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We didn't really know about Xcel when we started out as our gym didn't offer it. My girls are all still in JO as they want to get a college scholarship. I think they enjoyed the structured program more than they would have enjoyed a laid back one. DD13 may have been the one who would have enjoyed Xcel most, she enjoys more original skills (front tumbling, vaulting etc.) Xcel may have given her more room for skill choices.
We are just starting out but we are doing JO as it is all that our gym offers. We started at this gym whn my daughter was 2 for fun "mommy and me" classes. She has continued to love it and go invited to pre-team around 5 years old and just got invited to team last fall. Our gym starts competing at level 4. She just competed her first real meet (did an in house meet at a sister gym shortly after joining the team) January of this year, 3 days before she turned 8. We are in no rush to hurry through levels but so far we are happy with JO.
I did JO for the majority of my competition career through level 8, and my experience was successful. I honestly never considered the Xcel program for the longest time, and my gym didn't even offer it at first. It wasn't until my junior year of high school where mental blocks had affected my bars so much that I was only capable of competing around a level 6 bar routine for a bit while on events like beam I was closer to a level 9. Switching to Xcel gave me so much more flexibility when it came to this, and it allowed me to compete the hardest skills I was capable of without either dropping back levels or becoming an event specialist. This was just my experience, but it was the best decision I had ever made when it came to my gymnastics.
We're not in the US so on a different journey, but once we get to 2023 (the year my daughter will turn 8), we will discuss which competitive track she will start to train on with her coaches. So she's got another year of foundation squad to inform that initial decision. They are aiming to have flexibility to move across the tracks according to individual progress as well, so the decision won't be set in stone.
For our gym, Xcel is the only option. They don’t even have a JO team. I completely agree with everything you said
My DD started in JO at 5 with Junior Tops and joined level 3 (age 7) and was squarely on the JO track until this year. She is seriously considering joining XCEL Diamond this summer as it gives her more options for vault and beam with her back injury (Spondylolithesis). She is a great floor and bar worker and can upgrade her floor and bar while still moving at her pace on beam and vault. It seems to be a good middle ground for still getting to move ahead without the rigor of JO. She has no desire to go to college, but loves gymnastics and being strong.
My dd started in JO. She has always been an average gymnast, but works hard and loves the sport. Facing another year in compulsories since she didn't quite have all the skills for 6, she was encouraged to try Xcel Gold. She did a trial, liked it enough, and decided to switch. She seems on track to move to platinum next year and when I asked her if she wanted to be considered to move back over to DP (L6) or stay in Xcel she wanted to stay in Xcel. It has been a really good fit for her. She loves being able to upgrade skills as she gets them and the flexibility to choose to sub in a different skill last minute at a meet if she is feeling off in warmup, etc. She has been consistently successful in meets and part of wanting to move up to platinum is because she wants harder competition!
Our gym has flexibility between the DP and Xcel and Xcel is treated as a serious program, just less hours than DP optionals and more flexibility. I was particularly impressed that there is still a strong focus on conditioning and form. We've competed against some gyms where you can tell that is not the case. They also encourage gymnasts who are in the DP and want to quit to try Xcel before doing so (and most end up choosing to compete Xcel). During Covid, we've had a lot of upper level gymnasts switch from DP to Xcel, some for injuries, some for a social life, some because of cost, some because they don't like the practice intensity and time commitment of DP, etc. Gymnasts in Xcel who have the skills can go do a trial in the DP and choose to switch as well. Some do, some try it and decide to stay with Xcel. It's really what fits the gymnasts best and what they want.
Our gym has flexibility between the DP and Xcel and Xcel is treated as a serious program, just less hours than DP optionals and more flexibility. I was particularly impressed that there is still a strong focus on conditioning and form. We've competed against some gyms where you can tell that is not the case. They also encourage gymnasts who are in the DP and want to quit to try Xcel before doing so (and most end up choosing to compete Xcel). During Covid, we've had a lot of upper level gymnasts switch from DP to Xcel, some for injuries, some for a social life, some because of cost, some because they don't like the practice intensity and time commitment of DP, etc. Gymnasts in Xcel who have the skills can go do a trial in the DP and choose to switch as well. Some do, some try it and decide to stay with Xcel. It's really what fits the gymnasts best and what they want.
DD has been in JO from the start. I laughed a bit at the question because in all honesty, I didn't pick anything! I was simply asked to bring her to a different class one day when she was little and in preschool gym. This new class was pre-team. She moved up levels from there from old level 4 to now level 10. 
. I had absolutely no clue what we were all getting into at the time!
. I had absolutely no clue what we were all getting into at the time!
D
Deleted member 26368
This made me chuckle, because we didn't "pick" either. I was looking for an activity for DD that was close to home. The gym is 15 minutes away and I found a Groupon for a trial class, LOL. We're 4 years in, including rec and preteam. I had no idea what JO or Xcel was at the time.DD has been in JO from the start. I laughed a bit at the question because in all honesty, I didn't pick anything! I was simply asked to bring her to a different class one day when she was little and in preschool gym. This new class was pre-team. She moved up levels from there from old level 4 to now level 10.
My daughter was put into JO when she started, we didn‘t pick. She did JO for levels 2-6. After level 6, she couldn’t/didn’t want to get her giant and the gym wouldn’t move her up without it, so she switched to Xcel, she did 1 year of Platinum and is currently a Diamond. We‘be been happy with the switch, except that she has no where to go from here, just keep doing Diamond until she‘s done.
DP for me. I started out in Level 2 at age 9 and moved up a level every year. I've always been on the older side, but I enjoyed the competition and better coaching. Xcel was not offered at my gym until I was in L3, though.
For my sister, Xcel was better. She did training for L2 team, but didn't like it and went back to rec classes. When we found out about Xcel, she started competing Bronze. She likes it because she can also play soccer.
For my sister, Xcel was better. She did training for L2 team, but didn't like it and went back to rec classes. When we found out about Xcel, she started competing Bronze. She likes it because she can also play soccer.
They are talking about adding a level above Diamond. And, if she isn't competing maximum level skills in Diamond, she could still add in upgrades.
My DD started in bronze and then switched over to JO level 3 the next year. The Xcel program is more relaxed at her gym and DD wanted more structure and challenge and a more serious program. The JO program has been a good fit for her.
I’m with the “I didn’t pick, I had no idea what I was getting into” camp lol
We started in rec at a gym near our house. My dd got invited to the “team” after attending the gym’s summer camp. I had no idea there were different tracks. I have now learned that our gym does XCEL to optionals, and she has loved XCEL so far. She finds the program fun but challenging. I do feel her coach focuses a lot on technique, she has years of JO coaching experience in the past, and I’ve seen my daughter blossom these past few months. As a parent, I love seeing the girls do their unique routines based on their strengths and personalities.
We started in rec at a gym near our house. My dd got invited to the “team” after attending the gym’s summer camp. I had no idea there were different tracks. I have now learned that our gym does XCEL to optionals, and she has loved XCEL so far. She finds the program fun but challenging. I do feel her coach focuses a lot on technique, she has years of JO coaching experience in the past, and I’ve seen my daughter blossom these past few months. As a parent, I love seeing the girls do their unique routines based on their strengths and personalities.
D
Deleted member 26368
I agree, it's really fun to see different routines, music, and skills in Xcel meets! My DD's team uses the same music and basic routine, but compete different skills and switch up the dance elements depending on the gymnast. We never quite see the same routine competed twice, LOL.
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