Continuous swinging movements are predominant on this apparatus. The exercise should include movements in both directions, above and below the bars. The gymnast must move from the high bar to the low bar, incorporate grip changes, releases and catches, and perform circle swings through the handstand position. Elements with twists and somersaults with multiple grip changes and high flight should be demonstrated for maximum scoring. If a gymnast falls, she incurs a 1.00-point penalty from her execution score and has 30 seconds to get back on the bars and resume her routine. The gymnast also incurs a full point deduction if she hits the mat with her feet during the routine.
Gymnastics is a strength and technique-based sport that can be traced back to the early Greek Olympics. It is known for its captivating routines and feats of human strength and power. It has become more popular to watch in recent years, as routines have become more difficult and complicated, with athletes being more and more creative in the skills they perform. Gymnastics involves both a team and individual competition component, with athletes being scored on their performances on several different apparatuses. Each apparatus requires its own equipment, and athletes will also carry their own equipment with them. Athletes will also have required uniforms based on what event they are competing in. Below is a list of equipment needed for athletes to compete.
Gymnastic accessories are additional pieces of equipment that can be used to help with safety or performance. Accessories include apparel (i.e., training tops) and other miscellaneous items such as water bottles. While most gymnastics accessories are not absolutely necessary to partake in the sport and thus not required in the rulebooks that govern competitions, many gymnasts find them to be advantageous.
Balance beams can be seen at virtually every gymnastics competition, regardless of the level. Generally made out of a leathery material, the balance beam is a small, thin surface that is supported by a stand on each side. Official Olympic rules call for measurements of about 4 feet in height, 16 feet in length, and 4 inches in width. Beam events require gymnasts to perform a series of in-air and on-beam skills, such as leaps, turns, and tumbling, with points being deducted each time a gymnast fails to land stably atop the beam.
Gymnastics balls are similar in size to bowling balls. They are made of rubber or synthetic material and weigh a little over half a pound. The balls are used for a specific discipline of gymnastics known as rhythmic gymnastics, in which participants earn points by performing a series of techniques while doing tricks that include both throwing the ball or keeping the ball balanced on various parts of the body (i.e., hand, head, and back).
Similar to the chalk used in many other sports, gymnastics chalk is applied to the hands to help with grip. Over the course of a competition, sweat and other factors can cause surfaces to become slippery. Failure to apply chalk to the hands often makes it extremely difficult for gymnasts to maintain a strong grip, which puts them at risk of falling to the floor during a maneuver. Most gymnastics chalk starts as a soft, brick-shaped object that can be shaken and broken down to disperse it onto the hands. During both practice and competitions, chalk can be seen in bowl-like containers that athletes can use before a routine.
Gymnastics hoops are wood or plastic rings with a hole measuring approximately 35 inches wide. Much like gymnastics clubs and balls, hoops are used as props, with participants throwing them into the air and making skillful catches. During a competition, judges tend to award the most points for high tosses capped off difficult catches as the hoop descends towards the floor (i.e., catching the hoop with one hand behind the back). Hoops can also be used as practice obstacles that gymnasts must maneuver themselves through and around.
The pommel horse is another piece of equipment used only by male gymnasts. Horse refers to the dual-legged structure (4 feet tall) that supports the pommel, which is a leather rectangle-shaped block that measures about 5 feet long and 14 inches wide. Included atop the pommel are two plastic rungs that gymnasts grab hold of while they perform a series of complex rotations that form a circle around the pommel horse. The pommel horse event is regarded as one of the toughest Olympic gymnastics events, as immense upper body strength is required to twist the body while keeping the legs high enough not to hit the pommel.
Gymnastics ribbons are similar in composition to normal ribbons in that they are made of lightweight satin material. Attached to one end is a 20-inch plastic stick that is used to wave the ribbon in all different directions. Most gymnastics ribbons are extremely thin (2 inches wide) and measure 6.5 yards in length. Events that use this equipment are common in rhythmic gymnastics, where each gymnast uses ribbons to maintain a constant swinging and spiraling motion as they perform skills on a floor apparatus.
Gymnastics shoes, otherwise known as beam shoes, mirror the design of a traditional slipper. The difference is that they are often made of leather and come fully equipped with bottoms that promote traction. Experienced gymnasts tend to view gymnastics shoes as a must-have since the shoes prevent them from slipping and protect their feet against pounding caused by abrupt contact with each landing surface. Moreover, the insoles are well-cushioned to maximize comfort and make the feet less vulnerable to pain and bruising that can occur over long periods of time.
Gymnastics shorts are simply a derivative of gymnastics pants, as they are made of the same material and have the same functionality. When given the choice of pants or shorts, many gymnasts often opt to wear shorts for extra breathability and freedom, albeit at the cost of less protection against minor burns and scrapes.
Singlets serve the same purpose as leotards, although they are more efficient in that they cover both the upper and lower body. The biggest advantage to wearing a singlet is that only one garment is required. Thus, singlets are generally the most inexpensive way to dress for gymnastics. However, some gymnasts find them to be awkward and inhibiting, preferring to wear a top that is detached from the pants. There is no significant advantage offered by either garment with regards to performance, so choosing whether to wear a leotard or singlet comes down entirely to personal preference and comfort.
Whereas longer socks are well-suited for sports like football and basketball, shorter ankle socks are best for gymnastics. They provide the foot support necessary for constant jumping and landings without all the extra material that could potentially be bothersome over the course of a long competition. While some companies make socks that have a special grip and are specifically fitted for gymnastics slippers, regular ankle socks will do the job in most cases.
Streamers is the name given to ribbons that are used specifically for gymnastic events. In addition to being extremely lightweight and easy to wave around, streamers tend to be multicolored to help add an element of beauty to a performance. Due to their lack of weight and ease of implementation, most gymnasts enjoy the minimal strain imposed by streamers on any given performance.
Tumble tracks are long, bouncy tracks that are used to perform a series of rolling exercises and flips. Tumbling, a special subset of gymnastics, involves gymnasts performing acrobatic feats across an 82-foot track. Despite being flexible surfaces, tumble tracks are not nearly as bouncy as trampolines since the goal is to become slightly elevated rather than fully launched into the air. Tumble tracks can be purchased at retailers that specialize in the sale of gymnastics equipment, although they are more often owned by a team/organization and included with the venue due to their size and costliness.
The vault apparatus is both a performing surface and an event title in gymnastics (male and female). Following a running start, gymnasts leap atop the leather platform (47 inches long and 37 inches wide), with their hands as the first point of contact. Momentum is then used to propel them into a series of body twists and tucks that are scored based on alignment, landing form, and overall distance traveled. Currently, Simone Biles (USA) is the reigning Olympic gold medalist for the female division in the vault competition.
Vault springboards are rectangular planks that have a series of three metal springs attached to the underbelly. They are used to help gymnasts generate additional height on their jumps, albeit not to the extent that a trampoline does. Springboards are generally positioned just before the vault apparatus and require one bounce in addition to a running start in order for gymnasts to reach the desired height prior to making contact with the platform and performing their skills for the judges.
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