What level do gymnasts learn a Stalder Circle?

Gymnasts usually learn a Stalder Circle between Levels 7 and 8. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.

How long does it take to learn a Stalder Circle?

About 6 weeks once a Clear Hip is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Kip, the whole progression adds up to about 21 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.

What should my gymnast learn before a Stalder Circle?

Clear Hip comes directly before it. The full progression is Kip, then Cast Handstand, then Clear Hip, then Stalder Circle.

What are the most common deductions on a Stalder Circle?

The ones to watch for are Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20), Bent Knees (usually about 0.1), Body Alignment (usually about 0.1) and Pike in Body (up to 0.20). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.

How to do a Stalder Circle

A Stalder Circle is a bar skill on uneven bars that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 7 and 8, once a Clear Hip is solid.

Also called: stalder, stalder to handstand.

Quick facts

Apparatus	Uneven Bars
Typical level (estimate)	Levels 7-8
Difficulty (Stickd rating)	7/10
Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate)	About 6 weeks
Whole progression (estimate)	About 21 weeks from a Kip
Fear factor (Stickd rating)	2/5

Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.

What to learn before a Stalder Circle

Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Stalder Circle.

Kip (Levels 4-5)
Cast Handstand (Levels 5-6)
Clear Hip (Levels 6-7)

Step-by-step progression

The path to a Stalder Circle has 4 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.

1
Kip
Learn a Kip until it is solid, usually between Levels 4 and 5. About 6 weeks (estimate).
2
Cast Handstand
Learn a Cast Handstand until it is solid, usually between Levels 5 and 6. About 4 weeks (estimate).
3
Clear Hip
Learn a Clear Hip until it is solid, usually between Levels 6 and 7. About 5 weeks (estimate).
4
Stalder Circle
Learn a Stalder Circle. Allow about 6 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).

Drills that build a Stalder Circle

What good form looks like

Circle around the bar in a straddle with the legs passing between the hands, ideally finishing in handstand.

shoulders: extended
hips: straddled_around_bar
knees: straight

Common deductions on a Stalder Circle

Deduction	What it means	Typically
Insufficient Amplitude	Not enough height or extension on jumps, leaps, or tumbling	up to 0.20
Bent Knees	Legs not fully extended during skills requiring straight legs	0.1
Body Alignment	Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean)	0.1
Pike in Body	Hip angle showing pike when straight position required	up to 0.20
Shoulder Angle	Shoulders not open to 180 degrees in handstand positions	0.1

Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.

Watch an example

Watch a Stalder Circle tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

Frequently asked questions

What level do gymnasts learn a Stalder Circle?: Gymnasts usually learn a Stalder Circle between Levels 7 and 8. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
How long does it take to learn a Stalder Circle?: About 6 weeks once a Clear Hip is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Kip, the whole progression adds up to about 21 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
What should my gymnast learn before a Stalder Circle?: Clear Hip comes directly before it. The full progression is Kip, then Cast Handstand, then Clear Hip, then Stalder Circle.
What are the most common deductions on a Stalder Circle?: The ones to watch for are Insufficient Amplitude (up to 0.20), Bent Knees (usually about 0.1), Body Alignment (usually about 0.1) and Pike in Body (up to 0.20). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.