Level 9 Gymnastics: What to know about the requirements
Wow! You are a Level 9 gymnast! You’ve obtained a 34.0 (or higher) All-Around Score at Level 8 and now, as a Level 9, you’re capable of skills most people only dream of doing! In Level 9 you have the possibility of competing at either Eastern or Western Championships which is a huge accomplishment in a gymnast’s career; and you’re probably thinking about college gymnastics.
Level 9 is an incredible accomplishment. It can also be tricky to understand. Each event begins with a 9.7 SV, and in Level 9 gymnasts must earn bonus points through connecting elements in order to bring their routines up to a 10.0 SV.
We’ve composed a list of the Level 9 requirements on each event to give you a better understanding of the skills required in an effort to help you put together your best routine!
Below is a list of the requirements necessary on each event to compete in Level 9. Level 9 routines must have three “A” valued skills, four “B” valued skills and one “C” valued skill. Level 9’s are also permitted one “D” or “E” skill but they will only be given “C” credit for bonus. Please note that these are the requirements required by USAG to start your routine at a 10.0 and for a more comprehensive list of skills and deductions we recommend checking out USAG’s website here. We hope this makes your routine easier to understand and helpful to compose!
Vault
Level 9 Vaults that have a 10.0 SV (please refer to the vault chart in the link above for other vaults allowed at Level 9 of lesser start value)
- Handspring front tuck
- Handspring front tuck 1/2
- Handspring front pike
- Front handspring (onto board) to front pike salto
- Tsukahara tuck 1/1
- Tsukahara layout
- Tsukahara ½ turn onto table into a ½ front tuck
- Tsukahara ¼ turn onto table into a ¼ front tuck
- Yurchenko tuck 1/2
- Yurchenko layout
- Yurchenko ½ off front tuck
- Yurchenko back tuck ½
- Yurchenko with ½ twist onto table, front tuck off
Uneven Bars
In Level 9, you can earn bonus points for connecting elements. In order for you to start at a 10.0 on bars you need:
- Two bar changes (ex. squat on w/ jump to high bar and straddle back to handstand)
- A minimum of 1 ‘B’ flight element (ex. front giant)
- A second, different flight element with ‘C’ value (ex. straddle back to handstand) OR a ‘B’ element with turn (ex. on low bar- giant swing with ½ turn to handstand)
- Minimum of an ‘B’ salto dismount (ex. layout flyaway with 1/1 twist)
- .3 in bonus through connecting elements together
The construction of a bar routine beginning at a 10.0 SV will be determined by the gymnast’s ability to perform enough ‘B’ or ‘C’ elements connected. She is also allowed one restricted ‘D’ or ‘E’ element but is given ‘C’ credit to be used in connections and as bonus. Connections can be awarded by combining elements of ‘B’ value (or higher) together. The .3 bonus is not required in order for a gymnast to compete a bar routine at a Level 9 competition, but it will improve her score and chances of success if she can obtain her bonus in addition to the minimum requirements. Every coach will construct their gymnast’s routines to help her to get her best score and chance at a higher start value.
For more ideas on Level 9 bonus on Uneven Bars refer to page 47 of the Junior Olympic Code of Points under the section “Uneven Bars.”
Balance Beam
Level 9 balance beam has a maximum of 1 min. and 30 sec. time limit. As with bars, a base routine begins at a 9.7. In order to start the routine at a 10.0; the gymnast must earn .3 bonus. A Level 9 beam routine is made up of the following requirements:
- Acro series with a minimum of two elements (ex. flic-flic or flic-lay)
- One acro flight element (this can also be performed within the series) (ex. back tuck)
- One leap or jump that meets the 180° split requirement (ex. switch leap)
- Minimum of 360°turn (ex. full turn in passé position)
- Minimum of an ‘B’ salto dismount (ex. front pike off the end of beam)
- One ‘D’ and/or ‘E’ element is allowed but given ‘C’ credit
Beam routines are constructed by what elements a gymnast performs well and their values. For example, A Level 9 gymnast may perform a flic-lay series (‘B’+’C’ for .1 in bonus) while a second Level 9 gymnast might do a flic-flic (‘B’+’B’) in Level 9 which has no bonus. That second gymnast would have to make-up the bonus somewhere else in her routine.
Floor
The elements as listed are in order to start your routine at a 10.0 with no up-to-level deductions.
- Three saltos throughout the routine
- ‘C’ saltos in three passes OR ‘C’ saltos in two passes and a ‘B’+’B’ minimum salto connection in third pass.
- 2 ‘C’ dance elements OR 1’C’ and 1 ‘D’ or ‘E’. In the dance the gymnast must perfrom two different leaps/ jumps one with a 180° split
- Turn of “B” value
A 10.0 Level 9 routine might look something like this:
First pass: Round-off (‘A’) + back layout 1 1/2 (‘C’) +front pike (‘B’). .1 in bonus for the ‘C’ + ‘B’ connection and fulfills the ‘C’ requirement in the pass.
Second pass: Front layout (‘B’) to front layout 1/1 twist (‘C’) .1 in bonus for the ‘B’ + ‘C’ connection and fulfills the ‘C’ requirement in the pass.
Third pass: Front layout (‘B’) + front layout (‘B’) fulfills the minimum tumbling requirement for the last pass in the routine.
Leap passage: Switch side (‘B’) to popa (‘C’) .1 in bonus for the ‘B’ + ‘C’ connection and fulfills the ‘C’ requirement in the pass.
Turn: 2/1 turn in passé (‘C’)
