This post was originally published February 10, 2020, and was updated August 29, 2020, August 29, 2021, August 19, 2022, July 7, 2023, November 6, 2024, and July 8, 2025. If you’ve been at a Level 6 or 7 gymnastics meet recently, no doubt you’ve seen the new vault setup. Gymnasts now vault from the […]
This post has been updated to reflect the 2021-2029 compulsory routine changes, and was updated again in July 2023, and July 2025. It’s time to polish up those compulsory routines! Today we will look at the Level 3 floor routine. This was always one of my favorite levels to coach, because the kids are just […]
This article has been updated to reflect the changes in the 2022-2026 DP Code of Points. It has been modified using the new 2024 composition deductions. Have you ever watched a floor routine that looked amazing, but then it scored low? I know I have! Especially before I started judging, it just didn’t make sense! […]
This article has been updated to reflect the changes made in the 2022-2026 Code of Points. It has been modified using the new 2024 composition deductions. Your Level 9 gymnast hits her floor routine. Yes! But the score comes in lower than you both expected. What’s the deal? At Level 9, there’s a good chance […]
This post has been updated to reflect the 2022-2026 Code of Points. It has been modified using the new 2024 composition deductions. This Level 8 gymnast did a super clean floor routine! Gymnast and coach are thrilled, but when the score comes up, it’s not as high as they thought it would be. What gives? […]
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 […]
