Gymnastics is
learning a new language.

From kips to grips, hip circles to giants, handsprings to aerials, we’ll explain it all.

Starting in the sport of gymnastics means learning a new language. From skill names to terms used for levels, leagues and programs - if you’re new to gymnastics it can be a lot to learn. We’ll walk you through the vocabulary you need to know to understand “gym talk”.

A

 

age group

 

At meets, athletes of a specific level are broken down into age groups so they're competing against a smaller group of athletes closer (relatively speaking) to their own age. Your gymnast may still have to compete against athletes much younger or older if there are not many gymnasts in a specific level. Age groups are just all the gymnasts in a level, sorted by age, and then split into (somewhat) equal groups. The girls in that age group (ex: Level 2, age group Junior A) would only compete against other girls in their age group for awards. This makes scoring and competition among the gymnasts more fair.

All Around (AA)

 

The All Around score is computed by adding up the event scores for a specific athlete. Adding their vault, bars, beam and floor score would give you an AA of up to 40.00 points. Awards are presented for the top All Around finishers in the session in each age group.

arabesque

 

skill where gymnast stands upright on one straight leg and holds fee leg in a straight position out behind the gymnast, at least 45º above the floor or beam; the hip is allowed to turn out slightly (unsquare) in arabesque to show “turn-out”

awards

 

At a meet, after the competition the athletes from that session come together and awards are distributed to the top athletes in each age division (usually 50% award distribution or greater)

B

back hip circle

 

skill on bars where gymnast starts in front support and after a cast for momentum, drops backward around the bar to return to front support

bars

 

one of four events in WAG in which athletes perform skills on uneven parallel bars (the official name of the event)

beam

 

one of four events in WAG in which athletes perform skills on a padded (and possibly sprung) balance beam (official name: balance beam)

C

candlestick

 

balance position high on the back of the shoulders with the hips open and body extended, with feet pointing up

cast

 

the swinging movement away from the bars that finishes in clear support on the hands only

chassé

 

dance movement where you step and push off from one foot while the free foot closes directly behind the lead foot and landing on the opposite foot; can be forward, side or backward chassé

clear stride support

 

on bars when the body is supported just by the hands and one leg is on either side of the bar (one forward, one backward)

COP: Code of Points

 

The official Xcel COP and DP COP are detailed lists of Value Parts and their specific requirements to count for VP credit for DP Optionals and all Xcel levels. The Xcel COP and DP COP are two different books, and they are not interchangeable! Note: the DP COP does not include Levels 1 to 5 (Developmental and Compulsories) routines - those standards are detailed in the DP Compulsory Book. 

compulsories

 

In DP Levels 4 and 5 are considered Compulsory, meaning gymnasts must achieve a specific score to achieve mobility to the next level, and must perform a specifically choreographed routine for each event. 

contractions

 

In DP Levels 4 and 5 are considered Compulsory, meaning gymnasts must achieve a specific score to achieve mobility to the next level, and must perform a specifically choreographed routine for each event. 

counterswing

 

a backward swing on bars, part of the Level 4 & 5 bar dismounts

coupé

 

dance position with leg bent and tow pointed on or behind the ankle

crown

 

describes position of arms curved forming a circle above the head with fingertips a few inches apart, while shoulders are pressed down maintaining good torso alignment

D

deduction

 

a deduction (or penalty) is taken when an athlete performs a skill to less than the desired technical or artistic specifications, or if the team or gymnast incurs a penalty

demi-plié

 

dance term describing slight flexion of the knees (used in all five positions of feet)

DP: Development Program

 

One of two programs of competition for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics within USA Gymnastics, previously known as Junior Olympic (JO). DP includes Levels 1 to 10. 

developmental

 

In DP Levels 1 to 3 are considered "developmental" and may be used as non-competitive achievement levels, or as competition levels. Gymnasts must achieve 75% proficiency of skills at a level before moving to the next level. Proficiency can be shown in the gym and levels 1 to 3 have no required mobility score.

dismount

 

last skill in a routine

dynamic

 

the quality of moving with strength and speed by applying a high level of effort

E

Elite

 

Elite is the highest level of competition in Women's Artistic Gymnastics. Elite has two age divisions, Junior for 11 to 15 year olds and Senior for ages 16 plus. The Elite Program provides competition opportunities for athletes wanting to make the National Teams (Junior or Senior). The National Teams represent the United States at international competitions. 

