Gymnastics Info

Glossary of Gymnastics Terms

Aerial
A stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with his or her hands.

Amplitude
The height, or degree of execution of a movement. In general, the higher the salto or the more breathtaking the movement, the better the amplitude and the score.

Apparatus
One of the various pieces of equipment used in gymnastics competitions.

Arch Position
The body is curved backwards.

Back-in, Full-out
a double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the second salto).

Compulsories
Predesigned routines which contain specific movements required of all gymnasts.

Composition
the structure of a gymnastics routine. Each individual movement or skill is a building block; how they are arranged into an exercise is called the composition of the routine.

Dismount
To leave an apparatus at the end of a routine; usually done with a difficult twist or salto.

Execution
The performance of a routine. Form, style and the technique used to complete the skills constitute the level of execution of an exercise. Bent knees, poor toe point and an arched or loosely-held body position are all examples of poor execution.

Flic-Flac
Also known as a flip-flop or back handspring. Take off one or two feet, jump backwards onto hands and land on feet. This element is used in a majority of tumbling passes on the floor exercise. It's also used a great deal on the balance beam,

Full-in, Back-out
A double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the first salto).

Giant
A swing in which the body is fully extended and moving through a 360 degree rotation around the bar.

Half-in, Half-out
A double salto with a half twist on the first salto and a half twist on the second salto.

Handspring
Springing off the hands by putting the weight on the arms and using a strong push from the shoulders; can be done either forward or backward; usually a linking movement.

Kip
Movement from a position below the equipment to a position above.

Layout Position
Straight or slightly arched body position, may be seen during a movement or a still position.

Optionals
Personally-designed routines which show the gymnast to the best advantage.

Pike Position
Body bent forward more than 90 degrees at the hips while the legs are kept straight.

Pirouettes
Changing direction by twisting in the handstand position.

Release
Leaving the bar to perform a move before regrasping it.

Routine
A combination of stunts displaying a full range of skills on one apparatus.

Salto
A flip or somersault, with the feet coming up over the head and the body rotating around the axis of the waist.

Tuck
A position in which the knees and hips are bent and drawn into the chest; the body is folded at the waist.

Twist
Not to be confused with a salto, a twist occurs when the gymnast rotates around the body's longitudinal axis, defined by the spine.

Virtuosity
The artistry, or the degree of rhythm and harmony, displayed while a movement is executed. In general, the more flowing and seamless a series of skills appears to be, the greater the virtuosity and the higher the score.

Top