Preview of 2021-2029 Compulsory Skills

It’s officially time for the new compulsory routines!

As of August 1, 2021, the routines have changed. The old routines from 2013-2021 are no longer allowed in competition.

With these changes, the level system will still stay the same. There will continue to be five levels of compulsories and five levels of optionals. Level 4 will still be the required entry level, with clubs having the option of whether to compete at Levels 1, 2, and 3. There is a 2021-2029 skill list on their website, which I will review in detail below.

The following skills are the official 2021-2029 compulsory skills.

Click here to grab a copy of the Compulsory Skill Checklists!

Vault

There are no changes to Level 1 or 2 vault.

Level 1 will continue to perform a straight jump onto a mat stack (min. 16″).

Level 2 will still perform the jump to handstand, flat back onto a mat stack (min. 16″).

Level 3 gymnasts will no longer perform a flat back vault, but will do a handspring over the sideways resi pit, like Xcel Silver does. Check out this video to see what it will look like.

The Level 4 and 5 compulsory vault will still be a handspring over the table. There are no changes to this vault, and the deductions are almost identical to the previous cycle.

Bars

The coaches have been asking for it for years, and finally their wishes came true… NO MORE MILL CIRCLES!!!!

Level 1 Bar Routine

The Level 1 routine will stay the same. No changes this cycle!

Level 1 Bar Skills

Pullover
Cast
Back hip circle
Dismount: straddle sole circle OR underswing

Level 2 Bar Routine

The Level 2 routine will change in a few ways. A glide swing will be added to the pullover mount, so the new Level 2 mount will be the same as the Level 3 mount of glide swing, pullover. Two casts will be performed before the back hip circle (no angle requirement for either cast). The leg cut, mill circle/basket swing, and backward leg swing have all been deleted from the Level 2 routine. Instead, the gymnast will move directly from the back hip circle into the underswing dismount.

Level 2 Bar Skills

Glide swing, return to stand
Pullover
Cast (no angle requirement)
Cast (no angle requirement)
Back hip circle
Underswing dismount

Level 3 Bar Routine

There are also some changes to the Level 3 bar routine, in particular the deletion of the mill circle and a new dismount. Level 3 gymnasts will now be performing a squat on, jump off dismount to prepare them for the Level 4 skill of squat on, jump to high bar. Another change is that they will now perform two back hip circles in a row, since they will no longer connect the back hip circle to an underswing dismount.

Level 3 Bar Skills

Mount: glide swing to stand, pullover OR glide kip (both 10.0SV)
Cast (no angle requirement)
Back hip circle
Back hip circle
Front hip circle
Cast (no angle requirement), return to support
Cast, squat or pike on, stretch jump dismount

Level 4 Bar Routine

The Level 4 routine has changed only minimally from the current routine. Level 4 gymnasts are now allowed to perform a sole circle, jump to high bar after their squat or pike on. They are now allowed to straddle on the back swing during their counter swings. Other than that, the routine remains the same!

Level 4 Bar Skills

Straddle or pike glide kip
Cast to horizontal, return to support (legs together)
Cast squat/pike on, OR squat/pike on, tuck sole circle, jump to high bar
Long hang kip
Cast to horizontal (legs together)
Back hip circle
Underswing
Counterswing to 30° below horizontal (straddle on backswing ok)
Tap swing forward
Counterswing to 30° below horizontal (straddle on backswing ok)
Dismount: tap swing forward with 1/2 turn

Level 5 Bar Routine

The Level 5 routine also has only minimal changes. The structure of the routine remains the same, but gymnasts are now allowed to perform a straddle cast for either or both of their casts, and they are allowed to straddle on the backswing of their counter swings (just like the new Level 4 routine).

Level 5 Bar Skills

Straddle or pike glide kip
Cast above horizontal (straddle cast ok at Level 5 ONLY)
Clear hip circle above horizontal OR sole circle to clear support OR stalder to clear support
Glide kip, squat/pike on OR squat/pike on tuck sole circle jump to HB
Long hang kip
Cast above horizontal (straddle cast ok at Level 5 ONLY)
Long hang pullover
Underswing
Counterswing 15° below horizontal (straddle on backswing ok)
Tap swing forward
Counterswing 15° below horizontal (straddle on backswing ok)
Tuck, pike, or layout flyaway

Beam

Level 1 Beam Routine

The Level 1 beam routine has a lot of similar skills to the previous Level 1, but a few changes have been made. Notably, the lever has been removed from the routine in favor of a tuck stand-pike stand-needle kick-tuck stand-straight stand series. The cartwheel to partial handstand dismount will now be performed from a kneeling position. The order of the elements has been changed around from the previous routine, too.

Level 1 Beam Skills

Mount: jump to front support
Tuck stand-pike stand-needle kick-tuck stand-straight stand
Releve-lock-hold
Forward passe balance on flat foot
Stretch jump
Arabesque 30° (no hold)
Step, leg swing, step, leg swing
From kneel, cartwheel to partial handstand dismount

Level 2 Beam Routine

The Level 2 beam routine is mostly the same as the previous cycle. Again, the lever is gone. In its place is a tuck stand-pike stand-single leg kick up to straight stand. The mount is a jump to front support. Otherwise, the skills are all the same as the current routine.

Level 2 Beam Skills

Jump to front support mount
Single leg V sit, tuck stand-pike stand-single leg kick to straight stand
Passe leg balance, press to releve, lower, hold 2 seconds
Stretch jump
Arabesque 30° (hold 1 second)
Front leg swing-close, back leg swing-close, plie-releve-lock
Pivot turn
Cartwheel to side handstand dismount

Level 3 Beam Routine

The Level 3 beam skills are virtually the same as the previous routine. The only difference is that the mount is now a front support fish pose mount. Of course, the choreography is different, but the major elements are the same.

