still working to get her kip.

    Thanks

    Reply
  • A Gymnast February 18, 2019, 8:56 am

    Might be competing Xcel Gold this year but we haven’t decided yet. For one pass could I do a roundoff back handspring, and on the other could I do a front handspring then connected to a round off?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • GC May 8, 2019, 9:07 pm

      Yes! That is what Gold in my gym does.

      Reply
  • Sophie March 27, 2019, 7:26 am

    How long is a gold floor routine

    Reply
    • Xcel gymnast March 22, 2021, 2:23 pm

      They have to be at least 1 minute long. Mine is 1 min 4 sec.

      Reply
  • Lana April 3, 2019, 10:24 am

    In Excel gold gymnastics is there specific floor music’s for gold…or can you choose any music you want?

    Reply
    • Savanna April 16, 2019, 6:06 pm

      it depends on your gym if they let you have your own music. I was in silver and have my own floor
      music

      Reply
      • Aya Engel February 11, 2021, 10:21 am

        savannah, did you do this is me? for your floor music

        Reply
  • Savanna April 16, 2019, 6:03 pm

    If I do a bar routine for gold can it be:

    pullover (With kick)
    cast back hip circle
    cast
    squat-on
    tap swing
    tap swing
    tap swing dismount

    Reply
    • GC May 1, 2019, 6:04 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  • Grace April 28, 2019, 11:21 am

    Am I too old for this if I’m 11?

    Reply
    • GC May 1, 2019, 6:03 pm

      Of course not! There are girls in gold who are 14 or 16, as well as some who are 8 or 9. You get awards by age division, so it doesn’t matter.

      Reply
      • Grace May 8, 2019, 4:55 pm

        Thanks

        Reply
  • Michele June 3, 2019, 11:05 pm

    Can a level 4 gymnast move into excel gold? Is there any mobility requirement that needs met in excel prior to competing at gold.

    Reply
  • Michele June 3, 2019, 11:05 pm

    Can a level 4 gymnast move into excel gold?

    Reply
  • Tracie August 17, 2019, 8:55 am

    Our gym has the girls do level 4 for 3 meets than we switch to gold for the rest of the season

    Reply
  • Sally October 20, 2019, 9:18 pm

    I’m silver right now but I’m being considered for gold do I have all the requirements
    Beam: full turn, handstand, cartweel, split jump strait jump, front tuck dismount
    Floor: front tuck, RBHS back tuck
    Bar: pull over, back hip circle, squat on, half dismount
    Vault: front hand spring

    Reply
  • Teagan January 5, 2020, 9:15 pm

    Do you get deducted if your legs aren’t straight on a squad on? And if you do how much of a deduction is is? Thank you

    Reply
  • Jamal February 24, 2020, 10:25 am

    Is a gymnast allowed to do a double backhands spring back tuck in excel gold?

    Reply
    • Sally August 2, 2020, 6:29 am

      I don’t think so

      Reply
  • Kelly February 26, 2020, 7:55 pm

    Can an Xcel gold do an Ariel and round off back tuck as the tumbling passes? Or does the ROBT have to be around off back handspring back tuck?

    Reply
  • Kenadie May 10, 2020, 10:37 pm

    For the beam, do you can you just do a regular cartwheel. Or does it have to be something like a cartwheel, cartwheel or backwalkover.

    Reply
  • Joseph May 20, 2020, 4:46 am

    are you allowed to do a round off round off front handspring as your ‘minimum of two directly connected acro skills, both must have flight’ skill? I really need an answer!

    Reply
  • Gymnast07 June 2, 2020, 11:25 am

    for gold can you have roundoff back tuck and not a roundoff backhand spring back tuck?

    Reply
  • Anja_Gymnastics July 24, 2020, 2:46 pm

    Hey, I’m moving up to Gold, I was wondering if my first pass could be a roundoff back tuck and my second pass could be a front tuck?

    Reply
    • Marisa July 26, 2020, 1:17 pm

      Yes that would work.

      Reply
  • Marisa July 26, 2020, 1:16 pm

    I’m in Xcel gold now and I’m working on a front 1/2 on floor, will I be able to compete that or will I have to wait until I’m in Platinum or dimond

    Reply
  • Sally August 2, 2020, 6:27 am

    Can you do a RBHS layout in gold because mine is better than my RBHS tuck????

