Xcel Gymnastics Team

The Xcel program was created by USA Gymnastics as an alternative competitive route to the Developmental Program. Xcel is broken up into six levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire, each with their own optional rules for competition. This means that routines in each level are able to be choreographed to highlight the strengths of each individual gymnast, as long as it meets the baseline requirements. (Usually about four or five different categories of skills they’d like to see on each event, rather than a list of specific skills that are required). This is one of the two largest differences between the two programs. Levels 1 through 5 are considered “Compulsory” levels, so their routines are set in stone with very little room for variation.

The other big difference between the Developmental Program and the Xcel Program is the amount of levels. Due to the fact that Xcel is condensed, it is completely normal to expect to repeat levels as your athlete rises through the ranks of the program.

There are 5 gymnastics levels in the Xcel Program, each of which could be roughly compared to levels in the Developmental Gymnastics Program. They include:

Bronze: comparable to a mix of Levels 1 and 2 
Silver: comparable to a mix of Levels 2 and 3
Gold: comparable to a mix of Levels 4 and 5
Platinum: comparable to a mix of Levels 5 and 6
Diamond: comparable to a mix of Levels 6, 7 and 8
Sapphire: comparable to a mix of Levels 8, 9 and 10