The balance beam is one of the most exciting—and challenging—gymnastics events, because it combines agility and athleticism with tremendous balance. In balance beam competitions, gymnasts attempt to do a routine of specific techniques without falling off the beam, which is just 4 precarious inches wide. Falling off or losing one’s balance can lead to points deductions.
Salto
A salto, also known as a somersault, is one of the most basic gymnastic moves, but it is made even harder when done on a balance beam. In a salto, a gymnast jumps forward or backward and does a full flip, and attempts to land on her feet again on the balance beam. A front salto is much more difficult to do because the gymnast is “landing blind.” In other words, she cannot see her feet hit the balance beam because of the way her body is turning. The salto is used in combination with other gymnastic techniques to add difficulty.
Back Handspring
A back handspring is a type of salto done by a gymnast who throws her body backward so that her hands grasp the balance beam and propel her body 360 degrees back into a standing position. A back handspring can also be used in combination with other moves and techniques to increase difficulty. For instance, a gymnast might perform a back handspring and, once on her feet, immediately perform a back salto. The two moves combined into one are difficult to do in succession, due not only to the width but also to the length of the balance beam, which is 16 feet long.
Mount and Dismount
The mount and dismount are techniques for jumping on and off the balance beam and are rated high in terms of scoring purposes. Gymnasts use a combination of techniques, such as a salto or back handspring, to propel themselves on and off the beam. They are judged not only on the technical aspect of the move, but also on how well they land the move in terms of keeping their balance.
Required Techniques
Several techniques are required in national and international gymnastics competition. One requires the gymnast to make a full 360-degree spin on one foot. Another requires the gymnast to complete a jump in which she raises both feet fully off the balance beam and performs a mid-air split. If these techniques are not performed at some point during the routine, the gymnast will have points deducted from her score.
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