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If you are new to the gymnastics world welcome!!!! This will be a thrilling and crazy time in both yours and your gymnasts life. If you were anything like me when I first started this journey I was lost when the other gym moms spoke “gymnastics” to me. Don’t be caught like a deer in headlights. below are a few basic terms that will get you through some of the gymnastics terms that are needed for newbie moms.
Aerial
A stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with his or her hands.
All Around
A category of gymnastics that includes all of the events. The all-around champion of an event earns the highest total score from all events combined.
Bridge
A bridge is one of the most basic skills or shapes in gymnastics. To do a bridge, the gymnast lies flat on the floor, and then pushes up so that she is supported by her hands and feet.
Competition
(aka comp, meet, etc.) an event where a group of gymnasts, usually all in the same level, do routines, get judged and get placed gold, silver, bronze, etc.
Cast
A cast is a basic skill, movement on bars. It’s when the gymnast moves her hips away from and then back to the bars. In more advanced gymnastics levels, being able to do a cast to a certain angle becomes a requirement.
Deduction
Points taken off a gymnast’s score for errors. Most deductions are pre-determined, such as a 0.8 deduction for a fall from an apparatus or a 0.1 deduction for stepping out of bounds on the floor exercise.
Flyaway
A dismount off bars where the gymnast swings and flips off. As a gymnast advances she learns more difficult flyaways with twists or multiple flips.
Grips
Grips are leather strips worn on your hands during bar workouts to protect your hands from rips. A grip is basically a piece of leather material that covers the palm of the hand and is attached at the wrist with velcro and secured on the fingers with holes.
Handstand
One of the basic skills in gymnastics, and some version of it shows up on each of the four events.
Layout
Gymnastics salto, or flip, in the completely stretched position.
Leotard
Leotards are the standard outfit worn by gymnasts, most gymnasts in the gym wear them. Learn where to buy leotards online.
Mental Block
A situation where a gymnast is struggling to get over her fear in order to do a skill.
Mobility Meet
A mobility meet is a meet with the express purpose of getting the gymnasts to mobilize to the next level by earning the mobility scores they need.
Mobility Score
Mobility score is the all-around score needed to advance to the next gymnastics level.
Optional Gymnastics
Optional gymnastics is when everyone does different routines. This is done in gymnastics levels 7-10.
Routine
a series of connected elements, dance, acro, which is one on every apparatus (except for vault), is done to music on the floor, and is performed in competition
Relevé
The position when you are standing on your toes with your feet extended.
Salute
In gymnastics the term “saluting” or “presenting” to the judge is when the gymnast raises both hands in the air and looks at the judge in acknowledgement. This is done after the judge has “saluted” the gymnast by raising one arm. This shows the gymnast that the judge is ready.
Split
A split on the ground is a skill gymnasts use to improve their flexibility. The split position is one of the basic shapes in gymnastics. Some of the skills that use the split position are split leaps, and split jumps.
Start Value
The value of the routine before execution deductions are taken. The judge looks at whether the gymnast has all the requirements for her gymnastics level.
Straddle
A straddle is one of the basic gymnastics positions. The straddle position is basically a side split. Straddle jumps are done on beam and floor. Side leaps are leaps done in the side straddle position.
Timer
A term used to describe when a gymnast practices the first part of a skill. For example, a Tsuk timer, is when the gymnast does the first part of the vault without flipping. This vault sequence is used in optional levels (7 and above)
Tuck
The tuck position is when your knees are brought in to your chest. Your knees should be touching your chest and each other with your toes pointed. Your knees should be brought to horizontal in order to not receive a deduction. Tuck jumps are done on the Floor Exercise and Balance Beam. Flips done in the tuck position are called either a “front tuck,” a front flip in a tuck position or a “back tuck,” a back flip in a tuck position.
Value Part
Value Parts are elements that make up a gymnastics routine; these elements are assigned a value. The easiest elements are assigned an A, the next hardest a B and so on. How many of each the gymnast needs in her routine depends on the gymnastics level.
Wolf Jump
A wolf jump is a jump on floor and beam that is similar to a pike jump, but one leg is bent.
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