There has been a trend in  USA Gymnastics, including in the composition of compulsory level routines to avoid liability problems and become more inclusive.  Liability has been a major driving factor in USAG/USGF for nearly two decades when liability insurance became difficult to obtain.  There has been another trend toward increasing the membership rolls.  The simpler the skills, the more gymnasts capable of being on a team and paying membership dues.  This is not to imply that gymnast safety and broader participation in our sport are not worthy, even the primary goals for the national organization.

Should Elite-Bound Gymnasts Do Compulsories?  Not Really.
 The question is whether they are a suitable tool or the best tool for preparing gymnasts for the optional levels. This question is especially relevant when we are talking about talented athletes destined for the National level or the Elite level.  Other questions include whether practicing only those elements in the compulsory levels primarily, or even primarily compulsory elements, is the proper emphasis in training, instead of a more broad-based, progressive program.  The answer is to start training for Optionals and Elite now.  That is far more important than Compulsory competition training

Compulsory Gymnasts Should Strive for Optimal Execution of their Skills
Especially for compulsory training it is necessary for the gymnasts to have a visual understanding of what ultimate execution of each compulsory skill would look like so that their goals and expectations are in line.  Since these are the skills they are limited to competing, there should be every effort to make them as close to the ideal model as possible.

Master Skills First before Repeating Routines
 It is not as necessary to concentrate on perfecting compulsory floor and beam routines as it is to concentrate on perfecting the individual elements.  Too much emphasis on routines before skills have been sufficiently mastered leads to sloppy skill execution.  Given two equal gymnasts, one practicing solely whole routines and one practicing solely single skill element perfection, you would see the one practicing skill elements score highest.  Note: In the compulsory scoring system, major elements are valued more than elements of no value.

Routines and Combinations on Bars
 Full routine practice may be of considerably more help in competing compulsory bars, because of the required immediacy of connections.  Slight stops or hesitations on floor and beam may be much more easily compensated for than hesitations on bars, which ruin the flow and swing of the routine. 

Focus on Your Optional Future
 The primary element in compulsory gymnastics training needs to be what is best for the individual compulsory gymnast.  Gymnast’s personal goals need to be reviewed and their compulsory training matched to those goals with a view to their long-term optional gymnastics career.

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