Xcel Rule Clarifications 2012-13
GENERAL MEET FORMAT: 

TheXcelStateMeetswillnotnecessarilybeonlyononeday,butovertheweekend
(basedonnumbers).Itisuptothehostclubanddependsonnumberofentrants.
GymnastsmayonlycompeteinoneStateMeetperseason.Forexample,ifa
gymnastcompetesLevel7andXcelatthesametimeduringtheSpringSeason,she
canonlycompeteinoneofthestatemeets.

AwardsareState’srights.Eachstatecanchooseawardrequirements.

Pre‐meetinformationneedstoincludeequipmentmanufacturesbeingused.Itmust
alsoincludethewarm‐up&competitionformatforalllevels.

Coach/Judgeaffiliation–Ifprofessionalmembercoachesareusedasofficialsforan
Xcelcompetitiontheaffiliationruledoesnotapplytoanyofficialsinthatsession.If
assignedofficialsonlyareusedthentheaffiliationrulesdoapply.

StateAdministrativeCommitteesmustdefinetheirseasons(i.e.fallorspring).
GENERAL MEET FORMAT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Willregulationsincludingroutinerequirementsbestrictlystandardizedthroughout
states?
BEGINNINGINAUGUST2013–YES–thatistheplan.Thecurrentseasonisstillstate’s
rightssoeachstate/regioncan"tweak"whattheywant.Region1isusingthenational
rules1yearearly.
Isthereacaponthenumberofkidsthatcanbeinasession?
FollowUSAGRulesandPolicies.TreatBRONZE,SILVERandGOLDascompulsoryand
DIAMONDandPLATINUMasLEVEL7OptionalwhenlookingattheGuidelinesforhow
torunacompetition.
DoeseachlevelneedtohaveitsownsessionorcanBronze&Gold,i.e.,beonesession
dependingonthenumberofkids?
YoucanmixlevelsjustlikeyoucanmixJOlevels.
Canonlyacertainnumberofsessionsbeheldperday?
NOLIMITEXISTS–again,followR&P‐Youcannotbeginbefore8a.m.andmustbe
finishedby10p.m.
AreinquiriesallowedinXcel?
Yes–justlikeJO–StartValue,specialoccurrences,creditforskills,etc.
Canacoachlowerthebeamto95cm?
No–AllequipmentspecsneedtofollowtheguidelinesoftheJ.O.level.Minimumis
100cm.
GENERAL SCORING INFORMATION: 
Thecurrentoptionalrangeofscoresshouldbeusedwhenthereisa2judgepanel.

OptionalExecutionandAmplitudeDeductionsaretobeapplied‐Exception:No
Amplitude(Angle)ofCastswillbeappliedoncastsforthe2012‐13season.

ACoachisallowedneartheapparatuswithoutadeduction.

SpottingdeductionsapplyjustlikeJO.Ifaskillisspotted,youwouldnotgivecredit
fortheValuePartorSpecialRequirementandthedeductionis0.50.

TheallowableskillsinXcelareskillsfromthe2013JOCodeofPointsandcurrentJO
Compulsorybook.

Themaximumamountofexecutionthatcanbedeductedis4.0.
GENERAL SCORING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: WhatisthedeductionformissingSpecialRequirement?
0.5forBars,BeamandFloor(thiswasanerrorontheoriginalpages)
CanagymnastusepreviousorcurrentCompulsoryRoutinesforBars,BeamandFloor?
Yes,aslongastheymeettheXcelrequirementsforthelevelthattheyarecompeting.
DoyoutakecompositionaldeductionsinXcel?
TherearenoCOMPOSITIONDEDUCTIONSinanyXcelLevelexceptforArtistry,
DynamicsandRhythm(Applytheartistry,dynamicsandrhythmdeductionsthesame
asinOptionals)
VAULT

Theair‐o‐board(alternatespringboard)maybeusedatBRONZEandSILVER.Itis
notallowedinGOLD,PLATINUM&DIAMOND.

ThetapelineonthestackmatisnotrequiredforFlatBacksattheBronzelevel.

