WAG Level 6-7

[gg_bug]

DD is currently Lv 6 going to 7 next season. Help me see the differences from 6-7?? I am trying to learn--- Seems like a very small change in skills. Vault same, Floor could basically be same (currently competing 3 B skills) beam add back walkover back-handspring (she has had since last summer), bars needs giant- currently hitting handstands and free hip to handstand. What are other differences in level 6-7?

 

[SeaActually]

This may be helpful - http://gymnasticshq.com/level-7-gymnastics-requirements/

 

[ascarter1]

Floor must have a layout and switch leap

Bars-free hip to hs, most gyms compete Giants

Beam, connecting series (most are bwobhs)

Vault, same

Dd competed lv 6 last year and lv 7 this year. There aren't a ton of differences, just a chance to really clean up some skills.

 

[SurpriseGymMom]

Actually none of those are REQUIRED specifically, they are just common B-skills. You do not HAVE to have a switch leap for instance, you can substitute another skill. Most commonly you will see BLO in the tumbling pass, but it's not required.
For bars you NEED circling B-skills but it doesn't HAVE to be a giant, (although most gyms will want that).
You do need a connected series and a flight element on beam, but it can be a wide variety of thing. We have girls competing BWOBWO and separate BHS, FwOFHS, HSBHS, BWOBHS, BHSBHS... One does a RO as her flight instead of BHS.
That's the beauty about Optionals, there's a smorgasbord of skills to choose from and usually the coaches decide which ones they feel are fundamentally important. At our gym, you will NOT do L7 without Giants for instance. They also have vast preferences for certain skills as they are developmentally more important than others. that's our gym though, not USAG.

 

[Gymmommy71]

To me the big differences are:

Beam - you HAVE to do an acro series on beam (two things that go upside down and connect to each other) - people get creative w/ this, but the coaches favorite to see is at least a bwo bhs as it is the most progressive combo. You also HAVE to have a flight on the beam - again, people get creative, but the BHS in the series is the most popular way to cover. You need to show a 180 split in a leap or jump where in 6 this may not be as high. You also need more B's in the routine - popular ways to cover this is a split jump (kill two birds w/ one stone if it hits 180 ) or a round off in the dismount.

Floor you HAVE to do a tumbling pass w/ a back layout - usually always done w/ a robhslo. Also need a front tumbling series that at least has one salto - most popular for this is a front handspring front tuck/pike/layout. I believe in 6 you can just do a single front salto - don't need to connect anything. You also need more Bs - many do a switch leap and a 1.5 turn to cover this, but there are other ways. Got to show 180 split in a leap or jump, but I think this is true in L6 too.

Bars you need 2 B circling elements where in 6 you only need 1. One of the 2 must be a free hip, stalder or a sole circle (the one where the feet go off the bar at the bottom, not the riding around on the bar w/ you feet thing), the other is usually a giant cause it's the most progressive and coaches want it, but it doesn't need to be a giant (even though everyone acts like they are, Giants really are NOT required in L7). The one thing you do need is a 45 degrees above horizontal cast or you are missing a requirement and getting a .5 hit in SV. In 6 you just need to be "above horizontal" to not get the SV hit. NOTE: any cast not to HS will incur deductions in L6+, but in 7 it will be even worse when not 45 cause of the .5 off the SV too.

Vault is the same - although I do think it's scored a little harder in 7 than 6. There's nothing official about this though. As long as you can do a FHS vault it shouldn't be something that holds you back from 7 .

 

[skidad]

From what you said, it seems like she has the skills already. As stated above in bars casts need to hit 45 degrees above horizontal and there needs to be 2 circling elements. Both can actually be free hips. Add the BWO-BHS on beam. The floor routine has to have a Layout and a front tumbling pass including a salto, ex. FHS-FT but otherwise it is already meeting the requirement. Vault is the same but is judged on different angles.

 

[gymmutti]

The differences are minimal. These are the differences in special requirements (each gym can have expectations beyond that):

Floor:
L7 requires a 3 flight acro series with a back layout (typically a RO-BHS-BLO). L6 only requires 3 directly connected acro elements but they don't have to all have flight.

L7 requires a forward salto series (often FHS + tuck,pike, or layout). L6 only requires a single salto either isolated or in a second series.

Leaps and turns are the same.

Beam:
Biggest differences IMO.
L7 requires a series and a flight (can be part of the series but doesn't have to be). Neither required for L6.

L7 beam dismount must have an aerial or salto whereas L6 can use hand support.

