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Gymnastics Information
There are 3 levels of artistic gymnastics that I know of.
COMPULSORY= Levels 4-6. All gymnasts on these levels do the exact same routines in all events (Although the floor music may vary according to their gym).
OPTIONAL= Levels 7-10. These levels of competition are more advanced than COMPULSORY. The gymnasts are able, with the help of their coach, to put together bar, floor and beam routines with moves that they like. The best part is that they get to pick out their music!!
ELITE= Junior and Senior levels. These are the gymnasts you can see on TV - my daughter's favorite gymnast is Shannon Miller!
Level 5 is the first USA Gymnastics "Sanctioned" level for competition. The level 5 gymnasts can compete up to the state level.
Level 6 is the last level of COMPULSORY competing. My daughter thought that compulsories were VERY boring. Everyone had to do the exact same routine and the music got repeatative! In level 6 you can also compete up to the State level.
Level 7 was my daughter's favorite year so far! She chose "Lolipop" as her floor routine music. She's a bouncy kid, so I talked her into getting bouncy music! She loved being able to choose her own moves on each of the events.
Level 8-10 A gymnast is able to progress through these levels by making the level of difficulty harder in their routines. For example: a back tuck is ok in level 6, but a layout is needed in level 7.
Elite is the level after level 10. There are 2 sections: Junior Elite and Senior Elite. Again, the difference between the levels is difficulty and experience.
Most of the competitive levels are scored on a 10 point basis. You can recieve a score up to a 10.0. Of course, this is what EVERYONE wants to get! The judges start your score at a 10, and deduct points for things you do wrong.
In each level, a gymnast's score can qualify them to be in different levels of competition. The scores that qualify in each level are different for each compedative level. Your All Around (AA) score (the total of all of your scores from each of the 4 events)is what qualifies. A certain score from a regular meet (a 28 AA for example) could qualify you to go to the sectionals meet. This is a section of your state usually. From sectionals, your AA score can qualify you to go to the state meet. Same for regionals, nationals, etc.
Level 4 is the first level of competition in gymnastics. This is commonly known as "Pre-Team". Usually to get on this level, a child has to be recommemded by their gymnastics teacher or pass a test. This level is basically to teach them the basic moves so they can to move up onto the competitive team. Some gyms have these girls learn the level 4 routine and compete with other level 4 teams. This level of competition is not USA Gymnastics (the national governing body of gymnastics) sanctioned, but many gyms have send their kids at this level to a meet to get them used to being in a competition. 
For level 8+ you have to make the move more difficult. You can do this by adding a twist (half or full), or by rotating twice (doing a double). 
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