Level 3 Beam Skills

Front support fish pose mount
Cross handstand (mark, no hold)
1/2 heel-snap turn in forward passe
Stretch jump-stretch jump
Arabesque to 45°
Straight leg leap (90°) to plie arabesque, pause
Pivot turn-pivot turn
Cartwheel handstand 1/4 turn dismount (mark, no hold)

Does your gymnast need a practice beam for home? Check out The Best Gymnastics Beams for Home!

Level 4 Beam Routine

There are no significant changes to Level 4 beam, either. Last cycle, the jump series was split jump-straight jump, and this time, the jumps are reversed. The mount, just like Level 3, is a front support fish pose mount (with slightly different choreography). Other than that, the skills are all the same!

Level 4 Beam Skills

Front support fish pose mount
Cartwheel
1/2 turn in forward passe
Stretch jump, split jump
Cross handstand, hold 1 second
Scale at horizontal
One step entry, straight leg leap 120°
Cartwheel to handstand 1/4 turn dismount (hold 1 second)

Level 5 Beam Routine

The Level 5 beam routine has gotten some upgrades compared to the previous routine. In the past, the gymnast was allowed to perform a back walkover, back extension roll, or back handspring stepout for their big acro skill. In the new routine, two new acro choices have been added: back handspring to two feet, and front walkover. The dismount is more progressive as well, as the gymnast now needs to perform a cartwheel-straight jump combination and a back salto dismount. I agree with this decision, as the cartwheel-handstand dismount did not lead up to any optional dismounts, and the new dismount is clearly training the gymnast for cartwheel-back tuck and more difficult dismounts.

Level 5 Beam Skills

Mount (not requiring a board)
Back walkover OR
Back extension roll to 3/4 HS OR
Back handspring stepout OR
Back handspring 2 feet OR
Front walkover
Full turn in forward passe, arms in crown
Split jump, sissonne
Scale above horizontal
One step entry, straight leg leap 150°, stretch jump
Cartwheel, stretch jump
Back salto dismount

Want these skill lists in a printable checklist format?

Yes! I need a set of Compulsory Skill Checklists!

Floor

Level 1 Floor Routine

Level 1 floor is almost exactly the same as the old routine. All the skills are the same, except they have replaced the split jump with a straight jump. Easy peasy!

Level 1 Floor Skills

Forward entry cartwheel 1/4 turn in
Backward roll tucked
Candlestick
Forward passe balance – mark/press to releve
Forward chasse
Stretch jump
Forward roll tucked
Minimum 3/4 handstand

Level 2 Floor Routine

The Level 2 routine has a few changes, which will carry over to the higher compulsory levels. Instead of the roundoff, the gymnast will perform a cartwheel step in. The backward roll gets an upgrade, to a straight arm backward roll to pushup position (which had previously been a Level 3 skill). Instead of the 1/4-1/4 heel-snap turns, the gymnast will now perform a passe, releve, into a 1/2 heel-snap turn. The pivot turns are no longer in the new Level 2 routine.

Level 2 Floor Skills

Cartwheel step in
Straight arm backward roll to pushup position
Passe, releve, heel-snap 1/2 turn
Forward chasse-straight leg leap 60°
Split jump 60°
Handstand
Candlestick to sit
Bridge, back kickover

Level 3 Floor Routine

The big change in the Level 3 routine is that the straight arm backward roll is now required to open to 45°. The rest of the skills in this routine remain the same, although we will, at long last, get new music and choreography!

Level 3 Floor Skills

Handstand forward roll straight arms
Chasse, Split leap 90°
Stretch jump, split jump 90°
Handstand bridge, back kickover
Forward split
1/2 turn in forward passe, arms in crown
Straight arm backward roll tuck, open to 45°, lower to pushup
Roundoff back handspring rebound stick (no required # steps)

Level 4 Floor Routine

There are a few changes to the Level 4 routine structure. The straddle jump and jump 1/2 turn are now isolated skills. The gymnast will now perform a front handspring stepout, cartwheel step in, back extension roll. This acro series replaces the front handspring to two feet that was in the previous routine. The dance passage will still include a leap to 120°, but the only other skill in the dance passage is a chasse prior to the leap.

Level 4 Floor Skills

Back walkover
Power hurdle or one step, front handspring stepout, cartwheel step in, back extension roll
Stretch jump 1/2 turn
Straight leg leap 120° dance passage
Straddle jump (120°)
Forward split
Full turn in forward passe – arms in crown
Roundoff 2 back handsprings, rebound stick (no required # steps)

Level 5 Floor Routine

The Level 5 routine has similar changes to the Level 4 routine. The front handspring pass is changed to 2 front handspring stepouts, cartwheel step in, back extension roll. This replaces the previous pass of front handspring stepout, front handspring two feet. The gymnast can choose to perform a front or side aerial or a front tuck. And the dance passage is a chasse into the leap (or switch-leg leap) for the Level 5 routine too.

Level 5 Floor Skills

Front tuck OR front or side aerial
2 front handspring stepouts, cartwheel step in, back extension roll
Stretch jump 1/1 turn
Split leap (150°) or switch-leg leap (150°) dance passage
Straddle jump (150°)
Forward split
Full turn in forward passe, arms in crown
Roundoff, back handspring, back tuck stick (no required # steps)

Overall, USA Gymnastics is making some great, progressive changes to the compulsory program. Every event has new changes to it, in order to improve the quality of gymnastics at all levels.