Bars:
Technically a difference in CHS but honestly you get deducted the same amount when you don't hit handstand (but get an additional 0.5 off for not at least hitting horizontal in L6 or 45 degrees from vertical in L7).

You have to do 2 circling elements (same or different) in L7 and one has to be a B.). A clear hip (not to handstand, but 45 degrees from HS will get you the B credit AND no height deductions) qualifies. Technically you can do that twice in L7. You only need 1 circling element in L6 and it doesn't have to be your B.

Dismount in L7 has to be a salto, whereas you can do an underswing in L6.

Vault is the same.

Remember those are the minimums. A lot of L6s now do L7 routines minus 1 or 2 requirements (BLO on floor or 2nd circling element on bar). Lots of L7s now do routines that also are above minimums (C dance on beam - like a switch leap, clear hip to HS on bars - also a C, two directly connected saltos - which is a L8 requirement). It just depends on the gym.

 

[gg_bug]

This is very helpful

 

[chalkbowl]

Most commonly you will see BLO in the tumbling pass, but it's not required.

A back layout is indeed required for level 7.

 

[ascarter1]

A back layout is indeed required for level 7.

That's what I thought! Even if you compete a half or full, you still must have a lo as well.

 

[SurpriseGymMom]

Thank you, I had been told it wasn't by a choreographer but I stand corrected.

 

[JoyAvenueMom]

An added thougth: The biggest "difference" we've experienced is execution and scores. While Kipper and her team mates started out the season with all of their skills intact, I have found that the competition is tougher, and they often need a 37AA+ to place. Our gym competes "bigger" skills at L6 than required, so it wasn't a huge jump in skills to move up to L7. However, those 9.5 scores are much harder to earn at L7. We've seen 38AA at several meets, and the 10yo and under group can be insanely good. In our area, there are more repeaters at this level, at all ages.

 

[Clover]

You've gotten some good info. Just wanted to add that L7 can be "upgraded" to include some L8 skills. Some of the stronger L7s will compete a full on floor, a BHS-BHS and roundoff layout dismount, a clear hip handstand connected to giants on bars.

Best of luck!

 

[gg_bug]

Seems to me they should go to Lv 8 if doing all higher skills? What would benefit be of doing all extra's and staying Lv 7.

 

[chalkbowl]

Seems to me they should go to Lv 8 if doing all higher skills? What would benefit be of doing all extra's and staying Lv 7.

Perhaps they don't have the flipping vault their gym requires for level 8? That would allow them to upgrade to level 8 on other events even though their gym rules may not allow them to compete level 8 yet. Sometimes kids just tend to be strong on one or two events as well, this allows them to compete harder skills on the events they excel at.

We had an athlete who had a lovely BHS + BHS on beam and we opted to compete it because it was cleaner than her BWO + BWO or BWO + BHS due to flexibility issues. It was her first year level 7 and she didn't have any other "level 8 skills" that were competition ready at the time.

 

[Clover]

Perhaps they don't have the flipping vault their gym requires for level 8? That would allow them to upgrade to level 8 on other events even though their gym rules may not allow them to compete level 8 yet. Sometimes kids just tend to be strong on one or two events as well, this allows them to compete harder skills on the events they excel at.

We had an athlete who had a lovely BHS + BHS on beam and we opted to compete it because it was cleaner than her BWO + BWO or BWO + BHS due to flexibility issues. It was her first year level 7 and she didn't have any other "level 8 skills" that were competition ready at the time.

That, plus some gyms don't do mid-season move ups - just too complicated. Generally, whatever level you start the season is what you compete. Many girls gain and compete higher level skills throughout the season.

 

[Committed]

An added thougth: The biggest "difference" we've experienced is execution and scores. While Kipper and her team mates started out the season with all of their skills intact, I have found that the competition is tougher, and they often need a 37AA+ to place. Our gym competes "bigger" skills at L6 than required, so it wasn't a huge jump in skills to move up to L7. However, those 9.5 scores are much harder to earn at L7. We've seen 38AA at several meets, and the 10yo and under group can be insanely good. In our area, there are more repeaters at this level, at all ages.

I definitely agree here. The age groups have been huge (8-12yo). Within are the phenoms, repeaters, and those who trained L7 for a year after competing L5 or L6 (ours do back-to-back seasons of 5/7).
And.... AAs need to be 37+ to podium.

As for competing higher skills, it's just like doing the beam BHS or floor switch leap in L5. Do it if it's pretty, but you won't get extra points.