The LAGC was created with the belief that all athletes, regardless of their potential, must have a solid foundation of basic skills, strength and power in order to advance safely. The Compulsory routines were designed to develop specific skills at each level in a safe and progressive way. All level 2–5 gymnasts across the country compete the same routines, with the same skill requirements on all four events, before they move into the Optional levels. Because of this progressive format, the LAGC requires athletes to have certain criteria differentiating them from their peers. 

At LAGC, we look for athletes to have above-average strength and flexibility, a willingness to push their limits, a low amount of natural fear, and a desire to focus on small details and steady progress. The athletes who are coachable with a strong work ethic will experience the most success in this program. Gymnasts should expect to spend 1–2 years per Compulsory levels and 1–3 years per Optional levels. In order to move up to the next level, LAGC gymnasts are required to have all of their next level skills and/or the approval of their coaches. In other words, at the end of each competitive season, gymnasts should expect to remain at their same level until they have been told they are moving up to the next level.

Our Pre-team class is a team-track group, ages 5-8, working towards making the USAG competitive team. This class is only for athletes serious about a gymnastics future. All students in our recreational classes are looked at for the Pre-team, and will need to be recommended for the Pre-team by their class instructors, and then evaluated by a team coach. We are looking for a variety of characteristics in order to be eligible for the Pre-team including, but not limited to, above-average strength, flexibility, listening skills, ability to focus, lack of fear, willingness to take risks, work-ethic and basic gymnastics skills. This class meets twice a week for 2 hours a class- 4 hours total. Gymnasts must pass a strength and skills test, or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the competitive team.

Compulsory Level 2– Our Level 2 team is made up of rising Pre-teamers, ages 5-8. Athletes in this level typically compete from September through December, and will compete in 4 or 5 meets before their State Meet. This level meets twice a week for 3 hours a practice- 6 hours total. Gymnasts must receive a 36.00 AA in their Level 2 season, pass a strength and skills test, and/or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the Level 3 team.

Compulsory Level 3– Our Level 3 team is made up of rising Level 2 gymnasts, ages 6-10. Athletes in this level typically compete from September-December, and will compete in 4 or 5 meets before their State Meet. This level meets three days a week for 3 hours a practice- 9 hours total. Gymnasts must receive a 37.00 AA in their Bronze level, or two 36.00 AAs in their level 3 season, pass a strength test and have all of their level 4 skills, or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the Compulsory team level 4.

Compulsory Level 4– Our Level 4 team is made up of rising Level 3 gymnasts, ages 7-11. Athletes in this level typically compete from September-December, and will compete in 5 meets before their State Meet. This level meets four days a week for 4 hours a practice- 16 hours total. Gymnasts must receive a 37.00 AA in their Silver level, or two 36.00 AAs in their level 4 season, pass a strength test and have all of their level 5 skills, or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the Compulsory team level 5 and begin training Optional level 6.

Compulsory Level 5– Our Level 5 team is made up of rising Level 4 gymnasts, ages 8-12. Athletes in this level typically compete from September-December, and will compete in up to 5 meets before their State Meet. This level meets five days a week for 4 hours a practice- 20 hours total. Gymnasts must pass a strength test and have all of their level 6 requirements, or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the Optional team level 6.

Optional Levels 6-10– Our Optional team is made up of gymnasts levels 6-10, ages 8+. Athletes on this team typically compete from January-April, and will compete in 5 meets before their State Meet, and then possibly move on to Regionals in levels 6-8, and then Nationals for levels 9-10. This level meets five days a week for 4 hours a practice- 20 hours total. Gymnasts must receive a 37.00 AA in their current level, pass a strength test and have all of their next level skills, or have permission from the team coaches, before they move up to the next level.

The USAG Xcel Program is an alternative USA Gymnastics competitive program offering individual flexibility to coaches and gymnasts. The goal of XCEL is to provide gymnasts of varying abilities and commitment levels the opportunity for a rewarding gymnastics experience. 

What is the difference between the Xcel Program and the Levels in Gymnastics

There are five divisions in the Xcel program: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire. All of the Xcel divisions have optional rules. You can read more about the difference between optional and compulsory here, but basically optional rules mean that there are only 4-5 routine requirements and each gymnast can have her routine choreographed for her personality and individual strengths and weaknesses. Whereas, in compulsory levels, the routine is already choreographed and every gymnast must perform the routine exactly the same. Because of that, the judging can be more strict and produce lower scores than what the gymnast may have in Xcel. With higher scores your gymnast may feel better and be more motivated to stick with the sport.

What are the Xcel Levels Compared to in the Developmental Program?

There isn’t a specific comparison from the Xcel levels to the DP levels, however these are the rough comparisons of levels:

• Xcel Bronze to Levels 1–2
• Xcel Silver to Level 3
• Xcel Gold to Levels 4/5
• Xcel Platinum to Levels 5/6
• Xcel Diamond to Levels 6/7
• Xcel Sapphire to Level 8, 9 & 10

In the Development Program, the first Optional level is level 6, which is comparable in skill level to the hardest division in the Xcel program, currently the Sapphire division. So without the Xcel program, a gymnast could be involved in the sport for years without ever getting to compete an individual, customized routine.

What is the Highest Xcel Level in Gymnastics?

Currently, the highest level is Xcel Sapphire. The addition of the Sapphire level will help to prepare gymnasts for college intramural programs or NCAA Acrobatics & Tumbling programs.

The Xcel Program Was Born – is Xcel Gymnastics Easier?

The Xcel program was created as a way to keep gymnasts involved and excited about the sport. If you think about most other sports, like for example soccer, as soon as kids join the sport they almost immediately start competing in games and tournaments. With gymnastics it wasn’t this way. Kids would join gymnastics and have to take classes for several years before they were invited to join a team program. The Xcel program allows gymnasts to start competing almost right away, by lowering the skill requirements for the entry levels. However, the Xcel program doesn’t just have basic entry levels. It also has more advanced levels that allow gymnasts to keep competing in the Xcel program as they learn more skills, but without the same pressure as competing in the Development Program. The Xcel program is ideal for not only entry-level gymnasts, but also older gymnasts who are looking for a fun way to stay in shape and be involved in the sport. And since high school gymnastics programs sometimes use similar rules as Xcel, it can be a way to prepare gymnasts to try out for a high school gymnastics team.

The Xcel program is also for gymnasts who compete in the Development Program and would like to compete in an optional program during their “off” season. Development Program meets are often in the fall, and Xcel meets are usually in the optional spring season.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of the Xcel Program:

Advantages

• Gymnasts get to have fun competing sooner.  Gymnasts get to have fun competing with the Xcel program as soon as they join an Xcel team. They don’t have to wait to be invited to a DP team.
• Gymnasts compete individual, personalized routines.  Most athletes would rather compete routines that are customized to their age, strengths, taste and personality. Is it more fun to do a floor routine to stuffy, instrumental music like in the compulsory program, or cute, fun music the gymnast has picked out? For example, an older gymnast could use a current hit song (without lyrics of course) as her floor music.
• The Xcel Program can be less of a time commitment. The compulsory program can be unforgiving, with its routines that require gymnasts to learn an exact set of skills regardless of their strengths. Gymnasts can spend less time in the gym but still be able to learn skills that allow them to compete.
• Gymnasts are not required to compete all four events. With the Xcel program, gymnasts are not required to compete all of the events. Gymnasts can specialize in one or two events and choose to not compete the others.
• Entry fees are capped at Xcel meets to make it more affordable.