Women Xcel Cons

[gymfan1]

Are there any cons to xcel besides less college recruitment opportunities?

 

[Mthegymqueen]

No

 

[Coach Kate]

In general, no, but at some gyms there is a culture of treating Xcel as less important or just generally worse than dp. Some gyms also put less experienced or less favored coaches in this program.

 

[gymfan1]

In general, no, but at some gyms there is a culture of treating Xcel as less important or just generally worse than dp. Some gyms also put less experienced or less favored coaches in this program.

Yeah I’ve noticed this too but, thankfully, my gym is has a big xcel team and is more focused on xcel

 

[ORgymmom]

For gyms that use xcel as a less-intense alternative to DP, it can be discouraging to compete against gyms that use xcel to replace compulsory levels. It probably depends on the area and how common that is. I wouldn’t want my kid to compete xcel bronze against girls training level 4 skills 12 hours/week, but that’s how I’ve seen some gyms do it.

 

[Dahlialover]

In general, Xcel is a wonderful program. It allows girls to do gymnastics without the insane sacrifices required for DP. However, some gyms have better Xcel programs than others, so shop around to find one that meets your needs.

 

[GymDadWA]

There is only a con if doing Xcel doesn't fit in your personal goals. Assuming you are doing gymnastics to have fun and experience a challenging sport it won't have any drawbacks. If your goal is college gymnastics, or to learn Olympic level skills, or you wish to train in an ultra serious manner than DP would be a better fit.

 

[BusyMomof2]

You'll find a lot of varying opinions on this depending on your region and whether or not xcel is being use "as intended". In our region, xcel is commonly used to bypass compulsory. Golds work on and compete level 6 skills, for example, and then many transition to level 6 the following year (some girls will stay in xcel if they choose). There are few gyms with both tracks and we live in a large metro area. I have not experienced some of the "lesser" than behavior that I know might be common in other areas, and xcel seemed to prepare my daughter for optionals so I am a fan of xcel!

 

[3rd_time_around]

Yes. The ability to bypass difficult skills and compete the easiest ones from the list means gymnasts will choose to not be challenged and learn the higher skills so that they will always win at meets. Choosing more difficult skills is not rewarded at meets. The requirements for the levels are lower than the requirements at comparable levels in Development Program. Gymnasts can be and are being held back in lower Xcel levels for years to increase team scores so gyms will always dominate, which means a lot of girls age out or burn out or get bored and quit before they ever get a chance at optionals or even the highest Xcel levels. Emphasis is not on perfecting base skills that harder and higher skills will build on, emphasis is creating routines that will score the highest (usually with the most basic skills, like a pullover instead of a kip, for example).

 

[Carly]

Yes. The ability to bypass difficult skills and compete the easiest ones from the list means gymnasts will choose to not be challenged and learn the higher skills so that they will always win at meets. Choosing more difficult skills is not rewarded at meets. The requirements for the levels are lower than the requirements at comparable levels in Development Program. Gymnasts can be and are being held back in lower Xcel levels for years to increase team scores so gyms will always dominate, which means a lot of girls age out or burn out or get bored and quit before they ever get a chance at optionals or even the highest Xcel levels. Emphasis is not on perfecting base skills that harder and higher skills will build on, emphasis is creating routines that will score the highest (usually with the most basic skills, like a pullover instead of a kip, for example).

But the same can be said for some of these for DP too. It's not necessary an Xcel only thing but a gym philosophy thing. There are gyms that hold DP girls back in compulsory levels to get high scores. I've personally seen that happen at gyms that we competed against. DP gyms also create routines that score the highest. Our girls were doing back handsprings on beam in L7 while another team was doing roundoffs.

 

[raenndrops]

Yes. The ability to bypass difficult skills and compete the easiest ones from the list means [SOME ] gymnasts will choose to not be challenged and learn the higher skills so that they will always win at meets [EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T ALWAYS WIN]. Choosing more difficult skills is not rewarded at meets [IT IS REWARDED IN SAPPHIRE, AND IT ISN'T REWARDED IN DP UNTIL LEVEL 9]. The requirements for the levels are lower than the requirements at comparable levels [THEN THEY AREN'T REALLY COMPARABLE, ARE THEY? Xcel Gold is higher than L3 for the most part, but L6 routines are common too, for example.] in Development Program. Gymnasts can be and are being held back in lower Xcel levels for years to increase team scores so gyms will always dominate [THIS IS GYM DEPENDENT AND HAPPENS IN DP TOO], which means a lot of girls age out or burn out or get bored and quit before they ever get a chance at optionals or even the highest Xcel levels. Emphasis is not on perfecting base skills [EXCEPT THAT THE EMPHASIS IS ON PERFECTING THE SKILLS - THAT'S HOW THEY ARE SCORED] that harder and higher skills will build on, emphasis is creating routines that will score the highest [DON'T THEY DO THAT IN DP ... PUT TOGETHER THE HIGHEST SCORING ROUTINES???] (usually with the most basic skills, like a pullover instead of a kip [A KIP ISN'T REQUIRED IN XCEL UNTIL PLATINUM, SO THERE IS NO REASON TO DO IT EARLIER ... JUST LIKE DP ... THE KIP IS NOT REQUIRED UNTIL L4 ... SO MOST L3 DO NOT COMPETE THE KIP EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN] , for example).

