This article has been updated to reflect the 2022-2026 DP Code of Points changes.

Every four years, the rules change for optional gymnastics under USA Gymnastics. Sometimes there are a lot of changes, and other years, the optional gymnastics requirements stay pretty much the same. As of April 2022, the new rules for 2022-2026 have been released! Take a look below for the updated list of requirements, all in one place.

There are not a lot of changes to the optional gymnastics requirements this cycle. The good news is that the changes that have been made seem to be to the benefit of the gymnasts. And that’s always a relief! Keep reading to find out what’s new!

optional gymnastics requirements

Level 6 Gymnastics Requirements

Vault

Level 6 vault has three options. All of these options are vaults from the table to the mat stack. These options are:

  • Front handspring to mat stack
  • 1/2 on (Tsuk timer) to mat stack
  • Yurchenko timer (roundoff to board, back handspring onto table) to mat stack

Bars

The current Level 6 requirements on bars are:

  • Cast above horizontal
  • 360° circling skill from Group 3/6/7
  • 1 bar change
  • A salto dismount

At Level 6, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 1 B

A Level 6 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Beam

The current Level 6 beam requirements are:

  • Non-flight acro series x2 OR 1 acro flight element
  • 180° leap or jump
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot
  • A salto/aerial dismount

At Level 6, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 1 B

A Level 6 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Floor

The current Level 6 floor requirements are:

  • 3 element acro pass, minimum 2 flight elements (rolls do not fulfill the requirement)
  • 2nd acro pass including salto or aerial
  • Dance passage (2 Group 1 elements) including 180° leap off 1 foot
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot

At Level 6, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 1 B

A Level 6 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Gymnast performing cast in Level 8 bar routine

Level 7 Gymnastics Requirements

Vault

Level 7 vault has three options, which are the same as the Level 6 vault. All of these options are vaults from the table to the mat stack. These options are:

  • Front handspring to mat stack
  • 1/2 on (Tsuk timer) to mat stack
  • Yurchenko timer (roundoff to board, back handspring onto table) to mat stack

Bars

The current Level 7 bars requirements are:

  • Cast to minimum 45° from vertical
  • 360° circling skill from Group 3/6/7
  • 2nd circling skill (same or different), minimum B value
  • A salto dismount

At Level 7, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 2 B

A Level 7 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Beam

The current Level 7 beam requirements are:

  • Non-flight acro series x2 AND 1 acro flight element (isolated or in series)
  • 180° leap or jump
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot
  • A salto/aerial dismount

At Level 7, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 2 B

A Level 7 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Floor

The current Level 7 floor requirements are:

  • Acro pass with a backward salto (min. 2 flight elements)
  • Acro pass with a forward salto (add’l elements allowed) – EITHER the backward or forward salto must be a layout
  • Dance passage (2 Group 1 elements) including 180° leap off 1 foot
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot

At Level 7, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 5 A
  • 2 B

A Level 7 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

gymnast doing pirouette on Xcel Diamond bars

Level 8 Gymnastics Requirements

Vault

Level 8 gymnasts are required to perform at least one vault from the Level 8 vault chart, which lands on the feet first. These vaults range from handsprings to piked Yurchenkos and Tsukaharas.

Bars

The current Level 8 bars requirements are:

  • 1 bar change
  • 360° circling skill from Group 3/6/7
  • 1 skill (min. B) with at least 180° LA turn OR flight
  • A salto dismount

At Level 8, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 4 A
  • 4 B

A Level 8 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Beam

The current Level 8 beam requirements are:

  • Acro series x2, min. 1 flight element
  • 180° leap or jump
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot
  • A salto/aerial dismount

At Level 8, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 4 A
  • 4 B

A Level 8 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Floor

The current Level 8 floor requirements are:

  • 3 different saltos in the routine
  • Acro pass with two saltos
  • A last salto or in the last salto series
  • Dance passage (2 Group 1 elements) including 180° leap off 1 foot

At Level 8, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 4 A
  • 4 B

A Level 8 routine that fulfills all of the Special Requirements and Value Parts will start at a 10.0.

Gymnast doing acro series during Level 9 beam routine

Level 9 Gymnastics Requirements

Vault

Level 9 gymnasts are required to perform at least one vault from the Level 9 vault chart, which lands on the feet first. These vaults can range from handsprings to layout Yurchenkos and Tsukaharas, among others.

Bars

The current Level 9 bars requirements are:

  • 2 bar changes
  • 1 flight element min. B
  • 1 skill (min. B) with at least 180° LA turn OR a C flight element (different)
  • B salto dismount

At Level 9, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 4 B
  • 1 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.7. A Level 9 bar routine must include 0.30 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

New in 2022, Level 9 gymnasts can receive 0.10 of their bonus from a D/E skill.

Beam

The current Level 9 beam requirements are:

  • Acro series x2 flights
  • 180° leap or jump
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot
  • B salto/aerial dismount

At Level 9, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 4 B
  • 1 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.7. A Level 9 beam routine must include 0.30 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

New in 2022, Level 9 gymnasts can receive 0.10 of their bonus from a D/E skill.

Floor

The current Level 9 floor requirements are:

  • 3 different saltos in the routine
  • Acro pass with two saltos
  • B last salto or in the last salto series
  • Dance passage (2 Group 1 elements) including 180° leap off 1 foot

At Level 9, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 4 B
  • 1 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.7. A Level 9 floor routine must include 0.30 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

New in 2022, Level 9 gymnasts can receive 0.10 of their bonus from a D/E skill.

Tkatchev in level 10 bar routine

Level 10 Gymnastics Requirements

Vault

Level 10 gymnasts are required to perform at least one vault from the Level 10 vault chart, which lands on the feet first. There are a vast number of vaults to choose from, in 5 different groups. The Start Values range up to 10.0, with some difficult vaults eligible for an extra 0.10 of bonus.

Bars

The current Level 10 bars requirements are:

  • 1 flight element min. C
  • 1 flight (different), min. B
  • 1 skill with LA turn, min. C
  • C salto dismount

At Level 10, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 3 B
  • 2 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.5. A Level 10 bar routine must include 0.50 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

Beam

The current Level 10 beam requirements are:

  • Acro series x2 flights (1 min. C OR A non-flight + E)
  • 180° leap or jump
  • Minimum 1/1 turn on one foot
  • C salto/aerial dismount (OR B dismount directly connected to C dance or C acro element/series)

At Level 10, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 3 B
  • 2 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.5. A Level 10 beam routine must include 0.50 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

Floor

The current Level 10 floor requirements are:

  • 3 different saltos in the routine
  • Acro pass with two saltos
  • C last salto or in the last salto series
  • Dance passage (2 Group 1 elements) including 180° leap off 1 foot

At Level 10, the gymnast must perform the following Value Parts:

  • 3 A
  • 3 B
  • 2 C

If all of these Value Parts and Special Requirements are performed, the routine will start at 9.5. A Level 10 floor routine must include 0.50 in Additive Value (Bonus) to achieve a Start Value of 10.0.

Summary

In this article, you have learned about the most updated version of the optional gymnastics requirements. Stay tuned, as these requirements will be changing soon!

References

2022-2026 USA Gymnastics Code of Points.

Further Reading

Optional Gymnastics Home Page

Compulsory Gymnastics Home Page

Xcel Gymnastics Home Page