Are Vocals Allowed in Gymnastics Floor Music? The 2026-2027 USAG Rule
Yes. Vocals are allowed in USAG floor music for the 2026-2027 season. The proposed ban was rescinded. Music with recognizable words may take a 0.50 deduction, and questionable lyrics now go through a new regional approval process. That's the whole rule in three sentences. The details, with USAG's own documents, are below.
We're writing this because coaches keep asking, and because some music sites are still telling them that vocals are banned as of August 1, 2026, with a 1.00 deduction. That was a proposal from 2024. It never took effect. Here is what actually applies this season.
The vocal ban was rescinded
In May 2024, the Women's Technical Committee passed a motion to ban all human and synthesized voice from floor music beginning August 1, 2026. At its May 2025 meeting, the same committee voted to rescind that motion entirely. Human voice remains allowed, and nothing in the 2026-2027 Rules and Policies, the Xcel Program Update, or the Development Program Update reinstates it.
Source: Technical Committee Minutes, May 12-14, 2025, Item 5.
Words: a 0.50 Chief Judge deduction
Music that contains recognizable words or speech may receive a Chief Judge deduction of 0.50, reduced from the previous 1.00. This is the rule that catches people out: the deduction is for words, not for the human voice. Oohs, ahs, humming, vocal riffs, and chanting without lyrics are all fine, and have been for years.
Whether half a tenth is worth it for a song your gymnast loves is a coaching decision. Plenty of teams take it on purpose. Just take it knowingly.
Sources: Joint Xcel/Technical Minutes, May 13, 2025, Item 27; Joint DP/Technical Minutes, May 12, 2025, Item 16.
New for 2026-2027: the music approval process
This is the part that's actually new this season, and it's in both the 2026-2027 Xcel Program Update and the Development Program Update:
- Music is submitted for approval when it contains "questionable vocal sounds / lyrical sounds." Clean instrumentals and wordless vocals don't need it.
- Approvals are decided by a subcommittee of regional chairs: the Regional Development Program Committee Chairs, Regional Xcel Committee Chairs, and Regional Technical Committee Chairs.
- If the music has words in a language other than English, the coach is responsible for translating them, USAG suggests using a music translation app, so the committee can evaluate the lyrics.
USAG hasn't published a national submission form as of this writing. Regions have historically routed music questions through the Regional Technical Committee Chair, and since the new subcommittee is made up of your region's chairs, that's where to start. Give yourself weeks, not days, before the first meet.
Sources: 2026-2027 Xcel Program Update, p. 48; 2026-2027 Development Program Update, p. 51; Joint Xcel/Technical Minutes, May 13, 2025, Item 31.
What this means when you pick music
- Instrumental or wordless vocals: no deduction, no approval needed. This is the simplest path and the reason most competition cuts are instrumental.
- A song with clear, clean lyrics: allowed. Expect a 0.50 CJ deduction. Decide whether the song is worth it.
- Lyrics that could be questioned, suggestive lines, slang, anything a judge might flag, or words in another language: submit it for approval through your regional chairs, with a translation if needed, well before the season.
- Music you already bought with vocals: it's still legal to compete with. You do not need to strip the vocals out.
Looking for floor music that clears every rule?
Every song on FloorMusic.com is fully licensed, cut to USAG time limits, and previewable before you buy. Browse by your gymnast's level and listen to the cut you'd compete with.
Related: our full breakdown of the 2026-2027 USAG floor music rule changes, and the meet-day playback rules every coach should know before the first competition.
Source Documents
Everything above comes from USA Gymnastics' own publications. Read them yourself:
- 2026-2027 Xcel Program Update (USA Gymnastics) — Floor: Music Approval Process, p. 48
- 2026-2027 Development Program Update (USA Gymnastics) — Floor Music Regulations, pp. 50-51
- Technical Committee Minutes (May 12-14, 2025) — Item 5, voice ban rescinded
- Joint Xcel / Technical Committee Minutes (May 13, 2025) — Items 27 and 31
- Joint Development Program / Technical Committee Minutes (May 12, 2025) — Items 16 and 17