In women’s artistic gymnastics in the United States, the main competitive structures are the Women’s Development Program (Dev) and the Elite Program. These represent two distinct tracks with different goals, structures, difficulty levels, scoring (the Dev program does not use the same code of points as the Elite program), competition paths, and commitments.
The Elite Program is geared toward international competition. It’s for top-tier athletes aspiring to represent the U.S. on junior/senior national teams, with the ultimate goal of events like World Championships and the Olympic Games.
Early Talent Identification Programs: Avenues to becoming an elite gymnast:
TOPS
HOPES
To officially become an elite gymnast (Junior or Senior), you must:
Uneven Bars:
1. Flight element from High Bar to Low rBar
2. Flight element on the same bar
3. Different grips (not cast, Mount or Dismount)
4. Non-flight element with min. 360° turn (not Mount)
Balance Beam:
1. One connection of at least 2 different dance elements, 1 being a leap or jump with 180° split (cross or side), or straddle position
2. Turn (Group 3) or Roll/Flairs*
3. One Acro series, min. of 2 flight** elements, 1 being a salto (elements may be the same)
4. Acro elements in different directions (forward/sideward, and backward)
** Flight elements with or without hand support
Note:
Floor Exercise:
1. A dance passage composed of two different leaps or hops (from the Code) connected directly or indirectly (with running steps, small leaps, hops, chassé, chainé turns), one of them with 180° split (cross or side) or straddle position. (The objective is to create a large flowing and traveling movement pattern)
* No jumps or turns are permitted because they are stationary.
2. Salto with LA turn (min. 360˚)
3. Salto with double BA
4. Salto bwd and salto fwd (no aerials) in the same or different acro line
Note: Composition Requirement #2, 3 and 4 must be performed within acro lines. An acro line consists of a minimum of 2 directly connected flight elements one of which must be a salto.
No subsequent passes: Subsequent acro line performed after previous line along the same diagonal without choreography in between.
UNEVEN BARS
HOPES 13-14
Same as FIG composition but:
1. The FIG deduction for an empty swing following a Schaposhnikova-type element will not be in effect.
2. Gymnasts will be permitted to squat, pike or straddle on and jump from LB to HB once without incurring the .50 deduction. No casting deductions apply to the cast prior to the squat, pike or straddle on.
HOPES 11-12
1. release skill of C or higher / Value of 0.50
2. release skill of B or higher / Value of 0.50
3. One different grip element per FIG / Value of 0.25
4. Two close bar complete circle elements from different families (from groups 2, 4 and 5) / Value 0.25
5. 180 degree non-flight turn / Value 0.25
6. Minimum B dismount / Value 0.25
BALANCE BEAM
** Flight elements with or without hand support
Note:
HOPES 13-14
Same as FIG composition.
HOPES 11-12
1. One connection of at least 2 different dance elements, 1 being a leap or jump with 180° split (cross or side), or straddle position Value 0.5
2. One Acro series, min. of 2 flight** elements 1 being a salto (elements may be the same) value 0.5
3. Acro elements in different directions (fwd/swd and bwd) value 0.5
4. A turn/roll from Group 3 OR Group 4, as per FIG / Value 0.25
5. Minimum of C dismount / Value 0.25
6. No dismount or A or B = 0.00 / Award DV Only
FLOOR EXERCISE
Note: Composition Requirement #2, 3 and 4 must be performed within acro lines. An acro line consists of a minimum of 2 directly connected flight elements one of which must be a salto.
HOPES 13-14
Same as FIG composition.
HOPES 11-12
1. Salto with LA turn (min. 360˚)
2. Salto with double BA
3. Salto bwd and salto fwd (no aerials) in the same or different acro line
4. Dance passage as per FIG / Value 0.25
5. Minimum C Dismount / Value 0.25
6. No dismount or A or B = 0.00/ Award DV
