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Gymnastics
Glossary – Key Terms & Definitions
Learn the Language of Gymnastics
Gymnastics has a unique vocabulary filled with specialized terms used in training, competition, and coaching. Whether you’re a beginner, a parent, or an advanced athlete, understanding these terms is essential for improving skills and following routines.
Below is a comprehensive glossary of key gymnastics terms and their definitions.
General Gymnastics
Terms
Basic Terminology Every Gymnast Should Know
Artistic Gymnastics: The most common form of competitive gymnastics featuring events like floor, vault, bars, and beam.
Dismount: The final movement a gymnast performs to finish a routine, usually ending in a landing.
Execution: The quality of how well a gymnast performs a skill, considering form, technique, and precision.
Form: A gymnast’s body position during movements, which judges score for precision and alignment.
Spotting: A coach or trainer physically assisting a gymnast to ensure safety during skill development.
Sticking the Landing: Completing a skill with a controlled and balanced landing, with no extra steps.
Routine: A choreographed sequence of gymnastics skills performed in competition.
Tumbling
Terms
Fundamental Floor Exercise Movements
Back Handspring: A tumbling skill where the gymnast jumps backward onto their hands and pushes off into a standing position.
Cartwheel: A sideways rotation of the body over the hands, landing on one foot at a time.
Round-Off: Similar to a cartwheel but ending with both feet landing together, often used to gain power for tumbling passes.
Front Tuck: A front somersault in a tucked body position.
Aerial: A no-hand cartwheel or front flip, performed mid-air.
Layout: A fully extended flip with a straight body position.
Twisting: A flip with an added rotation around the gymnast's vertical axis.
Vaulting
Terms
Mastering the Vault
Vault Table: The apparatus used for vaulting events.
Yurchenko: A round-off entry onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vault.
Tsukahara: A vault entry involving a half-turn before flipping backward.
Amanar: A highly advanced vault consisting of a Yurchenko entry with 2.5 twisting rotations in the air.
Front Handspring Vault: A vault where the gymnast executes a handspring over the table with a direct landing.
Balance Beam
Terms
Beam Skills & Techniques
Split Leap: A jump performed on the beam where legs extend into a split position mid-air.
Back Walkover: A controlled backbend where the gymnast steps over one leg at a time.
Aerial Walkover: A back or front walkover performed without hands touching the beam.
Dismount: The final move in a beam routine, typically a flip or twist to land on the mat.
Connection Value: Extra points awarded for connecting multiple difficult skills together.
Uneven Bars
Terms
Swing, Release, and Catch
Giant Swing: A full rotation around the bar in a stretched position.
Kip: A transition move that brings a gymnast from a hanging position to a support position on the bar.
Cast Handstand: A strength move where the gymnast pushes into a handstand from a support position.
Release Move: Letting go of the bar to transition into another skill before catching it again.
Pak Salto: A backward release move from the high bar to the low bar.
Scoring & Judging
Terms
How Gymnastics Scores Are Calculated
Start Value: The maximum possible score for a routine based on difficulty.
Execution Score: Points awarded based on technique, form, and control.
Difficulty Score: Points awarded for the complexity and risk level of skills performed.
Deduction: A penalty subtracted from the final score due to mistakes such as wobbles, falls, or poor form.
Artistry: The overall presentation, including rhythm, expression, and originality.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
Your Gymnastics Glossary Questions Answered
What is the hardest gymnastics move?
Skills like the Triple Double, Biles Vault, and Amanar are among the hardest due to complexity and difficulty.
What is the difference between a backflip and a layout?
A backflip is typically tucked or piked, while a layout is a fully extended flip.
How is gymnastics scored?
Judges calculate a Difficulty Score (D-Score) and Execution Score (E-Score), subtracting deductions to determine the final score.
INSIGHTS AND Inspiration FOR GYMNASTIC FAMILIES
Our Forever Guarantee
Gymnastics is just the vehicle we use to get there. She’ll build life-changing confidence shaping her future.
It’s not just gymnastics
We partner with you in intentionally building life skills. She’ll learn goal setting, time management, public speaking, etc.
Delightful, Top-Notch Service
From cleanliness to personal attention, we constantly push the needle to delight your family. 4.9 star rating.
No Snooze, More Joy
If your daughter is constantly complaining or bored, consider us the better option. She’ll want to attend daily, but we meet just 2 days a week.
We truly want to help you
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Gymnastics Redefined™ © 2025
Flipping Expectations. Inspiring Confidence. Redefining Futures.™
135 S Main St, Irving, TX 75060
469-242-1752
Programs | Testimonials | StrongGirls.com
Privacy Policy | Term & Conditions
FLIPPING
Expectations
INSPIRING
Confidence
REDEFINING
Futures
Gymnastics Glossary – Key Terms & Definitions
General GymnasticsTerms
Basic Terminology Every Gymnast Should Know
Artistic Gymnastics: The most common form of competitive gymnastics featuring events like floor, vault, bars, and beam.
