OPTIONAL IS NOT OPTIONAL: The Optional Level Gymnast's Manual For Commitment, Mindset, and Performance Paperback – March 8, 2026

OPTIONAL IS NOT OPTIONALThe Optional-Level Gymnast's Manual for Commitment, Mindset, and PerformanceOptional level is not just the next step in gymnastics.It is the point where the sport stops being an activity and starts becoming a commitment.Training hours increase. Expectations rise. Scoring becomes precise. Small mistakes start costing real tenths.Yet many athletes and families reach this level without a clear understanding of what has actually changed, or what is required.Optional Is Not Optional exists to provide that clarity.Written by performance coach and parent of an optional level gymnast Brian Bullman, this manual explains optional level gymnastics in plain language, without hype or fear based pressure. It turns confusion into understanding and effort into intention.Inside, athletes and parents will learn how optional level gymnastics is judged, where tenths are actually lost, and why execution, habits, and preparation matter more than talent alone. The book includes clear level by level breakdowns levels 6 through 10, outlining requirements, common deductions, and daily standards that protect scores.This is not a book about shortcuts, motivation, or guarantees. It is a practical guide to ownership - covering mindset, fueling, conditioning, growth phases, and competition preparation - so athletes can train with purpose and confidence.Optional level isa choice.But once that choice is made, responsibility follows.Optional Is Not Optional exists to make that responsibility clear - honestly and constructively. Read more