XCel
Vicki Walker
Columbia, SC 2013
SC USAG Guidelines
 SC sanctioned invitational & State Meet Qualifier
 Officials must be USAG rated
 May not use affiliated judges if using a one judge panel
 2013 Xcel State Meets:
 Bronze and Silver – 2 judge panel
 Gold, Platinum, Diamond – 4 judge panel
Winnie Witten
Mobility
 No Mobility from the Xcel program to the JO Program
 Bronze, Silver and Gold:
 Entry Level
 No score requirement
 Platinum
 31.00 in Gold or 8.00 for event specialist
 Diamond
 31.00 in Platinum or 8.00 for event specialist
Winnie Witten
Competition Guidelines
Division
Warm-up Time
Min. Age
JO Level
Bronze
20 sec
Age 5
Level 1/2
Silver
45 sec
Age 6
Level 2/3
Gold
1 min
Age 7
Level 3/4/5/6
Platinum
1:30
Age 8
Level 4/5/6/7/8
Diamond
1:30
Age 9
Level 7/8/9
Winnie Witten
Value Part Credit
 Bronze, Silver and Gold
 Listed in JO Code
 Listed on Xcel skill Chart
 Platinum and Diamond
 Listed in JO Code
 See Rule charts for specific Special Requirements and
VP’s needed for each division.
Winnie Witten
Value Part Credit
 A skill can receive VP Credit 2 x’s if in different
connection
 A skill can fulfill more than one SR, unless otherwise
stated
 Compulsory elements and deductions will not be used to
evaluate Xcel routines
Winnie Witten
Difficulty Restrictions
 Xcel Rule Charts list the restrictions for each division
and each event.
 If there are no restrictions listed, choose from:
 Skill Chart
 JO Code
 Will receive VP and SR Credit
Winnie Witten
Courtesy Score
 Courtesy score set at 4.00
 If missing SR and Execution results in a score less than
4.00, give the Courtesy Score
Winnie Witten
Vault
 Vault Table may be used at any manufacturer setting
 Air Board Allowed:
 Bronze
 Silver
 Gold
 If used at Gold, SV = 9.50
Winnie Witten
Spotting Deductions
 Spot during the vault (any phase)
1.00
 Spot the landing
.50
 Maximum Total Spot Deduction
1.50
 Applied at all Xcel Divisions
Winnie Witten
Bronze Vault
 Choose Level 1 or Level 2 (Deductions same as JO)
 Same vault 2 x’s or one of each provided mat stack does
not change more than 8 inches
 Level 1
 Each part evaluated separately
 Running on board and step on mat = 5.00 penalty
 Gymnast may perform 2nd half and earn  5.00
 Gymnast may step back on board to kick to HS, but must
place hands on mat
Winnie Witten
Silver Vault
 Handspring onto vault table, flat back drop
 Mats stacked equal to or up to 8” above table
 Sting mat MAY NOT be placed on table 0.30 deduction
 Deductions:

Follow Level 4/5 for 1st flight & support (No angle of repulsion)
 Add: Fail to show inverted position (roll)  2.00
Contacted mat with hands past vertical  1.00


