Gymnastics,2ºESO

GYMNASTICS.

1. History of Gymnastics.
    Gymnastics originated in Greek civilization. One of the Greek ideals was to achieve perfection and beauty of the body. For this reason Gymnastics contained physical, spiritual and moral objectives.

Over time, gymnastics became less important because it was practised by slaves.

The Romans and later in the Middle Ages, the ideals of beauty changed and exercise was only used as training for war.

Centuries later, in the nineteenth century it reappeared in Europe thanks to the German F.L. Jahn and the Swedish H. Ling.

Nowadays, gymnastics is one of the most attractive Olympic sports. It links risk, balance, beauty of movements and technical exercises.

2. Categories and events.

Gymnastics has got different categories and events. The female has got four events and the male has got six events.

WOMEN´S EVENTS	MEN´S EVENTS
Uneven or asymmetric bars	Parallel bars
Balance beam	Pommel horse
Floor exercise	Floor exercise
Vault	Vault
	Still rings
	High bar

3. WOMEN´S EVENTS

* Uneven bars or asymmetric bars:

The gymnast performs a routine on two horizontal bars set at different heights, the upper is 2.30m and the other one is 1.5m.

Types of movements: swinging, circling, transitional and release moves that may pass over, under and between the two bars,

*Balance beam:

The apparatus is made up of a long horizontal bar, on which the gymnast performs static and dynamic balance exercises. The beam is 125 cm off the ground, 5m. long and 10 cm wide. The beam is covered with a non-skid surface. 

The event requires in particular: balance, flexibility and strength. The gymnast performs a choreographed routine up to 90 seconds in length.

*Floor: 

The floor events occur on a carpet 12m x 12m squared. Gymnasts perform a choreographed routine up to 90” long, between one minute and one minute and a half. They can choose a music piece which must be instrumental. A gymnast can perform up to four tumbling(acrobacias) lines that include at least one flight element without hand support. All corners of the square should be used.

*Vault:

It is 1.20m. high. Years ago it was placed perpendicular to the gymnast. In the vaulting events, gymnasts print down a 25 metres runway, jump onto a springboard, land momentarily (generally inverted on the hands on the vaulting horse or vaulting table, pre flight segment), then spring off this platform to a two footed landing (post flight segment). The post flight segment may include one or more multiple jumps or somersaults or twisting movements.

4. MEN´S EVENTS.

*Floor:

Male gymnasts also perform on a 12m by 12m spring floor. Men’s routines usually have four passes that will total 60-70”, and are performed without music. Rules require that male gymnasts touch each corner at least once during their routine.

*Pommel horse:

It is 1.10m.high and has got two pommels where the gymnast must hold during the whole exercise.

The gymnasts cannot touch the apparatus during the exercise and cannot stop.

Exercises: single leg skill and double leg. Single leg skills are generally found in form of the scissors and double leg work however is the main part of this event. The gymnast swings both leg in a circular motion (clockwise or counter clockwise.

*Still rings: 
The rings are suspended on wire cable, 2.65m. off the floor which are fixed to a frame. At least one static strength move is required. The gymnasts must not move the rings while they are doing the exercise.

*Parallel bars:

Men perform on two horizontal bars set at the same height, slightly further than a shoulder’s width apart and usually 1.75 metres high. The gymnasts work over/ on and under the bars.

*High bar:

It is a steel bar raised 2.60m. above the landing area. Leather grips are usually used to help maintain a grip on the bar. The coach can help the gymnast to go up on the bar.

Movements: rotations and flights.

*Vault:

It is the same as in women´s vault, the difference was that the vault was placed in different position. Women had to jump the width of the apparatus whereas men must jump its length. Since 2001, the horse was replaced and nowadays the position is the same in both, women and men.

5. MAIN RULES.

Each gymnast is allowed  one attempt on each apparatus, unless the attempt is interrupted at no fault of the gymnast.

In the women's vault, the athletes are allowed two attempts, with their scores averaged.

There are no compulsory routines. Each gymnast determines how to do their own routine but they must reach the degree of difficulty.

Spotters are allowed to stand near the horizontal bars, rings, parallel bars and vault. They are available to assist the possibility of an accident ; however ,gymnasts are penalized 0.4 of a point if they need help.

Gymnasts are allowed help for their starting positions, such as, on the rings and horizontal bars.

Competitors are allowed to use bandages or leather grips on their hands.

Coaching during routines is prohibited.

Gymnasts are not allowed to leave the arena during competition without permission.

Unsporting behaviour is penalized.

Dismounts should end with the feet together in a standing position.

There are two panels of judges who rate each performance. Two difficulty judges confer to give each routine a difficulty rating out of 10, depending on the manoeuvres it contains. Six execution judges independently rate each performance for form and execution.

They give each routine a mark out of ten, deducting fractions of points for mistakes. Minor errors result in the loss of 0.1 of a point, more serious errors cost the gymnast 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4 of a point.

A gymnast who falls off, or into, the apparatus loses half a point.

The highest and lowest scores awarded by the judges are discarded and the remaining four are averaged.
There are different competitions in Gymnastics:
1. Team Competition: The top 8 teams of 6 gymnasts.
2. Individual All Around Competition: The top 24 gymnast from the preliminary round compete with a maximum 2 competitors per country.
3. Apparatus final:The top 8 gymnasts compete in each apparatus with a maximum 2 competitors per country.

In all-around events the scores for each competitor on each apparatus are added up, giving a maximum score of 40 for the women (10 points for each of four apparatus) and 60 for the men (10 points for each of six apparatus).

Each nation in the team competition is represented by six athletes. Five complete routines on each apparatus with only the top four scores counting.

This means the maximum score a nation can accrue for each apparatus is 40, meaning a maximum score of 160 for the women and 240 for the men.

VOCABULARY
PERFORMANCE: Actuación          SOMERSAULT: Voltereta
EVENT: Prueba                             HANDSTAND: Equilibrio de brazos(pino)
NON-SKID: Antideslizante.      HEADSTAND:Equilibrio de cabeza               
TUMBLINGS:Acrobacias.   ROUND-OFF:Rondada.                                             
CARPET: Alfombra                          CARTWHEEL:Rueda lateral
GRIPS: Calleras
TO GRIP: Agarrar
JUDGES: Jueces
CATEGORIES: Categorías
ROUTINE: Ejercicio
POMMEL: Pomo, asa...
SPRING BOARD: Trampolín de impulso
FRAME: Cuadro, estructura
SPOTTERS: Observadores
CLICK here:
http://assets.olympic.org/SportAnimations/en/summer/GA/GA_EN.html
Actividades on line Gimnasia artística
WORKSHEET: GYMNASTICS

Death line: 2ºESO B: Monday 6th February
                 2ºESO C: Tuesday 7th February

Name: …………………………………………………………................. Group:...........

1. Write next to each word if it is a male or female event.

Floor………………….

Still rings …………..

Parallel bars……….

Pommel horse…….

Vault ……………….

2. True or false:

Gymnastics:

• originated in Roman civilization:

• is a sport exclusively for women:

During the competition:

- Gymnasts must do compulsory and free exercises.

• Gymnasts can’t fall on the floor.

3. What was the main difference between the women’s vault and the men’s vault event?

4. What are the differences between the women’s floor and the men’s floor event?

5. How long is......?

-the balance beam routine:

-the floor men routine:

-the floor women routine:

6. How many attempts can the gymnasts have on each apparatus?

7. How many points do the gymnasts lose if they fall on the floor?

8. How many gymnasts form a gymnastics team?

9. Who were the most important founding members of gymnastics in the nineteenth century?

10. What is the maximum score a nation can score for each apparatus?