    Reply
  • Briana King August 7, 2020, 6:48 pm

    I am a new Xcel coach, I’m trying to know if a front through pass is allowed in Gold (Front tuck, round off, backhandspring…)?

    Reply
  • Briana August 7, 2020, 11:27 pm

    Can you do a front through in Xcel gold?

    Reply
  • Silver gymnast September 23, 2020, 1:18 pm

    I am in Silver but I have all the gold skills.
    On beam I have a back walkover, a full turn, a jump connection, an acro connection, a front tuck dismount, and a back tuck dismount. On floor I have a switch leap, a round off back tuck, a punch front, a front handspring, an aerial, and a 1 1/2 turn.
    On bar I have a kip, a squat on, a long hang kip, a back hip circle, and a flyaway.
    And on vault I have a front handspring and a half on on the table.
    Should I be in gold?

    Reply
    • Kaylee October 7, 2020, 2:25 pm

      Yes, You should be in Gold because you have all the requirments. Why dont you ask your coach about Moving you up?

      Reply
  • Kaylee C October 7, 2020, 2:23 pm

    Hello, I think that my coach wants to move me up to gold but I don’t have my squat on or stradle on for bars. Can you climb up to the next bar? Thank You,❤️
    Kaylee

    Reply
    • Rose November 4, 2020, 9:28 pm

      No, you actually cant climb! Just keep working on your squat on and you’ll get it!

      Reply
  • Diamond gymnast October 30, 2020, 12:05 pm

    can I compete a roundoff half twist?

    Reply
  • Gymnast December 28, 2020, 9:16 pm

    Could I compete a round-off back tuck and a front tuck?

    Reply
    • kae March 31, 2021, 7:54 am

      Yes! you actually have to! (or instead of the punch front you can do an arial, or a front handspring step out to a front handspring landing with feet together).

      Reply
  • Diamond gymnast December 28, 2020, 9:20 pm

    Quick disclaimer: I am competing gold, I just go to a gym named diamond (lol)

    Reply
    • gymnastics January 27, 2021, 10:09 pm

      I am in Gold, and I have been having mental blocks with my round off backhandspring, and my back tuck, can a do something more simple then those or are those my only opinions?

      Reply
  • Jen January 13, 2021, 5:30 pm

    Hi! My daughter is an Xcel Gold gymnast. She has de eloped an issue with balking on skills she has competed before. Besides a back walkover on beam, what other skills are acceptable for her Beam routine during meets? Thanks for your help!

    Reply
  • Jen January 13, 2021, 5:31 pm

    Hi! My daughter is an Xcel Gold gymnast. She has developed an issue with balking on skills she has competed before. Besides a back walkover on beam, what other skills are acceptable for her Beam routine during meets? Thanks for your help!

    Reply
  • Willow gonswadam February 10, 2021, 12:07 pm

    hi, I am excel gold, and I was wondering if it was possible to compete for a ROBH half… or is that platinum? I do a BH on beam, and I wasn’t to do a BW BH, but I just don’t know if these are platinum or gold. my bar is kip cast to vertical, toe circle, squat on, kip cast to vertical swing down, baby giant, clear hip, and then fly away with 1/2

    am I platinum or gold…? thanks PLZ ANSWER!

    Reply
  • Ash March 25, 2021, 11:48 am

    If you are in xcel gold, can you compete a “B skill” for a tumbling pass? Because I know that you can only have one b skill and that’s in dance but it isn’t required.

    Reply
  • Layla April 3, 2021, 9:26 am

    Hi, can I compete a front handspring-front tuck and a Roundoff-BHS-Backtuck in the same routine PS. I am gold level

    Reply
  • Solana May 7, 2021, 4:34 pm

    So I’m starting team again and I wanted to know if you were allowed to do a kip on bars? I also wanted to know if your could do fly aways or is that Platinum? Because I’m going to be a Xcel or level 5 so i just wanted to know. And on beam are you allowed to do back handspring tuck for dismount and are we allowed to do a back handspring on beam? Sorry for all these questions 🙂

    Reply
    • Paige April 13, 2023, 11:09 am

      Most people do kip. You can do bhs but not bhs tuck. Also yes you can do a flyway.

      Reply
  • Ik May 18, 2021, 6:07 pm

    I am a silver looking to go to gold and this is very helpful for me to know what I need to get to be in gold.

