Senior Elite / Coaching programme

Senior Elite Programme

A clear all-around training guide for Senior Elite gymnasts, showing the skills you need for Level 8, the requirements and upgrades for Level 7, and further options across floor, vault, bars and beam.

Competition routines Other programmes

Coach note Training direction How to choose skills, meet the requirements and use the progression goals.

Requirements first

Choose Level 8 or Level 7 and read the requirements for each apparatus before selecting skills. The level labels show where a choice fits; they do not make every listed skill compulsory. Keep the foundations secure while developing the next upgrades.

Choose a routine, not every example

Select the skills and connected series that suit the gymnast and meet the requirements. Floor separates acro, dance, mixed series and spin. Read the notes with each category: a useful training sequence is not automatically a qualifying competition line.

Use the goals for each skill

Open View goals to see what the skill should look like, its near goal and its far goal. Use these to focus the work on the gymnast's next improvement, from shape and connection to a consistent, routine-ready performance.

Count credited elements

Best 8, best 7 and best 5 refer to credited coded skills, not the number of rows or instructions. Grade labels describe the performed elements; recognition and repetition rules still affect routine credit. Open the bar-routine counting notes before finalising a sequence.

Keep restrictions with the choice

Regional-only elements and future upgrades stay marked. The D-rated straight-back floor series are outside both level limits. The Level 7 half-turn high-bar dismount remains a C upgrade whose acceptance against the stated B-dismount requirement needs confirmation.

Your training pathway

Showing both levels and future upgrades. A level label shows where a choice fits; it does not make every listed skill compulsory.

01 / 04

Floor

Floor is built around acro, dance, mixed series and spin. Choose connected examples that meet your level requirements, then develop stronger options for your arsenal.

Requirements

Level 8 Requirements Best 8 skills • A–C • Maximum 4 C skills

Acro line including 2 acro elements.
Dance series with a split element.
Mixed series: acro connected with a dance element.
B spin.

No saltos. Full floor routine with choreography; maximum 1 minute 30 seconds. No artistry deductions at Level 8.

Level 7 Requirements Best 8 skills • A–C

Backwards flighted acro line of at least 2 elements.
Dance series with a split element.
Mixed series: acro connected with a dance element.
C spin.

Floor music and artistry required: rhythm, expression, tempo, all four corners and performance. Maximum 1 minute 30 seconds.

Choose a suitable series for each requirement; you do not need every example below. Best 8 means credited coded skills, not eight rows or eight series. Regional-only elements are marked. Missing composition requirements deduct 1.0 each.

Skill choices

Acro Series Confident acro work that is connected, powerful and routine-ready.

At Level 7, your required line must be backwards and flighted. The dive-roll + handstand-forward-roll sequence remains useful forward training. The D-rated straight-back examples below are future upgrades, outside both level limits.

Round-off + flick L8 acro-line option; also meets the L7 backwards flighted line pattern. B + B Levels 8 & 7

Round-off + flick + flick Three performed elements: B + B + B. Check repeated-element credit separately. B + B + B Levels 8 & 7

Round-off + flick + tuck back L7 salto option. Saltos are not allowed at Level 8. B + B + C Level 7

Dive forward roll + handstand forward roll Forward training sequence; includes non-flighted acro, so do not rely on it alone for the acro-line requirement. B + A Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Front handspring + dive forward roll Forward flighted option; L7 still needs a backwards flighted line. B + B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

View more options

Front handspring step-out + front handspring Alternative forward line; L7 still needs a backwards flighted line. B + B Levels 8 & 7

Round-off + flick + straight back B + B + D. D skills are outside the L8 and L7 floor limits. B + B + D Future upgrade

Round-off + flick + straight back half twist B + B + D. Half-twisting straight back is also D. B + B + D Future upgrade

Dance Series Rhythm, elevation, clean shapes and confident connection.

Split change means change-leg leap (C). At Level 8, keep the whole routine within the maximum of four C skills.

Scissor kick + split leap A + B dance-series option with a split element. A + B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Cat leap + split leap A + B dance-series option with a split element. A + B Levels 8 & 7

Cat leap full + split leap C + B option; available at both levels within the C-skill limit. C + B Levels 8 & 7

Cat leap full + split change C + C option; uses two C elements if both are credited. C + C Levels 8 & 7

View more options

Split leap + split change B + C dance-series alternative. B + C Levels 8 & 7

Split change + split leap C + B dance-series alternative. C + B Levels 8 & 7

Split change + scissor kick C + A dance-series alternative; split change provides the split. C + A Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Mixed Series A dance element and an acro element connected together.

