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Researched by Ashley B. |
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Introduction
Gymnastics is excellent exercise and lots of fun. The Greeks and Romans introduced it. It can help you with self-expression, coordination, discipline, confidence, and pride of accomplishment, body awareness, joy of physical activity, and the ability to get along. It can be rewarding and worthwhile. This is a sport testing athlete’s strength, rhythm, balance, and flexibility. This sport is for both men and women. There are many forms of gymnastics.
History
The Greeks and Romans introduced gymnastics. The Greeks began the Olympics and dedicated it to the Greek God, Zeus. The first Olympic games were in 776 B.C. performed in Athens, Greece. Between 1850-1900, gymnastics started to become popular. Only men competed in the first games because people thought the women didn’t have enough strength and power. Women first competed in the 1928 Olympics. By 1960, people were amazed at the women. In 1970 there were more women than men competing. Even people who had never watched a gymnastics meet had heard of Olga Korbut from the Soviet Union, Nadia Comaneci from Romania, and Cathy Rigby from the United States. Russian men and women won most major competitions. Soon, world-class gymnasts were German, Hungarian, Romanian, and American. Gymnastics was important in the educational system along with politics, music, and art. German immigrants established gymnastics clubs in large American cities. After World War II, gymnastics became a physical education activity throughout our country. The first gymnasts to perform were acrobats in Ancient Egypt. They started out by jumping over a bull.
Types of Gymnastics
There are seven main types of gymnastics. They are rhythmic, artistic, developmental, educational, creative, traditional, and non-traditional.
Artistic gymnastics has changed a lot over the years. Currently, it consists of four women’s events and six men’s events. There are four to six artistic judges. The level of difficulty is put into the overall score. Teams consist of seven members. Six compete on each event. The five highest scores average for the overall score.
Rhythmic gymnastics was started in 1984. Gymnasts perform on a mat about 12.5 meters. They use ropes, hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons while dancing to music. A gymnast’s score will be lowered if she doesn’t do any acrobatic movements. They are judged on difficulty and how well they do. Rhythmic gymnastics is a two-team sport.
Developmental gymnastics are different moves more suitable for each gymnast’s body.
Educational gymnastics are movement problems students are given to solve according to their own abilities. Coaches let students choose their own level and skills that they feel most comfortable with. Educational gymnastics is a non-competitive type of gymnastics.
Creative gymnastics are having students combine skills and stunts into a routine at their own level. Creative gymnastics is mainly for students with success and experience.
Traditional gymnastics are a series of stunts performed by students in a more formal manner. Official judges, audiences, or teachers judge it. The events performed are beam, bars, floor, etc. All students are judged to the same standards.
Non-traditional gymnastics goes by many names. In England it’s called informal gymnastics. The teachers set tasks allowing students to work at their own level. Most students learn to balance and control their bodies. There are a variety of activities. Students don’t have to worry about pointing their toes and having straight legs to impress the teacher.
Olympic Events
The men compete in six events: floor exercise, vault, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bars. Women compete in four events: floor exercise, vault, uneven parallel bars, and balance beam.
Floor Exercise
Floor exercise is tumbling skills made into a routine. Gymnasts must show strength, timing, control, dynamic power, and precision. Men used to perform on little padding, and hard floors. Now floors are foam blocks or spring under one layer. Another layer of foam is on top of the wood. Then another layer which is a piece of carpet 40ft. by 40ft. called a spring floor. It helps protect gymnasts from injuries. In floor exercise women perform to music whereas men don’t.
Vault
The vault can also be called a horse. The men use it lengthwise, but the women use it sideways. The vault is 3 feet 7 inches high. In front of the vault is a springboard for a gymnast to obtain more power by jumping on it. So the gymnasts can also get a running start to get more power. They run on a long cushion runway leading to the springboard. A gymnast can only touch the springboard for a fraction of a second before flipping and twisting over and landing on the mat on the other side.
