All About Level 3 Gymnastics
A plain-English guide to Level 3 gymnastics — the USAG requirements on every event, the routine and floor music, and a simple breakdown of every skill your gymnast will learn.
Level 3 requirements
Vault
- Front handspring over a mat stack
Bars
- Glide swing & return to pullover or glide kip
- Two back hip circles in a row
- Front hip circle to small cast
- Cast to squat-on dismount
Beam
- Vertical handstand
- Half heel snap turn
- Stretch jump, stretch jump
- Arabesque
- Leap
- Two pivot turns
- Side handstand 1/4 turn dismount
Floor
- Handstand forward roll
- Leap
- Stretch jump, split jump
- Handstand to bridge kick-over
- Forward split
- Half turn in passe
- Back extension roll to push up
- Round off back handspring
Routine & music
Level 3 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 3 floor music →
Every Level 3 skill, simplified
Vault
- Front Handspring over Mat Stack: Full running approach → hurdle → punch off springboard → reach for table → block (push) off table with straight arms → flight phase in tight hollow body → two-foot landing.
Bars
- 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.
- Kip (or Glide Swing Pullover): KIP: Jump to long hang → glide swing forward → pike feet to bar → hip drive forward and up → finish in front support, hips AT the bar.
- Cast: From front support after kip: push bar away from hips, hollow body, legs rise behind.
- Back Hip Circle: From front support after cast: bar contacts upper thighs (not ribs), hollow body, circle backward around bar, return to 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.
- Long Hang Pullover: From long hang: pull HIPS up to the bar, roll stomach/hips over bar, finish in front support.
- Kip + Cast Sequence: Clean kip to front support → immediate cast (no pause) to 45° below horizontal or above → return to front support.
Beam
- Back Walkover: Stand → reach arms overhead → arch back → hands to beam one at a time → kick dominant leg through split to vertical → land dominant foot then trailing foot in lunge.
- Cartwheel on Beam: From lunge: one hand then the other on beam, legs pass through split, lunge landing.
- Split Leap or Split Jump on Beam: Split leap: step, punch off one foot, split in air, land on front foot.
- Full Pivot Turn: Rise to relevé on one foot → passé tight at knee → spot the end of beam → complete 360° without height loss → lower controlled to two feet.
- Straddle Jump: Two-foot takeoff → legs split to straddle position at peak height → toes pointed at maximum → feet come together → land soft on two feet.
- Cartwheel Dismount: Same cartwheel mechanics as on beam — one hand then the other, legs split — but pushes off the end of beam with the second hand to dismount to the side.
- Arabesque (30° Minimum): Standing on one foot → kick back leg to 30° or above → lean chest forward to horizontal → arms long and strong → hold 2 seconds without wobbling.
- Side Handstand 1/4 Turn Dismount: Side handstand 1/4 turn dismount — value A.
Floor
- Cartwheel: Lunge entry → one hand then the other → legs pass through vertical split → two-foot landing in lunge.
- 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.
- Handstand Forward Roll: Kick to handstand → controlled fall forward → tuck chin → round spine over → stand.
- Round-off: Hurdle → cartwheel-like entry but both feet land together → punch/rebound off two feet.
- Round-off Back Handspring: Round-off with strong punch → back handspring: jump backward with straight arms, arch, hands contact floor, snap legs over, two-foot landing.
- Back Walkover: Stand → arms overhead → arch back → hands to floor in bridge → kick dominant leg through split vertical → step down to lunge.
- Full Turn in Passé: Standing on one foot, relevé, passé, complete a full 360° turn.
- Full Turn in Passé: Same as L4 full turn in passé on floor.
- Front Walkover: Hurdle → kick to handstand → lower with arch (not collapsing) → top leg leads through split position → one foot then the other → finish in lunge.
- Split Leap (90°+): Preparation step → kick front leg → jump off back foot at peak of kick → split position at maximum height → pointed toes → land on front foot.
- Full Turn in Passé: Rise to relevé → passé pulls tight to knee → spot one point → complete 360° without losing height → lower controlled.
- Standing Back Handspring: Sit back as on floor — same mechanics as standalone — but the L3 back handspring must connect cleanly to the round-off that precedes it.
- Back Walkover: Stand on one leg → arch back and reach for the floor → hands land shoulder-width apart → kick top leg up and over → split position through vertical → land one foot then the other → finish in lunge.
- Front Walkover: Kick into handstand from one leg → controlled lower with arch (not collapsing) → top leg leads, bottom leg follows → split position through vertical → land one foot then the other → finish in lunge.
- Full Turn in Passé: Rise to relevé on one foot → passé pulls tight to knee → spot one point → complete 360° without losing height → lower controlled.
- Full Turn in Passé: Same as Bronze full turn but with cleaner execution, higher relevé, and tighter passé.
- Full Turn in Passé: Complete 360° turn on one foot in passé, smooth release and stop.
Coach Level 3 with confidence
Every Level 3 skill with cues, drills, error-fixes and spotting — plus a full season lesson plan.
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Level 3 gymnastics FAQ
What are the Level 3 gymnastics requirements?
Level 3 requires set skills on vault, bars, beam and floor. This page lists them by event, and KINETIC breaks down how to teach each one — cues, drills, and spotting.
What is the Level 3 floor music?
The official Level 3 floor music is used for the compulsory routine — you can listen to it above.
How many skills are in Level 3?
Level 3 includes roughly 38 core skills across all four events, from basics to the level’s hardest requirement.
Where can I get Level 3 lesson plans?
KINETIC has a full week-by-week Level 3 season plan plus every skill breakdown and drill. Level 1 is free; unlock every level for $4.99/mo.
Common Level 3 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 3 skill — with the drills to fix them.