Most American gymnastics fans are only familiar with the FIG Code of Points - the rules which determine the scores for elite-level gymnastics. Elite gymnasts are those who compete in major televised meets such as the U.S. Championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games. Traditionally, gymnasts compete under the ten levels of the Junior Olympic (JO) program before testing elite. Given the high level of difficulty expected from elite gymnasts in recent years, the JO program has shifted its focus away from elite preparation and toward development of sound gymnastic technique. Therefore, it is best to think of the JO program not as a prologue to elite gymnastics but rather its own, separate entity, in which Level 10 is the apogee. 

Level 1 is non-competitive. In recent years, it has become popular for competitions in levels 2-4, though these are considered preparatory levels with a focus on building strength. Gymnasts at levels five and six compete, but only using compulsory routines. Levels 7-10 are optionals (gymnasts create individualized routines) with some modifications from and restrictions to the FIG Code of Points. 

The routines for Level 5/6 are as follows:

Vault:
Handspring

Bars:
The Level 5 uneven bar routine is: jump to glide kip, front hipcircle, cast to horizontal to return to front support, cast to squat on to jump to high bar, long hang kip, cast to horizontal, back hipcircle, underswing, counterswing, tap swing, counterswing, tap swing with 1/2 turn to push away dismount.

The Level 6 uneven bar routine: jump to glide kip, cast to 30º above horizontal, clear hipcircle to 30º above horizontal, straddled glide kip, cast to squat on to jump to high bar, long hang kip, cast to 30º above horizontal, long hang pullover, underswing, counterswing, tap swing, counterswing, flyaway dismount.

Beam:
Mount: leg swing with 1/2 turn (scissors leg swing at Level 6)
Coupe, side developpe, rond de jambe (Level 6 only)
1/2 turn (heel snap technique)
Split leap (90º at Level 5, 120º at Level 6 - this applies to all jumps/leaps that require split)
Weight transfer
Cross handstand (Level 5), Back walkover or back roll to 3/4 handstand (Level 6)
Pivot turns left and right
1/2 turn in coupe (Level 5), 1/1 turn in passe (Level 6)
Cartwheel (Level 5 only)
Straight jump + split jump (Level 5), Tuck jump + split jump (Level 6
Arabesque to scale
1/2 pivot lunge turn (Level 6 only)
Dismount: Cartwheel to side handstand, 1/4 turn (Level 5), cross handstand with 1/4 turn to side handstand with 1/4 turn (Level 6)

Floor:
Straddle jump (120º at Level 5, 150º at Level 6 - this applies to all jumps/leaps that require split) - Level 6s will connect this with a straight jump 1/2
Flic flac stepout (Level 6 only)
Dive roll (Level 5), front tuck (Level 6)
Front handspring to rebound (Level 6s do a front handspring stepout into this)
Split leap + leg swing with hop 1/4 turn (Level 5), Split leap + side leap (Level 6)
Forward split
Weight transfer
Back extention roll
1/1 turn in coupe (Level 5), in passe (Level 6)
Hitchkick
Back walkover (150º at Level 5, 180º at Level 6)
Roundoff, flic flac, flic flac, rebound (Level 5), RO, FF, back tuck (Level 6)

Levels 7 and 8 are beginning optional, and gymnasts start from 10.00 provided they meet the requirements. The Value Part requirements are five As and four Bs at Level 7; C/D/E skills are illegal; if performed, the routine recieves a score of 0, with the exception of C-level circling elements to handstand - cast, clear hip circle, underswing, stalder - with or without half pirouette. In all JO levels, there is a deduction of 0.10 for each missing A-skill, 0.30 for each missing B-skill, and 0.50 for each missing C-skill (while C's aren't required at Level 7 or 8, they are required at levels 9 and 10). 