BRONZEVault:Theathletemayperformeachacceptablevaultonetimeratherthan
thesamevaulttwice.

BRONZEvault–Deductions.UseLevel1VaultPenaltiesforStretchjumptomatand
Level4VaultPenalties(SupportPhaseandon)forHandstandFlatBack.Eachphase
isworth5.0.
VAULTQUESTIONS&ANSWERS:
CanGOLDlevelgymnastscompetetheLevel4HSflatbackforVault?
No,itisnotanallowablevaultlistedontheLevel7VaultChart.Iftheyperformed
thisvaultitwouldbeVOID.
CantheGOLDlevelathletescompetevaultsotherthanahandspring,suchas1/2on
1/2off,handspring1/2,orhandspring1/1?
Yes,theycancompeteanyvaultthatisontheLevel7vaultchart.
InSILVERlevel,aregymnastslimitedtoHSflatbackonvault?
Yes,theirvaultisaFlatBackwithRepulsion.
CanaSILVERgymnastdoahandspring?
No,itwouldbeVOID.
DoyoujudgethetransitiononBRONZEvaultfromstraightjumptokickupto
handstandfallflatback?
Onlyexecutiondeductionsforbentlegs/feet/poorbodyposition.Itisallowablefor
thegymnasttostepbacktohaveenoughroomtosafelykickuptohandstand,
DoyouapplytherundeductionsfromLevel4vaulttoBRONZEandSILVERvaults?
No
BARS



Ifagymnastdoesapulloversquaton‐falloff‐pullovertogetbackon‐youwould
startjudgingagainwiththesecondpulloverbecausesheusesanelementtoget
backonthebar(likeoptionals).Ifshejustjumpedonorcoachhelpedherup,you
wouldjudgefrom1stelementperformedafterfall.

IfaBRONZEgymnastdoesalegcutofsomekind–donotcompareitwiththe
compulsorylegcut.Whiletheseskillsmaybeusedwedon’tusecompulsory
deductions.Nordocompositiondeductionsapply,thereforeuncharacteristic
elementwouldnotapplyasitisacompositionaldeduction.Youcouldtake
rhythmandexecution.Shewillprobablygethitprettyhardifsheislayingher
torso/bellyonthebartogetherlegaround–whichcouldmeanbentarms/legs/
badbodypositionandrhythmifitisnotsmooth.