Full-turn jump means a straight jump with a full turn. A jump does not replace the separate spin requirement. Regional-only elements are marked.

Cat leap + one-handed cartwheel A + B mixed-series option. A + B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Cat leap + forward walkover A + B mixed-series option. A + B Levels 8 & 7

Backward walkover + tuck jump half B + B mixed-series option. B + B Levels 8 & 7

Cat leap full + forward walkover C + B mixed-series option. C + B Levels 8 & 7

Cat leap full + round-off C + B mixed-series option. C + B Levels 8 & 7

Flick to one + tuck jump half B + B; flick step-out into a half-turn tuck jump. B + B Levels 8 & 7

View more options

Backward walkover + full-turn jump B + B; full-turn straight jump, not a spin. B + B Levels 8 & 7

Cartwheel + flick step-out + full-turn jump A + B + B performed; select credited elements when planning the best 8. A + B + B Levels 8 & 7

Handstand half pirouette + full-turn jump B + B; the jump is a straight jump with a full turn. B + B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Handstand half pirouette + tuck jump half B + B; half-turn handstand variation. B + B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Handstand full pirouette + tuck jump half C + B; full-turn handstand variation. C + B Levels 8 & 7

Spin Upright, controlled and finished cleanly.

Choose a B spin for Level 8 and a C spin for Level 7. The C options may also be developed at Level 8 within its difficulty limits.

Full spin Level 8 B-spin choice. Level 7 needs a C spin. B Level 8

Wolf spin half Level 8 B-spin alternative. B Level 8

One and a half spin Level 7 C-spin choice; permitted as an L8 upgrade within its C limit. C Levels 8 & 7

Wolf spin full Level 7 C-spin alternative; permitted as an L8 upgrade within its C limit. C Levels 8 & 7

02 / 04

Vault

Vault should be built progressively, from entry and block work towards a confident handspring over the full vault.

Requirements

Level 8 Requirements 2 of the same vault • 1m vault table

Handspring — 2.00.
Half-on — 2.40.

The white block is a training progression; the competition vault uses the specified table.

Level 7 Requirements 2 of the same vault • Vault table

Choose a vault permitted for Level 7.
Handspring — 2.00; half-on — 2.40; Yamashita — 2.40 in the supplied table.

Use the value and restrictions listed for the selected vault.

Vault uses the listed vault value, not an A/B/C skill count. Entry drills and block work are preparation for the competition vault.

Skill choices

Entry & Handspring Confident run, controlled arm swing entry, straight arms and strong block shape.

Arm swing entry Approach and take-off rhythm • training foundation. Levels 8 & 7

Handspring over the white block Training progression before the competition table. Levels 8 & 7

Handspring over the full vault Competition handspring choice • listed value 2.00. Value 2.00 Levels 8 & 7

Handspring reference video View video

03 / 04

Bars

Build a clean routine with confident support, a cast to horizontal, back hip circle and a clear dismount. Level 7 adds the move from low bar to high bar.

Requirements

Level 8 Requirements Best 5 skills • A–B • Low bar only

Chin-up circle-over.
Cast to horizontal.
Circling element.
B dismount.

Use a pike undershoot from the low bar for the B dismount; dish or straddle undershoot from low bar is A.

Level 7 Requirements Best 5 skills • A–C • Uneven bars

Low-bar to high-bar transition.
Cast to horizontal.
Circling element.
B dismount.

Upstart is an optional C mount. The requested high-bar undershoot half turn is a C upgrade; confirm acceptance for the stated B-dismount requirement.

Count coded elements, not every instruction. Pull up + circle up is one A mount. Squat on (A) and pike on (B) are coded transitions; the jump to catch high bar has no separate value listed. Bars skills may be repeated at most twice, only to meet the required skill count.

Bar routines

Level 8 Bar Routine Low bar • your sequence, with the B dismount specified

Pull up + circle up — chin-up circle-over (A), one coded mount.
Cast to horizontal (B).
Back hip circle (A).
Cast to horizontal (B) — repeat.
Back hip circle (A) — repeat.
Squat on (A) or pike on (B).
Pike undershoot off the low bar (B).

How this routine counts

Seven performed coded elements, with five distinct element choices. The routine counts the best 5. The repeated cast and back hip circle remain in the sequence but do not automatically add extra credited difficulty. Keep the mount, cast, circling element and B dismount requirements in the plan.

