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Women's Gymnastics Apparatuses

Women's gymnasts compete on four apparatuses: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor.

Vault

Vaults in women's gymnastics are grouped into four categories and can be performed in different body positions, such as tucked, piked or stretched. The groups are:

1. Forward approach vaults without a flip
2. Forward approach vaults with a flip in post-flight
3. Vaults with a ½ turn onto the horse and a flip in post-flight
4. Vaults (with or without flips) from a round-off onto the springboard.

A successful vault begins with a strong, accelerated run. The best vaulters explode off the board, raising their feet up over their head with tremendous quickness during the preflight phase of the vault from the springboard to contact with the horse. During the support phase (when the gymnast pushes off the horse) the judges are looking for proper body, shoulder and hand position and an instantaneous repulsion.

The second flight phase and the landing are critical areas. Watch for the height and distance traveled, as well as the number of saltos and twists. In addition, gymnasts must "stick" their landing, by taking no extra steps. Usually the more saltos and twists, the higher the difficulty value of the vault.

The vaulting horse stands 120 cm tall and is 35 cm wide by 160 cm long. The runway is 1 m wide and a maximum of 25 m long. All mats surrounding the women's apparatus are 12 cm thick.

Uneven Bars

The uneven bars, demands strength as well as concentration, courage, coordination, precision and split-second timing. Watch for the big swings that begin in handstands on the high bar, incorporating multiple hand changes, pirouettes and release elements.

The routine must move from the low bar to the high bar, incorporating many grip changes, releases and re-grasps, flight elements, changes of direction, saltos and circle swings through the handstand position.

The entire routine should flow from one movement to the next without pauses, extra swings or additional supports. Each routine must have two release elements.

The low bar can be adjusted to between 148 plus or minus 3 cm tall while the high bar must be between 228 plus or minus 3 cm tall. The bars can be adjusted to a maximum of 150 cm apart from each other.

Balance Beam

The beam routine must last between 70 and 90 seconds and cover the entire length of the beam. The gymnast must use acrobatic, gymnastics and dance movements to create high points, or peaks in the exercise, consisting of two or more elements performed in a series. An example of an acrobatic series is a cartwheel into a back handspring into a back salto. A gymnastics series might consist of a turn, followed by a split jump.

There are seven few special requirements on the balance beam: one acrobatic series including at least two flight elements; a turn on one leg of at least 360 degrees; a large gymnastics leap or jump with great amplitude; one gymnastics/acrobatics series; one gymnastics series; an element close to the beam, and a dismount with a minimum of a "B" value for team competition, "C" value for all-around competition, and "D" value for event finals. If any of these are missing, a deduction of 0.20 is taken

The overall execution should give the impression that the gymnast is performing on a floor, not on a strip four inches wide. Watch for variations in rhythm, changes in level (from sitting on the beam to sailing high above it), and the harmonious blend of gymnastics and acrobatic elements.

The balance beam stands 120 cm high. It is 10 cm wide and 500 cm long.

Floor Exercise

The floor routine must be choreographed to music, lasting between 70 and 90 seconds and covering the entire floor area. The gymnast must use acrobatic and gymnastics elements to create high points in the exercise. These include two acrobatic series, one with at least two or more saltos in different directions; an acrobatic-gymnastics series; and a gymnastics series. Throughout, the gymnast must harmoniously blend these elements while making versatile use of floor space changing both the direction and level of movement.

The quality of grace may be disguised by movements of playful theatrics, but look for a dancer-like command of music, rhythm and space. The gymnastics elements should flow freely into each other while the leaps cover impressive distances and the pirouettes and turns add excitement to the music.

The area of the floor exercise is 40 feet by 40 feet.

Source: www.usa-gymnastics.org/gymnastics/apparatus/women.html

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