The Gymnastics Glossary
A
A skills
-
The lowest level moves in a gymnastic routine. For example a back handspring is
an “A” level
skill.
Acro
-
Tumbling skill on the floor or balance beam. Used most commonly when referring
to a combination of dance
requirements.
Acrobatics
-
Elements of gymnastics that require control, balance, strength and flexibility.
Examples include slower skills like a front walkover for women or corner skills
for
men.
Adagio
-
A dance term that refers to a slow, sustained
movement.
Adolph
-
A front somersault in the layout position with three-and-one-half twists;
performed on
trampoline.
Aerial
-
A gymnastics move, in which the gymnast rotates in the air without touching the
apparatus with his or her hands. Also referred to as a no-handed cartwheel or
front
walkover.
All-around
-
A category of gymnastic competition that includes all of the events. The person
with the highest total score from all the events is the all-around
champion.
Allegro
-
A dance term used to describe fast, quick jumps. There are two types: grand
(large jumps) and petite (small
jumps).
Alternates
-
A tumbling pass that connects two somersaults (saltos) by use of a handspring.
Usually refers to a backward tumbling pass. (e.g. round off whip back handspring
whip.)
Amplitude
-
The height or difficulty of a movement. In general, the higher the movement, the
better the amplitude and the
score.
Apparatus
-
A piece of equipment used in gymnastics competitions. The common apparatuses
used in gymnastics include: the balance beam, parallel bars, uneven parallel
bars, pommel horse, vault, floor, still rings and horizontal
bar.
Arabesque
-
A dance and gymnastics pose where the body is balanced on one leg and the other
leg is extended up off the floor behind the
body.
Arch position
-
A backwards curve of the body-- usually refers to the backwards curve of the
spine.
Attitude
-
A dance pose similar to the arabesque. The body is balanced on one leg while the
other leg is extended in front of the body, behind the body or to the side of
the body in a slightly bent knee
position.
B
Back flip
-
A backwards somersault in the air performed in either the tuck, pike or layout
position.
Back giant
-
A skill performed on either the high bar, uneven parallel bar or parallel bar
where the body circles around the bar. The movement starts from a handstand
position and ends in the handstand
position.
Back walkover
-
A control skill where a gymnast starts in the standing position, arches her into
a backbend and kicks her legs over her head to land on her feet in a step-out
landing (one leg followed by the other). It is performed as one continuous
movement.
Backbend
-
A gymnastic skill where the body bends backwards in an arch position and the
feet and hands touch the floor
simultaneously.
Back-in, full-out
-
A double somersault with a full twist (the complete twist is performed during
the second
somersault).
Balance
-
Grounded and secure in position. A skill needed for apparatuses like the balance
beam or pommel horse. Also refers to a routine that evenly distributes acrobatic
skills and dance
movements.
Balance beam
-
A long and narrow apparatus used by women in a routine designed to emphasize
grace and balance. It is a solid piece of wood that is four feet high, four
inches wide and 16 feet long. A balance bar routine includes a variety of
acrobatic and dance skills that last for 70 to 90 seconds and ends with a
dismount.
Ball-out
-
A front somersault on the trampoline that is performed by taking off after a
bounce on the
back.
Bar
-
An apparatus used by both men and women in gymnastics. Men use the high bar and
the parallel bars. Women use the uneven parallel bars. Also referred to as a
rail.
Barani
-
A forward somersault with a half twist performed in the layout
position.
Blind change
-
Performed on the high bar or uneven bars. The gymnast performs a back giant,
does a half turn on top of the bar, and continues in a front
giant.
Block
-
A term used to describe a rapid bounce or rebound off the floor or vault with
the
arms.
Bonus points
-
Additional points awarded to a routine based on the combination of difficult
skills. The FIG has given every gymnastics skill a point value based on
skills that are ranked from A to E. The bonus points are awarded if C, D and E
level skills are sequenced together in a
routine.
Bridge
-
Another name for a backbend. Normally started by lying on the back, the
hands and feet remain on the floor and the body is pushed up with the back
arching and the stomach facing the
ceiling.
