Olympians compete at the ‘elite’ level, which comes after level 10.
REQUIREMENTS
Acro series» two connected flight elements Dance series» one element must include a 180° split
Dismount of B difficulty level Beam work» leotard must touch beam at some point
Acro elements» two different directions of
motion, forwards, backwards, and/or sideways
3 elements of A level difficulty, 4 elements of B level difficulty, 1 element of C level difficulty
B SKILLS
» » » »
back tuck front tuck straddle jump 1/2 tuck jump full turn
D SKILLS » » » »
straddle jump full double turn back tuck half twist back layout stepout
ts all fun and games up until this point. All routines begin with a set start value based upon the fulfilment of the requirements. Decuctions happen when the skills are not performed as they should be. Form breaks, unpointed toes and wobbles are just a few of the most common reasons that judges take away points. Points are deducted in tenths of a point and more severe mistakes result in higher deductions.
DEDUCTIONS .5 POINTS » falling off or touching the beam with » missing a requirement » coach spotting Basically, the judges can take pointsoff forjust about anything. The deductions are totaled and subtracted from the start value, yielding the final score.
.2 POINTS AND UP » concentration pause of 2 sec. or
more » insufficient height of leaps/jumps » insufficient split » insufficient variation in rhythm/ tempo » insufficient dynamics » balance check/wobble » unpointed toes » unnecessary arch » bent knees
E SKILLS » » » »
triple turn front pike back layout front tuck half twist
T
he gymnast must choose skills that fill the requirements for their specific level. The competition levels begin at 4 and end at level 10. As mentioned earlier, Olympic level is considered 'elite' and is achieved after mastering level 10. Levels 4 through 6 have what are called 'compulsory' routines. Each event has a standardized routine that all gymnasts in the same respective levels must perform. However, when level 7 is reached, the gymnast can begin to create their own unique routines which follow the set requirements. It is very important that the chosen skills can be done with confidence and balance, otherwise, it could be painful...
ACRO SERIES
» back handspring, back handspring
DANCE SERIES
» switch leap, tuck jump full turn
360° TURN » full turn
B DISMOUNT
» front layout dismount
BEAM WORK
» lay off the end of the beam
ACRO ELEMENTS OF 2 DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
» cartwheel, backhandspring
360̊
The inclusion of “beam work” is to ensure a change in heights in the routine. “Beam work” simply means that the gymnast’s leotard must touch the beam at some point so that they are not just doing skills standing up the whole time.
360̊
3 A’s » » » »
cartwheel half turn split leap straight jump
4 B’s » » » »
back handspring back handspring straight jump half mount front layout dismount
Back handsprings are considered flight elements because when performed, the hands and feet of the gymnast are free from the beam at the same time.
FUN FACTS » The word gymnastics comes from the Greek word
“gymon” which means naked. Ancient Greeks used to perform gymnastics in the nude. » There are springs under the floor mat gymasts do their
floor exercise on. They also put wood over the springs and about two inches of foam rubber, and a carpet to cover the wood. The spring loaded floor lanches the gymnasts into the air and softens their landings. » The gymnast gets only one try at each event per
competition, except for vault where two tries are allowed. » Historical records suggest that the sport of gymnastics
may be 4,000 years old.
» Women’s gymnastics was introduced to the Olympics at
the Amsterdam games of 1928.
1C
» tuck jump full turn
.3 BONUS
» switch leap, tuck jump full turn = .2 » illusion turn full = .1
Building the Routine
Deductions
An Introduction
Routines which have all the requirements have a 9.7 start value. To begin from a perfect 10, the last .3 must be made up by doing “bonus” skills or skill combinations.
cartwheel back walkover front walkover half turn split leap straight jump tuck jump front tuck dismount
Skills to Build the Routine
C skill + C skill = .2 bonus, D/E skill = .1 bonus)
» » » » » » » »
C SKILLS
I
360̊
Routine Requirements
.3 bonus points (B skill + C skill = .1 bonus,
A SKILLS
» round-off » back handspring » front handspring » full turn » split jump » straddle jump » scale-to-toe for 2 seconds » front layout (dismount) » straight jump half (mount)
360° turn
360°
kills are ranked by difficulty, “A” skills being the easiest, “E” skills being the most challenging. There is a category of “Super E” skills, however, they are only allowed in Olympic level competition. Below is a list of the most popular skills in each category. By no means is every skill listed. In fact, if a gymnast is the first to perform a skill deemed "unique," it is named after them!