The special requirements at Level 7 are: 
Vault - gymnasts have a list of vaults which they can choose from, all of which start from a 10.0 and are in the "Group 1" category of vaulting (handsprings without saltos), and the vast majority perform handsprings.
Bars - one bar change; two B-level circling elements (clear hips, underswings, and stalder); and a dismount of at least A value
Beam - series of two tumbling elements with or without flight; an acrobatic flight element; a leap or jump that requires 180º split; a full turn; and a dismount of at least A value
Floor - a tumbling pass (3 or more flight elements) which includes a back layout; a connection of two forward acro elements, one being a salto; a dance series of two elements, one being a leap or jump requiring 180º split; and a full turn. 

At Level 8, four As and four Bs are required; Cs are permitted and would receive B credit, and D/E skills are illegal. The special 
requirements are: 
Vault - gymnasts have a list of vaults to 
choose from; most of them are handsprings with turns, but tucked and piked Tsukaharas are allowed. Common vaults and their start values: 
handspring, 9.0; handspring full, 9.4; half-on, half-off, 9.1; tucked Tsukahara, 9.8; and piked Tsukahara, 10.0.
Bars - one bar change; two elements of B value, at least one of which must have flight or turn, and at least one of which 
must be a circling element; and a dismount of at least A value
Beam - series of two tumbling elements, at least one with flight; dance series 
of two elements, one of which is a leap or jump requiring 180º split; a full turn; and a dismount of at least A value
Floor - a tumbling pass 
with two saltos; three different saltos within the exercise; a leap or jump that requires 180º split; and the last tumbling pass must include 
a salto. In all J.O. levels, there is a deduction of 0.50 for each missing special requirement.

Levels 9 and 10 incorporate bonus points; Level 9s start from 9.70 and earn bonus from connection only, while Level 10s start from 9.50 and can earn bonus from both connection and extra D/E's (however, the gymnast can not earn all of her bonus from either connections or elements; a maximum of 0.4 can be earned in either area). The Value Part requirements at Level 9 are three A's, four B's, and one C, whereas the Level 10 gymnast is required three A's, three B's, and two C's. Below are the connection values for Levels 9 and 10 - remember, Level 9's can only get bonus from C skills, and even if a skill is a D or E, its value is still lowered to "C" when calculating bonus points. For example, a B+D dance connection on beam would earn a total of 0.30 in bonus at Level 10 (0.10 for the D and 0.20 for the connection), but the same connection at Level 9 would be considered a B+C and therefore only earn a total of 0.10. All connection values are those IN ADDITION TO the bonus earned from D/E skills (0.10 for D's, 0.20 for E's).

Bars:
Level 9
C+C (both with flight or turn) = 0.20
C+C (one or neither with flight or turn; must be different elements if neither have flight or turn) = 0.10
Level 10
C+C (both with flight or turn) = 0.10
C+D (C does not require flight or turn) = 0.10
D+D (or more difficult) = 0.20

Beam:
Connections of dance elements or an acro element plus a dance element:
A+D/E = 0.10
B+C = 0.10
B+D = 0.20
C+C = 0.20 (if both elements are different)
C+C = 0.10 (if both elements are the same)

Connections of acrobatic elements:
B+D/E = 0.20
C+C or harder = 0.20
B+E = 0.20
B+B+C = 0.10

Floor:
Connections of dance elements or an acro element plus a dance element:
C+C - 0.10
B+D - 0.10
C+D or harder - 0.20

Connections of acrobatic elements:
A+C or B+C - 0.10
A+D or harder - 0.20
C+C - 0.20

Another difference from the elite program is that gymnasts can repeat one skill for credit - so if a gymnast does a 1-1/2 to punch front as well as a double full to punch front in the same routine, she'd get the bonus for each connection.

The special requirements for Level 9 and 10 are similar: Bars- two bar changes; a C-level element (must have flight at Level 10; must have either flight or turn at Level 9); a B-level flight element; and a dismount (minimum of B at Level 9 and C at Level 10); BB- an acro series of two flight elements (at Level 10, one must be a C); a series of two dance elements, one being a leap/jump requiring full split; a full turn, a dismount (minimum of B at Level 9 and C at Level 10); the requirements on Floor are identical to those at Level 8, though Level 9s must end with a B and Level 10s must end with a C.

