MAG Rules

For a quick summary, please reference this table (but use the links below for clearer details):

(Note: USAG changed the name of their "Junior Developmental" level to "Level 7", so we've updated the name of our lowest level to match. No actual rules have changed, just the name!)

If you don’t know which level to choose, we recommend the following:

• If you can do a 6 skill routine with no extra swings on the majority of your events, you should strongly consider moving up from Level 7 to Level 9.
• If you can do a 7 skill routine counting only FIG skills, you should strongly consider moving up from Level 9 to Modified NCAA.
• If you placed in the top 5 on any event at Nationals last year, you should strongly consider moving up a level.

It's important to remember that the "requirements" listed in the table above are better thought of as bonuses, and many people compete in a given level without meeting several of the requirements.

• MAG Rules Policy- Complete description of NAIGC MAG Rules
• MAG National Championship Format - Explains structure of Nationals and finals qualification numbers
• NAIGC Competition and Eligibility Policy - Outlines awards categories and finals qualification eligibility
• MAG Rules Response to 2023 Feedback - In response to feedback from 2023 Nationals survey and 2023 Nationals interviews, we have provided written explanations to common feedback we received.
• MAG Rules Response to 2022 Feedback - In response to feedback from 2022 Nationals survey and 2022 Nationals interviews, we have provided written explanations to common feedback we received.

Rules

• Introduction to MAG Rules - Totally new to the sport? This document should help you understand the MAG Rules.
• FIG Code of Points - Detailed rules and skill values/descriptions that serves as the basis for all of the NAIGC levels.
• USA Gymnastics Rules - For reference as the base set of rules for NAIGC Modified Level 9 only. Please see NAIGC specific rules for details.
• NAIGC MAG Rules Quick Guide - A single poster summarizing the rules (print it out for your gym!)
• NAIGC MAG Code of Points - This document details skills that are not found in the FIG Code of Points but are allowed for credit in some or all of the NAIGC levels. To submit a skill for consideration, please email a video and explanation to rules@naigc.org. If it’s accepted, you may submit a video of yourself competing it with no major deductions, and we’ll name it after you if it's a B or higher! Videos of all skills are on our Youtube Channel and are linked directly from each illustration in the NAIGC Code.
• NAIGC MAG Judges Cheat Sheets - Helpful for gymnasts, not just Judges! These have a quick review of the overall rules and the event specific rules, plus the page from our Code of Points, for each apparatus.
• WAG to MAG Transition Tips - If you're a gymnast with WAG experience looking to learn some MAG events, check out this page for some quick tips!

Skills and Routines

• MAG Beginner Progressions and Routines (PDF Guide, Videos) - Guide for each event on strength and flexibility training, beginner through intermediate routines, and skill progressions.
• Start Value Sheets (Level 7 | Level 9 | Modified NCAA) - Useful to help calculate your start value and to hand to judges in meets to help ensure you get the right start value!
• MAG Routine Construction Guide - Want to put together your own routine (rather than the suggestions in the Progressions Guide)? This document will help guide your skill choice.
• Example Routines with Deductions - A judged routine on every event for every level, with detailed deduction explanations.
• MAG Rules Tips Videos - A variety of different quick videos with rules tips for MAG gymnasts.
• MAG Skill Tips and Drills Videos - A variety of different quick videos with specific skill tips and drills for MAG gymnasts.
• Coaching Guide for WAG Athletes/Coaches Teaching MAG - A guide for programs that have experienced WAG athletes and coaches to help them coach MAG athletes and grow their MAG programs.
• Twisting Technical Literature - If you have trouble twisting while flipping, perhaps a deep dive into how the physics of twisting works could help! Check out these two excellent papers: Learning How to Twist Fast, by Fred Yeadon and The Physics of Somersaulting and Twisting by Cliff Frohlich

• NAIGC MAG Judges Cheat Sheets - To help judges know our rules better!
• NAIGC MAG Rules Policy - Complete description of NAIGC MAG Rules
• NAIGC MAG Code of Points - This document details skills that are not found in the FIG Code of Points but are allowed for credit in some or all of the NAIGC levels. To submit a skill for consideration, please email a video and explanation to rules@naigc.org. If it’s accepted, you may submit a video of yourself competing it with no major deductions, and we’ll name it after you if it's a B or higher! Videos of all skills are on our Youtube Channel and are linked directly from each illustration in the NAIGC Code.
• Calibration Routines (videos | PDF)- A judged routine on every event for every level, with detailed deductions (in both the videos and the PDF), to use as a training and educational tool. Also good for gymnasts wanting to know where deductions can be taken!

• FIG Code of Points - Detailed rules and skill values/descriptions that serves as the basis for all of the NAIGC levels.
• USA Gymnastics Rules - For reference as the base set of rules for NAIGC Modified Level 9 only. Please see NAIGC specific rules for details.

Training Advice and Rules Questions

If you’re looking for more training advice or rules explanations, check out the NAIGC Skills and Drills Facebook group to get gymnastics tips from your fellow NAIGC gymnasts and certified judges. You can also find lots of helpful tips and tricks on the @NAIGC_RulesInfo Instagram Page. New MAG posts are uploaded every Monday!

Other Disciplines

For those gymnasts interested in competing all ten events or both artistic divisions, see our new Decathlon/Unified division! Email rules@naigc.org directly if you have any questions regarding Decathlon or Unified Artistic Gymnastics. Also make sure to check out our Trampoline and Tumbling division.

Social Media and Contact Information

For more information from the NAIGC Rules teams, make sure to check out our Instagram page and YouTube channel. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email rules@naigc.org.

The community division originated because there are some clubs whose schools will only provide funding for nationals if it is a collegiate-only competition.

When the NAIGC was created, it only catered to collegiate clubs. As athletes graduated, they couldn’t find a venue for continuing the sport of gymnastics, so the NAIGC stepped up to fill that need. This is aligned with our core value of providing radical opportunity.

Allowing cross gender competition aligns with the NAIGC’s core value of providing radical opportunity. Gymnastics is one of the few sports that offers different opportunities based on gender, and the NAIGC is working to provide equal opportunity for all participants.

The scoring software used by the NAIGC is custom to the organization because our rules are so unique in order to cater to all the needs of our members. This software is built by a corps of volunteers on top of their full time jobs. Every time we change the rules in reaction to membership feedback, major software changes are required. The board recognizes this is a huge area for improvement and has placed high priority on related tasks.

Top of session qualification requires enough information about each team to properly seed sessions. Due to inconsistency between scoring across the country, lack of sanctioned meets, and the low number of competitions offering certain levels, fair session seeding is not possible at this time.

There are no finals for WAG Xcel Silver because there is not enough participation to warrant offering finals. Space is limited and sessions are already approaching max capacity. We do offer finals for a limited number of Level 9 athletes despite lower participation, to showcase the hardest gymnastics.

MAG has no uniform deductions, so wear proper attire for doing gymnastics. A typical attire is a leotard with shorts on floor and vault, and with pants and socks on the other four apparatus.