While men do not perform their floor exercise routines with music, female gymnasts do, demonstrating both acrobatic skills and artistry through choreography.
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The Mat
The performance area has surface elasticity to allow for power during take-off and softness for landing. The cover material is foam covered by heat-absorbing felt carpet, designed to not cause skin burns.
Dimensions: 12x12 meters (40x40 feet)
The Routine:
Women's floor routines are performed to music and last no longer than 90 seconds. A gymnast is required to cover the entire floor area during his or her exercise. Women's routines combine dance movements and sequences with a variety of tumbling and acrobatic elements. Required elements include two acrobatic series, one with at least two or more saltos, and a dance series with at least two elements. Most gymnasts perform four tumbling passes in a routine. The various maneuvers should be blended harmoniously. Mood, tempo and direction should vary.
Men's floor routines, unaccompanied by music, must last no longer than 70 seconds and feature three to five tumbling passes performed in at least two directions. The acrobatic elements are combined with other gymnastics elements such as strength and balance, elements of flexibility, handstands and choreographic combinations. Each routine must include at least one forward and one backward tumbling series. A static balance or strength element (held for two seconds), during which the gymnast demonstrates his ability to rest on one leg or arm, must also be incorporated. Transitional skills should be executed with proper rhythm and harmony.
Opening your own gymnastics gym is a great adventure and a wonderful way to serve athletes and their families in your community. Here is a quick guide to the gymnastics equipment you’ll need to get started, including how to clean and care for your equipment.
Your gymnastics equipment list will vary, however, these are some of the most common types of gymnastics equipment you’ll need to outfit your gym:
You’ll tailor your gymnastics gym equipment to the ages, needs, and skill level of your gymnasts, as we’ll discuss. If you are teaching gymnastics to kids, then a preschool gymnastics gym will not look the same as an Olympic-focused training facility. Once you decide where your focus lies, you can outfit your gym accordingly.
Let’s look at all of these types of equipment in more detail.
The floor of your gymnastics space might be the most important decision you make when it comes to outfitting your gym. Common flooring materials include:
Some gyms use carpet or vinyl. These options are more affordable but less durable.
Regardless of the level of your students, gymnastic safety mats are crucial to have in your gym. You need a wide variety of gymnastic mats that may include the following:
Which ones you need will depend on the types of classes you offer, the age of your students, and more.
Safety equipment includes the mats listed above, but also includes foam pits for practicing dismounts and trampolines to work out new tricks.
Gymnasts will bring their own personal safety equipment (e.g., wrist braces and specialized footwear), but spotting belts are a good idea to have on hand. You may also plan to sell or rent out personal safety equipment from your gym.
Students compete in rhythmic gymnastics with specialized gymnastics equipment. You may bring in tools like:
This four-inch wide apparatus is an iconic piece of gymnastics equipment.
Note that the regulation height is just over four feet, but you may want different heights for different levels of experience. Especially if you have younger students, you may start with a lowered beam for practicing.
This piece of equipment is made of a metal body encased in foam and rubber, with handles (pommels). Traditionally, it’s been used by male gymnasts.
A pommel (or side) horse is an investment for future Olympians and amateur competitors alike as it allows your students to perform major stunts and competitive moves.
The still rings are another piece of equipment standard in men’s gymnastics. These are usually mounted on bars just under 19 feet off the floor (the rings are just over eight feet off the floor).
This apparatus requires a good bit of space, so if your gym is small or new it may not be a priority at first.
Both male and female gymnasts use a vault, which requires not only the apparatus but also a springboard, landing mat, and plenty of space for running and landing.
Although each vault is only three feet wide and just under four feet long, you will need two heights, one for men (just under four and a half feet) and one for women (just over four feet).
For more information, please visit Indoor Gymnastics Equipment Factory.
When it comes to gymnastics equipment, bars are one of the most important items on your gymnastics equipment list. Bar routines utilize three different apparatus. Each of these requires a good bit of space, both for safety and due to their size. They include:
Your search for affordable gymnastics equipment that is also safe and meets regulations can start at a local big box sporting goods retailer and go from there. There are a number of high-quality brands that design gymnastics equipment, so shop around to find the features and price points you’re looking for.
Buying new equipment means it is covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty, but if you are working with a budget, you still have options. Other places to find affordable, yet safe, gymnastics equipment include:
Once you have your equipment, it pays to keep it maintained to increase its longevity. The manufacturer will offer specific guidelines for care and sanitation of each piece of equipment, but generally speaking, here are some rules to keep your gymnastics equipment (and your facility) safe and clean.
Whether you buy shiny new products or more affordable and well-used tools, safety should be your number one concern. All padding should be intact with no rips, tears, or thin spots. Bolts, screws, and cables should be secure and show no signs of wear. Mats and flooring should have give and bounce.
Make sure to inspect all equipment before each use, regardless of age.
Mats of all kinds should be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Look for cleaners that meet EPA standards for safety and CDC standards for sanitation.
Vacuum and mop daily and deep clean once a week (or more, depending on how you use your gym).
Use cleaning wipes or disinfectant spray to sanitize handles, bars, and other non-porous surfaces regularly.
Clean the entire gym thoroughly each day. This includes common areas and bathrooms as well as equipment and exercise areas. Doing so keeps your athletes and their waiting families safe and healthy.
There are several factors to consider when buying gymnastics equipment to ensure efficient and safe training. One of the first things to consider is what event the gymnast is training for.
In a gymnastics competition, the performance area differs for each event. For example, beam routines require a beam and a mat, while floor exercises necessitate an entire floor area.
Gymnastics and training mats are essential for most gymnasts; they provide a soft landing area for floor exercises and other elements. When choosing a mat, think about the size and amount of padding necessary to keep the gymnast safe while training.
The horizontal bar, also known as the high bar, is a key piece of equipment used in swinging and flight exercises. The uneven bar event uses two bars set at different heights — a low bar and a high bar.
Both require a gymnast to execute at least one element in different directions with a controlled rhythm and without unnecessary swings. It’s important to choose sturdy and reliable training bars that can withstand the weight and force exerted by a gymnast’s body.
The rings event, which is only part of men’s artistic gymnastics, involves two rings suspended from a structure where gymnasts perform various routines.
Much like the high bar and uneven bars, selecting a sturdy set of rings that can support the weight and momentum of the gymnast as they train.
Ultimately, the sport of gymnastics requires a variety of specific equipment to allow the gymnast to perform their routine safely and effectively during training and competition.
Now that you have the gymnastics equipment you need, it’s time to hit the ground running. You help your gymnasts achieve their goals, and Studio Director will help take care of the rest. Our comprehensive studio management system automates key tasks, like attendance tracking and payments, so you can focus on growing your gym.
Want to see what Studio Director can do before you dive in? Start with a free trial to explore our digital solutions that make running your gymnastics gym a breeze.
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