All About Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic Gymnastics is a beautiful Olympic sport which combines elements of dance with acrobatic skills and apparatus manipulation. Girls perform individual or group routines choreographed to music with one of the five apparatuses: rope, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. This unique sport combines the elegance and beauty of a dancer with the strength and coordination of an athlete.
Ball
is made of rubber or a synthetic material.
The ball should move fluidly as an extension of her body.
Technical movements include throws and catches, bouncing, swings, thrusts, and rolling over the body or on the floor.
Hoop offers the greatest variety of movements and technical skills.
The gymnast's routine includes rolls over the body or on the floor,
rotations around the hand or other parts of the body.
Other movements include throws/catches and
passing over or through the hoop on various planes and levels.
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Rope
is a very dynamic apparatus.
The gymnast must execute a variety of jumps/leaps throughout her routine.
Other common technical movements for rope are rotations, throws/catches, figure 8's, sails, and small releases of one end.
Ribbon is used to create continuous designs in space.
The ribbon must be kept in fluid motion throughout the entire routine.
As the gymnast performs she creates snakes, spirals, circles, figure eights, throws/catches, and small tosses of the stick.
These mesmerizing movements can be done on the floor or in the air.
Clubs are a great hand game!
The technical groups for clubs include
mills, small circles,
throws, catches, tapping and trapping.
H
andling includes thrusts, figure eights and asymmetric movements.
The Group event requires
athletes work together as one cohesive unit.
Group is judged on the ability of the athletes to demonstrate mastery of body and apparatus skills in a synchronized, harmonious manner.
In addition, the group athletes must execute elements involving both large and small exchanges of equipment.
Group athletes are trained to work as a team.
