This post has been updated to reflect the 2026-2030 Code of Points.
What skills make up a great Level 10 beam routine? At Level 10, the requirements are much more rigorous than other levels.
In 2026, a change was made to incorporate routine composition into the Start Value. Under these rules, gymnasts must earn Composition Credit (CC) for performing skills with specific values. Completion of the Composition Credit requirements is required to achieve a 10.0 (or 10.0 +0.10) Start Value.
A Level 10 routine has a Start Value of 9.20 before adding in Bonus and Composition Credit.
So what’s the best way to construct a routine to receive full credit and a 10.0 Start Value? I’ll offer plenty of examples today. I’ll also review some additional composition deductions that can be applied for Level 9 beam. These composition deductions do not come off the Start Value, but will lower a gymnast’s score if they are not fulfilled.
This is the third in a series of three posts, Making Sense of Beam Composition. Check out the Level 8 and Level 9 posts too!
Value Parts for a Level 10 Beam Routine
When a coach and gymnast are constructing a routine, they must first consider the skills that are required for the gymnast’s level. For those who are unfamiliar, skills in the Development Program are valued A through E, with A skills being the easiest, and E skills the most difficult. Level 10 is the only level in which gymnasts are allowed to perform unlimited D and E skills, and in fact, they are encouraged to perform these skills to maximize their Start Value.
In addition, Level 10 gymnasts can get bonus points for performing difficult skills, and combinations of difficult skills. To receive the highest score, gymnasts should perform skills that meet the composition requirements, earn them bonus points, and that they can perform with the least amount of deductions.
New in 2026, Level 10 gymnasts who fulfill all of the Value Part Requirements and Special Requirements will have a Start Value of 9.20. The remaining 0.80 can be earned by fulfilling Bonus (up to 0.50) and Composition Credit (up to 0.30) requirements.
Level 10 gymnasts can also earn a 10.0 +0.10 Start Value if they have a 10.0 Start Value with +0.60 in Bonus and an “E” acro skill.
Two Types of Composition in a Level 10 Beam Routine
There are two types of Composition in a Level 10 beam routine:
- Composition Credit (comes off the Start Value)
- Composition Deductions (deducted from the final score of the routine)
Let’s explore both types of composition.
What is Composition Credit?
Composition Credit is new in 2026. It is a portion of the Start Value that a gymnast can earn by performing certain valued skills in her routine. Composition Credit varies by level. At Level 10, a gymnast can earn up to 0.30 in Composition Credit, to help her achieve a 10.0 Start Value.
The Composition Credit requirements at Level 9 are:
- 2 different D/E acro flight skills = +0.20
- OR 1 D/E acro flight skill = +0.10
- D/E dismount OR B acro skill or C dance skill connected to a C dismount = +0.10
Acro Composition in a Level 10 Beam Routine
The Acro Special Requirement at Level 10 has two options:
- a two-element series with both elements containing flight and one C-valued element; OR
- a two-element series with an E and an A non-flight element from group 7.
To receive full Composition Credit (+0.20) in the acro category, a Level 10 gymnast must perform (at minimum) two DIFFERENT D/E acro flight skills. One or both of these can be included in the acro series, or they can be isolated or used in a mixed series. Dismounts are not considered acro elements for the purposes of composition, but acro skills on the beam leading into the dismount would be considered for Acro Composition Credit.
If the gymnast does not perform any D/E acro skills, her maximum Start Value will be 9.8. If she performs ONE D/E acro skill, her maximum Start Value will be 9.9.
