What's New in the Xcel Program in 2023?

Every four years, USA Gymnastics makes changes to the rules for the Xcel Program. The most recent rules changes took place in 2022. (Click here to read about them.)

However, each year, the committees meet and determine if smaller-scale changes need to be made to address issues that have been brought up.

Those meetings were completed in May 2023, and here are the changes, effective for the 2023-24 season. Click here to see the full meeting minutes on the USA Gymnastics website.

I think the change that is going to impact the most people is the GOLD BARS change, so if nothing else, be sure to read that one!

General Updates

The biggest change is that the Sapphire Division is now part of the National Xcel Program. Gymnasts from any region may compete in Sapphire competitions beginning in 2023. I haven’t seen anything about major rule changes to Sapphire, so if you’ve already been competing at this division, expect the requirements to remain the same. The Sapphire rules will be added to the Xcel Code of Points, but if you’re looking for them, you can also find the full rules here.

Matting Updates

Diamond and above athletes are allowed to use a pit pillow for WARM-UPS ONLY on vault.

“Junior boards” are no longer allowed at competitions.

Chalk is allowed on the vault hand placement mat, but tape is NOT allowed.

Vault requirements for landing over pit surfaces will be transferred to bars and beam dismounts as well. Landing surfaces over loose-foam pits must be covered by a stable surface. Bars/beam dismount areas into a resi pit may be allowed if the landing surface is deemed firm by the Meet Referee.

Rules and Policies Updates

Shorts may be worn either OVER or UNDER the leotard now. The shorts must still be black, above the knee, and with only a small logo, if any.

Chalk or water may not be added to the bars after the routine has started.

Mobility Updates

The pre-requisite mobility score is now:
● 32.00 All-Around for Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire
● 8.50 Individual Event Specialist (IES) for Platinum and Diamond (Sapphire IES is already an 8.50)

Entry from the Development Program has been modified to:
● Gold – Development Program 1-4
● Diamond – Development Program 7, 8
● Sapphire – Development Program 8 ,9, 10

Judging Updates

Non-rated coaches are no longer allowed to judge the Bronze and Silver divisions. Rated judges must be used at all sanctioned competitions.

At State Meet and above, the Meet Referee may allow the judges to review a routine to ensure the Special Requirements are met and no restricted elements are performed.

At Xcel State Meet and above, a coach can request a video review by the Meet Ref and the highest
rated unaffiliated judge (if video is available) if an inquiry was regarding any instance that would affect
the start value.

Clarifications on Inquiries and Video Reviews

At competitions, a check box will be added to the inquiry form to indicate that the coach is requesting a video review. Video reviews are allowable if the judges may have missed an element that affects the Start Value. Video reviews are NOT allowed to review angles, degrees of split or turn, or direct connections of skills.

A Meet Referee can watch a video prior to an inquiry submission to determine if the inquiry should move forward.

Clarification for State and Regionals qualification: An inquiry can be submitted to raise the score of the lowest event up to 0.10 for qualification purposes. This does NOT apply to In

General Deduction Updates

The following apply to all vaults, UB/BB dismounts, and BB/FX acro skills.

Wording has been updated for the “squat on landing” deduction of up to 0.30: a squat on landing describes a squat in which the hips are lower than the knees.
Deduction for “Lands in squat position, then falls” = Up to 0.30 +0.50.
NEW deduction: Medium step on landing = 0.15.

Wording has been updated for the “squat on landing” deduction of up to 0.30: a squat on landing describes a squat in which the hips are lower than the knees.

Chief Judge deduction – if a routine has fewer than 3 Value Parts, the Chief Judge will deduct 2.00 for a short exercise.

Vault Updates

General Vault Updates

Gold-Sapphire Vault numbers must be VISUALLY displayed at any sanctioned competition utilizing a 4-judge panel. Vault name OR number may be spoken to judges at all other competitions.

Vault deduction for “arched body” (up to 0.20) now reads “excessive arch”.

The deduction for “under-rotation of salto vaults” will be changed from a flat 0.10 to an Up to 0.10.

Bronze Vault Updates

Bronze Vault 2 now has a deduction of 0.30 for additional jumps on the board, just like Bronze Vault 1.

Gold-Sapphire Vault Updates

Divisions Gold-Sapphire have a new deduction in the support phase of 0.30 for a hop on both hands simultaneously.

Platinum and above gymnasts are allowed to run or jump on the runway after the previous competitor’s vault, as long as this is not done in front of the judges’ table.

