Making Sense of Composition - Level 9 Beam

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

What skills does a Level 9 gymnast need for an exceptional beam routine? She will need a combination of strong acro skills, dance skills, and a big dismount.

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 9 routine has a Start Value of 9.50 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 second in a series of three posts, Making Sense of Beam Composition. Check out the Level 8 and Level 10 posts too!

Value Parts in a Level 9 Beam Routine

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 9 gymnasts are permitted to perform any A, B skills, and C skills, any D/E dance skills (valued at C for bonus consideration), and one D/E acro skill in their beam routine. To receive the highest score, gymnasts should perform skills that meet the Value Parts and Special Requirements, and that they can perform with the least amount of deductions.

New in 2026, Level 9 gymnasts who fulfill all of the Value Part Requirements and Special Requirements will have a Start Value of 9.50. The remaining 0.50 can be earned by fulfilling Bonus (up to 0.30) and Composition Credit (up to 0.20) requirements.

Two Types of Composition in a Level 9 Beam Routine

There are two types of Composition in a Level 9 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 9, 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 9 are:

2 different C or higher acro flight skills = +0.10
C dismount OR B acro skill or C dance skill connected to a B dismount = +0.10

Acro Composition for a Level 9 Beam Routine

The Acro Special Requirement at Level 9 is a two-element series with both elements containing flight. To receive full Composition Credit (+0.10) in the acro category, a Level 9 gymnast must perform (at minimum) two DIFFERENT C or higher 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 the required acro skills, she will not receive the +0.10 CC, and the maximum Start Value for the routine will be 9.90.

Examples:

Back handspring, layout stepout (B+C salto series)
Aerial cartwheel (D, counts as C for L9)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring, back tuck (B+C salto series)
One arm back handspring (C)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring, one arm back handspring (B+C series)
Onodi (E, counts as C for L9)
+0.10 Acro CC
Front handspring stepout, one-arm front handspring (B+C series)
One arm back handspring (C)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring, back handspring (B+B series)
Back tuck (C)
One arm back handspring (C)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring, fall, back tuck (B+C, no series awarded)
Side aerial (D, counts as C for L9)
+0.10 Acro CC
Back handspring, back tuck (B+C series)
Back tuck + split jump (C+B mixed series)
NO Acro CC (the two C’s are the same)
Back handspring, layout stepout (B+C series)
Roundoff (B)
NO Acro CC
Aerial cartwheel, swing through roundoff (D counting as C+B series)
Back handspring (B)
NO Acro CC
Back handspring, back handspring (B+B series)
Back tuck (C)
NO Acro CC
Front handspring stepout, roundoff (B+B series)
Back layout stepout (C)
NO Acro CC
Back handspring stepout, swing through round off (B+B series)
One arm back handspring (C)
NO Acro CC
Back handspring, back handspring (B+B series)
NO other acro in the routine
NO 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 C in their acro series, as long as they complete two other C acro skills in the routine. The C 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 for a Level 9 Beam Routine

To receive the +0.10 Composition Credit in the dismount category, the gymnast must perform one of the following:

C dismount
B acro skill connected to an B dismount
C dance skill connected to a B 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:

Gainer back pike off end of beam (C)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Gainer layout 1/1 twist off side of beam (C)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Front tuck 1/1 dismount off two feet (C)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Roundoff, back layout full (B acro +B dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Switch leap, gainer back tuck off end of beam (C dance + B dismount)
+0.10 Dismount CC
Cartwheel, back tuck full (A acro + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC
Split leap, gainer back tuck full off side of beam (B dance + B dismount)
NO Dismount CC
Front layout dismount (B)
NO Dismount CC
Roundoff, back tuck (B acro + A dismount)
NO Dismount CC
Missing Dismount Special Requirement

Dance Composition in a Level 9 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 for Level 9 Beam

In addition to the Composition Credit requirements, there are several other categories judges are looking for during each Level 9 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 there are many skills Level 9 gymnasts can use 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 9 beam skills or combinations I didn’t list here?

References

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

Making Sense of Composition – Level 9 Beam