Level 7 Bar Routine Low bar to high bar • requested half-twist upgrade

Pull up + circle up — chin-up circle-over (A) — OR short upstart on low bar (C).
Cast to horizontal (B).
Back hip circle (A).
Pike on (B).
Jump to catch the high bar — connecting action, no separate value listed.
Baby giant / ¾ giant (A).
Squat on (A) or pike on (B).
Pike or straddle undershoot half turn off the high bar (C).

How this routine counts

Eight sequence steps, seven performed coded elements; best 5 count. With a second pike on there are six distinct choices; with a squat on there are seven. The ¾ giant is an additional skill: the back hip circle supplies the circling requirement. The half-turn dismount is the requested C upgrade; the source states B dismount. A pike or straddle undershoot without the half turn from high bar is B if using that stated requirement.

Skill choices

Routine Skills The main aim is to make the bar work cleaner, stronger and more consistent.

A coded transition still has a skill value: squat on is A and pike on is B. Jumping to catch high bar is a connecting action with no separate grade listed.

Pull up + circle up Chin-up circle-over • one A mount, not two skills. A Levels 8 & 7

Cast to horizontal B cast requirement at both levels. B Levels 8 & 7

Back hip circle A circling element for the composition requirement. A Levels 8 & 7

Squat on A coded transition; it has its own skill value. A Levels 8 & 7

Pike on B coded transition; used in the Level 7 sequence. B Levels 8 & 7

Pike undershoot — low bar B dismount for the Level 8 routine. B Level 8

Pike on or squat on + catch high bar Pike on B or squat on A; the catch connection has no separate grade. Level 7

Baby giant / ¾ giant An A additional skill in the supplied reference. A Level 7

Short upstart — low bar C mount alternative for Level 7; not compulsory at that level. C Level 7

Pike / straddle undershoot — high bar B dismount choice matching the stated Level 7 requirement. B Level 7

Pike / straddle undershoot half turn — high bar C dismount upgrade in the requested Level 7 sequence. C Level 7

04 / 04

Beam

Beam should develop confidence, posture, dance connection, acro control and safe dismount choices.

Requirements

Level 8 Requirements Best 7 skills • A–B

Non-flighted acro.
Jump or leap with split.
Dance series of 2 dance elements.
A coded spin.

Maximum 1 minute 30 seconds. Add choreography; no artistry deductions at Level 8.

Level 7 Requirements Best 8 skills • A–C

B acro, flighted or non-flighted.
Dance series of 2 dance elements, including a split.
B spin.
B dismount.

Maximum 1 minute 30 seconds. Artistry includes relevé, rhythm and tempo, side dance and changes in height.

Dance series means connected leaps and jumps; a spin or balance is not a dance-series element. Straight jump + split jump covers the split-containing series pattern. Include the mount, dismount and enough credited skills when planning the full routine. Missing composition requirements deduct 1.0 each.

Skill choices

Dance & Acro Confident, calm and precise. Skills should not be rushed into routines before they are stable.

At Level 7, the split must be inside the connected dance series. Handstand forward roll is one C element on beam; a tuck back dismount is B and a straight back dismount is C.

Cat leap + straight jump L8 dance-series choice; add a separate split jump or leap. A + A Level 8

Straight jump + split jump A + B split-containing dance series for both levels. A + B Levels 8 & 7

Half spin A spin choice for Level 8. Level 7 needs a B spin. A Level 8

Handstand A non-flighted acro choice for Level 8; foundation for Level 7. A Levels 8 & 7

Cartwheel A non-flighted acro alternative for Level 8; foundation for Level 7. A Levels 8 & 7

Straddle jump dismount B dismount choice • regional only. B Levels 8 & 7 Regional only

Full spin B spin choice for Level 7; also within the Level 8 grade range. B Levels 8 & 7

Backward walkover B acro choice for Level 7; also permitted at Level 8. B Levels 8 & 7

Handstand forward roll C acro upgrade for Level 7; not permitted at Level 8. C Level 7 Regional only

View more options

Cat leap + straight jump half turn L8: add a split element. L7: choose a connected dance series containing a split. A + B Levels 8 & 7

Tuck back somersault dismount B dismount in the supplied reference; choose the exact shape. B Levels 8 & 7

Straight back somersault dismount C dismount upgrade for Level 7; not permitted at Level 8. C Level 7

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Code of Points

Open skill values, vault scores and reference info.

Open Code

IGA Regional reference. A = 0.10, B = 0.20, C = 0.30 and D = 0.40 difficulty. Grade labels describe the performed elements; routine credit depends on recognition, repetition rules and the number of skills counted. Use the Code of Points for the full reference.