Buck
-
A short gymnastics horse without pommels. It is often used to train a gymnast on
the pommel horse. Also called a pommel
buck.
C
Candlestick
-
A shoulder stand with the legs in the air, feet pointed towards the ceiling and
the body rested on the top of the
shoulders.
Cartwheel
-
A common gymnastic skill where a gymnast starts on one leg and places his/her
hands on the ground while kicking his/her legs up into a side handstand, before
continuing the motion and landing with one foot on the ground followed by the
other.
Cat leap
-
A gymnastic and ballet leap where the gymnast takes off on one leg then bends
the front leg at the knee while the back leg turns out with the toe pointed. It
is also known as a Pas de
Chat.
Chainé turn
-
A half turn executed on the balls of the feet. The half turns are chained
together as the head whips around to look at one spot continuously throughout
the sequence of
spins.
Chassé
-
A dance movement where one leg makes a small jump and is followed by the other
leg. In layman terms referred to as a
gallop.
Choreography
-
A series of artistic elements, ballet movements and acrobatics that create a
floor or balance beam
routine.
Clear hip circle
-
When the body moves in a circle around the bar without the hips
touching.
Code of points
-
The official rulebook for judging gymnastics
skills.
Composition
-
The arrangement of moves in a gymnastics routine
Compulsories
-
Required routines that all gymnasts in certain levels (Level 4,5,6) must
complete. These routines have elements and skills that gymnasts in a certain
level of gymnastics should be able to perform and are determined by a governing
body such as USA Gymnastics or International Federation of Gymnastics
(FIG).
Cross
-
A strength skill performed on the still rings where the arms are placed outward
in a “T” position with the body is perpendicular to the floor. Also called an
iron
cross.
D
Deduction
-
An error that causes a gymnast to lose points in his/her score.
Demi-plié
-
A ballet movement where the legs make a small bend at the knee while the feet
remain flat on the
ground.
Dismount
-
The exit from an apparatus at the end of a routine; usually performed with a
difficult twist or
somersault.
Dive roll
-
Describes a flying front somersault on the ground. The gymnast runs, leaps into
the air and dives onto the floor in a handstand position and does a forward roll
at the
end.
Double back
-
Two back somersaults completed consecutively in the same skill
movement.
Double double
-
Two back somersaults with two twists. One of the harder gymnastics skills
performed on the floor exercise and usually performed in the layout or open tuck
position.
Double full
-
A single back somersault in the layout position with two
twists.
E
Eagle grip
-
A 180 degree outward turn of the thumb and hands when gripping the bar. This
movement requires increased shoulder
flexibility.
Elbow stand
-
A handstand performed on the
forearms.
Events
-
The routines done by men and women on the different apparatuses. There are
four events for women: balance beam, vault, uneven parallel bars and floor.
There are six events for men: vault, pommel horse, still rings, horizontal bar,
parallel bars and floor
exercise.
Execution
-
How a routine is performed; the level of form and technique used to complete a
routine. A good execution might include tight legs, a good toe point, and
a stuck
landing.
Extension
-
The height and stretch of the legs or arms that are raised during a dance
movement.
F
Flip-flop
-
Nickname for a back handspring. This is a common movement where the gymnast
takes off from one or two feet, jumps backwards onto her hands, and lands on her
feet.
FIG
-
The International Federation of Gymnastics, the international governing body for
the sport of
gymnastics.
Flexibility
-
The ability of the body to stretch into various positions without pain or
damage.
Flic-flac
-
Also see back handspring. A common gymnastic movement where a gymnast takes off
from one or two feet, jumps backwards onto her hands and lands on her feet. Also
known as a flip-flop or a back handspring.
Flip
-
A tumbling element where the body does a somersault in the air without the hands
touching the ground. Also called a somersault or salto.
Floor exercise
-
A routine consisting of a variety of dance and acrobatic maneuvers and is
performed on a 40 foot square spring
floor.
Flyaway
-
A back somersault dismount from the uneven bars, horizontal bar, or parallel
bars. It can be performed in either the tuck, pike or layout
positions.
