What's New in the Xcel Program in 2026-27?

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.) The next set of changes to the Xcel Code of Points has been pushed back to 2028.

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 2026, and here are the changes, effective for the 2026-27 season. Click here to see the full meeting minutes on the USA Gymnastics website.

General Updates

Reminder: 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).

Details are here for the National Xcelebration – the Xcel National Competition!

The top 100 Platinum and Diamond gymnasts per region (plus ties) will qualify, and the top 20 Sapphire gymnasts (plus ties)
There is no minimum qualification score
There are no petitions or injury replacements
If a region does not use all of its allocated spots, they will be reallocated to other regions, in order based on the highest number of participants at that division
Top 10 places are awarded on each event and AA at each division. Ties are not broken
More details listed in the minutes!

Rules and Policies Updates

Meet directors are required to give out awards to 40% of gymnasts in each age group for each event and the all-around. At Bronze and Silver, these awards can be a combination of achievement or placement awards, or either of those options. At Gold and above, they must be placement awards. At State meets and above, they must be placement awards for all divisions.

An individual event specialist (IES) must be placed first on her event WHEN POSSIBLE, if there is a random draw.

If a gymnast is injured at State meet and is unable to complete her 4th event, she must use the following procedures to petition to Regionals:

Complete Injury Petition Form and provide the required documentation
Complete “Petition Form to Regional Championships” which includes the following:
- Gymnast’s score from 1st 3 events (MUST be at least 75% of the petition AA score)
- Documentation of a score for the 4th event (that was not competed) which is at least equal to the remaining score to meet the total petition score
- Documentation from the State Meet Injury Report Form to verify injury at the State Meet

Meet Mechanics Updates

Heat sheets are no longer required at State and above meets. If heat sheets are not used, the head judge must record all scores and neutral deductions.

Matting Updates

A springboard MAY be placed on top of an 8 inch mat for mounting.

Judging/Video Review Updates

The video review process MAY now include slow motion and freeze frame along with regular motion videos. All of these types of video are also acceptable if a Meet Referee is reviewing a video to decide if an inquiry should be submitted.

General Deduction Updates

The “squat on landing” deduction, which applies to all divisions, has been modified to include “knee compression less than a 90° angle/extreme knee bend extending past the toes”. This deduction is still up to 0.30, but is applied slightly differently based on these new guidelines.

The deduction for additional trunk movements/arm swings to maintain control on landing (applies to all divisions on vault landings, bars/beam dismounts, and floor landings) has been modified as follows:

Deduction applies to stuck landings
Deduction applies to a step, then a trunk and/or arm movement to prevent future steps
Deduction does NOT apply to trunk or arm movements followed by a step

Xcel Vault Updates

The coach may ask for the score of the first vault before the gymnast performs the second vault.

If any judge VOIDS the first vault, the Chief Judge must notify the coach.

NEW Deduction (Bronze-Sapphire): Incorrect foot form throughout (not in each phase) – Up to 0.10

Xcel Bars Updates

Xcel Bars Clarifications

Clarification: The Sapphire Special Requirement #3 should read “Minimum of “B” Turn, or 2nd 360° circling skill (minimum “B” & different from SR#2), not in mount or dismount, or minimum “B” release, not in the dismount”.

If a gymnast performs a cast into a long hang pullover, both the cast and the long hang pullover are eligible for Value Part credit, as long as the cast meets the angle requirement for the division.

All release elements from high bar to low bar must touch with both hands to receive Value Part credit.

Xcel Bars Element Updates

Bars element #8.006 – sole circle for Bronze/Silver – the description has been modified to read “(“A”) sole circle
variation -From squat, straddle, or stoop position, toe-on (sole circle) to stand”.

Bars dismount #8.010 – add variation “also with 1/2 turn” (eligible for Gold and up)

Bars element #7.203 (B) – add variation “sole circle backward piked with flight from high bar to regrasp low bar”

Xcel Bars Value Changes

#5.403 Variation (Ejova) has been raised to an “E” and will be removed from the Xcel Code of Points.

Xcel Beam Updates

Xcel Beam Value Changes

There are several skills which have changed in value:

#2.201 From cross position, 1/4 turn to side split jump (Decreased from “C” to “B”)
#2.202 From cross position, 1/4 turn to side straddle jump (Decreased from “C” to “B”)
#2.202 From side position, straddle jump 1/4 turn to finish in cross position (Decreased from “C” to “B”)
#2.302 Straddle jump 1/2 turn in cross position (Decreased from “D” to “C”)
#2.207 Sissonne (Increased from “A” to “B”)
#9.406 Back salto with 2/1 twist dismont (Increased from “C” to “D”)

Xcel Beam Clarifications

Warm-ups: In competitions using a DRAW format, the first athlete to compete must warm up first. The remaining athletes can be grouped by beam height setting. If the first gymnast blocks time with other gymnasts in the rotation, they must warm up with the first gymnast.

At STATE Meets and above: Meet directors must supply an “audible sound device” (bell, etc) to signal Warning and Time.

New Xcel Beam Deductions

The new general deductions that were added to the Dev Code of Points are being adopted by the Xcel Program as well. On beam, these deductions are:

Choreography (Up to 0.40)
- Lack of purposeful choreography (Up to 0.20)
- Choreography performed in all directions (Up to 0.10)
- Lack of variety of focus changes, poses, phrases, and connections (Up to 0.10)
Rhythm and Tempo (Up to 0.20)
- Insufficient variation in rhythm and tempo in non-VP’s (up to 0.10)
- A series of disconnected movements, appears fragmented and lacks continuity (Up to 0.10)
Sureness (Up to 0.20)
Body Posture (Up to 0.30) – head, shoulders, and trunk
Footwork (Up to 0.30)
Dynamics (Up to 0.20)
- Insufficient amplitude of choreographed movements (Up to 0.10)
- Energy maintained throughout routine (Up to 0.10)

Click here to read more about the new general deductions and their application!

Xcel Floor Updates

General Floor Updates

Matting for floor routines can be removed at any time during the routine, regardless of the placement of the mat. Coaches ARE allowed to walk onto the floor to remove the mats.

Music failure is no longer considered equipment failure, and the gymnast may NOT repeat the routine from the point of interruption. Deductions for absence of music, failure to end with the music, and musicality will not be applied to the section of the routine performed without music.

Updated Floor Routine Time Limits:

Silver: 45 seconds
Platinum: 1 minute, 15 seconds

New Xcel Floor Deductions

The new general deductions that were added to the Dev Code of Points are being adopted by the Xcel Program as well. On floor, these deductions are:

Choreography (Up to 0.40)
- Lack of purposeful choreography (Up to 0.15)
- Lack of focus changes/projection (Up to 0.15)
- Lack of variety of poses, phrases, and connections (Up to 0.10)
Musicality (Up to 0.20)
Expression (Up to 0.20)
Body Posture (Up to 0.30) – head, shoulders, and trunk
Footwork (Up to 0.30)
Dynamics (Up to 0.20)
- Insufficient amplitude of choreographed movements (Up to 0.10)
- Energy maintained throughout routine (Up to 0.10)