Blog

Insights for gymnasts, coaches, and parents on scoring, training, and getting the most out of your season.

For Parents

How Compulsory Gymnastics Is Scored: A Parent's Guide to USAG Levels 1–5

At USAG compulsory levels, every gymnast performs the same routine from a 10.0 Start Value (except L5 bars alternate dismount at 9.50). Learn what changed for 2026–27.

October 16, 2026·5 min read
For Parents

Value Parts in Gymnastics: What A, B and C Skills Mean for Your Gymnast's Score

In USAG optional levels 6–10, every skill has a difficulty letter. Learn what A, B, C value parts are worth, how many each level needs, and why a missing one lowers Start Value.

October 16, 2026·4 min read
For Parents

Special Requirements in Gymnastics: Why Start Value Can Drop 0.50 When the Routine Looked Complete

Each optional event lists Special Requirements (SRs). Missing one costs 0.50 from Start Value, even when the routine looked complete. Learn what SRs are and how inquiries work.

October 16, 2026·4 min read
For Parents

Composition Credit in Gymnastics (Levels 8–10): Why a Clean Routine Can Start Below 10.0

At USAG Levels 8–10, meeting value parts and SRs doesn't get a routine to 10.0. Learn what Composition Credit and Bonus add and why a clean routine can start at 9.20.

October 16, 2026·4 min read
For Parents

Why That Skill Didn't Count: Credited, Downgraded, or No Credit (A Parent's Guide)

A skill that was performed is not always a skill that was credited. Learn the three credit outcomes so your conversation with the coach can be specific.

September 30, 2026·6 min read
For Parents

How to Read a Gymnastics Meet Score (Start Value, Deductions, and What Changed)

A meet score is a ceiling (Start Value) minus deductions — not a single good/bad number. Learn to separate routine construction from execution faults.

September 23, 2026·6 min read
For Parents

Gymnastics Landing Deductions Explained for Parents (Steps, Hops, Deep Squats)

Most 'almost stuck' landings still lose tenths. A parent's guide to landing faults, what judges mark, and how to discuss specifics with coaches.

September 23, 2026·6 min read
Season Updates

What's New in the 2026–30 USAG Optional Code of Points (A Parent Briefing)

A new USAG Optional Code of Points (2026-30) takes effect August 1, 2026. What may change score conversations, what stays familiar, and what to ask coaches.

May 29, 2026·6 min read
Inside Stickd

Where Did the 0.3 Go? Inside an AI Routine Review

A final score tells you what happened. AI deduction analysis tells you why — frame by frame. A walkthrough of a real beam routine and the five small deductions that decided the meet.

April 30, 2026·6 min read
For Parents

What Your Gymnast's Coach Doesn't Have Time to Tell You

A 9.0 looked the same as last meet's 9.3. Here's a parent's guide to the deductions that decide the difference — and how to actually see them.

April 30, 2026·7 min read
Inside Stickd

From Deduction to Drill: How Stickd Closes the Gap

Identifying a 0.10 deduction is half the answer. Here's how every detected deduction maps to the specific corrective drill that fixes it.

April 30, 2026·5 min read
Training

What's Your Gymnastics Score? How Score Tracking Changes the Way You Train

Every gymnast remembers the feeling of sticking a landing but forgetting last meet's score. Learn how tracking your scores transforms your training.

April 6, 2026·6 min read

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