What's New in the Xcel Program in 2025-26?

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 2025, and here are the changes, effective for the 2025-26 season. Click here to see the full meeting minutes on the USA Gymnastics website.

General Updates

An Xcel National Competition has been proposed – more details to come!

The current (2022-2026) Xcel Code of Points will be extended until 2028, to stagger the cycles from the Dev cycles. Going forward, Xcel cycles will return to a 4-year cycle (i.e. 2028-2032).

Rules and Policies Updates

A 2-judge panel is REQUIRED for Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire Divisions for mobility and qualifying meets. Bronze, Silver, and Gold Divisions may use a 1-judge panel for mobility.

Attire Updates

A gymnast MAY wear a sports bra WITH exposed straps, as long as it is black, clear, skin tone, or matches the leotard. YAY!!! We’ve been waiting for this rule to be changed for a LONG time.

Meet Mechanics Updates

At STATE meets and above, heat sheets are required. At other meets, if heat sheets are not used, the head judge must record both scores, neutral deductions, and the final average score.

If an athlete requires medical attention and clearance to continue competition, she may complete the routine and resume competition within the same session once she is cleared.

Matting Updates

Bronze and Silver Vault: The mat stack can be placed on the floor, the vault runway, or the competition landing mat.

Pit pillows are ALLOWED to be used for warm-ups at all sanctioned competitions. They are only allowed in competition where specified in R&P.

A springboard is NEVER allowed to be placed on top of the vault table, even during general stretch or warm-ups.

Beam dismount matting must include a minimum of 4 feet by 4 feet of padding in the corners between the end of the Beam and the under-Beam matting. This padding may consist of panel mats, carpet-bonded foam, or similar materials.

Floor Additional Matting: At all sanctioned competitions, two 4-inch mats will be allowed, replacing the previous allowance of one 4-inch mat and one 8-inch mat. The two 4-inch mats may be stacked.

Judging/Video Review Updates

Clarification on Video Review and Judges’ Affiliation: “At all sanctioned competitions, a coach may request a video review by the Meet Referee and highest rated judge unaffiliated with that event (if video is available) following an inquiry. If the Meet Referee or highest rated judge is affiliated with the athlete in question, the video review will be conducted by the next 2 highest rated judges unaffiliated with the athlete, or the highest rated unaffiliated judge and a USA Gymnastics officer.”

General Deduction Updates

REMOVE the 0.30 deduction for no dismount from all events.

Xcel Vault Updates

NEW Deduction (Bronze-Sapphire): Failure to punch board simultaneously with 2 feet – 0.20.

Silver Vault: NEW Deduction – Contacting the mat stack with the hands after vertical:

Contact from 1° to 45° past vertical – .05-.50
Contact from 46° to 89° past vertical – .55-1.0

NEW Vault for Platinum: #4.201 RO-FF on, 1/1 twist off = 10.0 SV

Many changes have been made to vault values in the Xcel Gold/Platinum/Diamond/Sapphire Vault Chart. These changes are good – many vaults have increased their Start Values! Please see the final page of the minutes here to view the new chart.

Xcel Bars Updates

Xcel Bars Clarifications

Clarification: The 0.20 deduction for a coach applying water or chalk to the bars after the routine has begun ONLY applies if the gymnast is actively competing on the equipment. It does NOT apply if she is on the ground after a fall.

Clarification on equipment failure: If the bar tension cable slips while the gymnast is competing, AFTER the coach has tightened it prior to the routine, this WILL be considered equipment failure, and no deduction will be taken for a fall.

Silver-Sapphire cast amplitude deductions have been clarified as follows:

If an extra swing occurs (Platinum-Sapphire), ONLY the 0.30 extra swing deduction will be applied. The 0.10 cast amplitude deduction will not be applied to a short cast that is performed during the extra swing.
The 0.10 amplitude deduction will NOT be applied to circling elements, even if they are used to fulfill the division’s angle requirement. If a circling skill is performed that is within 10° of the division’s requirement, VP credit will be awarded, and only the amplitude deductions allowable for the division will be applied. (This means NO amplitude deduction at Gold or Platinum for a clear hip circle.)

