Making Sense of Composition - Level 8 Beam

This article has been updated to reflect the 2026-2030 Code of Points.

What are the ingredients for a great Level 8 beam routine? Gymnasts need a combination of strong acro skills, dance skills, and a big dismount. Judges have tools available, in the form of composition, to separate gymnasts of different skill 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 Start Value.

A Level 8 routine has a Start Value of 9.80 before adding in 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 8 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 first in a series of three posts, Making Sense of Beam Composition. Check out the Level 9 and Level 10 posts too!

Level 8 Beam Routine Construction

When a coach and gymnast are constructing a routine, they must first consider the skills that are allowable 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 8 gymnasts are permitted to perform any A and B skills, any C dance skills, and one C acro skill in their beam routine.

To receive the highest score, gymnasts should perform skills that meet these requirements and that they can perform with the least amount of deductions. Gymnasts must perform at least 4 A skills and 4 B skills, along with meeting 4 Special Requirements to earn the highest Start Value. See Level 8 Beam Routine Requirements for more details.

New in 2026, Level 8 gymnasts who fulfill all of the Value Part Requirements and Special Requirements will have a Start Value of 9.80. The remaining 0.20 can be earned by fulfilling Composition Credit requirements.

Two Types of Composition in a Level 8 Beam Routine

There are two types of Composition in a Level 8 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 8, a gymnast can earn up to 0.20 in Composition Credit, to help her achieve a 10.0 Start Value.

The Composition Credit requirements at Level 8 are:

Direct connection of B+B acro flight series = +0.10
B dismount OR B acro skill + A dismount = +0.10

Acro Composition Credit in a Level 8 Beam Routine

The Acro Special Requirement at Level 8 is a two-element series with at least one B flight element. To receive full Composition Credit in the acro category, a Level 8 gymnast must perform (at minimum) a flight series with 2 B flight elements. Dismounts are not considered acro elements for the purposes of composition, but an acro flight series on the beam leading into the dismount would be considered for Acro Composition Credit.

Examples:

Back handspring stepout-back handspring stepout (B+B)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring stepout-back handspring two feet-back tuck dismount (B+B series, A dismount)
+0.10 Acro CC (and +0.10 Dismount CC)
Front handspring stepout-back handspring (B+B series)
+0.10 Acro CC
Front handspring stepout-roundoff (B+B)
+0.10 Acro CC
Dive cartwheel-roundoff (B+B)
0.10 Acro CC
Front walkover-back handspring stepout (B+B)
NO Acro CC – Front walkover is NOT a flight element
Back walkover-back handspring (A+B)
NO Acro CC
Cartwheel-roundoff (A+B)
NO Acro CC
Tic-toc-back handspring (A+B)
NO Acro CC
Back handspring, fall, back handspring (B, 0 value)
NO Acro CC

Dismount Composition in a Level 8 Beam Routine

To receive full Composition Credit (+0.10) in the dismount category, the gymnast must perform a B (or higher) dismount, or a B (or higher) acro skill connected to an A dismount. Any other dismount or dismount combination will not earn Composition Credit.

Examples:

Front layout off two feet (B)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Roundoff, back layout full (B+B)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Roundoff, back tuck (B+A)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Back handspring stepout, back layout (B+A)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Cartwheel, back tuck (A+A)
NO CC awarded
Back walkover, back layout (A+A)
NO CC awarded
Punch front dismount (A)
NO CC awarded
Barani (aerial roundoff) dismount (A)
NO CC awarded
Roundoff dismount (A) – does NOT meet Special Requirement of A salto/aerial dismount
NO CC awarded

If the gymnast performs a dismount that does not earn CC, her maximum Start Value is a 9.9.

Dance Composition in a Level 8 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. The 0.20 composition deduction for lack of a dance series DOES still apply.

Composition Deductions in a Level 8 Beam Routine

In addition to the Composition Credit requirements, there are several other categories judges are looking for during each Level 8 beam routine. Instead of adding to the Start Value, these errors will incur 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.

Final Thoughts

If the coach and gymnast spend time developing skills that meet each of these compositional categories, the routine will have great scoring potential! Do you have any favorite Level 8 beam skills or combinations I didn’t list here?

References

USA Gymnastics Development Program Code of Points, 2026-2030.

Making Sense of Composition – Level 8 Beam