Pommel Horse
The pommel horse is an event that is for men only. A pommel horse is a padded structure with two handles on the top called pommels. The pommel horse is 3 feet, 7 inches high. The men have to grasp and re-grasp to let their legs between their hands. The pommels are used to support their weight while swinging. Before gymnasts are allowed to perform on the pommel horse, they must start on the mushroom. The mushroom is a round horse without pommels.
Balance Beam
The balance beam is an event for women only. The beam used to be made of wood. Now it is made of aluminum and usually padded with suede covering. The beam is 4 inches wide, 16 feet and 5 inches long, and 3 feet above the ground for competition. It can be set lower for practice. A balance beam routine can’t be longer than 1 minute and 30 seconds. The beam used to be used for balancing and posing, but now gymnasts must dance on the beam.
Still Rings
The still rings are for men only. Each ring is completely circular and made of wood or fiberglass. They are suspended by straps from a steel frame. They’re 1 foot, 7 1/2 inches apart. They’re 8 feet, 3 inches above the ground. The gymnasts do circle and swinging movements. They stop occasionally to show control. They’re also expected to show their strength.
Uneven Parallel Bars
Uneven bars are only for women to compete in. Each bar is the same length. One is 7 feet, 6 inches above the floor. The other is 4 feet, 11 inches above the ground. The gymnasts move in a continuous flow of swinging and circling from bar to bar.
Horizontal Bar
The horizontal bar is for men only to compete in. It is a steel bar 8 feet long. It’s 8 feet above the ground also. It must be high enough to swing around with circling movements. The bar is lowered for beginners.
Parallel Bars
This event is for men only to compete in. There are two wood or fiberglass bars. They are 11 feet, 6 inches long. They 1 1/2 feet apart. They are supported on uprights mounted on a single steel base. Both bars are 5 feet, 6 inches above the ground. Most of the movements are done above the bars. They must swing and keep the routine flowing.
Trampoline
The trampoline first appeared at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. Trampoline is a men and women’s event done individually. The gymnasts bounce up and down performing somersaults, twists, and other movements. A gymnast can bounce up to 9 meters high. Some can stay in the air for 2 seconds. The trampoline has seven judges. Two determine the level of difficulty. Five evaluate execution.
Equipment
Gymnasts need other equipment to be comfortable and safe. Most gymnasts put chalk on their hands for good grip. The chalk keeps their hands from being sweaty. On rings and bars, some gymnasts use hand guards. Without grips, hands could blister and tear. That will make it more painful to work on the bars. Gymnasts use landing mats to land safely. The mats are 4 to 10 inches high. There is often a 1-inch base mat beneath. The mat is used for cushion when dismounting.
Moves
Handstand
The handstand is the most important skill in gymnastics. Your hands are the sole support of your body. A handstand is part of every event. It is held in a straight line. Allowing the back to move is considered poor technique. This is a move, which supports the body while your hands are upside down.
Roll
A roll is the first move a gymnast learns. It can be performed forward or backward. The roll is performed in a tuck position. Your back is rounded and your legs lift up over your head. Once you are finished, you stand up in a stretched position. This move can also be performed on the balance beam.
Cartwheel
A cartwheel is performed sideways. Some gymnasts do it without lessons. You start it in a stand; you kick your lead leg, lunge forward, and rotate sideways. You kick your legs into the air, the straight one first, and then you land in a straddle.
Handspring
A handspring can be performed forward or backward. It’s started in a stretched position. Then you push off from your feet. After you push off, you land on your hands. Then you flip your feet over your head. Then you land on your feet again. In order to perform a handspring, you must use explosive power to boost your body into the air.
Somersault
A somersault is also called a flip. It’s used in floor exercise and dismounting off apparatus. It’ can be performed forward of backward. A round-off or back handspring is usually done right before a somersault. You start in a stretched position, lift your arms, and reach with an explosive thrust. You push off with your feet, rotate into a tuck position, and roll forward or backward. Your hands should never touch the floor. You can also perform a somersault in a pike or a layout position.
Showtime
Getting Ready
Gymnasts must learn the skills put into their routine. The gymnast must memorize the routine so it looks polished. The gymnasts practice timing so their routine is not too slow, and not too fast.