Front giant
-
A forward circle around the bars starting and ending in a handstand position.
This is performed with the hands in a reverse
grip.
Front handspring
-
A forward tumbling skill that starts with a step or a hurdle. The body then
bounces onto the hands and rotates through a handstand before landing on the
feet.
Front hip circle
-
A forward movement around the bar with the hips resting on the bar and the body
rotating around the
bar.
Front somersault
-
A forward flip performed in the air without hands. It can be performed in either
the tuck, pike or layout positions. It can also refer to a forward somersault on
the
ground.
Front walkover
-
A gymnastic skill where the gymnast performs a forward handstand then moves into
a backbend and up to his/her feet. The entire skill is performed in a continuous
motion.
Full
-
A back somersault with one twist usually performed in the layout
position.
Full turn
-
A complete 360 degree rotation usually performed on one foot. It is a required
element for both the balance beam and the floor
exercise.
Full-in, back-out
-
Two somersaults with one full twist where the twist is executed during the first
somersault
Full-in, full-out
-
Two somersaults and two twists with one twist performed on the first somersault
and one twist performed on the second
somersault.
G
Gaylord
-
On the high bar, an execution that involves a front giant arm-swing into a front
one-and-one half somersault over the bar, before re-grabbing the bar at the end.
It was named after USA gymnast, Mitch
Gaylord,
Giant
-
An arm swing on the bars in which the body and the arms are fully extended and
move in a full circle around the
bar.
Grande jeté
-
A ballet term used to describe a large split-legged
leap.
Grande plié
-
A ballet movement where the legs bend deeply at the knees and the body almost
touches the ground. The feet are normally turned out and are in first, second,
third, fourth or fifth ballet
position.
Grips
-
Leather straps that gymnasts wear on their hands to help them maintain a firm
and solid grasp of the bar. Also known as hand
guards.
H
Half-in, half-out
-
A double somersault with a half twist on the first somersault and a half twist
on the
second.
Handspring
-
(see also flic-flac) A hand touch somersault used on various apparatuses where
the body springs from the feet onto the hands and lands back on the feet. It can
be performed in either forward or backward direction; it is usually used to link
movements of a routine together.
Handstand
-
A movement where the body is balanced on the hands and the feet are in the air,
with the legs together or in a straddle or split
position.
Head in
-
A position where the head is tucked into the gymnast’s body. It is usually seen
when a gymnast is in a handstand
position.
Head out
-
A position in a handstand where the head is out away from the body causing the
back to arch. Not a favorable position in most
events.
Healy
-
A gymnastics movement on the bars where a gymnast removes one arm while moving
forward in a handstand and completes a full twist before re-grasping the bar
with both
hands.
High bar
-
This term can refer to men’s horizontal bar apparatus or the women’s top bar on
the uneven parallel
bars.
Hip circle
-
A circle around the bar in either the forward or backward motion where the hips
are resting on the bar throughout the
circle.
Hollow
-
A term referring to the body position of the gymnast. The hips are pulled under,
the butt is tucked in and the core of the body is scooped in rounding the chest
forward.
Horizontal bar
-
The high bar in the men’s gymnastics
events.
Horse
-
Slang for the former vaulting apparatus for both men and women. Women would
vault over it when it was sideways and men would vault over it length wise. In
2001 it was officially replaced with the vaulting table that both men and women
use in competition.
Hurdle
-
The step and skip that is used prior to a tumbling movement on the floor
exercise. It is usually seen right before a gymnast performs a round
off.
I
Inverted cross
-
A strength pose on the still rings where the arms are outstretched in a “T”
position and the body is in a
handstand.
Iron cross
-
A strength pose on the still rings where the arms are outstretched in a “T”
position and the body is perpendicular to the floor in a straight position or
“L” shaped
position.
J
Jeté
-
A ballet term used to describe a leap from one leg to the other. There are
several types of jetés including grande and petite (big and
small).
K
Kip
-
Usually performed on the bars, a movement that takes the gymnast from below the
bars to above the bars. It is a compulsory requirement for level 5 gymnasts,
ideally performed in a gliding
motion.
