The one where a USAG Judge breaks down the rule changes coming to USAG Women’s Optional Levels 6–10!
A new season is around the corner — and so are some key updates for the USAG Women’s Optional Levels 6–10! Whether you’re a gymnast fine-tuning your routines or a coach helping athletes push for those top scores, understanding what’s new in the code is essential. In this post, one of our judges walks you through the latest changes on vault, bars, beam, and floor—explaining what’s different, why it matters, and how these updates could impact scoring and strategy this season. Think of it as your quick, judge-approved guide to staying sharp and confident on the competition floor.
Vault Updates
There is a new deduction for all levels. If the gymnast does not punch off the springboard simultaneously with two feet there is a deduction of 0.2. This can sometimes happen with the younger gymnasts when they do a hippity hop, skip, or just run up onto the springboard.
For levels 6-7, the sting mat may be used to meet the minimum height requirement.
Levels 8-10 may now place the vault table at any manufacturing setting, with a minimum of 135cm.
Uneven Bars Updates
Level 9 & 10 composition – There is a compositional requirement under choice of elements. The gymnast must perform 2 elements that meet the listed requirements. Last season there were three options. This season there are four options. The gymnast must perform a forward element with minimum value B, an element from groups 3/6/7 with minimum value B, a 180 (or more) degree turn element with minimum value C, or new for this year, a single bar release with minimum value D. If the gymnast only performs one of the options, she will get a deduction of 0.1. If the gymnast does not perform any of the listed options, she will get a deduction of 0.2. This will give the gymnasts more options to choose from within the compositional requirements.
New skill value in the code: The stalder forward to handstand with 1/1 turn on one arm after the handstand phase (called a Healy technique) to L or mixed-L grip has been raised from a C value to a D value.
Balance Beam Updates
Skill update: A shoulder stand variation has been added to the chest or head stand mount.
New skill in the code: From side stand, ring jump with back leg at head height with ½ turn – E value.
Remember if you are the first gymnast to complete a skill at Nationals, that skill will be named after you!
Floor Updates
The deduction for no music or music with words or speech has been lowered from 1.0 to 0.5.
If the gymnast leaves the floor during the routine (not an out of bounds deduction, but simply if she walks off the floor in the middle of a routine) a deduction of 0.5 will be taken.
All mats must be placed on the floor before the routine begins. A mat cannot be added after the routine has started, or there will be a 0.3 deduction for supplemental matting. The coach may still remove a mat if it is close to a boundary line. The coach may not run across the floor to move a mat.
For all levels – a maximum of two mats may be on the floor exercise during the routine. You may have a 4” mat and another 4” mat. You may have a 4” mat and a sting mat. You may stack the two 4” mats to make 8” tall. You may stack the 4” mat and the sting mat. You may not use an 8” mat or have three total mats on the floor. The deduction for not following these rules is 0.3 for supplemental matting.
meetcritique Hot Tip: If it is the beginning of the season, you are coming back from an injury, or you have just learned a new skill and you are uncomfortable with the matting options allowed to you, put the mats you want on the floor and take the 0.3 supplemental matting deduction until you are ready to compete without them. Keep yourself safe first!
All Events!
There is no longer a 0.3 deduction for no dismount. This deduction was essentially deducting the gymnast twice if they did not do a dismount (0.5 for the missing special requirement and 0.3 for no dismount).
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