Whether you want to get out on the mat yourself or you simply want to watch the athletes on TV, learning the basic terminology, rules and equipment can help you better understand the challenging sport of gymnastics. In all levels of artistic gymnastics, men and women compete on separate teams.
Terminology
A "mount" begins each routine. The mount might be a simple step onto the floor exercise, with hands held high above the head, or a more complicated flip onto the balance beam. A "dismount" ends each routine with acrobatic elements, and the gymnast aims to "stick" his dismount with correct technique and no movement of the feet. An "apparatus" is the piece of equipment the gymnast uses. For scoring, the "execution" refers to the overall performance of a routine. When a gymnast makes an error, he gets a "deduction" in the set point-value. A "release" move means the gymnast leaves the bar to perform a skill and then grabs the bar again. When a gymnast flips or somersaults in the air, he performs a "salto." When the gymnast's body rotates along the longitudinal axis, he performs a "twist."
Rules
Routines have a minimum and maximum time, as well as a starting indicator. The gymnast loses points if she does not meet these time requirements. She also loses points for stepping out of bounds. Rules govern everything from what type of music the gymnast may use for her floor routine to how she may mount the balance beam. If the gymnast falls off of her apparatus, she must remount the apparatus within a set time, which differs by the apparatus. For the floor exercise, pommel horse, parallel bars and balance beam, the gymnast must travel the entire length of the apparatus.
Women's Equipment
The female gymnast performs on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Standing approximately 4 feet high, the vaulting table must be "attacked" by the gymnast powering down the runway onto a springboard, hitting the vaulting table with her hands and vaulting in the air with her body in different positions. On the uneven bars, the gymnast uses only one swing from skill to skill, as she twists, changes directions, holds handstands and performs release moves. For the balance beam, the gymnast tumbles, dances and jumps across the 4-inch wide space. She performs a tumbling routine with dance elements set to music on the 40-foot-by-40-foot floor exercise mat.
Men's Equipment
The male gymnast competes on the floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. On the floor exercise, he tumbles in different directions, displays balance skills and connects elements without music. On the pommel horse -- a table that resembles a horse's body with two handles -- the gymnast supports himself with his arms, performing continuous circular movements and a scissor element with his legs. He cannot stop moving once the routine begins. On the two rings, the gymnast performs swings, handstands and holds skills "still." He vaults similarly to the female gymnast. The parallel bars -- two round bars that are about shoulder-width apart -- require swings and handstands. From 9 feet in the air, the gymnast performs swings, release moves and a high-flying dismount from the 1-inch horizontal bar.
References
- USA Gymnastics: Glossary of Terms
- Federation International de Gymnastique: Women's Artistic Gymnastics
- USA Gymnsatics: Women's Gymnastics Event Descriptions
- USA Gymnastics: Artistic Gymnastics Equipment
- Federation International de Gymnastique: Men's Artistic Gymnastics
- USA Gymnastics: Men's Event Descriptions
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