Examples:
- Front aerial, back handspring (D+B series)
Front toss piked (off one foot) (E)
+0.20 Acro CC - Back handspring, back handspring, one arm back handspring (B+B+C series)
Front tuck off one foot (front toss) (D)
Side aerial (D)
+0.20 Acro CC - Roundoff, back layout to two feet (B+E series)
Gainer layout stepout (D)
+0.20 Acro CC - Back handspring, Onodi (B+E series)
Side aerial, Back layout 1/1 dismount (D+B dismount)
+0.20 Acro CC - Front handspring stepout, fall, side aerial (B, D, no series)
Gainer layout stepout (D)
+0.20 Acro CC - Front aerial, stop, back handspring (D, B, no series)
Side aerial (D)
+0.20 Acro CC - Back handspring, layout stepout, layout stepout (B+C+C salto series)
Side somi (D)
+0.10 Acro CC - Roundoff, layout stepout (B+C salto series)
Front tuck off 2 feet (E)
Back tuck (C)
+0.10 Acro CC - Back handspring, back tuck (B+C salto series)
Side aerial to scale (E)
+0.10 Acro CC - Front handspring stepout, one arm front handspring (B+C series)
Barani (E)
Back tuck (C)
+0.10 Acro CC - Side aerial, roundoff (D+B series)
Back handspring (B flight)
+0.10 Acro CC - Back handspring, back tuck 1/1 (B+E flight series)
No other acro in the routine
+0.10 Acro CC - Side aerial, side aerial (D+D series)
Back tuck (C)
+0.10 Acro CC (2 D’s must be DIFFERENT) - Back handspring, layout stepout (B+C salto)
Back tuck (C)
NO Acro CC - Back handspring, back pike (B+C salto series)
NO Acro CC - Back handspring, layout stepout (B+C series)
Roundoff, Back layout 2/1 twist dismount (B+D dismount)
NO Acro CC (Dismounts do not count for Acro CC)
As you can see, there is more flexibility in meeting the Composition Credit requirement than there used to be. Gymnasts do NOT need a D in their acro series, as long as they complete two other D acro skills in the routine. The D acro skills do not need to be saltos, but they do need to be different.
It’s also worth noting that a gymnast can break her acro series, and it won’t affect her Composition Credit. This is a nice change from the previous Code, in which it felt like gymnasts with broken series got double the deductions!
Dismount Composition in a Level 10 Beam Routine
To receive the +0.10 Composition Credit in the dismount category, the gymnast must perform one of the following:
- D/E dismount
- B acro skill connected to an C dismount
- C dance skill connected to a C dismount
If the gymnast performs a less difficult dismount, she will not receive the +0.10 CC, and the maximum Start Value for the routine will be 9.90.
Examples:
- Roundoff, double back dismount (B acro + E dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Roundoff, back layout 2/1 twist (B acro + D dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Piked gainer 1/1 off end of beam (D)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Back handspring stepout, back layout 1 ½ (B acro + C dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Side aerial, back tuck 1 1/2 twist dismount (D acro + C dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Switch leap, gainer back pike off end of beam (C dance + C dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC - Cartwheel, gainer back layout full off side (A acro +C dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Aerial cartwheel, back layout full (D acro +B dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Back handspring stepout, one arm back handspring, back layout full (C series + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Split leap, gainer back pike off end (B dance + C dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Front layout full (C)
NO Dismount CC - One arm back handspring, back layout ½ (C acro + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Roundoff, Arabian salto (B acro + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC - Switch leap, gainer back tuck off end (C dance + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC
Dance Composition Deductions in a Level 10 Beam Routine
There are NO composition requirements for the level of dance skills in beam routines at this time! For this reason, it makes the most sense to select dance skills that can be cleanly performed, while still meeting the Value Part requirements and maximizing bonus. The 0.20 composition deduction for lack of a dance series DOES still apply.
Additional Beam Composition Deductions
In addition to the Composition Credit requirements, there are several other categories judges are looking for during each Level 10 beam routine. Instead of adding to the Start Value, these errors will incur composition deductions as listed below.
- Missing a dance series of at least two elements: 0.20
- Missing acro elements in 2 directions: forward/sideward and backward: 0.10 (0.05 if dismount is the only acro in that direction)
- More than 2 straddle jumps or tuck/wolf jumps: 0.10
- More than one straight leg pivot turn: 0.10
The deductions for lack of choreography in all directions have been moved to the “choreography” section of the general deductions. There is no longer a specific deduction for level changes or use of the entire beam apparatus. See 6 General Deductions You’re Probably Getting for more information.
These examples are certainly not all-encompassing, as Level 10 gymnasts can use any skill listed in the Code of Points to construct their beam routines. If each of these compositional categories are met with skills that fit the gymnast’s strengths, the routine will have great scoring potential! Do you have any favorite Level 10 beam skills or combinations I didn’t list here?
Further Reading
Level 6-10 Code of Points Updates 2026-30
The Ideal Composition for a Level 10 Bar Routine
Making Sense of Composition: Level 10 Floor
Making Sense of Composition: Level 8 Beam
Making Sense of Composition: Level 9 Beam
6 General Deductions You’re Probably Getting
References
USA Gymnastics Development Program Code of Points, 2026-2030.