All About Level 2 Gymnastics

A plain-English guide to Level 2 gymnastics — the USAG requirements on every event, the routine and floor music, and a simple breakdown of every skill your gymnast will learn.

Level 2 requirements

Vault

• Stretch jump to a raised surface
• Kick to handstand, fall to flatback
• Jump to handstand flatback on a raised surface

Bars

• Pullover
• Cast
• Back hip circle
• Sole circle dismount
• Glide swing
• Underswing dismount

Beam

• Tuck/pike stand, needle kick or kick-up to stand
• Passe balance
• Stretch jump
• Arabesque
• Leg swings
• Side handstand dismount
• Pivot Turn

Floor

• Cartwheel
• Backward tuck roll or back roll to push up
• Candlestick
• Passe balance
• Forward chasse
• Stretch jump
• Forward roll
• Handstand
• Heel snap 1/2 turn
• Leap
• Split Jump
• Bridge kick-over

Routine & music

Level 2 is a compulsory level — every gymnast performs the same USAG routine on each event, so scoring compares execution head-to-head.

Floor music: USAG official floor music. Listen to the official Level 2 floor music →

Every Level 2 skill, simplified

Vault

• Handstand Flatback: Full running approach → hurdle → jump to handstand shape on mat stack (straight arms, ears between arms, body straight) → controlled flat-back fall.
• Handstand Flatback: From a punch off the board, drive the heels toward the ceiling to punch INTO a handstand.
• Handstand Flatback: Run, punch off board, kick to handstand on stack, fall to flat back position on mat.

Bars

• Pullover: Jump to hang, pull HIPS up to the bar, roll stomach over bar, finish in front support with straight arms.
• Cast: From front support: push bar away from hips, hollow body, legs rise behind.
• Back Hip Circle: From front support: cast, bar contacts upper thighs (not ribs), hollow body, circle backward around bar, return to front support.
• Glide Swing: Jump to long hang → swing forward in hollow body → swing back in arch → pike at the back of the swing.
• Glide Swing to Pullover (Connected): Glide swing → at peak of backward swing, pike feet toward bar, pull body up and over in pullover → finish in front support.
• Underswing Dismount: From front support after back hip circle: cast, swing legs forward under bar in pike, release at peak, extend body, land facing AWAY from the bar with a controlled two-foot landing.

Beam

• Stretch Jump on Beam: Arms in crown, two-foot takeoff, fully extended at peak, land two feet.
• Tuck Jump Dismount: From standing on beam, jump bringing both knees to chest, extend, two-foot landing.
• Jump to Front Support Mount: Stand beside beam, jump up, hands on beam, support body weight with straight arms, hollow body in front support.
• Arabesque to 30°: Standing on one foot, free leg lifts behind to minimum 30°.
• Stretch Jump on Beam: Two-foot takeoff, body fully extended at peak (arms in crown, legs together, toes pointed), controlled landing on beam.
• Jump to Front Support Mount: Jump up, hands on beam, support weight with straight arms, hollow body.
• Arabesque to 30°: Same as L1 arabesque -- minimum 30° on beam.
• Pivot Turn: Standing on one foot in relevé: pivot on the ball of the foot, free leg in passé (toe to knee), complete the turn and land in relevé or flat foot.
• Stretch Jump on Beam: Same as L1 stretch jump on beam.
• Cartwheel to Side Handstand Dismount: From lunge on beam: cartwheel along beam → as hands go down, body sweeps to a side handstand position (hands on beam, body vertical sideways) → lower to stand or push off to land beside beam.
• Handstand on Beam: Kick to handstand on beam, hold for 1 count minimum.
• Half Turn: ½ pivot turn on one or two feet, smooth and controlled, no wobble out.
• Side Handstand Dismount: Cartwheel onto handstand position on the beam, kick to vertical, fall off the side cleanly to a stuck landing.

Floor

• Candlestick: Roll back to shoulder stand position, legs together and vertical, toes pointed, arms by sides.
• Backbend Kickover: From standing, hands lift overhead and arch backward into bridge (straight arms, shoulders over hands), kick dominant leg up and over -- pass through split handstand, land dominant foot first then back foot, finish in lunge.
• ¾ Handstand: Kick to ¾ of the way to handstand (approximately 135° from floor).
• Forward Roll: Standing: reach forward to floor, tuck chin, round spine, roll through back, finish standing.
• Cartwheel: Lunge entry → one hand then the other → legs pass through vertical split → two-foot landing in lunge.
• Backward Roll: Sit back into tuck, hands go to ears (thumbs in), roll backward over curved spine, push off hands to finish.
• Stretch Jump: Two-foot takeoff, body fully extended at peak -- arms in crown, legs together, toes pointed.
• Handstand (1-second hold): Kick to handstand, hold for 1 second with straight body (hollow, not arched), arms by ears, legs together and pointed.
• Backward Roll to Push-Up Position: Backward roll → at the top of the roll, extend legs back to push-up (plank) position.
• Bridge Kickover: Standing bridge (straight arms, shoulders over wrists, feet flat) → kick dominant leg up and over through split position → land dominant foot then trailing foot in lunge.
• Split Leap with 60° Split: Run/step, punch off one foot, legs split in the air (minimum 60° angle at Level 2), land on front foot in demi-plié.
• 180° Heel Snap Turn in Passé: Standing on one foot, relevé, passé position (toe to knee), execute a 180° (half) turn by snapping the heel around.
• Split Jump with 60° Split: Two-foot takeoff, legs split in the air (minimum 60°), land on both feet.
• Round-off: Hurdle → cartwheel-like entry but both feet land together → punch/rebound off two feet.
• Stretch Jump (floor): Two-foot takeoff, body fully extended at peak (arms in crown), controlled two-foot landing.
• Tuck Jump: Two-foot takeoff, knees drive to chest at peak (min 90° hip + knee), controlled two-foot landing.
• Leap: Step → leap with split position at peak, division-specific split angle required (60°/90°/120°/180°).
• Forward Roll: Tuck chin to chest, hands on floor, push with legs, roll over rounded back, stand without hands.
• Backward Roll: Sit, rock back, hands by ears, push to stand.

Level 2 gymnastics FAQ

Common Level 2 deductions

Judges take small deductions for form on almost every skill. These are the basics to clean up first — they apply across vault, bars, beam, and floor:

• Bent legs — keep the legs straight and squeezed together.
• Bent arms — lock the elbows on handstands, casts, swings, and supports.
• Toes not pointed — point the feet on every jump, leap, hold, and landing.
• Legs or feet apart — keep legs together unless the skill calls for a split.
• Loss of balance — wobbles, extra arm swings, or a foot coming off the beam.
• Steps or hops on landing — stick the landing — a step, hop, or lunge is a deduction.
• Low chest or poor posture — stay tall and lifted through the whole routine.
• Not enough height or extension — show full amplitude and finished, stretched shapes.

KINETIC breaks down the exact deductions and error-fixes for every Level 2 skill — with the drills to fix them.