F

flic-flac

 

another (very obscure) name for a back handspring; used by USAG in COP to describe the back handspring skill 

flight

 

flight as a term used to describe a skill (flight skill) means a skill during which the gymnast is not supported by hands or body on the apparatus

flight A/B

 

During some formats of meets, athletes competing in a session are split into two Flights to speed competition on two sets of warmup and/or competition apparatus. While athletes on the Flight A are competing, athletes on Flight B are warming up on the B set of equipment. Often, the judges will move from apparatus A to apparatus B to judge the different flights. 

floor

 

one of four events in WAG in which athletes perform skills on a padded spring floor to music (official name: floor exercise)

flyaway

 

long swing to salto (flip) dismount from uneven bars

front support

 

on bars or beam when the body is balanced on the hands, with thighs resting against the apparatus (but not being used for support)

glide

 

on the low bar, a forward swing in which the body extends at its most forward point

gymnast gifts

 

at some meets registered competing gymnasts are given a gift representing the meet; gymnast gifts may range from a notebook to record scores, to a commemorative leotard or shirt

H

hold

 

refers to the length of time a skill is sustained - generally one to two seconds required depending upon the level

hop

 

dance vertical flight skill taking off from one foot and landing on the same foot

HOPES

 

HOPES provides athletes ages 10 to 14 with an opportunity to compete the traditional Elite compulsory and a modified FIG Optional routine and includes an opportunity to qualify to the Challenge (HOPES division only). HOPES is basically a 'pre' pre-Elite program. Although they compete at the same events as Elites, HOPES athletes are not considered "Elite" athletes. This year HOPES was split into 11/12 and 13/14 age groups.

hurdle

 

the movement of a skip/hop/hurdle used to generate momentum going into a flight skill; in Compulsories there are three acceptable hurdling techniques

L

layout

 

body position with trunk, hips, legs and feet completely extended

leap

 

forward and upward dance flight skill from an overextended step, takeoff from one foot, legs split evenly in the air, and land on the opposite foot

lever

 

a skill in the 2013-2021 Level 2 beam routine: arms stretched overhead creating straight line from fingers to toes, back leg is lifted while the body pivots at the hip to lean down and touch the beam - keeping body straight as a unit and arms by ears

levering

 

from a lunge, arms stretched overhead creating straight line from fingers to toes, back leg is lifted while the body pivots at the hip to lean down to the beam - keeping body straight as a unit and arms by ears; the levering action should happen going into and out of handstand skills

lock stand

 

dance position with one foot in front of the other and both heels lifted to stand on high toe in relevé, feet are as close as possible for that individual gymnast

M

mark

 

In some routines athletes are expected to mark a skill - or show the position clearly; there is no exact time defined for a mark, but it is generally referred to as about 1/2 a second

meet

 

gymnastics competition that may be sanctioned or not

mobility

 

Moving up a level. For some levels in both DP and Xcel gymnasts must achieve a mobility score at a sanctioned competition to move to the next level. Mobility scores can change each year.

mount

 

the movement to get on the apparatus at the beginning of a routine (beam and bars)

O

Olympic order

 

At meets athletes rotate through the four events in Olympic order - Vault, Bars, Beam and then Floor. When gymnasts start in the middle of the rotation, they just continue through the list and then restart the list from the beginning. So if they begin on Beam, they would move to floor next, and then vault and end on bars. 

optionals

 

In gymnastics, Optionals refers to when a routine’s Start Value is based on Special Requirements instead of performing a specific routine (as in DP Levels 1 to 5). For Optionals routines, gymnasts must include those four Special Requirements in their routine, but may choose the skills to meet those requirements. In the case of floor, they can choose their music.

In Xcel, all levels are optionals, while in DP levels 6 through 10 are optionals.