Kolman
-
A release move performed on the bars where the gymnast leaves the bar, performs
two back somersaults and one full twist over the bar and then re-catches the bar
at the end. It is named after Yugoslavian gymnast Alajz
Kolman.
L
Layout position
-
A straight and stretched body
position.
Layout step out
-
A back somersault in the layout position where the legs are split in the air and
the body lands on one leg followed by the other. It is normally performed on the
balance beam as part of a tumbling
series.
Leg circle
-
A pommel horse movement where the legs are together in a straight position
and the body circles around the pommel horse. The hands alternate lifting
up and down from one pommel to the other as the legs pass. This can also be
performed on the floor, parallel bars and balance
beam.
Leotard
-
A one piece uniform, similar to a bathing suit, that is standard for women’s
gymnastics.
Limber
-
A term that describes a gymnast’s flexibility in the forward and backward
direction.
Lunge
-
A position of the body where the legs are spread apart on the ground and the
front leg is bent and the back leg is straight. The arms are generally above the
head.
M
Mat
-
A piece of gymnastics equipment that is soft and made of polyurethane foam to
help cushion landings on dismounts from apparatuses such as the bars, balance
beam and vault. It is also used when a gymnast is learning new gymnastics
skills.
Mixed grip
-
A term used to describe the grip of the hands on the uneven parallel bars and
horizontal bar when one hand is in the forward grip position and the other hand
is in the reverse hand grip
position.
Mount
-
The entry onto apparatuses like the balance beam, parallel bars, uneven parallel
bars, horizontal bars and pommel horse. It is also used to describe the first
element in a gymnastics
routine.
Music
-
Used in women’s gymnastics floor exercises when the routine performed is done to
a specific piece of music. Gymnasts spend many hours developing a routine that
is suitable to the music as well as choosing a piece of music that will best fit
the gymnast and her
routine.
N
Nail
-
(see stick) Refers to a perfect dismount from an apparatus or a tumbling pass
where the feet make no movement once they touch the ground.
Needle scale
-
An arabesque performed on the floor and balance beam where the body is lowered
while the hands are touching the toes, floor or balance beam. One leg remains
planted on the floor or balance beam while the other leg is elevated up to the
ceiling.
O
Okino
-
A balance beam skill where the gymnast performs a triple pirouette (turn). It is
named after Betty
Okino.
Olympic order
-
The competition order for international competition, decided by FIG.
The
order for women: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor.
The order for
men: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and
horizontal bar.
The order for rhythmic gymnastics: rope, hoop, ball, clubs,
and ribbon.
Optionals
-
A category of gymnastics competition where the gymnasts and coaches create their
own routines with individual skills and the required elements that are
determined by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG). Optional
gymnasts are ranked higher than compulsory
gymnasts.
Overgrip
-
The grip of the hands on the bar where the gymnast’s hands are on the bar and
the palms of the hand are facing down with the fingers facing away from the
gymnast’s
body.
Overshoot
-
A release move from the high bar to the low bar. The gymnast starts on the high
bar, swings up and over the low bar, does a half twist and catches the low
bar.
P
Parallel bars
-
One of the events that men perform in artistic gymnastics. It consists of two
bars that are the same height (195centimeters) and length (350cm) and about 52cm
apart from one another. It is also referred to as
p-bars.
Pas
-
A dance and gymnastic term that means “to
step.”
Passé
-
A ballet position where one leg is firm on the ground and the other leg is
raised so the thigh is horizontal, the knee is bent and the toes touch the inner
part of the standing leg’s
knee.
P-bars
-
Nickname for the parallel
bars.
Peel
-
An involuntary release of the bar that generally results in a fall to the
ground. This can happen on the uneven bars, p-bars or high
bar.
Pike position
-
When the body is bent forward at the hips with the legs
straight.
Pipe
-
A term used to refer to the men’s high
bar.
