Girls Gymnastics, Everything You Need to Know

Gymnastic routines require the use of mobility, the movement of the gymnast from one level to the next.

USA Gymnastics (USAG) has established rules of mobility. Each gymnast is placed relative to their fulfillment of the criteria that USAG has established. Gymnastic mobility is based solely on scores achieved in USAG sanctioned competitions.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that gymnastics is a very technical, perfection-oriented sport. Advancement in the sport depends solely on how well the basics are mastered. Similar to a pyramid, the larger a base of support (basics), the higher the pyramid will stand (ultimate goal level). The following criterion helps decide the placement of each gymnast:

Physical Preparedness
An assessment is made of the gymnasts strength, flexibility, endurance, agility, quickness, and suppleness.

Emotional and Psychological Readiness of the Gymnast
These attributes are observable in a subjective way, as opposed to an objective manner. They readily indicate the gymnasts ability to overcome reasonable fears, to make quick, yet sound judgments, plus self-motivation, and dedication to achieving their gymnastic goals.

Present Gymnastics Skill Level
By asking the gymnast to have acquired the skills needed in the next level routines before being considered to move up, the gymnastics skills and routine readiness for the coming competitive season can be projected.
By combining all of the above factors, plus day-to-day experiences with that gymnast, the gymnastics coach will determine the most successful level. To be successful at gymnastics competitions a gymnast must train at 100% and be able to compete at 80%.

USA GYMNASTICS PROGRAM

Competency Levels

There are 11 competency levels to the USAG women's program. Levels 1-3 are non-competitive levels that center on teaching the basic core skills for each of the the four Olympic events. They consist of doing individual skills and small routines while showing proficiency on four main points of each skill. When the gymnast successfully completes each skill and routines required on an event, she may move on to the next level.

Compulsory Levels

The first competitive level is Level 4 and it consists entirely of compulsory routines. Compulsory routines are a pre-choreographed series of skills that each competitor must perform. Once again they are made up of core skills needed for each event built on the skills from a previous level. The philosophy of these routines is for the athletes to practice toward perfection of these basics. The minimum age for this level is six and there is no maximum age. At level 4 and 5 awards are given in achievement and places. Level 6 is also a compulsory level of competition. Each level builds on the skills of the previous level and likewise is judged with higher expectations. The USAG structure is based on a progressive "step by step" building of physical, emotional and psychological skills. Proficiency of all aspects of the gymnast at each level is expected and required to insure a safe, smooth movement through the levels. The minimum age for this level of competition is seven.

Optional Levels

Optional competition consists of each gymnast performing her own routines for each event. The Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) produces the optional rules every four years in conjunction with the Olympics. This book dictates what each routine needs to contain (compositions), the value of what is done (difficulty), and how to evaluate how well it is done (execution). There are four optional levels and they are Levels 7, 8, 9, and 10. The first level of competition begins with Level 7 and minimum age for Level 7 is seven. The minimum age for Level 8 and 9 is eight while for Level 10 is nine. The requirements and expectations from one level to the next increases and the same is true with the compulsory levels. Level 8 is the second level of optional competition. Its difficulty requirements and expectations are harder than Level 7. The third level of optional competition begins with Level 9. Level 10 is considered a pre-elite level and for the truly dedicated and motivated gymnast.

Elite is Level 11 of competition and like Level 10 it is for the truly dedicated athletes. The Elite Level is broken up into two categories and they are the national and international, Child National Elite (10-12 years old) and Junior National Elite (13-15 years old), and they compete skill testing and optional routines. Senior National Elite (16 + years) compete optional only; Junior International Elite (11-15 years old) compete optional only, and Senior International Elite compete at the Olympics and World Championship if they are chosen for the teams.

Looking to get your daughter a leo or leotard and wondering how to get a good fit?
Click here:Fitting Gymnastics Leotard

Nicole is a veteran of gymnastics. A level 7 girls gymnast in Oregon, Nicole answers many of the questions gymnastics parents have. Visit Nicole's gymnastics information site at http://www.gymnastics411.com

Joe_Carson

Gymnastics Article - Simulate the Skills with Straight Arm Conditioning

We all know there are so many different coaching methods, training programs, and coaching personalities. Many gymnastics coaches successfully get their gymnasts stronger, but they do not necessarily incorporate enough sport specific training into their programs. I have seen gymnasts benefit from the general strength exercises such as push ups, but when it comes time to perform certain skills the gymnast's muscles are not always prepared, accustomed to the sequence of movements for the skills, or strong enough in each position required to safely complete the skill.

Gymnasts really need a variety of training to include sport specific training besides general strength conditioning in order to more closely simulate the skills in our sport. For example, many straight arm exercises such as the front lateral raise, press handstand, or planche drills more closely simulate gymnastics skills than bent arm exercises such as the push up, bench press, or reverse dips.