P

pause

 

refers to length of time movement or skill is maintained; in Compulsory routines, a pause is generally defined as half a second

pause

 

refers to length of time a gymnast stops movement on beam or bars; pauses of 2 seconds or more can incur a deduction

pike

 

hips are flexed to 90º or more and the legs are straight; in pike jumps, chest should be up

pivot turn

 

turning 180º standing on high toes relevé with feet generally as close as possible for that gymnast

plié

 

dance term describing the bending of the knees

professional coach

 

a professional gymnastics coach has completed educational requirements including safety training, concussion prevention, abuse prevention, and positive coaching practices, combined with professional certification and verified background checks

R

relevé

 

dance term describing standing on high toes or the ball of the foot with the heel high in the air

rhythm

 

speed or temp at which a skill/dance step is performed

rond de jambe

 

leg moving forward or backward, with leg turned outward, while leg moves in a semi-circle in the air

rotate (at a meet)

 

during a meet the athletes move (rotate) through the four events and each time they move to a new event is a "rotation"; athletes rotate through the four events in Olympic order - Vault, Bars, Beam and then Floor. When gymnasts start in the middle of the rotation, they just continue through the list and then restart the list from the beginning. So if they begin on Beam, they would move to floor next, and then vault and end on bars. 

Rules & Policies (R&P)

 

The Rules and Policies dictate everything from how meets are run, to how ties are broken, to everything in between. It covers ethical standards, apparatus requirements, memberships, sanctions, meet director certifications, meet officials, and Xcel and DP competitions including meet formats down to the number of athletes per session and competition procedures! 

S

scale

 

from one foot the trunk leans forward while the free leg is turned out and lifted behind to a minimum of horizontal (90º)

scale

 

from one foot the trunk leans forward while the free leg is turned out and lifted behind to a minimum of horizontal (90º)

sissonné

 

dance jump from two feet onto one foot, with the front leg a minimum of 45º from the floor and the back leg higher

Special Requirement (SR)

 

Special Requirements are rules that must be met in order to have a 10.00 Starting Value (SV). The SRs change for each level and each event, getting more difficult in each higher level. All Xcel levels and DP Optionals levels have SRs. Each missing Special Requirement will deduct 0.50 points from the Starting Value (SV).

Starting Value (SV)

 

In DP Levels 1 to 5 all gymnasts start with a 10.0 start value. In other levels (DP Optionals and all Xcel levels) athletes must meet four Special Requirements (and any VP requirements) to start with a 10.00 value. 

stick

 

landing showing no movement of feet (except to slide heels together)

straddle

 

body position with legs extended sideways and turned out with hips extended (not piked)

straddle pike

 

body position with legs extended sideways and turned out with hips piked 45º to 90º

straight hollow shape

 

body shape with body in a straight line position with hips flat, ribs down, chest in and bum tight

stretch

 

trunk, hips, legs and feet completely extended

TOPS

 

Talent Opportunity Program: The TOPS program is exactly what it sounds like - a Talent Opportunity Program. It helps identify potentially talented gymnasts at a young age. Athletes must be between the ages of 7 and 10 (age determined by 12/31 of the year of testing). TOPS testing comprised of two tests - physical abilities and Skill testing. The top athletes (ages 8 to 10 only) are offered spots at the National TOPS Team Training Camp. TOPS athletes are not considered "Elite" athletes. 

tuck

 

leg position with knees and hip bent at least 90º toward the chest

turnout

 

leg rotates laterally outward in the hip socket 

twist

 

turning the upper trunk around the longitudinal axis

U

undergrip

 

grip on bars where hands are placed on top of bar with fingers under the bar and palms facing forward and upward

V

v-sit

 

sitting in pike position while leaning backward with legs extended upward and hands either supporting behind the hip (or out to the side) or not providing support in the air

Value Part (VP)

 

A Value Part (VP) is a skill scored according to a set of technical specifications. Value Parts are assigned a difficulty letter (A, B, C, etc) in the Code of Points. In some Xcel and Optionals levels there are a specific number of VPs that must be included in a routine. 

vault

 

one of four events in WAG in which athletes run toward the vaulting table (or mats in lower levels) and hurdle themselves over the table/mats to land on their feet (usually). Higher level vaults include twisting and flipping over the vault.  (official name: vault)

W

WAG

 

Women's Artistic Gymnastics

X

Xcel

 

One of the programs of competition for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics within USA Gymnastics; designed as an alternative competitive program offering individual flexibility to coaches and gymnasts through optionals routines. Xcel levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.