Winnie Witten
Post Handstand phase: Insufficient Height
 .50
Insufficient Distance:  .30
Silver Vault
 Deductions (Continued)
 Landing Phase: Body part hit or brush the table
upon landing
 0.20
 Failure to land in straight lying position
 1.00
 Examples:
 Land on feet, salute, step off mat
1.00
 Land 90° hip angle, salute, steps off mat
0.50
 Land arched with legs bent, salute, step off mat 0.50
 Gymnast lands sitting on the vault table VOID
Winnie Witten
Silver Vault
 If gymnast returns to the straight lying position after
making the previous errors, the “Failure to land in a
straight lying position deduction” is not taken
 May apply execution deductions
 Evaluation of the vault is completed when the gymnast
arrives in a lying position
Winnie Witten
Other Vault Divisions
 Gold and Platinum chart -All Vaults valued at 10.00
 Diamond Chart - Vaults are valued at 9.60 or 10.00
 Unallowable vaults = “0” (Void)
 Deductions follow JO Code for Optional Vault
 No angle deduction
 Add “Too long in support”  0.50
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Extra Swing
 Not taken EVER for Bronze, Silver, Gold
 Platinum and Diamond are deducted – Max 0.60
 Casts
 Cast Deductions – Refer to Chart in Xcel Handbook
 No JO Cast Deductions in any division
 Platinum and Diamond
 Angle of cast determines VP – “0”, ”A”, “B”,
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Amplitude of Casts
 Bronze and Silver – No Angle Requirement
 Gold – Horizontal – Up to 0.20 deduction *Exception*
 Only applied one time – to cast that fulfills SR
 Platinum - Horizontal or above
 Diamond - 45° or above
 Execution deductions may be applied for every cast
 When a skill is preceded by a cast – cast receives VP
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Tap Swings
 Silver and Gold
 Two tap-counter swings allowed – different connection –
“A”
 Platinum
 One Tap Swing- counter swing - “A”
 Diamond
 Not allowable skill – 0.30 deduction – intermediate swing
Winnie Witten
Bars
 VP and Angle Deduction that are the SAME as JO:
 Amplitude of Clear Hips
 Amplitude Circles
 Amplitude ½ turn in HS
 Amplitude 1/1 turns AFTER HS
 Only 1/1 turns using Healy technique allowed
 Clear Hip Circle Exception – no deduction above 45°
 Can only receive a “B”
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Clarification – Restrictions
 Bronze may not go to the high bar
 Silver may not do salto dismounts
 Long Hang Pullover
 From a Jump-“A” VP and circling skill for Silver & Gold
 Must be preceded by cast for Platinum & Diamond
 Underswing and sole circle dismount on LB
 “A” VP for Bronze and Silver
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Clarifications – Restrictions (Continued)
 Platinum Kip SR – May be on either bar
 Diamond SR #3 Each must be a Minimum of a B:
 “B” Release or
“B” Pirouette or
 “B” Different Circle
 If the same skill is performed on the low bar and high bar it
counts as two different skills and VP’s
Winnie Witten
Bars
 Specific Execution Deductions follow JO Code except”
 Swing forward and back under horizontal – no deduction
 Angle of cast and extra swings follow Xcel guidelines
Winnie Witten
Beam
 Beam Times
 Bronze – 45 sec
 Silver – 50 sec
 Gold – I min
 Platinum – 1:15
 Diamond – 1:15
Winnie Witten
Balance Beam
 Acro Requirement
 Must start and finish on beam to receive SR credit
 Bronze & Silver – one skill – non-flight
 Partial HS OK, 45°, feet must close to receive credit
 Gold Acro SR – 2 acro skills - one must attain vertical
 Other may be partial HS, roll, etc.
 Platinum SR – One acro flight OR series w/wo flight
 Diamond SR – One acro flight & series w/wo flight
Winnie Witten
Balance Beam
 Leap or Jump Requirement
 Each division has a specific angle requirement
 Bronze – no angle requirement – may do tuck jump, etc.
 Silver – 90°split or straddle required
 Gold- 90°- must have dance series & Required Split
 Platinum - 120°- must have dance series & Required Split
 Diamond –150°- must have dance series & Required Split
 Award SR if with 20° of specified angle
 Deduct for insufficient split
Winnie Witten
 0.20
Balance Beam
 Dismounts
 May be from Skill Charts or JO Code
 SR and Restrictions are listed on Beam Rules Chart
 Examples:
 Bronze may not do salto or aerial dismounts
 Diamond must perform a salto or aerial dismount
 Beam Specific Execution Deductions – same as JO
except there is no Short Routine Deduction
Winnie Witten
Floor Exercise
 Floor Times
 Bronze – 45 sec
 Silver – 1:00
 Gold - 1:00
 Platinum – 1:30
 Diamond – 1:30
Winnie Witten
Floor Exercise
 All divisions have 2 SEPARATE Acro SR
 Bronze
 2 directly connected acro skills – w/wo flight
 Another acro skill – w/wo flight
 Example:
 #1- Pass 1) RO, rebound, back roll.Pass 2) Roundoff ✔
 #2- Pass 1) HS for. Roll, RO, rebound, Back roll ✕
 Refer to Rule Charts and FAQ for Acro SR and
Restrictions for other divisions.
Winnie Witten
Floor Exercise
 Acro Difficulty Restrictions
 Bronze – Maximum 2 flight skills
 Silver – Maxium 1 salto or aerial
 Penalty for additional VP

No SR

0.50 for Unallowable skill

Dive roll will not be considered a flight element for Xcel

Roundoff Rebound Bwd Roll- is a connection for Bronze and
Silver divisions
Winnie Witten
Floor Exercise
 Dance Passage
 Minimum of TWO different Group 1 or Skill Chart
elements
 Directly or indirectly connected
 One must be a leap (cross or side split) with angle
specified per division
 Bronze - 60°
 Silver - 90°
 Gold - 120°
 Platinum & Diamond– 150°
Winnie Witten
Floor Exercise
 Dance Passage
 SR Awarded if split angle with 20° of specified angle
 Deduct insufficient split
 0.20
 Chassé may be used as a connector, but not as an element
 A leg swing hop with the free leg at or above horizontal
may be used at Bronze, Silver, Gold
 Floor Exercise Specific Execution Deduction – same as
JO except: no short exercise deduction and no deduction
for the coach on the floor
Winnie Witten