Gymnastics terms for new parents

Meet and scoring words

All-around

A ranking based on a gymnast's combined scores from all of the events she or he competes. The highest total wins.

Apparatus

A piece of competition equipment, such as the beam, bars or rings. The plural is apparatus or apparatuses.

Code of points

The rulebook that tells judges how skills are valued and what deductions to take. Different organizations use different versions.

Deduction

Points taken off a score for a mistake, such as a bent knee, a fall or a step on a landing.

Difficulty

The part of a score that reflects how hard the chosen skills and combinations are.

Execution

How well a skill is performed, including form, body position, control and landing.

Rotation

A turn on one event. Groups move from event to event in a set order during a meet.

Salute

The gymnast raises the arms to acknowledge the judge before and after a routine.

Compulsory (or required) routine

A routine set by the governing body or program that every gymnast at a certain level performs. Some programs use them at certain levels.

Optional routine

A routine the gymnast and coach design themselves, within the rules for the level.

Skill words

Dismount

The final skill that gets the gymnast off an apparatus, such as a flip off a beam or bar.

Landing

How a gymnast finishes a skill on the mat. A controlled landing, often called a stuck or sticking the landing, is when the gymnast finishes without stepping or hopping.

Tumbling pass

A series of acrobatic skills performed across the floor in a row.

Run-up

The sprint before a vault, ending with the jump onto the springboard.

Release

A skill on bars in which the gymnast lets go and catches the bar again.

Giant

A full circle swing around the bar with the body extended.

Handstand

A basic skill in which the gymnast balances upside down on the hands. It is a foundation for many events.

Gym and training words

Spotting

A coach physically assists or stands ready beside a gymnast to help with safety and technique while learning a skill.

Progression

A step-by-step series of drills that builds toward a harder skill.

Conditioning

Strength and fitness work that helps support skills and keep gymnasts strong.

Flexibility

How far joints and muscles can move, which gymnasts work on through stretching.

Grips

Hand protection worn on certain apparatus such as bars and rings.

Chalk

A powder used to keep hands dry for a better hold.

Level

A stage in a program's skill ladder. Levels, numbering and rules differ by country and organization, so ask your gym how it works.

Mental block

Fear or hesitation that makes a gymnast unable to perform a skill she or he has done before. It is more common than parents realize. Talk with the coach.

A few more you will hear

Uneven bars

The women's event with two horizontal bars set at different heights.

Balance beam

The women's event performed on a narrow raised beam.

Pommel horse

The men's event in which the gymnast swings the legs while supporting himself on the handles and body of the horse.

Routine

The sequence of skills a gymnast performs on one apparatus, from start to finish.

Mount

The first skill of a routine, used to get onto an apparatus.

Session

A block of a meet in which one or more groups compete. A large meet may have several sessions.

Putting it to use

Having the vocabulary helps you ask better questions and understand the answers. If you have not yet seen a meet, read how gymnastics meets and scoring work. For a tour of each apparatus, see gymnastics events explained. All of our gymnastics articles are on the gymnastics hub.

When you hear an unfamiliar word at the gym, ask. Coaches are usually delighted to explain, and your child will pick up the language faster with a parent who is learning alongside.