Apparatus

Many thanks to Continental Sports Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of sports equipment, for their kind permission to show pictures of their apparatus

Girls

The girls use 4 pieces of apparatus, these are:

The Beam

The beam is 500cm long but only 13cm (4 inches) wide and it stands at 120cm high for competitions. A beam exercise lasts for a minimum of 70 seconds and must include set elements. A routine on the beam should be an artistic combination of a variety of acrobatic elements, gymnastic leaps, jumps, turns, step and running combinations, waves and balance elements in standing, sitting and lying positions.

The Floor

Floor exercises take place on a sprung carpeted area 12m x 12m. A set floor exercise must last between 70 and 90 seconds and again this must include set elements including, jumps, leaps, spins and tumbles mixed in with choreography that is in time and keeping with the music chosen by the performer.

The Vault

The old vaulting horse has now been replaced by a vaulting table, standing at different heights depending on the age and level of the gymnast. It has a sprung suede cover and each element is graded in difficulty giving the more difficult moves a higher start value. Watch Jess vault HERE

Asymmetric Bars

The upper bar is 2.45m, and the lower bar 1.65m, from the floor. Swinging continuous movements are predominant on the Asymmetric Bars. The exercise should include movements in both directions, above and below the bars. Gymnasts are expected to demonstrate a fluid swing and hit handstands at a 180 degree angle to the bar. The dismount is important; both in terms of difficulty level, and judges look for a "stuck" landing.

Boys

The boys compete on 6 pieces of apparatus, these are:

The Floor

As with the girls, boys must perform a series of elements, but unlike the girls these are not set to music. The boy's floor exercise should include movements which demonstrate strength, flexibility and balance. Each routine must combine movements such as somersaults, twists and leaps.

The High Bar

The bar is 240cm long and is set at 275cm from the floor. The boys should perform continuous clean swinging movements and must not touch the bar with their bodies. They are required to demonstrate changes of grip, swinging movements both forward and backward, plus release and catch moves.

The Vault

The vaulting table is set at different heights depending on the age and level of the gymnast. It has a sprung suede cover and each element is graded in difficulty giving the more difficult moves a higher start value. Marks are also awarded for the control of the body and the landing position.

The Rings

The rings are 18cm in diameter and hang 275cm from the floor. This apparatus requires great strength in the arms and shoulders to perform the required hold elements. Ring routines should include a variety of movements demonstrating strength, support and balance. The gymnast should perform a series of swings and holds with both forward and backward elements and the routine should finish with an acrobatic dismount.

The Pommel Horse / Mushroom trainer

The pommel horse is 160cm long and stands at 120cm. A full size pommel horse is too large for our boys so they use a Mushroom trainer (pictured). Here the boys must perform double leg circles requiring great flexibility in the shoulders.

Parallel Bars

These are two bars 195cm from the floor. The gymnasts must travel above and between the two bars on their hands, upper arms or on one hand, swinging to the handstand. The parallel bars require a combination of swinging movements with strength or hold elements.