Here is one straight arm exercise that has helped many gymnasts strengthen their chest, shoulders, and back muscles, becoming stronger in two very important motions. Since the gymnast often must be able to open and close the shoulder angle during skills on uneven bars, I have included a very useful exercise which incorporates both up and down movements. This one should help her learn to efficiently transition from one arm motion to the next with ease. Picture your gymnast performing a glide kip, cast handstand, clear hip handstand. She will have to reverse shoulder movements several times within this short period of time. Once you see the shoulder movements necessary to connect these skills you will see the reasons I had for incorporating two exercises into one drill more than a decade ago. This exercise actually alternates the motions of opening and then closing the shoulder angle.

Lie Down Cast/Kip Drill (Barbell / Toning Bar)

1. Spot your gymnast during this exercise. Give her full instructions before she begins the exercise.

2. Setting Up: Have your gymnast lie on her back between two folded panel mats with her arms above her head. Her head must remain between the mats, but her hands and wrists should go beyond the mats in order to allow the bar to nearly touch the floor after it is lifted over head for full range of motion.

3. The folded mats must be a few inches higher than your gymnast while she is lying between them for safety reasons. The bar must be long enough so that each end can rest on the center of one of the mats. The bar will be lifted from and returned to the mats without touching your gymnast. There should be enough clearance for your gymnast to slide in or out while the bar rests on the mats. Although you will be spotting your gymnast, the mats will also help prevent the bar from touching her. If one mat on each side is not high enough, please use two folded mats on each side. If the bar is brought down too quickly or falls, it should land on the mats, not your gymnast. This is a very safe exercise when the coach and gymnast keep safety in mind.

4. Once the mats are set up, place the bar on the mats and make sure it will not fall between the mats or roll off.

5. Starting Position: Once the mats and bar are in place, instruct your gymnast to sit between the mats, slide her legs under the bar, and then lie down. She should position herself so that the bar is above her hips.

6. Once positioned, allow your gymnast to grasp the bar and then straighten her arms. Instruct your gymnast to keep her arms straight, but not to lock them.

7. Be careful the bar does not shift to an unsafe starting position.

8. Next, instruct her to lift the bar up toward ceiling and then toward the floor above her head to simulate a cast to handstand motion with her upper body.

9. Remind your gymnast to continue to hold the bar securely and then allow her to lift the bar off the floor, toward ceiling again, and then lower it to the mat above her hips to simulate a kip with her upper body.

10. Allow your gymnast to continue with several repetitions if she is able. Inform her that it should be a continuous motion once she is comfortable.

11. Your gymnast will likely need more spot lifting the bar from the mat (the initiation phase) which involves the shoulders (deltoids) than she will on the return phase which involves the back (latissimus) muscles. Be prepared to spot all phases of this exercise. You can have one coach spot each portion. To spot the lift from the mat, kneel on one of the mats to help your gymnast lift off the mat. Kneel near her head to spot the lift from the floor. Make sure you can reach the bar, especially when it is above your gymnast's body.

12. Start with the lightest bar possible, maybe even a broomstick to ensure proper safety and form. Once accustomed to this exercise, your gymnast can use weights on a barbell or a toning bar, but it should always depend upon her strength and experience. If you are using a bar with no weights, you can wrap a thick towel around each end to help prevent your gymnast's knuckles from touching the floor.

The second exercise is more obvious. This one also helps the gymnast with specific gymnastics skills because she will be in and out of a handstand. The Planche - Virtual Handstand - Planche Drill is a great exercise for body tightness, control, upper body strength, and core strength. This drill is an appropriate exercise for gymnasts on so many levels, including those expected to perform the cast handstand and clear hip handstand on bars in the near future.