Sorry if this comes off as snarky, but it was easier to reply into the original than to respond to the individual points below it.
I have been around since BEFORE Xcel existed, and I started helping with it the year before it went national.
I know it is used in different ways by different gyms (and states and regions). Because of this, we can't generalize about Xcel.

 

[3rd_time_around]

Sorry if this comes off as snarky, but it was easier to reply into the original than to respond to the individual points below it.
I have been around since BEFORE Xcel existed, and I started helping with it the year before it went national.
I know it is used in different ways by different gyms (and states and regions). Because of this, we can't generalize about Xcel.

I've been around that long as well. I have been through the change from Prep Op to Xcel, the many rewrites of the Code, the constant updates, and judged thousands and thousands of routines. Plus I have a kid in Xcel, I had one in Prep Op and One in Jr Olympic. I stand by my opinions.

 

[3rd_time_around]

But the same can be said for some of these for DP too. It's not necessary an Xcel only thing but a gym philosophy thing. There are gyms that hold DP girls back in compulsory levels to get high scores. I've personally seen that happen at gyms that we competed against. DP gyms also create routines that score the highest. Our girls were doing back handsprings on beam in L7 while another team was doing roundoffs.

You only mentioned some of the things I said. But it's not the same to hold girls back in Compulsory as it is in Xcel. In Compulsory, the routines are scripted and everyone does the same routines and the same skills. In Xcel, the "easiest" skills can deliberately be chosen to ensure really high scores. In Optionals, starting at level 9, they get rewarded for doing higher skills alone and in combo, but not in Xcel. In Sapphire there some bonus for higher skills. It's somewhat similar like you said, but not mostly similar.

 

[NutterButter]

Yes. The ability to bypass difficult skills and compete the easiest ones from the list means gymnasts will choose to not be challenged and learn the higher skills so that they will always win at meets. Choosing more difficult skills is not rewarded at meets. The requirements for the levels are lower than the requirements at comparable levels in Development Program. Gymnasts can be and are being held back in lower Xcel levels for years to increase team scores so gyms will always dominate, which means a lot of girls age out or burn out or get bored and quit before they ever get a chance at optionals or even the highest Xcel levels. Emphasis is not on perfecting base skills that harder and higher skills will build on, emphasis is creating routines that will score the highest (usually with the most basic skills, like a pullover instead of a kip, for example).

I see what you are saying but this is a blanket statement and not always true. And of course if the gymnast executes the higher skills with minimal deductions they too can win at meets.

My DD's Xcel team skewed older (attracted kids who were too old and/or late starters to join JO). In my experience the older kids wanted and were encouraged to learn/compete the higher skills and the reality was that many of these kids would have had form deductions even if they competed the lower skills. My DD was one of those who competed lesser skills and yes, she did out score her teammates doing more difficult skills but this was mostly a result of her being newer to the sport than her teammates (she would have loved to compete BWO while she was stuck doing CW). Just because you can do a BWO on beam doesn't mean that your CW has fewer deductions. It made for some awkward moments with other team parents when scores were flashed. I was sympathetic to this but my DD's form truly better than her teammates - this would have been true even if all were competing the same routine.

It really just matters both what the gym's goals are with Xcel and the prevalent attitude towards Xcel in the local area. Sure there were a few gyms that had kids repeat and compete down but same thing happened in JO too.

 

[gymfan1]

I've been around that long as well. I have been through the change from Prep Op to Xcel, the many rewrites of the Code, the constant updates, and judged thousands and thousands of routines. Plus I have a kid in Xcel, I had one in Prep Op and One in Jr Olympic. I stand by my opinions.

I also think some of this is true but I’ve also seen a lot of Xcel gymnasts push to compete more difficult skills even in levels where they don’t get bonus points. I also disagree that the “lack of challenge” means they will quit earlier. If anything, I think xcel encourages gymnasts to stay in the sport longer!

 

[gymfan1]

Its the same way how not every DP gymnast can be described as super hard working and 100% dedicated. Not every xcel gymnast avoids challenges and is not dedicated. Also thanks to everyone for the replies! I enjoyed reading different perspectives

 

[raenndrops]

I also think some of this is true but I’ve also seen a lot of Xcel gymnasts push to compete more difficult skills even in levels where they don’t get bonus points. I also disagree that the “lack of challenge” means they will quit earlier. If anything, I think xcel encourages gymnasts to stay in the sport longer!

I have a senior, LSS, in Xcel Platinum who 100% would have quit if she had to stay in JO/DP. She switched over after L4 to Xcel Gold because her training group wasn't the best for her mental health. She has upgraded skills where she could, but has been dealing with niggling injuries for 4 years.
YG retired as an Xcel Platinum at the beginning of Senior year (partly gym related and partly non-gym).
OG was going to come back for her senior year, but Career Center Nursing classes/internships and 3 college classes were too much to do with gymnastics 40 minutes away and wanting to stay 2nd in her graduting class. Then, it was all cut short with Covid lockdowns.