Level 4 beam – love it or hate it? It starts to get harder in this level, with the addition of the cartwheel! But what’s the best way to get a big score? If you read the Level 3 beam article, many of the same principles apply here to Level 4 beam. Let’s take a […]
When gymnasts start to get ready for competition, there are a lot of new things to learn. New skills, new routines, new attire. One thing that can be confusing about the attire is gymnastics grips for bars. When does a gymnast need them? What are they used for? Which ones are the best? Let’s take […]
What makes a great compulsory beam routine? It turns out, there are several components to it. I’ve been judging Level 3 beam routines for over 20 years (gosh, can that even be true?). Although the routines have changed a few times, many things have stayed the same. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the […]
This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-26 Xcel Code of Points. This is the final article in the Xcel series. I’m excited to talk about floor, one of my favorite events, and to share the most recent updates. If you’ve read the vault, bars, and beam articles, you know that […]
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. WARNING: This article discusses sensitive topics, which may not be appropriate for all readers. Like many in the gymnastics community, I recently watched the “Athlete A” Netflix documentary, which featured Maggie Nichols and other USA National Team members. “Athlete A” […]
This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-26 Xcel Code of Points. Xcel beam routines – what are the judges looking for? Well, it’s a bit different at each division, but there are definitely some common themes. The best beam routines display confidence, good form, and good body posture. This is […]
Everyone wants a big, powerful, vault. At first glance, vault seems like the easiest event to master. It’s only one skill – how hard could it be? But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Many gymnasts are missing the key ingredient to a great vault: a powerful vault run. Why is the run important? […]
This post has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-26 Xcel Code of Points. What’s the best way to get my Xcel Platinum bars score up? How about Xcel Diamond? There are many more considerations in these divisions, compared with Bronze, Silver, and Gold. And of course, there are intricacies specific to each […]
“Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” – John Wooden John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, has a lot of inspirational quotes, and this is one of my favorites. Attitude and mindset go a long way toward success in any arena. These attributes make all the […]
This article has been updated to reflect the 2026-2030 DP Code of Points changes. What are the “intangibles” that can elevate your routine to the top? Every optional gymnastics routine is evaluated, at the end, on several general categories. These categories can result in general deductions for the routine, if there are deficits in these […]