Dismount: The final movement a gymnast performs to finish a routine, usually ending in a landing.
Execution: The quality of how well a gymnast performs a skill, considering form, technique, and precision.
Form: A gymnast’s body position during movements, which judges score for precision and alignment.
Spotting: A coach or trainer physically assisting a gymnast to ensure safety during skill development.
Sticking the Landing: Completing a skill with a controlled and balanced landing, with no extra steps.
Routine: A choreographed sequence of gymnastics skills performed in competition.
TumblingTerms
Fundamental Floor Exercise Movements
Back Handspring: A tumbling skill where the gymnast jumps backward onto their hands and pushes off into a standing position.
Cartwheel: A sideways rotation of the body over the hands, landing on one foot at a time.
Round-Off: Similar to a cartwheel but ending with both feet landing together, often used to gain power for tumbling passes.
Front Tuck: A front somersault in a tucked body position.
Aerial: A no-hand cartwheel or front flip, performed mid-air.
Layout: A fully extended flip with a straight body position.
Twisting: A flip with an added rotation around the gymnast's vertical axis.
VaultingTerms
Mastering the Vault
✅ Vault Table – The apparatus used for vaulting events.
✅ Yurchenko – A round-off entry onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vault.
✅ Tsukahara – A vault entry involving a half-turn before flipping backward.
✅ Amanar – A highly advanced vault consisting of a Yurchenko entry with 2.5 twisting rotations in the air.
✅ Front Handspring Vault – A vault where the gymnast executes a handspring over the table with a direct landing.
Balance BeamTerms
Beam Skills & Techniques
✅ Split Leap – A jump performed on the beam where legs extend into a split position mid-air.
✅ Back Walkover – A controlled backbend where the gymnast steps over one leg at a time.
✅ Aerial Walkover – A back or front walkover performed without hands touching the beam.
✅ Dismount – The final move in a beam routine, typically a flip or twist to land on the mat.
✅ Connection Value – Extra points awarded for connecting multiple difficult skills together.
Uneven Bars Terms
Swing, Release, and Catch
✅ Giant Swing – A full rotation around the bar in a stretched position.
✅ Kip – A transition move that brings a gymnast from a hanging position to a support position on the bar.
✅ Cast Handstand – A strength move where the gymnast pushes into a handstand from a support position.
✅ Release Move – Letting go of the bar to transition into another skill before catching it again.
✅ Pak Salto – A backward release move from the high bar to the low bar.
Scoring & Judging Terms
How Gymnastics Scores Are Calculated
Start Value
The maximum possible score for a routine based on difficulty.
Execution Score
Points awarded based on technique, form, and control.
Difficulty Score
Points awarded for the complexity and risk level of skills performed.
Deduction
A penalty subtracted from the final score due to mistakes such as wobbles, falls, or poor form.
Artistry
The overall presentation, including rhythm, expression, and originality.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
Your Gymnastics Glossary Questions Answered
What is the hardest gymnastics move?
Skills like the Triple Double, Biles Vault, and Amanar are among the hardest due to complexity and difficulty.
What is the difference between a backflip and a layout?
A backflip is typically tucked or piked, while a layout is a fully extended flip.
How is gymnastics scored?
Judges calculate a Difficulty Score (D-Score) and Execution Score (E-Score), subtracting deductions to determine the final score.
INSIGHTS AND
Inspiration
FOR GYMNASTIC FAMILIES
1) Our Forever Guarantee
Your Daughter Will Win
Gymnastics is just the vehicle we use to get there. She will build life-changing confidence that will positively shape her future.
2) It’s not just gymnastics
Life Skills Built in Each Class
We partner with you in intentionally building life skills that help her become unstoppable. She’ll learn goal setting, time management, public speaking, etc.
3) Delightful, Top-Notch Service
We stand out from the crowd
From cleanliness to personal attention, we constantly push the needle to delight your family. That’s why we have a 4.9 star rating.
4) No Snooze, More Joy
Better Than Disneyland
If your daughter is constantly complaining or bored, consider us the better option. She’ll want to attend every day, but we only meet 2 days a week.
5) We truly want to help you
You’re invited to see for yourself
We hate the pushy salesman vibe. We genuinely want to help you and your daughter build success in sports, school, and life. So come see for yourself!
Gymnastics Redefined™ © 2025
135 S Main St, Irving, TX 75060
469-242-1752
Programs | Testimonials | StrongGirls.com
Privacy Policy | Term & Conditions
Flipping Expectations. Inspiring Confidence. Redefining Futures.™
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