Overview

• Winter/Spring Season: March - May
• Ages: Must have been born between 9/1/2007-9/1/2017
• Age Waiver Policy: Participants must have been eight years old by September 1, 2025, to participate in the youth sports gymnastics program. Parents or guardians who believe their child should be placed in a lower or higher division may request a change by contacting the recreation supervisors at the park they signed up at. Applicants may not participate in any league meet until after the waiver is approved. 
• Four regular season meets
• City-wide meet will be held at the end of the regular season
• Regular season meets will begin at 7pm with stretching beginning at 6pm. The citywide meet starts at 10:15am with stretching beginning at 9am. 

Competition Breakdown

• Young athletes compete for themselves at their own level
• Gymnasts may begin the season at the level passed in the previous season or the next level

Resources

• Youth Sports Homepage
• Youth Sports FAQ
• ActiveNet Registration
• Youth Sports Guidelines

Roster Guidelines:

• All participants must be registered in gymnastics classes at a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) recreation center
• Only Minneapolis teams are eligible for this program. 80% of the team must live within the Minneapolis city limits.

Levels:

• The MPRB will use the USA Gymnastics: Women's Development Compulsory Program
• Levels one through five will be evaluated/judged in floor exercise and apparatus. Optional floor exercise will be exhibited.
• Gymnasts must demonstrate 75% proficiency at level one and above to advance to the next level

Events:

Female gymnasts may compete according to USA Gymnastics: Women's Development Compulsory Program (2021-2029) in four events:

• Floor Exercise
• Vault
• Beam
• Uneven Bars

Male Gymnasts may compete according to USA Gymnastics: Women's Development Compulsory Program (2021-2029)

 Meet Procedures:

1. Gymnasts and coaches may need to help with set-up/take down of equipment at meets
2. Warm up for gymnasts takes place between 6-6:55pm
3. No warmups may begin until a certified team coach is present
4. Gymnasts, coaches and spectators may not have direct interaction with judges before or during meets
5. All regular season meets begin at 7pm
6. Teams will warm-up, compete, clean equipment and then rotate to the next event
7. No flash photography during competition

General Regulations:

Gymnasts must compete in each event at a preliminary meet before participating at the citywide meet in that event. The USA Women's Development Compulsory Program (level one - five) is the basic program for teaching and competition used and adopted by the MPRB.

1. Gymnasts may begin the season at the level passed in the previous season or the next level. Gymnasts entering the program with USA Women's Development Compulsory Program certification may be admitted at a level above two with application to the citywide gymnastics' director. 
2. Gymnasts may compete on one level per event at each meet
3. Gymnasts may advance from one level to another during the season
4. Gymnasts may advance a maximum of two levels in a season (not to exceed level five)
5. Gymnasts competing at level five floor exercise must pass the routine using the compulsory music twice. The gymnast may then compete at level six using her/his own music selection. 
6. Gymnasts must be able to compete level routines without a spotter to pass to the next level. The coach will make the decision whether the gymnasts advance to the next level or stay at that level. 
7. If it is determined by the league director that a gymnast has been prematurely passed to the next level, the gymnast will be moved back down one level until they can demonstrate the skills necessary for advancement. 

Apparel:

1. All gymnasts will perform in dance slippers, gymnasts' shoes with socks or barefoot
2. All gymnasts must show the judge their number before they perform
3. For appearance, leotard briefs or underwear should be worn under leotards
4. No jewelry may be worn, and hair should be fixed above the shoulders and away from the eyes
5. Gymnasts must wear leotards or shorts and a tee shirt (above the knee spandex shorts are acceptable)
6. Absolutely no gum or candy in mouth during performances

Judging/Evaluations:

• Levels one - three: Judges will be evaluating for competence at meets
• Levels four - five: Judges will apply USA general faults and penalties for each event

Optional Floor Exercise:

1. The skills of the optional floor exercise are based on the skills within the appropriate level of the compulsory floor exercise. A gymnast must have successfully completed a skill level in compulsory with a rating of 75% or above at a MPRB gymnastics meet before being allowed to exhibit in that skill level of optional floor exercise. 
2. MPRB would have a knowledgeable person at exhibitions to watch the optional routines and stop them if skills are exhibited above the level in which the gymnasts is qualified
3. Gymnasts must compete in compulsory floor exercise to exhibit an optional floor exercise 
4. Instrumental music is required (30 seconds minimum to one minute, 30 seconds maximum). Music is optional for boys.
5. No MPRB staff will write a program/routine that would be used as a program standard for an optional floor exercise. Coaches/gymnasts/parents can help the gymnasts sequence the compulsory level skills with music to put in an exhibition format. Gymnasts may use any level dance. 

Note: Optional floor exercise routines should not be emphasized over working on the basic compulsory skills in appropriate levels