The Gymnastics Guide

Helping gymnasts and coaches to be their best every day!
Gymnastics Prime Day Deals 2025

Gymnastics Prime Day Deals 2025


It’s the day you’ve been waiting for… Prime Day! Actually, it’s Prime FOUR Days this year, but either way, it means great deals for us! For those who don’t know, Prime Day is a day (or four) during the summer, during which Amazon offers deep discounts to its Prime members. In 2025, Prime Day runs […]

Tips and Resources to Boost Your Level 6/7 Vault Score

Tips and Resources to Boost Your Level 6/7 Vault Score


This post was originally published February 10, 2020, and was updated August 29, 2020, August 29, 2021, August 19, 2022, July 7, 2023, November 6, 2024, and July 8, 2025.  If you’ve been at a Level 6 or 7 gymnastics meet recently, no doubt you’ve seen the new vault setup. Gymnasts now vault from the […]

Breaking Down the Level 3 Floor Routine 2025

Breaking Down the Level 3 Floor Routine 2025


This post has been updated to reflect the 2021-2029 compulsory routine changes, and was updated again in July 2023, and July 2025. It’s time to polish up those compulsory routines! Today we will look at the Level 3 floor routine. This was always one of my favorite levels to coach, because the kids are just […]

What’s New in the Xcel Program in 2025-26?

What’s New in the Xcel Program in 2025-26?


Every four years, USA Gymnastics makes changes to the rules for the Xcel Program. The most recent rules changes took place in 2022. (Click here to read about them.) However, each year, the committees meet and determine if smaller-scale changes need to be made to address issues that have been brought up. Those meetings were […]

What’s New in the Dev Program in 2025-26?

What’s New in the Dev Program in 2025-26?


Every four years, USA Gymnastics makes changes to the rules for the Development Program (Dev Program). The most recent rules changes took place in 2022. (Click here to read about them.) However, each year, the committees meet and determine if smaller-scale changes need to be made to address issues that have been brought up. Those […]

What’s New in the Xcel Program in 2024-25?


Every four years, USA Gymnastics makes changes to the rules for the Xcel Program. The most recent rules changes took place in 2023. (Click here to read about them.) However, each year, the committees meet and determine if smaller-scale changes need to be made to address issues that have been brought up. Those meetings were […]

Making Sense of Composition – Level 10 Floor

Making Sense of Composition – Level 10 Floor


This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-2026 DP Code of Points. It has been modified using the new 2024 composition deductions. Have you ever watched a floor routine that looked amazing, but then it scored low? I know I have! Especially before I started judging, it just didn’t make sense! […]