Alright, Here We Go!
All college level gymnastics clubs compete under the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs, or NAIGC.
S
They Take How Many Points Off?
Gymnasts perform their skills on a beam that measures sixteen feet long, four feet high and just four inches wide.
ymnastics is ranked by level, similar to karate – as your skills progress, you move up through the rankings. The higher the level, the higher the difficulty required in the routine. BGSU's Club Gymnastics team competes in the NAIGC. NAIGC member clubs compete at level 9 with the allowance of level 10 bonus.
Is That Even Possible?
Let’s start with a beam routine...
G
You Want Me To Do What?
he complications, and even the subtleties, of gymnastics routines are endless and virtually impossible to comprehend by those outside the sport. By knowing the requirements for the routines, it is possible to better understand the final score earned by the gymnast.
What’s It All About?
T
10.0SWITCHGO
PUSH
LETS G
LETS G
SQUEEZE
TIGHT KNEES
STICK IT SQUEEZE
POINT
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
STICK IT SQUEEZE
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
STICK IT SQUEEZE
FAST TUCK
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
STICK IT SQUEEZE
SNAP FLIP
PERFECT 10
FAST TUCK
PUSH
FAST TUCK
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
P
LETS GO
STICK IT
UP PIKE
SNAP FLIP
PUSH
FAST TUCK
STICK IT SQUEEZE
1
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
LETS GO
SQUEEZE
SNAP FLIP
LETS GO
SNAP FLIP
SNAP FLIP
360̊
STICK IT
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10 STICK IT SQUEEZE
10.0SWITCH
TIGHT KNEE
STICK IT SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
FAST TUCK
UP PIKE
PUSH
STICK IT SQUEEZE
FAST TUCK
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUNCH FAST
PUSH
STICK IT SQUEEZE
FAST TUCK
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUNCH
STICK IT SQUEEZE
SNAP FLIP
PUSH
UP PIKE
PERFECT 10
180̊
PUSH
FAST TUCK
UP PIK
PERFECT
POINT YOUR
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUNCH
NAP LIP
PERFECT 10
FAST TUCK
LETS GO
UP PIKE
POINT YOUR TOES
UP PIKE
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH SNAP FLIP
FAST TUCK
PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSET FAST TUCK
SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
FAST TUCK
PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCH
10.0SWITCHGO
TSHIFT
STICK IT
UP PIKE
NAP LIP
SQUEEZE
TIGHT KNEES
SNAP FLIP
STICK IT
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
LETS GO
YOUR TOES T
hese are photos from the spring of 2009 when the BGSU Club Gymnastics team competed against ten other teams in an NAIGC sanctioned meet at Purdue University.
POINT YOUR TOES
FAST TUCK
PERFECT 10
SNAP FLIP
PUSH
LETS GO
Routines In Action
FECT 10
SQUEEZE
360̊
NAP LIP
SETSHIFT
STICK IT
UP PIKE
LETS GO
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
LETS GO
SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
FAST TUCK
PERFECT 10
SNAP FLIP
STICK IT
PERFECT 10
SNAP FLIP
GO NCH
PUSH
UP PIKE
FAST TUCK
LETS GO
UP PIKE
LETS GO
SNAP FLIP
FAST TUCK
WITCH
O
STICK IT
POINT YOUR TOES
PER
PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT
POINT YOUR TOES
CK UP PIKE
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
PERFECT 10
LETS GO
IFT PERFECT 10
GHT KNEES
SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
LETS GO
POINT YOUR TOES
10.0SWITCHGO
SH
STICK IT
SNAP FLIP
PERFECT 10
LETS GO
EEZE
UP PIKE
FAST TUCK
SNAP FLIP
CK IT
TIGHT KNEES
10.0SWITCHGO
PUSH
PERFECT 10
PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSETSHIFT PUNCHSET
SNAP FLIP
OES
POINT YOUR TOES
LETS GO
PUSH
LETS GO
T 10
SQUEEZE
TIGHT KNEES
SNAP FLIP
SETSHIFT
E
STICK IT
PERFECT 10
LETS G
10.0SWITCHGO TIGHT KNEES
PUSH
LETS G
SQUEEZE
POINT YOUR TOES
LETS GO
STICK IT
SNAP FLIP
Look What I Can Do!
GO H
PUSH
LETS G
POINT YOUR TOES
PERFECT 10
FOUR TO FLIP
H
PERFECT 10
FAST
STIC
SQU