Pirouettes
-
A ballet term that refers to the skill of turning the body on a longitudinal
axis. It is either performed with one leg on the floor or while the body
is in a handstand on the floor, balance beam or bars. The turns are generally
measured by degrees of half
turns.
Pit
-
A training tool that consists of large pieces of soft foam that are used to
cushion a landing. It is used for almost every apparatus except the pommel
horse.
Pivot
-
A dance term that refers to a turn on the ball of the
foot.
Plié
-
A dance movement that is defined by the bending of the legs. The legs can either
be bent deeply (grande) or slightly (demi). Most ballet techniques start with or
end with a
plié.
Point
-
Refers to a gymnasts toes that are stretched from the ankle to the toes,
creating a straight line with the floor. A toe point is a very important element
in gymnastics—judges expect to see pointed toes in almost all gymnastic
movements.
Pommel horse
-
The apparatus used by men that is similar to a vaulting horse, but has two sets
of handles or pommels on either side of the horse (45 centimeters apart). It is
generally 115cm high, 35cm wide and 160cm long. A pommel horse routine is
performed by using circular body movements around the horse and adjusting the
hands on and off the pommels.
Puck
-
A slang term that describes a gymnastics position that is in between a tuck and
a pike position. It is not a position that is allowed in
competition.
Punch
-
A term that refers to bouncing off the floor, vault springboard, or balance beam
instead of jumping. The legs are generally together and the reflexes are quick
and strong. A common example is the punch front on the floor or balance beam: A
forward somersault in the air that starts and ends with two
feet.
Q
Quad twist
-
A single somersault in the layout position with four
twists.
Quadriffs
-
Any quadruple somersault with a
twist.
R
Rail
-
A horizontal bar that on which gymnasts compete. This includes the parallel
bars, uneven parallel bars and the horizontal or high
bar.
Release
-
A term that refers to the body leaving the bar. The body leaves the bar to
perform an execution and then re-grasps the bar at the end of the execution. A
release can performed on the uneven parallel bars, high bar or parallel bars.
Relevé
-
A ballet term used to describe the body rising onto the balls of the
feet.
Rhythmic gymnastics
-
Officially called Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics (RSG), it is a women’s Olympic
sport that is performed by one to five women as a floor exercise. It requires
extreme flexibility combined with ballet-type dance movements and is performed
with props such as ribbons, balls, ropes and hoops. Routines do not include
difficult tumbling
maneuvers.
Rip
-
The tearing of a flap of skin from a gymnasts hand while performing on the
bars.
Round-off
-
A common gymnastic movement that leads into many more difficult skills. It is
performed by pushing off one leg, swinging legs quickly in a cartwheel motion
and landing on two feet. It is usually the initial skill in a tumbling
pass.
Routine
-
A combination of skills and dance moves, sometimes performed to music, on a
singular
apparatus.
S
Salto
-
A somersault or flip performed either forward or
backward.
Scale
-
A gymnastics and ballet position where one leg is raised high into the air
(ideally in a 180 degree split) while the other leg stays firm to the ground.
Scissors
-
A requirement for pommel horse competition. The legs make a back and forth and
side to side motion over the apparatus. It can also be performed on the floor.
Sequence
-
A combination of two or more skills performed one after the other.
Split
-
A stretching position of the legs. One leg is stretched in front of the body and
one leg is stretched behind the body. Done correctly, the legs are parallel to
the floor and straight without any bend to the knees. It can be performed in a
jump, on the floor, or in a handstand and in a front to back position of
straddle.
Spotting
-
The physical assistance of a gymnast while performing a new or dangerous skill.
It helps to ensure that the gymnast will complete the skill
safely.
Spotting belt
-
A training tool that a gymnast will use to learn a new skill. It consists of a
belt that a gymnast wears around his/her waist that is attached to ropes and a
pulley system which is operated by an experienced coach. It enables a gymnast to
safely learn new skills as well as perfect skills already acquired and is
usually attached to a trampoline.
Start value
-
A value placed on a gymnastics routine based on the degree of difficulty.
Step out
-
Refers to landing on one leg followed by the other leg when completing a
tumbling maneuver; as opposed to landing with two
feet.