1. Instruct your gymnast to stand with her back to a spotting block or mat stack, place her hands on the floor, and then place one foot/ankle on the block. Once your gymnast has one foot/ankle on the block, she can then place her other foot/ankle up on the block.
2. Now your gymnast should be in an elevated push up position with her feet on the block. Your gymnast's legs, hips, and chest should remain off the floor throughout this exercise.
3. Now that your gymnast is in the elevated push up position, instruct her to move her hands closer to the spotting block and her shoulders forward in order to form a slight planche position.
4. Once your gymnast is in the planche position with her feet on the block, instruct her to squeeze her buttocks and then to pull her belly button in. You should see the lower portion of your gymnast's back elongate into the correct low back position for a handstand (pelvic tilt).
5. After your gymnast has formed the correct shape with her lower body, instruct her to push down on the floor and pull in her chest simultaneously. The portion of your gymnast's back between her shoulder blades should rise toward the ceiling. Your gymnast has just performed a protraction / shoulder shrug in the planche push up position. To help teach the shoulder shrug touch the portion of your gymnast's back that is between her shoulder blades and ask her to push up on your hand to form the rounded back.
6. Instruct your gymnast to hold that tight shape throughout the rest of the exercise.
7. To start the exercise, instruct your gymnast to lift one of her legs up toward the ceiling, but to keep her other foot/ankle on the block. Your gymnast's body, with the exception of the foot/ankle still supported on the block should have moved as one unit up to the single leg, or virtual, handstand. The leg that is pointed toward the ceiling should be the one forming the handstand shape along with the upper body.
8. Your gymnast's shoulders, hips, and one ankle should be directly above her hands while the other leg remains supported on the block. Inform your gymnast that her hips and shoulders should remain square with the block. Her buttocks should be under, belly in, hip opened, chest in, and shoulders in a shrug/stretched position. Remaining square and tight is not always easy for the gymnast.
9. Once your gymnast is in the correct single leg, or virtual, handstand position she can begin the return motion by slowly lowering her free leg back to the block and shifting her shoulders slightly forward so she returns to the planche push up position. Your gymnast's body should move as one unit to the starting position. Instruct your gymnast to keep her head in line with her spine, neither tucked in nor tilted back.
10. Next, instruct your gymnast to return to the single leg, or virtual, handstand position by lifting her free leg back up above her hips so that she is vertical, with the exception of her supported leg. She must also open her armpits back up, and square her shoulders and hips with the block. Your gymnast must bring her shoulders and head into alignment for the correct handstand shape again. Instruct your gymnast to look at the floor just above her hands for the planche and then at the block for the handstand.
11. Once your gymnast understands the motion of the virtual handstand to planche and back to the handstand, ask her to complete a few repetitions before stopping if she is able.
12. Inform your gymnast not to planche too far forward until she builds strength and becomes very comfortable so she does not collapse.
13. You must also inform your gymnast to communicate when she is fatigued so that you can allow her to rest. This exercise puts tremendous pressure on your gymnast's wrists. You should allow her to rest when she communicates that her wrists are getting tired.

This exercise, when performed correctly, closely simulates the shoulder motions of the cast handstand and clear hip handstand on uneven bars. You can use a floor bar as long as the floor bar is stable.

The constant change in shoulder angle causes a change in the demand on your gymnast's upper body muscles. Your gymnast should develop strength in a wide range of positions after performing this drill frequently and consistently over the course of time.

As you can see, these exercises are so much different from push ups because of the straight arm training which so closely simulates gymnastics skills. Your gymnast's entire upper body will be challenged with this exercise. If performed frequently and consistently this drill should help tremendously with overall upper body strength in addition to specific gymnastics skills.

Although the push up and bench press are great exercises, they do not really simulate the gymnastics skills of female gymnasts. Gymnastics skills must be simulated in a safe manner in order to train a gymnast's mind and body to perform gymnastics skills safely and efficiently.

Karen M. Goeller

Karen Goeller has written more gymnastics books than anyone in the USA. Her books are currently used by fitness experts, sports coaches, teachers, and athletes worldwide. Goeller has produced State Champions, National TOPS Team Athletes, and Empire State Games Competitors, among other successful athletes. She has worked for world's most famous gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, owned a gymnastics facility for ten years, and has been featured in several newspapers and on television many times.

Karen Goeller has more than 25 years of experience training athletes and an education that includes training as an EMT, Physical Therapist, and Nutritionist. She has held certifications that include Fitness Trainer, EMT-D, Nutritional Analysis, and many Gymnastics Certifications among others. Goeller has tremendous experience with training in a variety of settings. Take a look at her new Swing Set Fitness Books for a glimpse into her favorite exercises and fitness programs.

Gymnastics Trampoline Can Be A Great Learning Experience

Working on a gymnastics trampoline has many advantages for those who are striving to learn and become the next gold medal winner. Trampoline safety has long been dissected over and over again; however, for those who are trying to learn a new gymnastic move, these steel frames with stretched material can prove invaluable in order to learn new tumbling tricks safely and effectively. If a parent or coach learns how the advantages of these types of trampolines outweigh the disadvantages, then they may let the budding gymnast definitely use one.

Many coaches and parents are concerned with trampoline safety, and therefore do not want a student of gymnastics using one, especially with so much information telling parents not to ever let their child near one . The American Academy of Pediatrics is one group that warns against any use of one for any reason.

They claim that most children will be hurt by doing trampoline jumping and trampoline tricks that they are not trained to do, and this can cause serious harm to a person. While this is true, if a gymnast is properly trained on how to use one to enhance their skills, then tumbling on a jumping tarp can prove to be safer than not.

Learning some moves on a gymnastics trampoline can help a budding gymnast be more positive, according to some coaches and parents. By being able to practice the motion over and over on a trampoline, a student will have less fear of hurting themselves and will more than likely learn the maneuver correctly.

However, if one is consistently worried about crashing and hurting themselves on a hard mat, then that may ultimately turn the young athlete "off" the sport. Sports training on trampolines can help to keep a child positive and safe while learning the best way to do a maneuver.

