Xcel Platinum is the fourth level in the Xcel gymnastics levels. Below you’ll find the event requirements for vault, bars, beam, and floor—plus safe at-home practice ideas and equipment picks. For exact rules, consult the official USAG materials 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.
Platinum Vault Requirements
Platinum gymnasts must perform a minimum of a front handspring vault over the table. See the current Xcel vault chart for allowable options.
Platinum Bars Requirements
Platinum bar routines must include:
- 6 “A” & 1 “B” value skills
- A clear support skill finishing above horizontal
- One circling skill (not the mount/dismount)
- A kip
- A dismount from the high bar- min of “A”
Platinum Beam Requirements
Platinum beam routines must include:
- 6 “A” & 1 “B” value skills
- Minimum of a 1/1 (360°) turn on one foot
- Dance series with two elements (same or different)
- One jump/leap that reaches a 120° split (may be in the dance series)
- Either one acro with flight (e.g., back handspring) or an acro series with/without flight (e.g., handstand → back walkover)
Platinum Floor Requirements
Platinum floor routines must include:
- 6 “A” & 1 “B” value skills
- Minimum of two directly connected acro skills, both with flight, and one must be an “A” or “B” salto (e.g., front handspring → front tuck)
- Either a second pass of two directly connected acro skills with flight or an isolated “B” salto (e.g.,roundoff–back handspring–back tuck; or front pike)
- A dance passage with two elements, one a leap showing a 155° split (direct or indirect connection)
- Minimum of a 360° turn on one foot
What to Practice at Home (Safe Ideas)
- Shaping & core: hollow/arch switches, planks
- Handstand work: handstands onto panel mats, spiderman handstands
- Floor basics: roundoff rebound → snap-down mechanics (no spotting at home)
- Leaps: tape markers to train 120–155° pathways; active hip flexor + hamstring
- Turns: relevé balance → full-turn mechanics on a line/floor beam
- Bars prep: kip/cast shaping on panel mat or low bar (with supervision)
⭐ Recommended Equipment for Xcel Platinum
Building a safe at-home setup for Platinum? These are smart, high-impact picks:
#1 Sturdy Home Bar (for kip + cast shaping)
Stable enough for glide swings, kips, clear-hip shaping, and strength.
#2 Panel Mat (foundation for shaping + tumbling)
Essential for cartwheel/round-off drills, handstand step-downs, and flexibility.
#3 Floor Beam (confidence for leaps & turns)
Practice mounts, walks, 360° turns, jumps/leaps safely at floor height.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Xcel Platinum
Q: What age do you have to be for Platinum?
A: Programs vary by gym. Many athletes reach Platinum after sustained success at Gold and coach approval.
Q: Do Platinum floor routines require a salto?
A: Yes—one pass must connect two flight elements and include at least an “A” or “B” salto in that connection.
Q: How big should leaps be in Platinum?
A: The requirement is for a 155° split. Beam requires at least 120° in a jump or leap.
Q: What bar elements are typical at Platinum?
A: Kip, cast above horizontal, clear hip or other circle, and a high-bar dismount, along with value-part distribution (6A/1B).
Q: What’s after Platinum?
A: The next Xcel level is Diamond. Mobility depends on gym standards and meet results.
The Xcel Platinum division is one level in the Xcel program; see an overview of all
gymnastics levels.
View Comments (151)
I'm English so I can't compleat in this comp but can do harder stuff than the stuff abive
Are yurchenkos with no flip alowed in Xcel Diamond
Yes they are
I have all of the reqierments for excel platinum but then I would be the only girl in platinum at my gym. I want to ask my coach if I can move to platinum, but would I be allowed to compete on my own?
Yep! You can be the only gymnast in a level at a gym.
I can’t do a back handspring (or a bridge kickover (I know lane)) but I got moved to xcel gold I is xcel gold anyways
Do I need a back handspring by now
No, you don't need to have a back handspring for Xcel Gold. There's a few people in my group who don't have back handsprings and were able to compete Gold just fine.
But the bhs is needed a lot in the future on multiple events and there aren't really anyways around them, so it would be good to get it really soon.
There are actually many ways around back handsprings. I am a former JO level 6 gymnast (I am switching to Xcel platinum for more freedom) and I cannot do back handsprings because I have shoulder issues and I have many options for tumbling still. My tumbling passes last year were front handspring step out, round off, back tuck and front pike.
Ya she right
it would be good to have it for later but yeah I'm in gold and I don't have it consistently
There are a lot of alternatives to a back handspring
Would a kip, cast (above horizontal), clear hip, kip, squat on, jump to high bar, tap swing, counter tap swing, flyaway, work?
Yes
what are some front tumbling passes I can do instead of a front handspring front tuck its not working out for me
Yes, one of my teammates has that exact routine
are u edens sister
Yessss muahahahaha
Would a kip cast above horizontal backhip circle squat on Jump to high bar kip cast under swing dismount be allowed?
no it wouldn't you need a clear hip
My daughter is in Xcel Platinum
Where can i find the A and B valued skills
https://emethgym.com/team/team-parent-resources/skills-defined/
These skills may be slightly outdated, some may be worth less and not all of them are there but here is a website that hopefully can help you :)
I'm trying to go platinum and all I need is vault any tip's?
In platinum the rules have changed you need to compete and half on half off
Good I just got my half on half off!!
What is a half on half off?
It’s like a round-off jumping with two feet onto the table and then twisting halfway to end facing the wall in front of you
You don't need a half on half off, just some vaults will give you a lower start value.
you start out of a 9.8
Now with a front handspring it’s a 9.7 but if you good at it you can get less deductions than a half on, so just do whatever one suits you better.
Can you do a front handspring and a half on or half on and half on half off?
Yes
Is there a required # or limit on the amount of hours per week of practice for an excel platinum gymnast?
No
Mine goes 16 hours a week
Jeez... I've met level 8's and level 10's who train less hours
me to .... our xcel team only trains 3 hours a day
I’m moving to excel from level 6, The excel team at my gym only practices 2h 30 minutes...