NEW rule: Cast angle deductions do NOT apply prior to the following skills:

#2.205 HB facing LB – swing down with change to cross grip and 1½ turn in range of hang position – swing backward with flight over LB to hang on LB (“B”)
2) #3.203 Toe-on overshoot to hang on LB (“B“)
3) #4.204 Bail to hang on LB (“B“)
4) # 4.306 From HB to hang on LB (“Peach” Salto) or to clear straddle support (“C”) (not allowed at Platinum)

Clarification: After a fall, judging resumes with the first Value Part performed that is ALLOWED for the division.

Xcel Bars Value Changes

#8.401 variation: Underswing (toe-on or clear) to front tuck or pike with 1/1 twist: REINSTATED! This skill is once again in the Xcel COP.
#6.301 Variation: Stalder forward to handstand, also with ½ turn in handstand phase: Raised from “C” to “D” (now #6.401).
#6.301 variation – Stalder forward to handstand with 1/1 turn on one arm after handstand phase (Healy technique) to L or mixed-L grip: Raised from “C” to “D” (now #6.401).
#6.401 variation Stalder forward to handstand with 1/1 (360°) turn in handstand phase: REMOVE from the Xcel Code (“E” in Dev”).

Xcel Bars New Skills

Silver ONLY: #8.008 “A”- From LB, sole circle backward (tucked, piked or straddled), circle around the bar ¾, with release and dismount to stand.

Gold and Platinum ONLY: #8.009 “A”- From HB, sole circle backward (piked or straddled), circle around the bar ¾, with release and dismount to stand.

Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Sapphire ONLY: #8.010 “A”- from HB, cast stoop through or swing forward back kip-up to brief rear support (touching HB with back of thighs), salto backward tucked, piked, or stretched.

Xcel Beam Updates

Xcel Beam New Skills

Add shoulder stand variation to #1.108 Chest or Head Stand mount

Xcel Beam Clarifications

Clarification regarding equipment failure: If the end cap detaches while the gymnast is performing her dismount, it IS considered equipment failure, and the 0.50 fall deduction would not apply. If the end cap detaches at any other time, it is NOT considered equipment failure.

Sapphire Acro Special Requirement update: Acro series with a minimum of one (1) flight skill (a minimum of one (1) skill must pass through or achieve vertical OR be a salto or aerial).

Xcel Floor Updates

General Floor Updates

CJ deduction for “absence of music OR music with words/song/speech” has been decreased from 1.00 to 0.50.

Floor Matting: At all sanctioned competitions, two 4-inch mats will be allowed, replacing the previous allowance of one 4 inch mat and one 8-inch mat. The two (2) 4-inch mats may be stacked. It is still a rule that only two mats are allowed on the floor at a time, regardless of whether they are stacked or separate.

Clarification on additional matting for floor routines: All matting must be in place before the routine begins. If matting is added after the routine begins, a 0.30 deduction will be applied for unauthorized matting. Mats MAY be removed during a routine, but they must be removed from the nearest boundary line, and the person removing them must stay outside of the floor as much as possible. There is no deduction for a coach briefly stepping onto the floor to remove a mat.

NEW 0.50 deduction will be applied if a gymnast leaves the floor during the routine. This deduction should not be taken in addition to a fall out of bounds or a fall immediately preceding the gymnast leaving the floor for medical evaluation.

For Xcel, variations of elements FLOOR #4.101 and FLOOR 4.102 are all considered different elements. Examples:

#4.101: Forward roll, handstand forward roll, or hecht roll
#4.102: Roll backward in tuck or pike, backward roll to push-up shape, roll backward to handstand, also with ½ (180°) turn in handstand.

Xcel Floor Changes That Will Take Place in 2026

Updated Floor Routine Time Limits:

Silver: 45 seconds
Platinum: 1 minute, 15 seconds

The changes to the floor music rule that were announced last year, and were supposed to begin in August 2026, have been rescinded. Floor music WILL still be allowed to contain human or synthesized voices in the future. Great news for gymnasts who did not want to change their music, or who were hoping to use one of these musical pieces!

A floor music approval subcommittee will be formed and will define a music approval process to begin August 1, 2026.