Intermediate Gymnastic Requirements

As gymnasts progress, they will find that the competitive requirements for each new level are more and more difficult and demanding. According to USA Gymnastics, levels 1 through 4 are considered "rookie" or "novice" levels, 5 through 6 are "intermediate," and 7 through 10 are "advanced" or "superior." Intermediate-level gymnasts should train between five and nine hours a week and be at least 6 years old. To compete in USA Gymnastics sanctioned meets, gymnasts must be 7 years or older.

  1. Vault

    • Intermediate gymnasts should master and compete a front handspring over the vaulting table. This requirement applies for both level 5 and level 6 gymnasts competing under USA Gymnastics. Vault requires speed, agility, strength and precision. A gymnast's progress on this apparatus is often slower than in the other events.

    Uneven Bars

    • Intermediate gymnasts should master glide kip mounts, casts to above horizontal, clear hip circles to above horizontal, squats and jumps to the high bar, long hang kips and flyaway dismounts. Gymnasts can perform the dismount in a tuck, piked or layout position. Intermediate gymnasts should also perfect swings on the high bar, coming up to 15 degrees below horizontal. Instead of a squat on and jump to the high bar, gymnasts can try a sole circle and jump to the high bar.

    Balance Beam

    • Intermediate gymnasts should master back walkovers, cross handstands, full turns, straight leg leaps to 150 degrees, split jumps, sissones, arabesques and dismounts of a cartwheel to a side handstand, holding for two seconds and turning a quarter onto the floor. Gymnasts have the option of competing back handsprings instead of back walkovers, although back handsprings are more difficult and require more skill. To perform intermediate beam correctly, gymnasts must work on their balance and flexibility.

    Floor Exercise

    • Intermediate-level gymnasts are able to master tumbling passes, such as a front handspring step-out to a front handspring to two feet and a round-off to back handspring to back tuck, which is a somersault in the tuck position. As for jumps and leaps, intermediate gymnasts should be able to perform a sissone and a split or switch leap. Other requirements are a back roll with straight arms to handstand, a full turn and a tucked forward salto.