Gymnastics levels are a progression system, not a universal ranking of every gymnast worldwide. In the USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program, Levels 1–3 are developmental, Levels 4–5 are compulsory, and Levels 6–10 are optional. Elite gymnastics sits beyond the Development Program and follows separate qualification and international rules.
This guide explains what each stage is designed to do, how progression changes from basic skill development to individually constructed routines, and where elite gymnastics fits. For specific movement examples, use our separate gymnastics skills guide; for scoring, see how gymnastics is scored.
[toc]
Gymnastics Levels at a Glance
| Stage | Levels | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental | 1–3 | Build basic shapes, strength, body control and introductory routines |
| Compulsory | 4–5 | Gymnasts perform prescribed routines so execution can be compared consistently |
| Optional | 6–10 | Routines become individually constructed within level-specific requirements |
| Elite | Beyond Level 10 pathway | Separate high-performance programme leading toward national and international competition |
USA Gymnastics says the Women’s Development Program is designed so athletes can build a solid foundation and advance at their own pace. The current women’s compulsory materials cover Levels 1–5 through 2029, while the optional programme for Levels 6–10 moved to the 2026–2030 Code of Points in 2026.
Levels 1–3: Developmental Gymnastics
Level 1
Level 1 is an introductory development stage. The priority is learning basic body positions, balance, coordination, safe landing habits and the movement vocabulary that later gymnastics depends on. It can be used in a recreational or pre-team setting rather than as a full competitive destination.
Level 2
Level 2 continues the same foundation with greater control and consistency. Gymnasts begin combining basic elements rather than treating every movement as an isolated drill. Coaches are still primarily looking for sound shapes, technique and confidence rather than difficulty for its own sake.
Level 3
Level 3 is the final developmental stage in the current women’s programme structure. Routines and sequences become more complete, but the purpose remains preparation for the compulsory competition levels rather than individual routine design.
Levels 4–5: Compulsory Gymnastics
Levels 4 and 5 are compulsory levels. That means athletes perform prescribed routines rather than building entirely individual programmes. The system allows judges and coaches to compare execution, rhythm, shapes and technical quality across athletes working from the same basic routine framework.
Level 4
Level 4 is the first compulsory stage in this structure. Gymnasts must show that their fundamentals can hold together under a complete routine and competition setting. Progress depends on meeting the programme’s current mobility and competition requirements, not simply learning one headline skill.
Level 5
Level 5 remains compulsory but raises the technical and execution demands. Athletes are expected to perform the prescribed work with greater amplitude, consistency and control before moving into the optional programme.
Levels 6–10: Optional Gymnastics
From Level 6 onward, women’s Development Program gymnastics is optional: routines are individually constructed within the rules for each level. “Optional” does not mean anything goes. Each level has composition requirements, permitted difficulty, execution deductions and mobility rules defined by the current Code of Points.
Level 6
Level 6 is the entry point to optional gymnastics. Athletes and coaches gain more freedom to build routines around the gymnast’s strengths while still working within tighter difficulty limits than the higher levels.
Level 7
Level 7 adds more room for routine construction and connection choices. Execution remains heavily important; simply adding harder elements does not guarantee a better score if form, landings or composition suffer.
Level 8
Level 8 is a higher optional stage with broader difficulty possibilities and more demanding routine composition. Athletes are expected to combine stronger technical consistency with more advanced content across the four women’s artistic events.
Level 9
Level 9 is an advanced optional level. Routines require a stronger mix of difficulty, connections and execution quality, but Level 9 is still part of the Development Program rather than the international elite code.
Level 10
Level 10 is the highest level of the USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program. It is not the same as elite gymnastics. Level 10 athletes can perform highly advanced routines, but elite qualification, national-team pathways and FIG competition use separate standards and selection processes.
What Comes After Level 10?
Elite gymnastics is a separate high-performance pathway. Athletes aiming for national teams, World Championships or the Olympic Games must meet elite qualification standards and compete under the applicable national and FIG rules. Reaching Level 10 can be an important step, but it does not automatically make an athlete elite.
How Do Gymnasts Move Up a Level?
Progression is governed by the current programme rules, including mobility scores, age requirements where applicable, competition status and coach judgement. A gymnast does not move up simply because she can perform one difficult skill. Consistency, execution, routine readiness and safe progressions matter.
That is why it is useful to keep three questions separate: what skills a gymnast can perform, what level the athlete is registered in, and how the routine is scored. They overlap, but they are not the same thing.
Development Program vs Xcel
USA Gymnastics also operates the Xcel Program. Xcel uses divisions rather than the same Level 1–10 ladder and follows its own Code of Points. It should not be described as a lower or higher version of a Development Program level without checking the current rules. The Xcel Code of Points currently runs through 2028.
Takeaway
The simplest way to understand women’s artistic gymnastics levels is: Levels 1–3 build the foundation, Levels 4–5 use compulsory routines, Levels 6–10 use optional routines, and elite gymnastics is a separate pathway. The exact skill and scoring requirements can change with each rule cycle, so current programme documents matter more than old online skill lists.