Tumbling on a gymnastics trampoline can prove to be a huge confidence builder when one is learning how to tumble. By incorporating air time into one's training routine, they can better learn how to do a move and that can keep their confidence in themselves at a higher level. Gymnastics is all about completion as one gets older, and learning to stay confident can only increase the ability to win in the long run.

Mike Selvon

Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about gymnastics trampolines. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our trampoline repair blog.

8 Steps to Making Gymnastics Safe for Gymnasts

Be Prepared to Practice

As with any other physical activity, injuries occur much more often when you are tired and/or worn down. Make sure you get sufficient sleep the night before your classes or practices. If you did not get enough sleep, rest and take a nap before class or practice. Make sure your body has enough energy from nutrition to last through your class or practice.

Build Your Strength to Increase Your Safety Margin

The stronger and more flexible you are, the less likely you are to get hurt and the more likely you are to learn gymnastics skills quickly and safely. Flexibility not only makes many skills more beautiful to watch (like back walkovers), but also can make you less prone to injury. So prepare for your gymnastics career first by working to make yourself strong and flexible.

Make Sure You Understand What to Do

Tell your coach if you don't completely understand instructions on what to do. You should know and understand exactly what skill your teacher expects you to do and how they want you to do it. If you are not sure, ask! Understanding will also help you learn more quickly and do skills more safely.

Follow Proper Skill Progressions and Master Skills

It is extremely important to learn gymnastics skills in the proper order of difficulty. Gymnasts should not be attempting difficult skills without learning all the lead-up skills and doing any appropriate lead-up drills. Gymnastics is a series of habits built upon other habits. Moving along too quickly without mastering skills can ultimately interfere with learning higher level gymnastics skills.

Follow Proper Equipment Progressions

It is only common sense to work on gymnastics apparatus in their naturally progressive order. Beam skills are first learned and mastered on the floor (on a line). Then gymnasts can move up to low, medium and high beams.

The More Mats the Safer

Make sure there are enough mats under and around the equipment you are working on. The harder the skill you are doing the more mats it is wise to have in potential landing and fall areas. Don’t be shy about gong to get some more mats if some area is not sufficiently and safely matted.

Tell Your Coach If You are Injured or Get Hurt

Let your coach decide if you need medical attention, ice, a band aid, or if you can and should continue to work out if you get injured. Don’t keep injuries to yourself.

Be Safe, Not Sorry!

Follow all gym rules and the above steps for a safe and happy gymnastics career.

John Howard

John Howard is the author of 20 books and e-Books about gymnastics, gym design, gymnastics humor and cheerleading. He has 25 years experience and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts and international competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.

GymnasticsZone.com is a web site for gymnasts, cheerleaders, coaches and parents with numerous FREE articles and information, fun pages and activities available for viewing at: http://GymnasticsZone.com

More In-depth information products are available at: http://gymnasticszone.com/eBooks.htm

Discover The Secrets Of High-Performance Gymnastics Through Strength Training!

Gymnastics in a unique sport to develop a proper strength training plan for. Gymnasts have incredible neuromuscular connections. Gymnastics requires, strength, power, flexibility, speed, and complete control over the body. The momentum required for gymnastics puts extreme forces and stresses on the gymnasts body. For these reasons, strength training is a MUST for gymnasts.

You must approach strength training for gymnastics in a methodical, sensible fashion.

The following tips should help any gymnast improve their performances in competition.

1. Emphasize The “Gymnastics Muscles”

When you create a strength training plan exclusively for gymnastics, you should emphasize the shoulders, back, chest, arms, abdominals, and thighs. These are the “order of importance” for your workout. The shoulders are used more than any of the other muscles, and therefore are trained first in a workout when your body is fresh.

2. Select Exercises For the “Gymnastics Muscles”

There are many, many exercises that you can perform for each of the body parts. Think about what body parts are sore after a practice or performance and consider exercises that will train that area. Generally, you should try to perform 2 exercises for each body part when designing a sport specific strength training plan for gymnastics.

3. Start Slowly Then Move Faster

For gymnastics training you should start the exercise slowly and methodically. As your muscles start to tire out, you then try to speed up the repetitions. The weight probably won’t move faster at this point, but the increased effort to speed up will tax the muscle fibers more. Continue until you cannot perform another repetition with perfect form. Use a spotter if training with free weights.

4. Train the Individual “Heads” Of the Shoulders

The shoulders have three separate heads or areas. They are the anterior deltoid, the medial deltoid, and the posterior deltoid. It is a good idea to train these heads individually. Front raises, lateral raises, and the reverse pec-deck machine are good choices.

