Sports Glossaries
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aerial

A skill performed without the hands touching the floor or the apparatus. Also used as an adjective, as in aerial cartwheel and aerial walkover.

amplitude

Height, speed, or vigor in the execution of a movement. Generally, higher amplitude results in a higher score.

apparatus

One of the pieces of equipment used in gymnastics competition, including the balance beam, the horizontal bar, parallel bars, the pommel horse, still rings, uneven bars, and the vaulting horse.

arch

A position in which the body is curved backwards.

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back-in, full-out

A double salto with a full twist, the twist completed during the second salto. Compare full-in, back-out.

back giant

A giant that begins with the body moving backward.

back handspring

A back flip using both hands on the floor or apparatus, beginning and ending in a standing position. The legs come over the head as a unit. Compare back walkover.

back walkover

A move that begins with a back arch or bridge position, in which one foot is brought down to the front, followed by the other foot. Compare back handspring.

balance beam

1) A piece of apparatus 120 centimeters high, 10 centimeters wide, and 500 centimeters long. 2) A women's event performed on the apparatus. The balance beam routine lasts 70 to 90 seconds and includes a variety of acrobatic, gymnastic, and dance moves, ending with a dismount.

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cartwheel

A move in which the hands are placed on the mat or apparatus to one side of the body, one after the other, with the legs following.

clear hip circle

A hip circle in which the hips do not touch the bar.

compulsories

Routines that contain movements required of all gymnasts. Compare optionals.

composition

The overall arrangement of individual movements and skills into a gymnastics routine.

cross

A skill performed on the still rings, in a straight body or " L" position, with the body perpendicular to the floor and the arms stretched perpendicular to the body. See also inverted cross.

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dismount

To leave the apparatus as the finale of a routine, usually with a difficult salto or twist.

double back

Two consecutive back flips.

double twist

A single layout flip with two twists.

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execution

Technical performance of a routine, including form, style and technique.

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flic-flac

A move very similar to the back handspring. The takeoff is from one or both feet, with a backward jump onto the hands and a landing on the feet, in the standing position.

flip-flop

Same as flic-flac.

floor exercise

An event in which the gymnast performs tumbling and acrobatic passes on a mat 40 feet square. The women's floor exercise is done to music.

flyaway

A dismount from a bar in which the gymnast swings down and lets go to do a flip backwards before landing.

front giant

A giant that begins with the body moving forward.

front handspring

A handspring that begins with a forward flip.

front hip pullover

A mount for the uneven bars in which the body is supported by the hands and the hip rests on a bar.

front pike somersault

A forward somersault done with the knees straight.

forward somersault

A body roll on the floor exercise or balance beam, done forward with knees in the tuck position.

front somersault

Same as forward somersault.

front split

A split in which one leg is forward, the other back.

front walkover

A move from the front split handstand position in which one foot is brought down in back, followed by the other foot.

full-in, back-out

A double salto with a full twist, the twist completed during the first salto. Compare back-in, full-out.

full twisting double back

A double back with a full twist on either of the flips.

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gaylord

A high bar move that consists of a front giant into a one-and-one half front salto over the bar, followed by a re-grasp. Named for U. S. gymnast Mitch Gaylord, who created it.

giant

A swing on the horizontal bar in which the fully-extended body rotates 360 degrees around the bar.

gienger

A flyaway with a one-half twist, followed by a re-grasp of the bar. Named for German gymnast Eberhard Gienger, who created it.

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half-in, half-out

A double salto with a half twist on each salto.

handspring

A move in which the gymnast springs off the hands with a strong push from the shoulders.

handstand

A move in which the body is supported on both hands, with the arms straight and the body vertical.

high bar

1) In the uneven bars, the higher of the two bars. 2) The horizontal bar.

hip circle

A move on the uneven bars in which the body circles the bar with the hips touching it.

horizontal bar

1) A piece of apparatus, a metal bar 240 centimeters long and 2.8 centimeters in diameters, suspended 275 centimeters above the floor. 2) A men's event performed on the apparatus. The routine is made up of swinging parts with no intervening stops, including at least one release move, which includes a release and a re-grasp.

