WAG RULES
Competition Rules
NAIGC WAG competitions offer four levels: USAG Xcel Silver, Xcel Platinum, Level 8, and Level 9. The Xcel levels use rules, requirements and skill from the USAG XCEL Code of Points (latest version available for purchase here). Level 8 and Level 9 use the USAG Women’s Development Program Code of Points (latest version available for purchase here). Any modifications to these levels are listed below in the NAIGC WAG Rules Document.
2023-2024 NAIGC WAG Rules Document
Additionally, the NAIGC has a list of named skill additions that are exclusive to the NAIGC. To have an original skill or a variation of a skill considered for evaluation by the NAIGC, please send a video and description of the skill to rules@naigc.org. If a skill is accepted and you subsequently submit a video of you competing the skill with no large deductions, it will be named after you. These skills can be found in the NAIGC WAG Code of Points Additions.
RESOURCES FOR GYMNASTS
- NAIGC WAG Quick Guide Booklet – To print and keep in your gym for easy reference
- NAIGC WAG Quick Guide Posters – To print and keep in your gym for easy reference
- MAG to WAG Transition Tips - If you're someone with MAG experience looking to do some WAG events, we've got some tips for you!
- NAIGC Example Routines – Sample routines with listed start values and skill values (will be updated Fall 2022)
- NAIGC Progression Videos - Drills to help learn select skills.
- NAIGC FHS Vault Progressions - Teach the proper technique of a Front Handspring Vault, created by the NAIGC.
LEVEL REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
For a quick summary of level requirements, please reference this table (but use the links below for clearer details):
If you don’t know which level to choose, you can use the following table as a guide:
| Experience | Recommended Level |
| 0-2 years | Xcel Silver |
| 2-5 years | Xcel Platinum |
| 5-7 years | USAG Level 8 |
| 8+ years | USAG Level 9 |
Additionally, if you placed in the top 5 on any event at Nationals last year, you should strongly consider moving up a level.
NAIGC WAG POLICIES
- NAIGC WAG Rules Document - Complete description of NAIGC WAG Rules
- WAG National Championship Format - Explains structure of Nationals and finals qualification numbers
- NAIGC Competition and Eligibility Policy - Outlines awards categories and finals qualification eligibility
RESOURCES FOR JUDGES
- NAIGC WAG Rules Document – Complete description of NAIGC WAG Rules
- NAIGC WAG Named Skill Code of Points - List of NAIGC specific named skills
- NAIGC WAG Judges Cheat Sheets – Quick summary of difference between NAIGC and USAG rules
RESOURCES FROM USAG
USAG Development Program Levels (Level 8/9)
- USAG Development Program Code of Points (2022-26)– Purchase Women’s Development Program (previously JO) Code of Points
- Level 8 Cheat Sheet– Summarizes requirements and compositional deductions. Only composition deductions highlighted in blue can be taken.
- Level 9 Cheat Sheet – Summaries requirements, compositional deductions, and bonus. Only composition deductions highlighted in blue can be taken.
- Level 8/9 Composition Deduction Chart – Details up to level compositional deductions. These deductions will NOT be taken in NAIGC competition.
- Vault Value Charts - Level 10, Level 9, Level 8
Xcel Levels (Xcel Silver/Platinum)
- USAG Xcel Code of Points (2022-26)– Purchase Xcel Code of Points
- Event Rules Charts
- Allowable Vaults & Values (Platinum Only)
- Basic Xcel Information
- Additional resources will be added once published by USAG
*Note: Although the FIG Code of Points can be found online (under Code of Points, WAG for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics), these are not consistent with the USAG Women’s Development Program (previously JO) Or Xcel Code of Points. The FIG Code of Points on this website outlines Elite rules and skill values, not WDP and values.
LOOKING FOR MORE?
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 WAG posts are uploaded every Wednesday!
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.
Wag Faq
Why is the competition divided between collegiate and community?
The community division originated because there are some clubs whose schools will only provide funding for nationals if it is a collegiate-only competition.
If NAIGC has 'Intercollegiate' in its name, why are adult community teams allowed to participate?
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.
Why does the NAIGC allow men to compete in women’s gymnastics and women to compete in men’s gymnastics?
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.
Why does it always take SO long to announce finals qualifications and calculate awards?
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.
Why do we no longer do top of session qualification?
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.
Why do we not offer finals for all levels?
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.
What kind of uniform should I wear?
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.
Contact
Please contact rules@naigc.org with questions, comments, changes, etc.