5. Use A Thick Bar

If you want to get maximum muscle stimulation on the gymnastics muscles, try using a thick bar. This is a hollow metal bar that works like a barbell, and loads regular plates on the ends. The thick bar is great for pressing and curls. It forces the muscles to work extra hard. If you don’t have one where you train, you should consider getting one.

6. Do Your Abdominal Work On a Swiss Ball

A swiss ball is amazingly effective for working your abdominal muscles. It allows you to stretch your abdominals before flexing them. Most abdominal exercises don’t allow for a full stretch of the abdominals, and are therefore less effective for a gymnast, who wants very strong abdominals.

Steve Preston

Steve Preston is a Sports Performance Specialist in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He specializes in sports-specific strength training programs for athletes seeking improved sports performance. For information on consultations and clinics go to his website at http://www.sports-strength.com Steve has recently created the Champion Strength Training For Gymnastics DVD Program. You can see it at http://www.sports-strength.com/gymnastics.html

Easy Gymnastic Moves For Better Health and Fitness

If you've been watching the Olympics, and who hasn't, than you're sure to have witnessed a least some of the various gymnastic events. There is no question about the strength and skill of these athletes. They are the best in the world competing for the gold after all.

But there's nothing mystical or magical about what they're doing. The various moves they pull of whether on the rings, the floor or bars is a result of practice, practice, practice.

Obviously only a few people can compete on the level of Olympic gymnasts. That's what makes it the Olympics. However, everyone could benefit from doing the most basic of gymnastic moves for exercise.

It use to be only those who started gymnastics at an early age could ever tumble or hold a handstand. Also those who happen to run away and join the circus.

But now gymnastic and acrobatic moves are open to everyone, not just the professionals. Although full twisting backflips may be out of the reach of most, people would benefit from basic moves like a handstand or rolling around.

Take this test. Can you do the following three moves? They aren't even close to Olympic level. In fact, everyone should be capable of pulling these moves off with ease.

The first is a forward roll or somersault. Crouch down and place your hands on the floor. Tuck you chin down to your neck and round your back. Roll over the back of your head and come back to your feet. How did you fair?

From the same crouched position we are going to do a backwards roll. This one proves trickier for most. Move your hands up towards your ears still keeping your palms flat. Roll back on a rounded back. When you come to your head use your hands to ease the pressure of your head and get over onto your feet. Could you do it?

The third move is different. It's a handstand. But we are going to take the balance out of it, even though advanced acrobats can balance easily on a single hand. Find an open flat wall. Place both hands on the ground shoulder width apart. Keeping the arms locked, kick-up with your legs so that they come overhead. Hold the handstand position. Did you get this one? And for how long?

These three simple moves and many more would give you a variety of benefits from strength, mobility, agility and flexibility. It really about if you can move like you should be able to move. Perhaps the gymnasts are on to something.

Logan Christopher

Logan Christopher runs the first website devoted to helping people learn how to hand balance and do acrobatics. If you want to learn how to do your first handstand, or more advanced moves check it out.

Gymnastics Beam Equipment Progressions for Gymnasts

For all the skills in any beam skill training progression system, there are the equipment progressions relating to beam height and padding. All skills should be mastered on a line on the floor and progress eventually to the high beam. Depending on the equipment available in the gym, there are a number of intermediate equipment progression levels. They include:

1. Tape line on floor.

2. Foam floor beam on mat.

3. Heavily padded low beam.

4. Regulation low beam with mats stacked even with beam.

5. Regulation low beam.

6. Padded medium beam.

7. Regulation medium beam.

8. High beam with beam platform or stacked mats.

9. Padded high beam.

10. Regulation high beam with platform mats.

11. Regulation high beam.

Master Each Stage before Moving to Next Level

For safety and personal confidence, the best system is to gain complete mastery at each step of equipment progression. There are some coaches who do not like to include padded beams, especially padded high beams in their progression series, because it returns a crutch that has already been overcome at a lower level. This seems to be generally sound advice except when a gymnast, perhaps, is unable to progress because of fear caused by a fall and can benefit from more steps of progression.

Prove to Yourself You are Ready to Move Up

The most important person to convince that a gymnast is ready to move to the next level is the gymnast themselves. This means that gymnast should have to have 5-10 no-fall repetitions at each level up to the high beam. This equates to 45 out of 46 or up to 90 out of 90 (although not necessarily in a row) successfully stuck skills before gymnasts have to perform the skill on the high beam. This is a seemingly slow but sure method of success. Actually, because of the safety and consistency of this method, in the long run, it is faster and more efficient.

Know and Overcome Danger Points

Gymnasts should be trained and aware of the danger points of each skill that they are performing and concentrate on that first and foremost. For example, when performing a back handspring on the beam, the most dangerous mistake would be to miss the hands and land on your head on the beam. The second danger point is missing the first foot and possibly straddling the beam. Once those danger points have been successfully negotiated, the worst that can happen on any beam is a controlled fall. All of these steps should obviously be mastered on a line on the floor before even considering moving the skill to beam.