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inverted cross

A skill performed on the still rings, in an inverted handstand position, with the arms stretched out perpendicular to the body. See also cross.

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kip

A move from below the apparatus to above it.

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layout

A position in which the body is extended to full length, either straight or slightly arched.

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maloney

A piked circle through a handstand with a flight from the low bar to a hang on the high bar. Named for U. S. gymnast Kristen Maloney, who created it.

miller

A maneuver on the balance beam, a back dive with a quarter twist to a handstand, followed by a half pirouette. Named for U. S. gymnast Shannon Miller, who created it.

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nail

Same as stick.

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optionals

Routines designed by the gymnast. Compare compulsories.

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pak salto

A high bar move in which the gymnast releases the bar, does a backward flip, and catches the low bar. Named for North Korean gymnast Gyong Sil Pak, who created it.

parallel bars

1) A piece of apparatus consisting of two bars, each 195 centimeters high and 350 centimeters long, and positioned 42 to 52 centimeters apart. 2) A men's event performed on the apparatus. A routine is made up mostly of swing and flight elements, including at least one release move, which includes a release and a re-grasp.

pike

A position in which the body is bent forward at the hips by more than 90 degrees, while the legs are kept straight.

pirouette

To change direction with a twist in the handstand position. Also used as a noun.

planche

A skill performed on the still rings in which the body is held in a straight position parallel to the floor above the rings.

pommel horse

1) A piece of apparatus 115 centimeters high, 35 centimeters wide, and 160 centimeters long, surmounted by two pommels, between 40 and 45 centimeters apart. 2) A men's event performed on the apparatus. A routine consists of a series of circular movements and required scissors elements performed with one or both hands on the pommels. No other part of the body may touch the apparatus.

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re-grasp

The act of grabbing the bar again after releasing from it.

release

The act of leaving the bar and performing a move before the re-grasp.

roundoff

A move similar to the cartwheel, with a half twist and the legs moving together.

routine

A combination of moves and stunts displaying a full range of skills on the apparatus.

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salto

An aerial flip or somersault in which the feet come up over the head and the body rotates around the waist.

somi-and-a-half

A one and a half somersault.

stick

To land a dismount or final move without taking additional steps.

still rings

1) A piece of apparatus consisting of a tower, 575 centimers high, from which two rings are suspended by a cable and straps. The cable and straps are 300 centimeters long and 50 centimeters apart. 2) A men's event performed on the apparatus. A routine includes a series of swings and holds, finishing with an acrobatic dismount. The rings must remain absolutely still and in the gymnast's control at the conclusion of each skill.

straddle

A position in which the legs are spread far apart to the side.

straddle split

A split in the straddle position.

straddle swing

A swing movement in which the legs are extended to each side.

swedish fall

A drop straight to the ground in which the hands shoot out an instant before landing.

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tuck

A position in which the body is folded at the waist, with the knees and hips bent and drawn into the chest.

twist

A rotation of the body around the spine as the longitudinal axis.

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uneven bars

1) A piece of apparatus consisting of two bars, 148 centimeters and 228 centimeters high and a maximum of 150 centimeters apart. 2) A women's event performed on the apparatus, featuring swings, releases and re-grasps, and moves from one bar to the other.

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vault

An event performed over the vaulting horse by both men and women. The gymnast races down a runway, vaults from a springboard onto the horse, landing with the hands, and then vaults off to a standing position. Each competitor performs two vaults and the scores are averaged.

vaulting horse

A piece of apparatus, 35 centimeters wide by 160 centimeters long, used for the vault. The men's vaulting horse is 135 centimeters high, the women's 120 centimeters high.

virtuosity

The amount of rhythm and harmony displayed during a movement.

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whip back

A movement similar to the back handspring, except that the hands don't touch the floor.

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yurchenko

A mount for the vault, consisting of a roundoff onto the springboard, then a flic-flac onto the vault, followed by a back flip dismount. Named for Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko, who created it.

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