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 each division has its own set of requirements and difficulty restrictions. Of course, these requirements build on each other, to make each division more difficult than the previous one.
Today I’ll show you the requirements and difficulty restrictions for each division, along with some advice to score your best on any routine.
What to Know about Xcel Floor
Each division has 4 Special Requirements on floor. These requirements are consistent across the divisions, with the difficulty increasing progressively. The Special Requirements consist of a turn, a dance passage, and two acro passes.
Each routine must contain at least two acro passes. In some divisions, a “pass” may just be one element.
Acro passes are considered different if any of the following occurs:
- Different number of skills in the passes
- Same acro elements performed in a different order
- Different acro skill added to one of the passes
- Different dance skill added to the end of one of the passes
Leaps/jumps requiring a split must attain a split within 20° of the division’s requirement in order to get credit. If the leap in the dance passage does not meet the requirement, the gymnast will not receive Special Requirement credit.
Elements in the dance passage must be DIFFERENT.
A straight jump is not an element in the Xcel floor Code.
All turns must be performed on one foot to receive Special Requirement credit.
Xcel Floor: Bronze Division
Special Requirements
- Minimum 2 directly connected acro elements (with or without flight)
- 2nd Acro pass with 1 element (with or without flight)
- Dance passage: Minimum 2 dance elements (leaps/jumps/hops ONLY), one a leap with at least 60° split, directly or indirectly connected
- Minimum 1/2 turn on 1 foot
Value Parts
- 4 “A” skills
Difficulty Restrictions
- No “B” or higher elements
- No saltos or aerials
- Maximum 2 flight elements per routine
Considerations for Xcel Bronze Floor
One of the most common errors resulting in a low Start Value is a non-connected series. During the non-flight acro series, there are several errors to watch for. These include foot faults, pivot turns, and extra steps. Cartwheel cartwheel is a difficult connection at this level. The series cannot have a pivot turn in between, so the gymnast would have to perform two true side cartwheels.
A series that you might not expect to be allowable is roundoff rebound backward roll, but this IS ok! It is the only allowable series with a rebound in the middle.
The two acro series must be separate. The gymnast may not perform a three-element series and get credit for both acro Special Requirements.
A dive roll is NOT considered a flight element.
SR credit is awarded for leaps within 20° of the Division’s requirement. For bronze, the requirement is 60°, so a leap of 40° or higher would fulfill the Special Requirement. Straddle jumps and side leaps are allowable and receive “A” credit.
Bronze gymnasts must perform at least 4 “A” skills in their routine, along with all of the Special Requirements, in order to receive a 10.0 Start Value. A missing “A” is worth 0.10 from the Start Value. If the gymnast completes all of her Special Requirements, she will have enough “A” skills to get a 10.0 Start Value. However, keep in mind that the more skills a gymnast performs, the more likely she is to incur more deductions.
Xcel Floor: Silver Division
Special Requirements
- Minimum 2 directly connected acro elements (1 with flight)
- 2nd Acro pass: 2 directly connected acro elements OR 1 acro flight element
- Dance passage: Minimum 2 dance elements (leaps/jumps/hops ONLY), one a leap with at least 90° split, directly or indirectly connected
- Minimum 1/1 turn on 1 foot
Value Parts
- 5 “A” skills
Difficulty Restrictions
- No “B” acro elements
- No “C” or higher elements
- Maximum 1 salto or aerial per routine
Considerations for Xcel Silver Floor
Counting of Value Parts during Xcel floor has changed a number of times over the years, so let’s review the current rules:
- Skills can receive VP credit twice, as long as they are performed in a different connection.
- A skill performed a third time will NOT receive VP credit, and cannot fulfill Special Requirements.
- Exception: If the skill is performed a third time, but was not awarded VP credit on one of the first two attempts, the third attempt will be eligible for VP credit.
- Exception: Flight elements with hand support are eligible for VP credit an unlimited number of times, as long as the series is different.
The gymnast must perform two separate acro passes. If she performs one pass with three acro flight elements, this cannot fulfill both acro Special Requirements.
A dive roll is NOT considered a flight element.
SR credit is awarded for leaps within 20° of the Division’s requirement. For Silver, the requirement is 90°, so a dance passage with a leap of 70° or higher would fulfill the Special Requirement.
Silver gymnasts must perform at least 5 “A” skills in their routine, along with all of the Special Requirements, in order to receive a 10.0 Start Value. A missing “A” is worth 0.10 from the Start Value. If the gymnast completes all of her Special Requirements, she will have enough “A” skills to get a 10.0 Start Value. However, keep in mind that the more skills a gymnast performs, the more likely she is to incur more deductions.