Land on the Line

Thus, when gymnasts begin training on a line on the floor, their first concern should be to always get their hands on the line. When they can get their hands on the line ten out of ten times, they have proved to themselves that they are safe from falling on their head by missing their hands and they can move to mastering the next danger point - missing the first foot.

Land Your First Foot

When the gymnast can get their hands on the line and their first foot on the line ten out of ten times, they are ready to add the margin of error landing techniques to the skill. When they can land the skill ten out of ten times without error on the line, they will have developed the true confidence necessary to move to the next equipment level where they will repeat the process.

Back Up If Necessary

This system usually works best with a strategy where the gymnast backs up in the progression if they fall at the next highest equipment level and back up and re-master the previous level to improve confidence and reaffirm technique.

Review the Progressions Daily

Every day, even with old skills, a modified (shortened) equipment progression beginning on the line on the floor is used to check for proper technique and consistency.

Eliminates Fear

Fear is often the limiting factor in beam skill development and determining the danger points and training for their safety often eliminates fear from the equation. If, however, there are other fears, additional progressions to eliminate or minimize their impact on the gymnast can be developed specifically to deal with that fear. This system minimizes fear because gymnasts don’t move up until it becomes obvious, even to them, that they are capable of performing thee skill on a beam.

A NO-Spotting System

This system can be used without benefit of any spotting. This will eliminate the need for the coach to be running around the beam during meets "standing there" or even actually having to spot during meets. Coaches may spot at early stages and equipment levels to ensure proper technique is being performed.

20 Books and Counting
John Howard is the author of 20 books and e-Books about gymnastics, gym design, gymnastics humor and cheerleading. More books are already on the way. He has 25 years experience and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts and international competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.

Enter the Gymnastics Zone
GymnasticsZone.com is a web site for gymnasts, cheerleaders, coaches and parents with numerous FREE articles and information, fun pages and activities available for viewing at: http://GymnasticsZone.com

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J_Howard

Leotards For Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport in which a lot of movement is required. That is why gymnastics leotards are used. They allow the gymnast to move in an unrestricted manner. They fit like a glove to the body and they move with each motion the gymnast makes. As for where it gets its roots, Jules Leotard, a French acrobat felt that acrobats needed a garment that allowed them to move. He called it a maillot, but the name was soon changed to match that of its maker.

The details

Gymnastics leotards are very comfortable in order to allow the gymnasts to perform their tricks. It is made up of a thin and flexible fabric that is only one piece. The torso is completely covered, but the legs may be exposed. For men, they usually cover the legs. They can also be made in many different colors with different patterns that make them visually appealing. Men and women both wear them when practicing and performing their gymnastic routines. Without leotards, the sport would be considerably difference and the level of skill may not be as high as what it is today.

As for the designs, they can have different neck lines such as a scoop neck. There is usually elastic around the neckline to keep with the flexibility that the garment offers. There may also be turtle neck gymnastics leotards and leotards with crew necks. Some individuals may be able to slip them right on and then there are others that have zippers in the back or snaps to make sure they remain secure.

In performance

The different styles and the different designs that are available on gymnastics leotards allow an individual to use a different leotard for each routine. A gymnast may decide to wear one leotard for their floor routine and then another for their uneven bars routine.

Availability

Many sportswear companies carry gymnastics leotards. They carry the various different styles and designs that many people like. They also make sure that what they manufacture meets the demands of the various gymnasts around the world. If you are unable to find one that meet your specifications at a local store, there are online stores that offer them as well. The internet opens up a doorway to help you find the leotards that are right for you. There shouldn't be any reason why you can't find the leotard that will make you shine in your gymnastics routine. It should also make you feel very confident and secure about yourself when showing the world what you've got.

Ian Pennington

Men’s Gymnastics Events

Men’s gymnastics has been called by many a “sissy sport” that is full of men who have no grasp about how to act manly, or even how to perform like a true athlete. However, overall men’s gymnastics is treated quite roughly with most events involving great amounts of strength, coordination, and endurance in order to actually be considered a real gymnast.

The various aspects of gymnastics has always required great amounts of strength as well as athletic ability, however men’s gymnastics tends to take the typical requirements up a few notches by expecting bigger, better and longer routines from men than what is expected from women. Men’s gymnastics involves six different events that are used to help showcase the ability and talents of each gymnast. While many men train in all events equally, some gymnasts choose to train in one area more exclusively.

The first event for men is the floor exercise. The basis of the element is the same as for women, using a 12m square floor series of tumbles, woven together with handstands, acrobatic, rhythm and various other components are strung together. The typical time for a floor exercise is approximately 60 seconds; however, some can last as long as 70 seconds. Some contrasts to women’s events include there is no music during the routine, and also gymnasts are required to touch each corner of the floor a minimum of once.

