Basics About Gymnastics In Delaware

By Annabelle Holman


Gymnastics is a form of sport currently practiced for different reasons. People engage in this sport in order to compete in local and international competitions and to take part in special military operations. Some individuals engage in it as a hobby during their leisure time while others endeavor to achieve body fitness and maintain physical, mental, and psychological health. Gymnastics in Delaware is highly developed because gymnasts are trained by qualified coaches. This makes them among the best in the world.

The term gymnastics has its origin in the Greek language. When translated into the English language it means to practice naked. In old Greece, the term was used on all exercises performed in gymnasiums. Gymnasiums were places where male athletes exercised without clothes. The exercises were included in Olympics during competitions. Currently, some of those exercises have been separated into completely different fields.

As a sport, a lot of physical strength, coordination, agility, power, flexibility, and body balance are required. There is an international body that sets and enforces standards in gymnastics although every state may have its own governing body. The local governing body normally has affiliations to the worldwide authority. Artistic gymnastics is the most well known category of this sport.

There are different levels of training in the sport and each requires expertise of different levels. Level 5 is the lowest sanctioned competitive level in the United States. Besides level 4, participants do not compete at the lower levels because they are considered non-competitive. Some gyms hold competitions among members of level 4 because participants are required to excel in it before they can proceed to the competitive levels. The level 4 and the competitions it entails are meant to familiarize kids with competitions.

Both feminine and masculine events are included in artistic events. Feminine events include balance beams, floor exercise, uneven bars, and vault. On the contrary, masculine events comprise of high bar, vault, still rings, parallel bar, floor exercises, and pommel horse. The events may require individual participants or a team to accomplish. Others require both individual and team effort. The events are improvements of exercises done in Ancient Greece.

Participants can participate in the many disciplines comprised in gymnastic sports. Trampolining, team gym, tumbling, and rhythmic, acrobatic, and aerobatic events form some of basic disciplines. Participants from various age groups are allowed to take part with the youngest participants being two years of age. Difficulty is increased as the age and individual ability increases. Routines last a very short time, but they are highly exhausting physically. The routines test strength, awareness of limits, flexibility, and endurance in individuals.

Some disciplines in this sport are strictly meant for women. For example, men cannot participate in rhythmic events at a competitive level. Participants are generally given a lot of freedom in the sport. Most of the individual and team exercises are selected by the participants although a few are compulsory. During performances, individuals can execute any move they find comfortable to.

Previously, scores awarded to athletes were limited to 10 points. However, with the introduction of a new scoring scheme, one can earn points without being limited by anything. Factors that influence points earned include difficulty, accuracy, and completeness of exercised performed.




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