PLATINUMRoutine:Kip(A)–castsquaton(A)–longhangkip(A)–castto
30degreesabovehorizontal(novaluebutmeetsSpecialRequirement)–clear
CASTISSUES–ForBRONZE,SILVERandGOLD:Therearenoanglerequirements
forthecast.Thegymnast’ships/torsomustleavethebartobecounted.Execution
deductionsalwaysapply(legs,arms,bodyposition,andfeet).ForPLATINUMand
DIAMOND:Nocastangledeductionswillbeappliedforthe2012‐13season.In
PLATINUMandDIAMONDtheyeithermadetheSpecialRequirementornot.The
gymnastwilllikelyhaveothercastsforwhichonlyexecutiondeductionswillbe
applied
BRONZEBarRoutine:Pullover,cast,cast,cast,backhipcircle,underswing
dismount.Thisroutinewouldhaveanextraswingfora.3deductionduetothere
being3castsbeforethebackhipcircle.Twocastsinarowarefineaslongasthe
secondcastleadstoanewelement.Itdoeshavethe4SpecialRequirements.
hipcircleto20degreesabovehorizontal(B)‐swingthroughtotapswing
forward/backward(A)–swingforwardtoflyaway(A).
Thisroutinehas5Asand1B.ItismissingoneA–deductionof0.1.Ithasmetall
theSpecialRequirements,sotheStartValuewouldbea9.9
BARSQUESTIONS&ANSWERS
IsthereamaximumnumberofcastsanXcelgymnastcando?
Thereisnomaximumnumberofcaststhatcanbedoneinaroutine.However,only
2castsareallowedinarow.Also,elementsmayberecognizedtwotimesina
routineprovidedtheelementoccursinadifferentconnection.AtthePlatinumand
Diamondlevels,2castsinarowisconsideredanextraswing.
AcastathorizontalforPlatinumandacastabove45degreesforDiamond‐butnotto
handstand‐getsthespecialrequirement,butisitan"A"forvalueparts?
No–ItisnotanAvaluepart
IsflyawayanacceptablebardismountforaGOLDlevelgymnast?
Yes,itisanAvaluepartintheJOCodeofPoints.
Canclearhip½pirouettefulfill2SpecialRequirementsatDIAMOND?
Yes–boththe“B”circlingelementandapirouette.
Whatisthedeductionifagymnasthooksherchinonthebaronapullover?
Thisisnotanoptionalskillsothereisnodeductionforthis.Sinceyouuseoptional
execution/amplitudedeductions,youcantake0.2or0.3forsupplementarysupport
dependingonhowbaditwas.
CanaBronze,SilverorGoldgymnastdothelevel5orlevel6bardismountandtherewouldbeno
deductionforthesecondtapswingandtherewouldbenodeductionfortheheightoftheswing?
Correct.
CanaPLATINUMgymnastdoaLevel5swing½turnoratapswing1/1turnforher
dismount?
OurchartforPLATINUMstatesthatallelementsmustcomefromtheJOCode.
Therefore,itwouldnotcountasavaluepartandshewouldnotmeetthe
requirementofadismountfromthehighbar.Shecouldconsiderusingdismount
8.101(underswingfromHBwithorwithouttwist)Thatwouldbeokaysince
PlatinumdoesnotspecifysaltodismountfromHB. IfaPLATINUMgymnastdoesanunderswingduringthebarroutine(notas
dismount),wouldyoutakeasuncharacteristicelement?
Thereare2exceptionsonbarsforelementsnotintheJOCode:tapswing(under
swingtapwouldbethesame)andthelonghangpulloveraslongasitis
precededbyacast.Those2elementsmaybecountedasA’sandtherewouldbe
NODEDUCTION.
Whathappenswhenagymnastdoesakipglide‐thenjumpstofrontsupporthowis
thatevaluated?
Thejumptofrontsupportisallowed,howeveritisnotanelement.Youcandeduct
forarms/legs/bodypositions.Ifthegymnastdoesaglideswing–triedajumpto
pulloveranddidn’tmakeit–thenjumpedtosupport‐therewouldbeafall.
BEAM

Elementsmayberecognizedtwotimesinaroutineprovidedtheelementoccurs
withadifferentconnection.ElementsmaynotreceiveVPcreditifperformeda3rd
time,orisperformeda2ndtimeintheexactsameconnection.Soifagoldgymnast
does2backwalkoversthatarenotconnected,theywouldneedtodoanotheracro
elementtofulfilltherequirement.

Handstandsforalllevelsdonotneedtobeheld2secondstoreceivecredit.
HandstandthatmustreachverticalreferstoacroseriesinGOLD,PLATINUMand
DIAMOND.ExampleforPLATINUM:Athletechoosestodoanacroserieswithout
flightforher#3requirement.Shedoeshandstandstepdownbackwalkover.The
handstandinthisseriesmustreachverticalbutdoesnothavetobeheld2seconds.
BeamDismounts‐BRONZE‐Thechartsaysjumpsforward(offofbeam)or
dismountsfromhands.Astretchjump,tuckjump,orstraddlejumppositioncanbe
usedinBRONZEbeam.