The pommel horse is the next event that men partake in. This is an event that requires intense amount of upper body as well as arm strength as the gymnast is only allowed to touch the horse with their arms, while keeping the rest of their body in a continuously, fluid movement. It is vital to have a highly developed sense of balance, huge amounts of upper body strength and train extensively in body control in order to be successful on the pommel horse. This is a highly advanced event that young gymnasts are typically not allowed to partake in.

Still rings is an event that many people think of when they are envisioning gymnastics for men. Using two rings that are suspended from a bar that hang 5.75 meters from the floor, the gymnast is required to stay in the air, not touch the floor and perform a routine that emphasizes body control, strength and flexibility. In addition to the movements of the gymnast, they must also maintain complete control over the rings so that there is no movement other than the gymnast themselves. Gymnasts are required to perform at least one static strength move during the routine, however many choose to include more.

Men share the vault element with women as well, which required them to sprint quickly down a 25-meter runway and bounce off of a springboard while propelling themselves over the hurdle. Gymnasts are required to produce a successful dismount in which there is no falling or shifting of the weight.

Parallel Bars is another event in which men train and compete. Using bars that are approximately 1.75 meters off the ground and set a bit wider than shoulder width the gymnast performs a series of balances, swings, and various other acrobatic movements while ensuring they do not fall to the ground.

The final event for men to participate in is the high bar. This uses a bar that is only 2.4cm wide and rises an impressive 2.5 meters off the ground. Gymnasts are required to perform various aspects together such as twists, directional changes, flips, and even giants to produce a routine that is visually as well as athletically impressive. Most men wear leather grips while performing on the high bar to reduce the risk of injury to the hands.

Benefits of Gymnastics

Gymnastics offers many great benefits to the athlete who is involved. With many benefits that are only physical and many others that are also emotional and developmental, there are so many things that make gymnastics worth the time and effort that is required. From the first class until the very end of your career, you are sure to enjoy the benefits that gymnastics can provide to you.

One of the biggest benefits if the ability to slowly groom yourself into excellent physical shape. Because of the strenuous nature of gymnastics, it is important that all gymnasts be in the best physical shape possible. The natural movements of gymnastics works to groom fitness levels slowly so that overall conditioning as well as strength training is entirely possible without huge problems.

Additionally, gymnastics has been shown to greatly help improve confidence levels in children particularly. While many children particularly girls are quite shy when they are younger, gymnastics helps them come out of their “shell” and be an active part of the world and connect to friends from all around the world. Because gymnastics is a sport that can adjust to the skill level of each gymnast, it is amazingly easy to feel almost immediate senses of pride.

Another major benefit to gymnastics is the need to create goals and a schedule for meeting those goals. Athletes who fail to make goals typically do not succeed very quickly which results in a serious loss. However, if you work quickly to create some attainable goals and start actively working towards the goals then it is possible to once again help learn how to create and follow your goals in order to be successful. Because gymnastics is so flexible in the opportunities that are provided it is a wonderful sport to use to learn how to make modifications to the goals as skills improve.

Gymnastics also has the ability to help teach responsibility. Each gymnast is ultimately responsible for his or her own results. By putting forth effort and practicing moves and techniques again and again, it is possible to determine just how successful you are going to be. This is not a sport that places the success factor onto the coach. While a coach is highly instrumental in learning the skills necessary, it is up to the individual gymnast to practice the skills and put them to good use.

One thing that many gymnasts really like is the ability to be judged based upon their own individual accomplishments rather than the accomplishments of those who are around them. Coaches work with each individual athlete to determine the best course of action. Some may discover that they need to increase their strength training while others focus more on flexibility training. Others may have greater difficulty in mastering techniques and tricks. Gymnastics are highly customizable for each individual person, which makes it very easy to measure the individual success as well as the success of the individual compared against the group results.

Many gymnasts also enjoy the ability to travel with their teammates whom become very close friends to various locations. Many competitions and meets are even held in exotic and exciting locations. This allows many gymnasts to see more areas than what they originally ever intended to see. While lower level gymnasts tend to stay closer to home, those who are in advance, elite and even professional levels are able to travel the country and even the world.

The final benefit is the ability to actively engage in a highly rewarding sport. Rather than relying on the ability of all of your team members to be successful, you achieve the results you desire. This makes it a very satisfying sport for many people who enjoy being able to control their own growth and results. If you are interested in being responsible for your own development, growth and potential then gymnastics is the ultimate sport for your individual needs.

Boys and Gymnastics

Many parents when they hear the term gymnastics automatically start thinking about wafer thin girls with hair pulled back in taunt ponytails or buns. This classic idea is strongly encouraged by the fact that most television programs that show gymnastics tend to focus on the girls as well. However, there are numerous boys and men who are actively involved in gymnastics and love it.