New vaults for Diamond and Sapphire are as follows:

Vault	Diamond	Sapphire
1.109 Front Handspring onto board-Handspring off	9.5	9.1
1.110 Front Handspring onto board-Handspring ½ off	9.7	9.2
1.209 Front Handspring onto board- Handspring 1/1 turn off	10.0	9.5
1.111 Front Handspring onto board- 1/2 turn on – repulsion off	9.5	9.1
1.211 Front Handspring onto board- 1/2 turn on – 1/2 turn off	9.7	9.2
1.311 Front Handspring onto board- 1/2 turn on – 1/1 turn off	10.0	9.5
5.108 RO-FF 1/1 turn on – repulsion off	N/A	9.5

Bars Updates

Bars Value Changes

Rearrange bars element box and add:

8.107 b – add a ½ turn to salto and move to B Element column, resulting in a new element #8.207 c
8.207 (now b) – add to end of description “or from a counterswing”

Value changes:

#8.307 Front salto with 2/1 twist dismount: raised from “C” to “D” (now #8.407).
Remove from Xcel: #8.407 Front salto with 2 1/2 twist dismount. This skill is now an “E” in the Development Program.

Bronze/Silver Bars Updates

There is no longer a low bar option for the underswing dismount (both toe-on and clear). However, these dismounts ARE allowable for Bronze and Silver on the allowable skills list.

Silver Bars Updates

The Silver cast angle requirement now reads “cast to a minimum of 45° below horizontal or higher”. This is not a change in the requirement, just a change in wording.

Gold Bars Updates

The circling skill Special Requirements have been updated to the below.

Two (2) 360° circling skills (not mount or dismount) must be one of the following:

Two (2) directly connected same circling elements (performed on either bar) OR
Two (2) of the same circling element; one performed on low bar and one performed on high bar OR
Two (2) different circling elements connected or isolated (performed on either bar)

This means that Gold gymnasts can NOT perform Cast, Back hip circle, Cast, Back hip circle. This combination will now only receive credit for ONE circling skill Special Requirement.

Gold/Platinum Bars Updates

New Element – Tap Swing – ½ , ½ dismount (twisting in one direction, touch of hand is required) –
Allowable for Gold/Platinum Only as an “A” VP.

Diamond/Sapphire Bars Updates

NEW Bars skill: #2.205. Element description: “From cast in regular grip on HB, swing down with grip change to cross grip and ½ turn in range of hang position and swing backward in straddle or pike with flight over LB to hang”. For Diamond and Sapphire, there would be NO amplitude deduction if a cast is performed prior to this skill.

Additional examples will be added to the Xcel Code of Points with a chart for values of skills with turns on the same side of the bar (short side 1/2 turns).

Beam Updates

Bronze Beam Updates

The lever is required to show the free leg at horizontal or above in order to receive Value Part and Special Requirement credit.

Diamond Beam Updates

Diamond Beam Special Requirement (Leap/Jump) now requires a 155° split to fulfill the Special Requirement. This means that with the 20° window to receive credit, Diamond gymnasts may receive Value Part and Special Requirement credit for their leap or jump that is at least 135°, with an up to 0.20 deduction for insufficient split. This rule change means that any “B” or higher leap/jump performed at Diamond will receive full Value Part credit if it receives Special Requirement credit.

General Beam Updates

Clarification: In all divisions, walkovers are required to show the split angle that corresponds with their Division’s requirement, at one point during the skill. The deduction for insufficient split during a walkover is up to 0.20.

Beam Mount Clarifications

The pullover mount is allowed to be performed from the feet, knee, or seat.

Add variation of element #1.204 (B) From rear stand (back toward beam), jump to clear straddle flight
over the beam to land in front support

Add variation of element #1.210 (B) Jump, press, swing to side or cross handstand also exit with
walkover forward

Floor Updates

General Floor Updates

New/updated skills:

Add variation of element #1.112 (A) – Add Passe’ hop 1/1 as a variation of element 1.112
Add variation of element #2.301 a 2½ (900°) turn on one leg (free leg optional)
Raise 1.214 “B” Leg Swing Hop 1/1 to 1.314 “C”
Raise 1.314 “C” Leg Swing Hop 1 1/2 to 1.414 “D”
Remove – Leg Swing Hop 2/1 (Previously a “D” – this element is now an “E” in Development Program)

Element #7.101 (Side salto/side somi): With a takeoff from one leg, it will appear as an aerial/side salto, but will NOT be considered a salto for Special Requirement purposes.

The deduction for “poor relationship of movement and music throughout” has been increased to up to 0.30.

Platinum/Diamond Floor Updates

Platinum/Diamond Floor Special Requirement (Dance Passage) now requires a 155° split to fulfill the Special Requirement. This means that with the 20° window to receive credit, Platinum and Diamond gymnasts may receive Value Part and Special Requirement credit for their leap or jump that is at least 135°, with an up to 0.20 deduction for insufficient split. This rule change means that any “B” or higher leap/jump performed at Diamond will receive full Value Part credit if it receives Special Requirement credit.

Diamond Floor Updates

Diamond Floor Special Requirement #1 has been updated to read: “Two separate acro passes, each with a minimum 2 directly connected acro FLIGHT elements OR One pass with 2 directly connected acro FLIGHT elements AND 1 isolated “C” salto”.