BEAMQUESTIONS&ANSWERS
IfagymnastconnectsanacroelementtoadismountonBeam(i.e.cartwheel,back
tuck)willshestillreceivecreditfortheacroandthedismount?
Yes,thiswouldworkforeitherSILVERorGOLD.ItcouldbeusedinPLATINUMand
DIAMONDbutcouldnotcountasanacroseriessincebothskillsdonotstartand
finishontheBeam.
Doesacandlestickcountasabalancerequirement?
Thereisnobalancerequirementatanylevel.
Doesasissonecountasasplitelementthatcanbeincludedinadanceseries?
Yes
Doesaheadstandorhandstandforwardrollcountasanacroskillandisitconsidered
aspassingthroughvertical?
Headstandroll,Noonbothcounts.ItisnotlistedintheCodeasanacroskillNORis
itanacceptableskillthatisintheLevel1‐6compulsories.(passthroughvertical
meansthroughverticalfromHANDSUPPORTlikehandstands,cartwheels,
walkoversetc.)Handstandroll–Yesonbothcounts.
DoallHandstandsneedtoreachverticaltocount?
No‐Level1‐4skillscanbeusedasacceptableelements.SoifaBRONZEorSILVER
performeda¾handstand,itwouldfulfilltheiracrorequirement.EveninGOLDa
gymnastcouldperforma¾handstandfor1skillandthenabackwalkoverforthe
other.Atthisleveloneskillmustpassthroughvertical(backwalkover);the¾
handstandisokaybecauseitisintheLevel1‐6compulsoryskills.
GOLDlevel:ACartwheelisanacrothatpassesthroughverticaltofulfillthat
requirement,andaverticalHandstandwouldalsofulfilltherequirement,buta
forward/backwardrolldoesnot,correct?
GOLD#3requirementof“2acroelements–onemustgothroughvertical.Acro
elementscanbewithorwithoutflightandisolatedorinaseries.”ACartwheelora
Handstandtoverticalwouldfulfilltheoneverticalacroelement.Theotherelement
couldbeaforwardorbackwardroll.
Dosplithandstands,orhandstandsthatdonotreachverticalcountasacroelements
fortheBronzeandSilvergymnasts?
Yes,duetothefactthatrespectivelyCompulsoryLevel1‐4andLevel1‐6
Compulsoryelementscancountasanacceptableelement.
Isa“B”splitjumpallowedinBRONZE?
ItisaBbutalsoalevel3skillsoitisallowed.
GOLDLevel:Forthe2acroskillrequirement‐dobothneedtobedoneonthebeam?
Yes,bothacroelementsneedtolandonthebeamtocount.Abacktuckdismount
wouldnotcountasanacroelement.
FLOOR
QUESTIONS&ANSWERS:
Doturnshavetofinishontoetoreceivecredit?
Yes,thesametechnique/executionrequirementsareappliedjustasinJOoptional.
DoesasissonecountasasplitelementthatcanbeincludedintheDancePassage?
AsissonewouldnotcountfortheLeapw/crossorsidesplitasitneedstobefrom
onefoot.ItcouldbeusedintheDancePassageaslongastheotherelementmeets
theLeapandSplitrequirementforthatlevel.
Doesaroundoffreboundbackwardrollfulfilltheacroconnectiononfloorinthe
BRONZEdivision?
Yes
Fortimelimititsays“oneminute‐noundertime”.Doesthismeanitcanbelesswith
nopenalty?
Thatiscorrect.Thereisnoundertimepenaltysoa35or45secondroutineisfine.
IntheBRONZEdivision,isachasseaskill?
Yes
Doesthelevel3leappassofchasse,step,step,stepleapfulfillthedancepassage
requirement?
No,astheDancePassagespecifiesGroup1elementsandaChasseisnotaGroup1
element.
SILVER–DoesaDiveRollcountasflightskill?
No‐AcroFlightskillsaredefinedassaltosandskillsthathaveflightfromthehands
thatlandonfeetsuchasfront/backhandspringsandflysprings.Sinceadiveroll
ultimatelyhassupportontheshouldersandback,itwouldnotfulfillthatdefinition.
Ifagymnastdoesastraddlejump,thenlaterintheroutinedoesaswitchleaprunrun
assemblestraddlejump(indirectlyconnecteddancepassage),doesshegetthespecial
requirementforthedancepassage?
No,thesecondstraddlejumpisnovaluesinceitisinthesameconnectionasthe
first,soshewouldbemissingherspecialrequirement.