My Gymnastics Process Assessment (USA version)

[Bella's Mom]

Okay, so I've been hanging around here for a few months and posting for about a month. I'm now with team parents in the lobby and hearing more about competitive gymnastics. So tell me if my thinking process so far is correct.

Levels 1-4 aren't formally competed through USAG. Some places use L3 and L4 teams as a sort of practice run for future competitions.

Level 5 is first recognized level for competitions.

L5 to L10...gymnasts can move up a level if they earn a specific score at a USAG recognized meet. They can't skip any levels though.

To move from L10 up to "elite"...this is where I get sketchy....they have to do some sort of test/audition type thing?

TOPS is a USAG sponsored program but has no bearing on the JO levels and progression.

All the elites compete once a year at the VISA championships and from those scores the national team is chosen.

Then a subset of the national team goes to Worlds to represent the USA.

Is that basically correct?

 

[Megley]

As far as I know, USAG recognizes Level 4 and one can compete formally through USAG at Level 4, although it is not required. My dd competed USAG Level 4. I'm not sure about Levels 1 through 3 because they aren't competed in my state.

In order to become an elite, you have to make a certain score at an elite qualifying meet. These are held in several locations usually in the spring. There is a fair amount to it and I'm not an expert. I know there is a compulsory score and an optional score that must be achieved but what they are I'm not sure. Elites also compete at the Challenge/Classic held before VISA.

 

[gym law mom]

You've got it basically correct. Levels 1-4 don't need to be competed, L4 does seem to draw the largest number of kids. Some states don't even have meets for L1-3.

Elite is a whole other animal. Girls have to qualify every year at a meet like Megley said. There are certain critieria to get a "bye" to the Visa Championships.

TOPs is a program that can be done by gyms, but isn't required of any gymnast in the USAG program. Some gyms will be intense about it and others do nothing related to it.

 

[Bella's Mom]

Thanks! It's amazing what you can pick up so quickly.

Hmmm...of course now I'm curious how other countries do it. I know Canada and australia both have strong showings on the board.

If any of you "foreigners" care to share your process, I would really love learning more.

 

[hakunamatata]

You're good! You've got almost everything correct.

L1-L3, like you said, serve as practice for the "competitive world." I believe L4 is recognized formally by USAG, but like someone else said, gymnasts are not required to compete level 4. The gym I attended (about a million years ago... or, you know, ten years ago, but it feels like a million) did not have a level 4 team. We all began competing at level 5. From that point forward, gymnasts can't technically "skip" a level, but there are cases where gymnasts will compete half a season in one level and the other half in the next level, or they'll compete one meet and then move up for the rest of the season, etc. The scores that allow them to move to the next level are called mobility scores, and they can be found on the USAG website. They're different for different levels.

The whole elite scene still kind of confuses me too, but yes, they do have to test into elite. They do this with a qualifier, the same way the younger kids would qualify for state championships. I actually wrote a blog post about different paths girls can take towards becoming an elite, if you're interested.
Gymnastics Universe: The Road to Elite Gymnastics

You are correct about TOPS.

 

[txgymfan]

Link Removed

This is a link to a thread that explains the difference between level 10 and elite in ways even a novice can understand.

There was also another thread about the testing for elites. I think the basics were that elites have to test compulsary one time. They test optional routines onece a year. They may move back to level 10 after testing elite but then need to wait until the next year to do elite again.

 

[10.0]

You have it right. The only thing I have to add is the only way a girl can "skip" levels is when she turns 14 if she has her level 7 skills but has not competed she can petition to level 7 rather than having to do 5 and 6 and score out of them.

 

[bogwoppit]

Canada is very different, we have more than one system in play. Ontario has a 10 level system like USAG except it is all optional. BUt at any point girls can go into the national system if they have the skills.

The rest of Canada uses the CPP, or Canadian Provincial Programme, this is all optional too. THere are five levels, P1 is about L3 and P5 is about L10, girls can begin competing the year they turn 9.

There is a national system where girls begin their comp career about L7/8 at age 9.

We also have developpment programmes in all provinces for girls 5-9, they are evaluated. IN Quebec our Defi programme has 6 levels and the very best girls will go straight into NAtional level gym.

 

[Bella's Mom]

So Bog...are your gyms run by government or private citizens? Is gymnastics more federally supported in Canada?

 

[emorymom]

Levels 1-4 aren't formally competed through USAG. Some places use L3 and L4 teams as a sort of practice run for future competitions.

Some teams compete USAG levels 1-4. But as previously mentioned L5 is also an entry point. If you google "USAG Levels 1-10" you will find some meet information sites.

Around here some gyms compete all AAU for the lower levels. Some switch to USAG by level 4 or 5. I have asked why the gyms closest to me do the lower levels instead of a 5-6 hour preteam preparing for L4 or L5. I'm told the parents want it or the kids want it. Well nobody had me vote but the leotards are purty.

 

[Jennemmy]

The big eye-opener for me was moving up thru the levels. So I'll give you my 2 cents. What I didn't know as a new mom is that each gym uses a variety of things to determine moving to the next level. Each state sets it own scores to qualify to the state meet. Our state is 31.00 for level 4 - 6, 32.00 for 7 - 10. In Minnesota, where we started out as pre-pre-team eons ago. It was 32.00 for Level 4. Some places may let you move up if you qualify to states. It isn't common here. Lots of the girls who come out on top at Spring states (from other gyms and ours) were still competing as 5's at our last meet.

Those scores might work to move up a level but our gym wants several 36's, +skills done well, +parental involvement. Ack.