Stick
-
Slang term used for a landing that is executed with correct technique and little
to no
movement.
Still rings
-
The apparatus and event in men’s artistic gymnastics. It consists of a tower
that is 575 centimeters high with two wooden/fiberglass rings attached to a
cable that is 300cm long and 50cm apart. The goal of a still rings routine is to
keep the rings as still as possible while executing swinging maneuvers and
strength poses.
Straddle
-
A position of the legs where one leg is extended to the left side of the body
and the other leg is extended to the right side. The legs are straight without a
bend to the knees. This position is executed in jumps, handstands, on the floor,
on the bars, and on the balance
beam.
Straight position
-
A body position that has no bend in the legs or the body. Also called layout
position.
T
Tap
-
A term referring to the kick needed to initiate the speed of a circling motion
on the high and uneven bars.
Timer
-
A drill that simulates a gymnastic element without the risk of completing the
maneuver to help prepare for a more complicated element. For example, a timer
for a double back is a back one-and-three-quarters to the back landing on a
stack of
mats.
Tondue
-
A beginning level ballet position, extending a leg forward with toe pointed,
while standing firmly on the other
leg.
Tour jeté
-
A half-turn, split leg leap, where the gymnast takes off from one leg and lands
on the other
leg.
Tuck
-
A body position where the knees are bent and drawn up to the chest and the body
is folded at the waist.
Tumbling pass
-
A series of connected tumbling elements in a routine on the floor
exercise.
Turnout
-
Refers to the rotation of the hips, legs and feet in an outward direction away
from the
body.
Twist
-
A rotation around the body’s longitudinal
axis.
Tzukahara
-
A men and women’s vault element where the gymnasts performs a quarter or half
onto the vault and a back salto off. It is named after the Japanese gymnast,
Mitsuo
Tzukahara.
U
Undergrip
-
The type of hand grip used on the bars where the body is hanging below the bar
and the fingers of the hand are facing the gymnast. Also called a reverse
grip.
Underswing
-
A release move from the high bar to the low bar. The gymnast swings from the
high bar, up and over the low bar, does half twist and grabs the low bar. Also
called a shoot over or
overshoot.
Uneven bars
-
A women’s apparatus and event that consists of two fiberglass bars: A low bar
that is 148 centimeters high and a high bar that is 228cm high, set apart at a
maximum of 150cm. A routine consists of release moves, swinging maneuvers from
one bar to the other, circling skills and
pirouettes.
USA Gymnastics
-
The governing body of gymnastics in the United
States
V
Vault
-
Men and women’s apparatus and event performed over a vaulting table. The
gymnast runs down the vaulting runway, springs off a springboard, vaults onto
the table and lands on his/her feet on the mat behind the table.
Vaulting horse
-
The former apparatus for mens and women’s vault. It was placed length wise for
men and width wise for women. It was officially removed and replaced with the
vaulting table in
2001.
Vaulting table
-
The new vaulting apparatus that is used for both men and women. It has a wider
and longer top surface which gives the gymnasts a larger margin of error for
hand
placement.
Virtuosity
-
The flow or artistry of a movement. The more cohesive and artistic the skills,
the higher the
score.
Voluntary routine
-
A routine that consists of optional elements instead of compulsory
elements.
V-sit
-
A position of the body where the gymnast sits with legs in the air in a deep
pike position and their body balancing on the bottom and
hands.
W
Walkover
-
A compulsory gymnastic element used on the floor and balance beam. The body
starts in a standing position, walks into a handstand position and continues
into a backbend and finishes in a standing position. This continuous movement
can be performed in either the forward or backward
direction.
Whip back
-
A back handspring without
hands.
Y
Yurchenko
-
A vault maneuver that starts with a round-off onto the springboard, a back
handspring onto the vault and some type of back somersaulting motion ff the
vault. The somersault off the vault will often be a twisting somersault. Named
after Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko.
Z
Zero
-
The score received if a gymnast does not perform a routine or does not perform
some critical element of a routine. An example would be performing a vault and
never touching the vaulting table.