FLIPPING  Expectations
INSPIRING  Confidence
REDEFINING  Futures

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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.

 Gymnastics Redefined logo emphasizing classes and tuition.

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.

Young gymnast celebrating her progress with supportive teammates.

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.

Young gymnast celebrating her progress with supportive teammates.

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.

Young gymnast celebrating her progress with supportive teammates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your Gymnastics Glossary Questions Answered

Group of gymnasts smiling together after practice at Gymnastics Redefined in Las Colinas.

What is the hardest gymnastics move?

Skills like the Triple Double, Biles Vault, and Amanar are among the hardest due to complexity and difficulty.

FAQ image

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.

FAQ image

How is gymnastics scored?

Judges calculate a Difficulty Score (D-Score) and Execution Score (E-Score), subtracting deductions to determine the final score.

FAQ image

INSIGHTS AND Inspiration FOR GYMNASTIC FAMILIES

1) Our Forever Guarantee

Our Forever Guarantee

Gymnastics is just the vehicle we use to get there. She’ll build life-changing confidence shaping her future.

2) It’s not just gymnastics

It’s not just gymnastics

We partner with you in intentionally building life skills. She’ll learn goal setting, time management, public speaking, etc.

3) Delightful, Top-Notch Service

Delightful, Top-Notch Service

From cleanliness to personal attention, we constantly push the needle to delight your family. 4.9 star rating.

4) No Snooze, More Joy

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.

5) We truly want to help you

We truly want to help you

We hate the pushy salesman vibe. We genuinely want to help your daughter build success in sports, school, and life.

READY TO  Redefine
YOUR DAUGHTER'S FUTURE?

Limited Time Only: $99 Consultation is FREE

Confident gymnast celebrating with her arms raised after a successful routine in Gymnastics Redefined

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

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.

 Gymnastics Redefined logo emphasizing classes and tuition.

General GymnasticsTerms

Basic Terminology Every Gymnast Should Know

Gymnast performing on the floor

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.

Gymnast practicing a vault move

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

Gymnast performing a Back Handspring

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.

Gymnast performing a Front Tuck

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

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

Gymnastics Skills

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

Gymnastics Skills

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

Smiling preschoolers practicing balancing on a gymnastics beam

Start Value

The maximum possible score for a routine based on difficulty.

Recreational gymnasts laughing together during a class warm-up

Execution Score

Points awarded based on technique, form, and control.

Focused advanced gymnasts perfecting complex techniques

Difficulty Score

Points awarded for the complexity and risk level of skills performed.

Smiling preschoolers practicing balancing on a gymnastics beam

Deduction

A penalty subtracted from the final score due to mistakes such as wobbles, falls, or poor form.

Recreational gymnasts laughing together during a class warm-up

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.

FAQ image

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.

FAQ image

How is gymnastics scored?

Judges calculate a Difficulty Score (D-Score) and Execution Score (E-Score), subtracting deductions to determine the final score.

FAQ image

INSIGHTS AND Inspiration
FOR GYMNASTIC FAMILIES

1) Our Forever Guarantee

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

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

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

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

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!

FLIPPING  Expectations
INSPIRING  Confidence
REDEFINING  Futures

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.