If you’ve recently enrolled your child in gymnastics or are thinking about doing so, there could be several events they’ll partake in, just some of them including pommel horse, still rings and floor exercises for boys, and the balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercises for girls. Sooner or later, your child might start using gymnastics lingo that’s over your head. As a parent, keep up with your budding gymnast by learning more about the sport and its terminology.  Many of us have the Olympic competitions as our only reference points.  There will be differences between what you see there and what your child will be working on.  Here is some information that will help you through.

 How Are Televised Competitions Scored?

During televised gymnastics competitions, two panels of judges score each competitor's routine according to the criteria outlined in the FIG Code of Points. FIG stands for Federation Internationale de Gymnastique—the international governing body of gymnastics responsible for standardizing points during competitions.

Scores are divided into two categories: D-Score and E-Score. The former is short for Difficulty Score–an open-ended evaluation based on the difficulty level of skills performed. The latter stands for Execution Score. The E-Score covers a routine’s performance and artistry, with errors deducted from a maximum of 10 points. 

The final score for each competitor is a combination of both.

Children who are not heading into Elite or international competitions will be judged differently.  There are several governing bodies now with several different programs.  Our competitive program at The Gymnastics Training Center falls into USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic programming and as such girls events are scored out of a 10.0 with deductions made based on elements not included in their performance or perhaps made based how far off of the “ideal” they are.  Boys scoring does build beyond 10.0 at different levels.

What Are the Moves Called?

Knowing the names of each flip, twist, and turn is where most parents get lost. Use this glossary to familiarize yourself with a few of the most popular terms.

Handstand:

 A basic position executed by supporting the body in a vertical position, with hands placed on the floor and feet straight in the air.

Cartwheel: A movement that mimics the rolling of wheels, starting by placing your hands on the ground, kicking feet in the air alternately, and landing with the front leg first.

Split: One of the most basic moves, it shows off your flexibility by requiring you to extend both legs straight and parallel to the floor–one backward and one forward–at a 180-degree angle.

Backflip: Also called a back salto, it entails taking off from one or two feet before jumping backward to flip in the air, landing back on your feet.

Handspring: A move where a gymnast takes off from both feet, pushing the body forward by placing weight on the shoulders and arms, and springing forwards off the hands to land on their feet. When done backward, it’s called a back handspring or flic-flac or flip-flop.

Tuck: A position where the body is folded in half, with the hips bent and knees brought in to the chest. This is often seen during competitions and during somersaults.

Pike: In a pike position, the straightened legs should be brought forward to hip-level at the waist creating an L-shape with the body.  

Straddle: In a straddle position, the straightened legs should be brought forward to hip-level at the waist,  with the legs spread as far apart as possible.  Many jumps include this position or it can be used in handstands or bars.  

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE RE-OPENING FOR DAY CAMPS STARTING 6/29/20 AND FOR CLASSES BEGINNING 7/6/2020.

Our NEW ON-LINE registration can be accessed on our website by selecting the blue Parent Login button.  You can see the preparations that we have made to be safely ready and open for our families – meeting and exceeding NYS and CDC guidelines for day camps and classes:

“Safety First, Last and Always”

Let the professionals at The Gymnastics Training Center Of Rochester Inc. help your little ones develop their gymnastics skills. Teaching kids across Monroe and Wayne counties, NY, they offer a variety of after-school programs, such as ballet and gymnastics. Call (585) 388-8686 or view their class schedule online.