Xcel Bronze Requirements

This article has been updated to reflect the changes from the 2022-26 Xcel Code of Points.

If you have Xcel Bronze gymnasts for the first time (or even if it’s not the first time!), you might be wondering what’s expected of them. Xcel Bronze is the first of the five Xcel divisions. The five divisions in Xcel gymnastics are: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. There is a 6th division, Sapphire, which is piloting in some regions in 2022-23.

Each division has its own set of skill and difficulty requirements. There are 4 Special Requirements on each event, except for vault. The requirements must be fulfilled by skills from the Xcel Code of Points, or from the division’s corresponding skills chart.

Let’s take a look at these requirements in the Bronze division.

Xcel Bronze Vault

gymnast doing Xcel bronze vault

There are two allowable vault options for Xcel Bronze. The gymnast may perform two of the same vault, or one of each vault. The coach and gymnast can make that decision, and they can ask for the first vault score before deciding which vault to perform for the second vault.

Either or both vaults can be performed using a traditional springboard, or the alternative springboard, with no deduction.

If a vault is performed that is not allowable for the division, it will receive a 0 (void vault).

Vault Option 1

Option 1 for Bronze vault is worth a 9.0 maximum Start Value. There are two parts to the vault, each worth 4.5.

Part 1-A is a Straight Jump onto a mat stack of 16”-48” height.

Part 1-B is a Kick to Handstand, fall to flat back on the mat stack (16”-48” height).

Vault Option 2

Option 2 for Bronze vault is worth a 10.0 maximum Start Value. There is only one portion of the Option 2 vault.

This vault is a jump to handstand, fall to flat back on a mat stack (16”-48” height). This vault is similar to the Level 2/3 vault in the USAG Development Program.

The following video shows each of the vault options. Vaults 1 and 2 are both Option 1. Vaults 3-5 are Option 2.

Xcel Bronze Bars

Mill circle on Xcel bronze bars

Special Requirements

An Xcel Bronze bar routine has 4 Special Requirements. The requirements must be fulfilled by A skills from the Xcel Code of Points, or by skills from the Xcel Bronze chart.

  1. Mount – low bar
  2. Cast (not mount or dismount) – hips must leave bar
  3. 360° circling skill (not mount or dismount)
  4. Dismount from low bar (no saltos)

Missing Special Requirements will result in a deduction of 0.50 from the Start Value.

Difficulty Restrictions

Each division has difficulty restrictions specific to that division. This helps to level the playing field among gymnasts in that division.

Here are the difficulty restrictions for Xcel Bronze bars:

  • No B or higher skills
  • No skills on high bar
  • No salto dismounts
  • No low bar giants

Bars Clarifications

Each Xcel division has certain rules that differentiate it from the USAG Development Program. Here are the clarifications for Bronze bars.

No cast angle deductions

No deductions will be taken for the angle, or amplitude, of any cast in an Bronze bar routine. Execution deductions apply, of course, but angle deductions do not.

No extra swings

There will be no deductions taken for extra swings in Xcel bronze. The gymnast won’t be performing swings on the high bar, so this principle won’t apply there. But it DOES apply to extra casts. An Bronze gymnast can “pump” her legs, or perform small casts between skills, as much as she likes without getting a 0.30 extra swing deduction. These extra casts can still receive rhythm and execution deductions, but they won’t get an extra swing deduction.

Counting of Elements

When a skill is preceded by a cast, the cast and skill EACH receive VP credit. Here are some examples:

  • Cast sole circle dismount
  • Cast underswing dismount

Here are the exceptions to this rule:

  • Cast squat on (with or without jump to high bar)
  • Cast stoop on (with or without jump to high bar)
  • Cast straddle on (with or without jump to high bar)
  • Cast shoot through
  • Cast off to stand dismount

Xcel Bronze Beam

Xcel Bronze beam gymnast standing

Special Requirements

Just like bars, an Xcel Bronze beam routine has 4 Special Requirements. The requirements must be fulfilled by A skills from the Xcel Code of Points, or by skills from the Xcel Bronze chart.

  1. Minimum ½ turn on 1 or 2 feet
  2. One leap or jump (not mount or dismount)
  3. One non-flight acro element
  4. Dismount (no saltos or aerials)

Missing Special Requirements will result in a deduction of 0.50 from the Start Value.

Difficulty Restrictions

Here are the difficulty restrictions for an Xcel Bronze beam routine:

  • No B skills
  • No salto or aerial dismounts
  • No walkovers

Beam Clarifications

Here are a few clarifications for Xcel Bronze beam.

First, all handstands are considered the same skill, regardless of the angle achieved. No hold is required to get credit for the handstand.

Next, all acro skills must start and finish on the beam to receive credit.

There is no minimum time for a Bronze beam routine. There is no undertime deduction.

Finally, the following skills receive a different value in the Bronze division:

  • Cross split jump = A (any split angle)
  • Cross straddle jump = A (any split angle)
  • Split leap = A (any split angle)

There is no split leap/jump angle requirement for Xcel beam routines. The leap/jump is not required to have a split at all.

Xcel Bronze Floor

gymnast doing leap on Xcel bronze floor

Special Requirements

An Xcel Bronze floor routine also has 4 Special Requirements. The requirements must be fulfilled by A skills from the Xcel Code of Points, or by skills from the Xcel Bronze chart.

  1. 1st acro pass: 2 directly connected acro skills (flight or non-flight)
  2. 2nd acro pass: Minimum one acro element (flight or non-flight)
  3. Dance passage: 2 Group 1 elements, directly or indirectly connected, one of which is a leap with minimum 60° split
  4. Minimum ½ turn on 1 foot

Missing Special Requirements will result in a deduction of 0.50 from the Start Value.

Difficulty Restrictions

  • No B or higher skills (exceptions: straddle jump and side leap are allowed)
  • No saltos or aerials
  • Maximum of 2 flight elements per routine

Floor Clarifications

All acro flight elements receive VP credit, no matter how many times that element is performed, as long as the series is different. This is consistent through all Xcel divisions, although it doesn’t really apply to Bronze because the Bronze gymnasts are limited to 2 flight elements per routine.

There is no minimum time for Xcel floor routines. There is no undertime deduction.

Final Thoughts

Now you’re familiar with the requirements for the Xcel Bronze division. For more detailed information on each event, check out the articles below:

Xcel Vault: What You Should Know

Xcel Bars: Bronze, Silver and Gold

Xcel Bars: Platinum and Diamond

Xcel Beam: How to Score Big

Xcel Floor: How to Score Big

References

USA Gymnastics Xcel Code of Points, 2022-2026.