Gymnastics Disciplines

Tumbling

General Information

This discipline is extremely spectacular and requires dynamic reactions, spatial awareness, co-ordination, power, strength and courage. The action takes no more than a few seconds but requires years of hard work.

The gymnast gains speed and power by running along a 25- metre track and performing a series of somersaults and twists. Top class tumblers perform no less than two double somersaults in one run, the best of them three, with twisting elements in addition.

Disciplines

Straight Run (somersaults/saltos); Twisting Run (twists), Final Runs (both somersaults and twists)

Tumbling was a competitive sport at the 1932 Olympic games in Los Angeles. The name of the first (and last! so far) Olympic Champion is Roland Wolf (USA). The first National Championships were held in 1922 in Russia. In the 1960’s and 70’s tumbling was most popular in Eastern Europe and then gradually went on to spread strongly in Western Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia.

Acrobatic Gymnastics 

General Information

Acrobatic Gymnastics could be described as an infusion of choreography and complex acrobatic skills performed in partnership on a standard gymnastics floor area. Balance, Tempo and Combined routines are performed to music. The floor area is 12x12 metres; Duration of the routines is 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Great Britain is one of the most respected nations in Acrobatic Gymnastics and has achieved success at World and European level with medals in all categories.

Disciplines

Men’s Pair, Women’s Pair, Mixed Pair, Women’s Trio, Men’s Four.

Gymnasts work in harmony and trust, each responsible for their partner or partners. It is a true and testing examination of human relationships. Routines impose on gymnasts a need for strength, agility, flexibility, balance and acrobatic skills. The results are spectacular, intricate balances performed on partners, exciting multiple somersaults and twisting somersaults with partners being pitched and caught. A requirement, and opportunity to express their artistry and individual gymnastics skills makes this a delight for spectators, and a tremendous feeling of attainment for gymnasts.

Womens' Artistic Gymnastics

General Information

This is the most popular discipline of Gymnastics in the UK and one of the biggest crowd pleasers at every Olympic Game since 1928. The sport demands body control, body awareness, suppleness, stamina, coordination, amplitude and courage. Routines are performed on 4 pieces of apparatus: Vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

The World Championships for Women have been organised since 1934; the European Championships began in 1957 and the National Championships for women in England were introduced in 1924. An Olympic discipline.

Apparatus:

Vault (VT)

Height from the floor: 1.25 metres. The vaulting table is placed long way, and is the same for men and women.

Each vault is awarded a value according to its difficulty. The height and the length of the vault are of crucial importance together with the exactness of the turns before and after the somersault and the controlled landing.

Gymnasts perform only one vault for Qualifications, Individual All-around and Team Final unless they are attempting to qualify for Finals on Vault. In this case, the gymnast must perform two Vaults under the FIG stated rules, the scores of which are then averaged. The top 8 gymnasts then compete in the Vault Final.

Uneven Bars (UB)

Low bar is now measured from floor to top of low bar as 170cm and to high bar top at 250cm +/- 1cm. The maximum width allowed between the bars is 180cm.

Swinging and continuous movements are required on this apparatus. The exercise should include movements in both directions, above and below the bars. Elements with twists and somersaults with multiple grip changes and high flight should be demonstrated to maximise scores. Often a spectacular dismount ends the routine.

Balance Beam (BB)

Height of the beam from the floor: 1.25 metres. The beam is five metres long and only 10 cm wide.

A routine on the beam should be an artistic combination of a variety of acrobatic elements, gymnastic leaps, jumps, turns, step and running combinations, waves and balance elements in standing, sitting and lying positions. The gymnast should use the entire length of the beam, demonstrating elegance, flexibility, rhythm, tempo, balance, confidence and control. Dismount series of acrobatic elements can be very spectacular. The maximum time on beam is 1’30”.

Floor Exercise (FX)

The floor measures 12 x 12 metres, with an additional safety border of 1 metre. The performance area must have a surface elasticity to allow for power during take-off and softness for landing.

The floor exercise, accompanied by music to enhance the performance, should combine dance movements and sequences with a variety of tumbling and acrobatic elements. The whole floor area should be used with the exercise being varied in mood, tempo and direction. Individuality, originality, maturity, mastery and artistry of presentation are key ingredients for a high score.

At Wirral Gymnastics we train for Tumbling, Sports Acrobatics and 2 Piece Women's Artistic Floor and Vault