United States of America Gymnastics rules state that a Level 6 competitor must be at least 7 years old before competing, and competition at this level is compulsory only. This means that while you must complete the routine as flawlessly as possible, every gymnast must perform the exact same routine and there is no scoring for creativity. The flip side is that your moves will be judged directly against your peers, so it is important to have your routine down perfectly before the meet. The Level 6 balance beam routine focuses on basic beam skills with balance and strength moves sprinkled in.
Mount/Dismount
The Level 6 mount is a scissor kick leg swing with a half-turn. You may take up to three steps beforehand, but make sure you swing with your outside leg to land at 180 degrees in a cross straddle. Keep good posture and fluidity. Your dismount is a cartwheel to cross handstand with a quarter turn to side handstand with another quarter turn. Be sure to pass through the vertical on the cartwheel, and hold handstands for two seconds at the top, keeping your legs perfectly straight.
Acrobatics
Few acrobatic moves are on the beam at this level. Other than the cartwheel in the dismount, there's a back walkover or back roll to a 3/4 handstand, coming out of a cross handstand. Make sure your hips remain square at the beginning and end of all acrobatic moves, which is a good rule of thumb anyway. While you should show levering going into your cartwheel, your back walkover should be very fluid -- your leading foot should come up as you begin to lean back, and by the time your hands are on the beam, the leading leg should be halfway over. Make a concerted effort to keep the legs separated during the entire back walkover -- a lazy landing could topple you right off the beam.
Dance Steps
The beam incorporates a multitude of dance steps to help you change position, shift your weight, or turn completely. Level 6 competitors must coupe from the mount, then side developee to a rond de jambe. Keep your foot tight to the ankle for your coupe, then raise the entire leg as a unit for the developee -- pretend you don't have knees, because any bend in either leg means points off. Make your rond de jambe graceful but snappy, and be sure to execute the entire D shape. You'll coupe again with a half-turn, then do a full turn in passe -- keep your foot next to your knee, not behind it. Before your dismount, you'll also do an arabesque -- reach out, not just up, with both your upper and lower body.
Jumps/Pivots
Your turns position you for the next move, but your jumps are where you show your comfort level on the beam. Make your jumps snappy and fluid, and land solidly. After your rond de jambe, you'll do a half-turn into a split leap. For Level 6, your split must be at least 120 degrees, and your legs must be even. Keep your feet turned out for the subsequent weight transfer. After your back walkover, you will do pivot turns to both sides, keeping your body tight and square. You must complete a 180-degree rotation on each turn. Later in the routine you will execute a tuck jump and a split jump -- keep your tuck tight, then open your body up fully for the split. After your arabesque, there's a simple half-pivot lunge turn to dismount.
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