While the girls may well steal the spotlight in terms of international recognition, the work that males do accomplish in gymnastics is equally stunning. The ideas the men are less manly when they are involved in gymnastics is an ideal that has been slowly exiting the minds of people worldwide as the number of men has slowly increased. Now more than ever, boys and men are welcomed into gymnastics with open arms and the sport really has some great benefits to offer.

Whether young or old gymnastics has several great benefits including helping increase overall muscle strength, teaching correct body alignment, helping improve agility as well as coordination, and even helping dramatically improve endurance and flexibility. These benefits are just what is possible from the physical side of gymnastics. Most parents are able to see an improvement in their child rather quickly, especially if lessons are taken several times per week.

Additional benefits of gymnastics include helping develop a clear sense of how the body moves and works and also how it moves through space. During the course of gymnastics training all gymnasts are forced to listen to their bodies in order to tell if they are doing a move correctly. This is a skill that many people do not develop as sharply without the use of gymnastics. This is especially true for boys, who tend to play rougher sports, rather than the gentle space conscious sports that girls play.

Further benefits that boys are able to truly grasp include improving discipline, self-control, self-motivation, and even confidence. Many boys are able to learn huge amounts of self-discipline simply from taking basic beginning courses even if they never advance. Additionally, many boys are able to use gymnastics to help them burn extra energy and better control their urges to act out. Between the physical exertion of gymnastics and the increase in both self-control and discipline, differences in behavior should be noticeable quite rapidly.

Many boys discover upon taking gymnastics that it is actually quite fun. Due to the solitarily of most gymnastics events their abilities are able to shine through easier than if they were simply playing on a team with dozens of other boys. Many boys are much happier with their individual abilities being highlighted at matches and competitions, which results in even greater benefits.

While not all boys are going to find gymnastics a thrilling activity, most enjoy it immensely. Between the physical activity, as well as the ability to tumble and flip it quickly tends to win even the shyest boy over rather quickly. Finding a coach who has worked with boys specifically will usually help the process as well, since they are better able to help boys train towards the appropriate gymnastics events.

In the world of athletics, there are few sports that can compare to gymnastics regardless of whether you are looking for a daughter or a son. Finding the best coach is still one of the best moves you can make, and working closely with your child and their coach can help your son achieve the best results possible.

Careers for Older Gymnasts

Most people are well aware of the fact that gymnasts tend to be very young at their peak. This youthful career tends to leave people retired when they are as young as 25, which in a world where people regularly work until they are in their mid-60’s leaves many years of empty years. To help pass the time and still engage in gymnastics it is possible to explore a couple of different careers that build on the gymnastics training that you have had, and present it to others so that it is beneficial.

For those who are still on the young end of the retired scale and in perfect physical condition there are plenty of professional competitions to engage in. With prizes and awards, ranging it is possible make a decent income simply from attending a few competitions a year. However, be aware that the professional area is full of the best of the best so winning competitions is much harder at the professional level than anything you have ever experienced before.

Additionally, most gymnasts who have done well at amateur competitions tend to do best at professional competitions as well. If you are thinking you may want to pursue professional gymnastics then it is a wise idea to enter as many competitions as possible while you are younger so you can get as much experience competing as possible.

In the professional arena, there are both national and international events. Selecting the best event for your talents is not always easy but it is best to get as much experience as possible before engaging in the top international events. Competition is very stiff and with dedication, talent and a drive to succeed many successful teenage gymnasts have enjoyed professional careers.

Another option to explore is that of a gymnastics coach. You were once inspired as a child, so why not give back to others? Take all of the skills and lessons that you have learned over the years as you mastered technique after technique and put it to work. Developing highly trained gymnasts is a dream for many coaches and those with actual gymnastics experience themselves tend to do much better.

Using your skills to help teach others even adults is a great way to make some money even after your time competing has come to an end. One draw back is those who are not very friendly or vocal may have difficulty communicating with students and giving them the feedback and guidance that they need in order to be truly successful. However, most coaches are able to over come these problems with some training from various organizations designed to improve coaching skills.

Your last viable option is to look into performing at various places. From circuses to theater and even dancing, all of the performance arts have types of gymnastics woven into the ideals. Many successful gymnasts are able to easily convert to dancers, and even engage happily into the circus. While performing in dances or the circus may not be the ideal situation for some gymnasts, it is a fun way to branch their skills and be able to travel once their body is unable to handle the extremely harsh rigors of competition gymnastics.

Finding a job after your gymnastics career is really not as difficult as it may seem. There are numerous options that are available. If you are interested in exploring coaching you can often look into helping volunteer with a team for a short period of time and learn from the current coach. This is a great hands on way to gain some valuable first hand experience. Additionally, studying a small bit of dance with reputable studios would allow you to see if dancing was something that you enjoyed. Take your talents from gymnastics and put them to good use if you truly enjoy the sport. You have learned so much and have the ability to give back a lot of what it has given you.