    Reply
    • sadie July 28, 2021, 5:39 pm

      same

      Reply
  • Kinsley June 1, 2021, 1:01 am

    Do you have to have a cartwheel on the beem? And also do you have to have a backwalkover on floor? I have both but I was just wondering

    Reply
  • Olivia Glinka July 14, 2021, 12:26 pm

    Can I compete a front flyaway in Xcel Gold?

    Reply
  • mart July 17, 2021, 8:48 pm

    could you do a full in xcel gold or would you have to wait till next xcel level

    Reply
    • Katie October 10, 2022, 9:53 pm

      At my gym yes.

      Reply
  • mart July 17, 2021, 8:56 pm

    can i do a full in xcel gold or do i have to wait

    Reply
  • Sarah August 5, 2021, 6:04 pm

    On beam if my 2 acro skills are cartwheel and handstand does my handstand need to be vertical since cartwheel goes through vertical?

    Reply
  • Kay September 24, 2021, 1:52 pm

    Can Gold level vault over mats?

    Reply
    • Katie October 10, 2022, 9:52 pm

      Unfortunately no, you can’t vault over mats in gold. In xcel sliver you vault over mats.

      Reply
  • Betsy Severson November 21, 2021, 8:41 am

    Whats the score I need tor gold

    Reply
    • Stella April 13, 2023, 10:58 am

      No score needed. Just have to have some skills.

      Reply
  • Petrina November 30, 2021, 1:14 pm

    Do you have to compete xcel silver before gold? I am an older gymnast have all the skills in gold. Would I be able to “skip” to gold or would I have to compete in xcel silver first? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Paige April 13, 2023, 10:56 am

      You could technically, but I also had all my gold skills but still competed silver. Plus you could get a lot more New Gold skills if you took the time to go through silver.

      Reply
  • Gianna January 18, 2022, 12:06 pm

    Hi, I am confused about the vault, I am in gold and all of the girls in gold (including me) are doing half-ons though i know every gym is different I am just wondering if I should be training a front handspring vault. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sadie March 5, 2022, 9:15 am

      I’m not sure- some girls at my gym are competing half ons and I had the option to but I’m competing fhs… this post might not be updated.

      Reply
  • Brooklyn House April 3, 2022, 10:59 pm

    Do you need a kip for Xcel Gold? I Have all the skills but I’ve seen in competition girls do kips do I need on

    Reply
    • Heather August 17, 2022, 7:40 pm

      Not require but can choose to compete

      Reply
  • Lucia Valencia April 13, 2022, 10:41 pm

    how long is my floor music supposed to be for Xcel Gold

    Reply
  • Avi October 8, 2022, 10:52 am

    I don’t know what level I am I can do a front hip circle and a double back hip circle tap swing pullover on high bar no squat on almost a kip ROBHSBHS double front hand spring front handspring round off back handspring and aerial on vault a front handspring with tramp board
    On beam barley a handstand and a round off and dive roll off the end

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq October 14, 2022, 12:50 pm

      Most gyms will let you do an evaluation to see what level they would place you in if you joined their gym. So if you’re looking to join a gym, you could research the gyms in your area to see what gym you are wanting to be evaluated at.

      Reply
  • Katie October 10, 2022, 9:50 pm

    i was wondering if you have to compete a round-off-back-hand-spring in one of the tumbling passes or if there is alternatives.

    Reply
    • gymnasticshq October 14, 2022, 12:40 pm

      No, it doesn’t specify that a roundoff back handspring is a required element. You just need a pass with 2 acro skills that both have flight like a front handspring, front tuck, and a 2nd pass with side aerial.

      Reply
  • Katie October 10, 2022, 9:51 pm

    i think the level that would suit you the best would be xcel sliver or bronze.

    Reply
  • Maya December 28, 2022, 7:10 pm

    On beam can I do a braini dismount? And can I do cartwheel and handstand for beam? And can I do a leap that reaches 120 degrees and a flutter jump or do I still have to do 2 jumps

    Reply
  • A gym mom January 12, 2023, 12:53 pm

    My daughter is a gold level this year but there is some confusion about bars. With the second circling skill it says can be the same or different. So what it count if my daughter did cast back hip Circle cast back hip Circle? Her coach is under the impression that it needs to have a different entry and my daughter is struggling with doing a second back hip Circle right after the first one without another cast

    Reply
    • kate March 30, 2023, 4:49 pm

      hi! I’m an Xcel gold gymnast currently and I have several people on my team who compete Kip or pullover cast back hip circle cast back hip circle then go to the high bar. You could also do one back hip circle on the low bar and then one on the high bar

      Reply
  • kate March 22, 2023, 10:46 am

    can you compete a bhs on beam in Xcel gold? I know you can in level 5.