Judging
There are usually two to four judges. The gymnasts are judged on a scale of 1.0 to 10.0. One little mistake could affect their score. The judges give bonus points for difficult maneuvers that weren’t required. The judges must follow the rulebook. The routines must show confidence, originality, and be exiting to watch. The final score is the average of all of the judges.
Mental Preparation
Mental and emotional training can help gymnasts perform better. Gymnasts worry about getting hurt. Overcoming that fear is more important than learning the skills. Coaches spot gymnasts so they are confident they won’t get hurt. They must practice a skill many times before it’s performed. Gymnasts must also overcome the fear of anxiety of performing in front of an audience. When you are nervous, it can lead to mistakes, which can lead to an injury. Coaches tell gymnasts to work outside of class too. They must visualize themselves performing perfectly. Gymnastics is just as much mental as physical.
Injuries
Preventing Injuries
Each year, more than 80,000 gymnastics injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and emergency rooms. You can prevent injuries from happening. You should always warm up and stretch before you do anything. You should warm up for 3 to 5 minutes and stretch for about 30 seconds for each stretch. Make sure your coach spots you if you are comfortable performing a stunt. Always make sure the equipment is properly maintained and spread out so athletes don’t collide. The appropriate floor padding is needed. Mats need to be placed under the equipment and secured properly. The gymnast may have bare feet, cotton socks, and special shoes, depending on the event. You may need hand grips, specialized footwear, wrist, ankle, or torso belts, knee, elbow, or heel pads, braces, sweatbands, socks, or tights.
Common Injuries
Some common injuries are spraining your ankle or foot. You could hurt your back, knee, or wrist. Hurting your upper body often occurs to men. Hurting your lower body often occurs to women.
People at Risk
Some people at risk of gymnastics injuries are high-level competitive gymnasts. Gymnasts who train many hours a week are at risk. Anyone involved in ‘horseplay’ is at risk. Older adults are at risk.
Safety
Warm-up
During warm-up time, you can stretch, flex, and limber your entire body. You will transfer the skills performed later in the workout. The warm-up is usually done on the floor mat.
Building Blocks
This is the safest way to learn skills, slowly with progression. Some progress faster than others. First, you must learn the proper body awareness. A gymnast must know where she is in the air while flying off of a 4-inch beam. Gymnasts must be prepared to fall. The dismount may look like a fall.
Dance
Music and dance is a big part of the women’s floor exercise. Dance is also part of the balance beam. For both events it must include runs, walks, and skips, which connect to tumbling and dance. Gymnasts spend most of their time learning dance skills. The routine must be done with music fitting the gymnasts’ style. The movements may come from ballet, modern, ethnic, folk, or jazz dance.
Turns
Turning is difficult. All gymnasts must perform all turns on their toes or the ball of their feet. They must focus to stop correctly. A pivot turn is the most basic. You are on your toes and end facing the opposite direction. A full turn is a required skill on floor exercise. It is performed with your arms up. You step forward onto the ball of your foot. The free foot is placed anywhere. You end by facing the starting direction.
Jumps
A jump is where both feet leave the ground and both feet land on the ground. Your legs can be in many different positions. They can be in a straddle, tuck, or pike.
Leaps
A leap is usually performed after a short run. A leap is jumping a certain number of feet, in the splits, high in the air. It requires excellent leg strength and flexibility. Your legs should be parallel to the floor.
Gymnastics Coaches
To be a gymnastics coach, you don’t need any specific schooling. You just have to have gymnastics experience. The tools that a gymnastics coach uses are the equipment, such as bars, beams, etc. You also might use hula-hoops, balls, mats, and ribbons. The salary of a gymnastics coach depends on what level of gymnastics you teach. If you teach a higher level of gymnastics, you will get paid more.
Staying Healthy
If you eat too much, you won’t perform right. If you don’t eat enough, you won’t have enough energy to perform. In gymnastics, you must eat right and take care of your body. (No junk food). You should eat properly before class to last you the whole time. Make sure you drink lots of water. Fruits, vegetables, crackers, cheese, yogurt, and juice are good choices.
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