Artistic Gymnastics: Guide to Apparatus, Techniques & Rules

Artistic Gymnastics

Introduction

Artistic gymnastics involves performing simple individual exercises and transitions or combinations of these exercises on a mat or specific apparatus. It is called artistic gymnastics because, in addition to a high level of execution, aesthetics are also important.

Apparatus

Balance Beam

The balance beam is a rectangular bar 120cm above the ground, on which simple movements are performed such as walkovers, turns, jumps switching legs, as well as complex exercises like handstands or flic flac. It requires a sense of balance and coordination. The gymnast should remain on the bar between 70 and 90 seconds.

Uneven Bars

With the uneven bars, the gymnast has to perform ten different routines with different grips, foot and hand support, head and handstands, swings, release moves, and flyaways, and switch bars at least twice.

Vault

The vault apparatus is non-slip and slightly padded. It is placed perpendicular to the gymnast's runway. Before jumping, the gymnast takes off from a springboard. The vault is preceded by a run-up of 25 meters, with the gymnast using their legs to take off from a springboard and supporting themself with one or both hands on the horse. The gymnast performs swings, kips, foot and hand supports, hand releases, and the dismount, from a handstand or with a twist in the air.

Floor Exercises

These exercises are performed on a special square mat with a safety area marked on it. The gymnast performs a choreographed routine with music lasting 70 to 90 seconds. Acrobatic moves of varying difficulty are combined: leaps, rolls, roundoffs, and flic flac. The gymnast combines vaults and other acrobatic moves of varying difficulty, without any music, in a set lasting between 50 and 70 seconds.

Still Rings

The gymnast builds up enormous strength to perform swings, foot and hand supports, turns, static positions for 2 seconds, and dismounts. They are deducted points if the cables swing too much during their intervention or if they touch them with their feet or body.

Pommel Horse

With the pommel horse, the gymnast places their hands on the pommels, leather, or ends of the horse, swings both legs out, and performs turns known as spindles. Deductions are made if they touch the apparatus with their legs or fail to keep them straight throughout the routine. The pommel horse is placed lengthwise to the gymnast's approach run.

Horizontal Bar

On the horizontal bar, the gymnast has to let go of the bar at least once to perform straight arm hangs, swings, and turns. It is important to carry out grips and holds properly and perform a full range of movement, straighten out your body, and dismount from the apparatus correctly.

Manners of Run

• Thrust: The take-off leg is extended, and the knee of the free leg is raised.
• Suspension: This is the moment of maximum length of stride.
• Cushioning: The foot is placed on the ground without any abruptness.
• Support: The whole leg takes the weight of the body.

Relay Races

Relay races are speed races in which four athletes pass a baton to one another, with each one completing a stretch of the race. In the 4 x 100m, they each run 100m, whereas in the 4 x 400m, each runner covers 400 meters. The baton is a hollow tube.

4 x 100m Relay

In the 4 x 100m relay, the runner carrying the baton is the one that should decide on the exact moment for the handover. Two different methods are used to receive the baton: downsweep and upsweep. The receiver faces the direction of the race, and the incoming runner carrying the baton places it in their teammate's hand with a swift movement of the arm.

4 x 400m Relay

In the 4 x 400m relay, the handover procedure does not require so much precision since the runners are not moving as fast.