We are in the middle of yet another competitive gymnastics season. There are two different seasons and categories gymnasts compete in. Typically optional gymnasts have their competitive season January through May, and compulsory gymnasts compete from September to December. The difference between compulsory and optional are the competition levels.
To be considered a compulsory, gymnasts must compete any level between three and six. While at these levels, all girls compete the same four events in competitions: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and the floor exercise. Also, on each event they compete the exact same routines with the same skills. Each level has different requirements that increase in difficulty as gymnasts move up. For example, when girls reach level five they then vault over the actual horse, and on the uneven bars they begin to use both the low and high bar. Every gymnast has the potential to start at a 10.0. The only way a start value would be lowered is if the gymnast leaves out a skill, or falls and doesn’t complete it. Girls cannot begin competing until the age of six. The hours of practice obviously range from gym to gym, but typically a compulsory would practice anywhere from 6-14 hours a week. The level is a determining factor in the weekly practice amount.
Optional gymnasts compete in levels seven through ten. The compulsory gymnasts are always looking up to optionals and waiting for the day that their hard work and dedication will pay off. Beginning at level seven, girls get their very own floor music and routine. That is probably the most exciting part about moving up, because girls now have their own routine to show off that no one else will perform. Though, it’s not only floor, but also bars and beam that they get their own routines. Each level has skill requirements that increasingly become more difficult, only now gymnasts have different options for which skills they may put into their routines. Every skill has a difficulty value and so many of each are required. Once level nine and ten are reached, routines no longer start at a 10.0. For level nine, bars, beam, and floor begin at a 9.7. Gymnasts must put “bonus” into their routines to add up to a 10.0. “Bonus” consists of very difficult skills or two skills with certain value connected. Also, on beam, if a gymnast competes a series of skills combined for bonus, but falls, then she won’t receive the bonus because she fell. For vault, the start value depends on the vault competed. The position a gymnasts flips in and if she twists all determine the start values. As level ten, bars, beam and floor begin at 9.5 requiring more “bonus” for a higher start value. Optionals practice around 16-25 hours weekly. Clearly competitive gymnastics requires determination, dedication, and extremely hard work. But it all pays off, especially when gymnasts accomplish their goals and qualify for bigger competitions. Every optional has the opportunity to qualify to state with a 32.0 all around anytime throughout the season. Level 8-10 gymnasts scoring a 34.0 and above all around at the state meet qualify on to regionals. From regionals, when girls place in the top 12 and are level nines they are able to go to western nationals, and level tens go to nationals.