Start values for Level 9 and 10 vaults are also quite different from elite. Popular Level 9/10 vaults and their start values (they are the same at 9 and 10): handspring, 8.8; handspring full, 9.2; handspring 1 1/2, 9.4, handspring double full, 9.8; handspring front tuck, 9.7; handspring front tuck 1/2, 9.9, handspring front pike, 9.8; handspring front pike 1/2, 10; handspring front layout, 10; tucked Tsukahara, 9.4; piked Tsukahara, 9.5; laidout Tsukahara, 9.7; full-twisting laidout Tsukahara, 10.0; half-on half-off front tuck ("tucked Phelps"), 9.7; ucked Yurchenko, 9.4; piked Yurchenko, 9.5; laidout Yurchenko, 9.7; Yurchenko layout 1/2, 10; Yurchenko layout 1/1, 10.0.

Popular elements within the JO program, and their values:

Bars:
Kip - A
Cast to Handstand - B
Cast to Handstand with 1/2 turn - C
Cast to squat on - A
Uprise to front support - B
Uprise to handstand - C
Uprisde to handstand 1/2 - D
Straddle back - C
Straddle back to handstand - C
Shaposhnikova - D
Underswing to clear support - B
Clear hipcircle to clear support - B
Clear hipcircle to handstand, also with 1/2 turn - C
Clear hipcircle to handstand with 1/1 turn - D
Giant - B
Giant 1/2 - C
Giant 1/1 - D
Shootover, not from handstand, not to handstand - B
Shootover, from handstand, not to handstand - C
Shootover to handstand - D
Tkatchev - D
Pak salto - D
Gienger/Deltchev - D
Front giant, also with 1/2 turn - C
Front giant 1/1 - D
Straddled Jaeger - D
Piked Jaeger - E
Front giant in L-grip, also with 1/2 - D
Front giant in L-grip with 1/1 - E
Stalder to handstand, also with 1/2 turn - C
Stalder to handstand with 1/1 turn - D
Front stalder - D
Underswing to handstand, also with 1/2 turn - C
Underswing to handstand with 1/1 turn - D
Underswing shoot to high bar - C
Flyaway - A
Flyaway 1/1 - B
Flyaway 2/1 - C
Underswing to front tuck or pike, also with 1/2 twist - C
Double tuck or pike - C
Full twisting double back - E
Double layout/pike or pike/layout - D
Double layout - E
Double Arabian - E
Double front - E

Beam:
All simple mounts - A
Press to handstand mount - B
Front tuck mount - D
Front pike mount - E
Back handspring mount - B
Back tuck, pike, or layout stepout mount - D
Two-foot layout mount - E
Split leap - A
Split leap/jump 1/4 - B
Split leap/jump 1/2 - C
Split jump 3/4 - D
Split jump 1/1 - D
Yang Bo - E
Split jump - B
Straddle jump - C
Straddle jump 1/2 or 3/4 - D
Straddle jump 1/1 - E
Tour jete, also with 1/4 turn - D
Tour jete 1/2 - E
Switch wolf jump - B
Switch leap - C
Switch side leap - D
Switch ring leap - E
Pike jump - B
Pike jump 1/2 or 3/4 - C
Pike jump 1/1 - E
Sissone - A
Ring or double stag jump - C
Sheep jump - D
Straight jump, also with 1/2 - A
Straight jump 3/4 - B
Straight jump 1/1 and 1 1/4 - C
Straight jump 3/2 - D
Hitch kick - A
Cat leap 1/2 - B
Cat leap 1/1 - C
Cat leap 3/2 - D
Tuck jump - A
Tuck jump 1/2 - B
Tuck jump 3/4 - C
Tuck jump 1/1 and 1 1/4 - D
Tuck jump 3/2 - E
Wolf hop/jump - A
Wolf hop/jump 1/2 - B
Wolf hop/jump 3/4 - C
Wolf hop/jump 1/1 - D
Wolf hop/jump 3/2 - E
Full turn - A
Full turn with leg up - C
Front walkover - B
Front handspring - B
1-arm front handspring - C
Front aerial - D
Onodi - E
Cartwheel - A
Dive cartwheel - B
Roundoff - B
Aerial roundoff - C
Aerial cartwheel - C
Aerial cartwheel landing sideways - D
Back walkover - A
Tic toc - A
Back handspring - B
Back handspring 1/2 - C
Back handspring 1/1 - D
Oak tree - C
Omelianchik - D
1-arm back handspring - C
Korbut - C
Chen/Rueda - C
Rulfova - D
Front tuck - D
Front pike - E
Side somi - D
Arabian - E
Back tuck, pike, and layout stepout - C
Two-foot back layout - D
Back 1/1 - E
Front tuck/pike dismount - A
Front tuck/pike dismount 1/2 - B
Front layout dismount - B
Front 1/1 dismount - C
Front 2/1 dismount - D
Double front dismount - E
Arabian dismount - B
Arabian double front dismount - E
Back tuck/pike/layout dismount, also with 1/2 turn - A
Back 1/1 dismount - B
Back 1 1/2 and double twist dismount - C
2 1/2 dismount - D
Triple twist dismount - E
Double tuck and pike dismount - D
Full twisting double back dismount - E
Gainer layout 1/1 to side - C
Gainer layout 2/1 to side - D
Gainer tuck to end - B
Gainer pike to end - C
Gainer tuck 1/1 to end - C
Gainer layout to end - D
Gainder layout 1/1 to end - E