Xcel Floor: Gold Division
Special Requirements
- Minimum 2 directly connected acro FLIGHT elements
- 2nd Acro pass: 2 directly connected acro flight elements OR 1 aerial/salto
- Dance passage: Minimum 2 dance elements (leaps/jumps/hops ONLY), one a leap with at least 120° split, directly or indirectly connected
- Minimum 1/1 turn on 1 foot
Value Parts
- 6 “A” skills
Difficulty Restrictions
- No “B” twisting saltos
- No “C” or higher elements
Considerations for Xcel Gold Floor
See the Silver floor section for Value Part clarifications. These principles apply to all divisions of Xcel.
As in the other divisions, two separate acro series are required to fulfill both acro Special Requirements. If the gymnast performs a three-element series including a salto, such as roundoff back handspring back tuck, she would not receive credit for both Special Requirements.
A dive roll is NOT considered a flight element.
SR credit is awarded for leaps within 20° of the Division’s requirement. For Gold, the requirement is 120°, so a dance passage with a leap of 100° or higher would fulfill the Special Requirement.
Gold gymnasts must perform at least 6 “A” skills in their routine, along with all of the Special Requirements, in order to receive a 10.0 Start Value. A missing “A” is worth 0.10 from the Start Value. If the gymnast completes all of her Special Requirements, she will have enough “A” skills to get a 10.0 Start Value. However, keep in mind that the more skills a gymnast performs, the more likely she is to incur more deductions.
Xcel Floor: Platinum Division
Special Requirements
- Minimum 2 directly connected acro FLIGHT elements with “A” or “B” salto
- 2nd Acro pass: 2 directly connected acro flight elements OR 1 “B” salto
- Dance passage: Minimum 2 dance elements (leaps/jumps/hops ONLY), one a leap with at least 155° split, directly or indirectly connected
- Minimum 1/1 turn on 1 foot
Value Parts
- 6 “A” skills
- 1 “B” skill
Difficulty Restrictions
- No “C” acro skills
- No “D” or higher elements
Considerations for Xcel Platinum Floor
Platinum gymnasts must perform at least 6 “A” skills and 1 “B” skill, along with all of the Special Requirements, in order to receive a 10.0 Start Value. A missing “A” is worth 0.10, and a missing “B” is worth 0.30. I typically recommend not adding more than 1 extra skill above what is required. The more skills a gymnast performs, the more likely she is to incur more deductions.
The second acro series does not have to have a salto as long as it has two flight elements with hand support. If it has a B salto, it does not need a second skill in the pass.
A dive roll is NOT considered a flight element.
SR credit is awarded for leaps within 20° of the Division’s requirement. For Platinum, the requirement is 155°, so a dance passage with a leap of 135° or higher would fulfill the Special Requirement.
Xcel Floor: Diamond Division
Special Requirements
- 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 - 2 different saltos, one must be a “B” salto. Both saltos can be included in an acro pass or isolated.
- Dance passage: Minimum 2 dance elements (leaps/jumps/hops ONLY), one a leap with at least 155° split, directly or indirectly connected
- Minimum “B” turn on 1 foot
Value Parts
- 5 “A” skills
- 2 “B” skills
Difficulty Restrictions
- Maximum of 1 “D” element. No bonus will be awarded.
- No “E” elements
Considerations for Xcel Diamond Floor
Xcel Diamond has a slightly more difficult requirement for the number of skills in the floor routine. The gymnast must perform at least 5 “A” skills and 2 “B” skills, along with all of the Special Requirements, in order to receive a 10.0 Start Value. A missing “A” is worth 0.10, and a missing “B” is worth 0.30. Just as in Platinum, I do not advise adding a lot of extra skills above and beyond what is required. The more skills a gymnast performs, the greater her chances to receive deductions.
The acro requirements for Diamond floor can be accomplished within two passes. If the gymnast is able to do two acro passes instead of three, she is likely to incur fewer deductions, simply because she is performing fewer skills. However, make the best judgment based on what the gymnast can perform well!
A dive roll is NOT considered a flight element.
SR credit is awarded for leaps within 20° of the Division’s requirement. For Diamond, the requirement is 155°, so a dance passage with a leap of 135° or higher would fulfill the Special Requirement.
General Categories
When constructing an Xcel floor routine, remember that there are several general categories that judges will be evaluating. These categories include artistry, rhythm, dynamics, posture, and footwork. For more detail on these deductions, read this general deductions article and this artistry article. There are no composition deductions in any Xcel division.
Further Reading
Want to read more about Xcel gymnastics?
Article about vault: Xcel Vault: What You Should Know
Bars article #1: Xcel Bars: Bronze, Silver, and Gold
Bars article #2: Xcel Bars: Platinum and Diamond
Beam article: Xcel Beam: How to Score Big
Xcel Bronze Gymnastics Requirements
Xcel Silver Gymnastics Requirements
Xcel Gold Gymnastics Requirements
Xcel Platinum Gymnastics Requirements
Xcel Diamond Gymnastics Requirements
References: USA Gymnastics Xcel Code of Points, 2022-2026.