    Reply
    • Paige April 13, 2023, 10:49 am

      Yes but could be hard. I would probably compete handstand back walkover or double.

      Reply
  • Maya April 7, 2023, 12:44 pm

    Does anyone have any tips for me on these skills. I would love to move up to platinum next year!

    – half on half off vault (need help turning and a bigger block)
    – clear/free hip (need help with wrist shifting and connecting a kip out of it)
    – flyaway
    – vertical handstand on beam (need help on how to get it more vertical without getting scared)
    – cartwheel on beam (I can do it fine with a spot but I’m scared of the height when I am not being spotted)
    – handstand roll on beam (might not compete, need helps holding it in the handstand before rolling)
    – front pike on floor (I need help on getting the height instead of flipping out)
    – front handspring front tuck

    Does anyone have any other B skills on bars I can do besides a clear/free hip?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Maya April 7, 2023, 12:45 pm

      Also need help with a high bar kip and if I would be allowed to compete a long hang pullover instead

      Reply
      • Paige April 13, 2023, 10:34 am

        Yes and you can also do a baby giant.

        Reply
  • Paige April 13, 2023, 10:36 am

    Yes and you can also do a baby giant.

    Reply
  • E May 7, 2023, 3:08 pm

    Is an aerial front handspring considered 2 connecting flight skills? I can’t do a back handspring or any front or back tucks, so…

    Reply
  • Brae May 10, 2023, 8:34 am

    Hi so can I do a BHS on beam? For excel Gold? And how about a clear hip??

    Reply
  • Elaine July 5, 2023, 10:49 pm

    What are the “A” skills?

    Reply
  • annabel October 23, 2023, 11:33 pm

    if my gymnast has a front tuck but not a robhs or robt what are the options to get them at a gold level for floor? if any?

    Reply
  • Gymnasticslady November 28, 2023, 12:30 am

    I’m in nga and in gold, I compete a round off back handspring backhandspring(dbl bkhsp), ariel and front tuck. On bars I do a pullove backhipcircle horizontal. Then a squat on jump to high bar turn tap dismount. On beam I compete a handstand into a back walkover and a cartwheel, full turn, strait jump split jump and a backtuck dismount, on vault I compete a flyspring.But my thing in nga(national gymnastics accociation and I was curios if yall are in usag(USA gymnastics)

    Reply
  • Marlene December 18, 2023, 6:14 pm

    Watched a girl compete gold on uneven bars but skip the low bar and use mats to mount the high bar. She did her entire bar routine on HB. She got the highest score on bar. What is the starting score for that ? I never knew that was a thing when my daughter was on Gold.

    Reply
  • camerashuttercount December 21, 2023, 12:04 pm

    This is an interesting topic and I am looking forward to reading more about the requirements for Xcel gold gymnastics.

    Reply
  • MJ January 7, 2024, 6:58 pm

    Do you have to do a squat on on bars or can you climb up

    Reply
  • FINN January 29, 2024, 11:27 am

    do you have to have a squat on on bars or can you climb up

    Reply
  • nbA 2k20 March 4, 2024, 12:56 am

    I’m so impressed with the detailed requirements for Xcel Gold gymnastics! As a former gymnast myself, I know how important it is to have clear guidelines for each level. It’s great to see that the requirements are challenging but achievable, and that there are various options for skill progression. I’m sure this will be a helpful resource for gymnasts and coaches alike. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • stArDeW vAlLeY March 5, 2024, 2:43 am

    I completely agree with the requirements mentioned in the post! As a mother of a young gymnast, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and hard work that goes into achieving the Xcel Gold level. It’s not an easy feat, but the benefits of achieving this level are well worth it. My daughter has grown so much as a gymnast and a person since starting in the Xcel program, and I’m proud to see her working towards this goal. Thank you for sharing your insights and experience with us!

    Reply
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