Floor:
Split leap - A
Side leap - B
Split jump 1/1 - C
Switch leap - B
Switch side - C
Pike jump - B
Straddle jump - B
Straddle jump 1/1 - C
Shushunova - B
Shushunova 1/1 - C
Tour jete - B
Tour jete 1/2 - C
Tour jete 1/1 - D
Sissone - A
Ringleap/double stag jump - B
Tour jete to ring leap - C
Sheep jump - B
Switch ring - C
Straight jump, also with 1/2 or 1/1 - A
Straight jump 3/2 - B
Straight jump 2/1 - C
Straight jump 3/1 - D
Cat leap, also with 1/2 - A
Cat leap 1/1 - B
Cat leap 3/2 - C
Cat leap 2/1 - D
Tuck jump, also with 1/2 - A
Tuck jump 1/1 - B
Tuck jump 3/2 - C
Tuck jump 2/1 - D
Wolf jump - A
Wolf jump 1/2 - B
Wolf jump 1/1 - C
Wolf jump 3/2 - D
Wolf jump 2/1 - E
Full turn - A
3/2 turn - B
2/1 turn - C
3/1 turn - D
4/1 turn - E
Full turn with leg up - B
3/2 turn with leg up - C
2/1 turn with leg up - D
Dive roll - A
Back extention roll - A
Front/back walkover - A
Front handspring - A
Flyspring stepout - A
Flyspring - B
Onodi - B
Front aerial - A
Cartwheel or side aerial - A
Aerial roundoff - A
Back handspring - A
Front tuck, also with 1/2 twist - A
Front pike/layout, also with 1/2 twist - B
Front 1/1 - C
Front 3/2 - D
Front 2/1 - E
Double front - E
Side somi - A
Arabian tuck/pike/layout - A
Double Arabian - E
Back tuck/pike/layout - A
Back 1/2 or 1/1 - B
Back 1 1/2 or double twist - C
Back 2 1/2 - D
Back triple twist - E
Whip back - A
Whip 1/2 - B
Double tuck or pike - D
Full twisting double back - E
Double layout - E


Some think that the JO program should be changed somewhat to better reflect Elite scoring. However, opposers suggest that since NCAA rules are closer to that of Level 10, and more Level 10's will become NCAA gymnasts than elite, that those two programs should be similar. It should be noted that USAG has instilled several "pre-elite" programs, such as the huge TOPS and HOPES programs.

We urge all of you to attend at least one J.O. competition in your lifetime, whether it's a Level 5 sectional or a Level 10 National meet. Check USAG's ongoing calendar of invitationals to find a meet in your area!