Acrobatic gymnastics

Acrobatic gymnastics is a type of gymnastics where teams of gymnasts work together. They do flips, jumps, and other moves to music. The sport is managed by World Gymnastics.

There are three kinds of routines:

• Balance routine: This focuses on strength, calm moves, and flexibility.
• Dynamic routine: This includes throws, flips, and catches.
• Combined routine: This has parts from both balance and dynamic routines.

Acrobatic gymnasts perform in teams of two or more people. Teams can be pairs of the same gender or mixed, or groups of three (women) or four (men). In each team, gymnasts have different sizes and skills to help each other do the moves. Some gymnasts mainly hold and support others and are called bases. Others, usually smaller, are called tops. In groups, there are also middles who help support the tops.

In competitions, teams perform their routine to music. They do their moves and dance all while matching the music. Teams are judged on how well they perform the moves, how hard the moves are, and their style. The rules for the sport, called the Code of Points, change every four years.

History

Acrobatics have been entertainment for thousands of years, from festivals to early circuses and vaudeville acts. The sport began in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, with the first competition in 1939. After a pause during World War II, the first women's event happened in 1940.

The first international competition took place in 1957, and the International Federation of Sports Acrobatics was created in 1973. The first world championships were held in 1974. Today, acrobatic gymnastics is managed by the FIG and has had its current name since 2007. In the United States, the sport is part of USA Gymnastics.

Competitions

Acrobatic gymnastics is part of the World Games and the European Games. It also has its own Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships, held every two years. There are many competitions in different countries. Local contests decide who can compete at bigger national events.

There are four age groups for competitors, from younger athletes to seniors. Each group has its own level of difficulty in routines. Gymnasts can only compete in one level and one team type at a time.

Routines

In acrobatic gymnastics, teams do different kinds of routines. There are three main types: balance, dynamic, and combined.

Balance routines focus on holding still poses that show strength and flexibility. Dynamic routines include flips and throws where one gymnast lifts and spins another. The combined routine mixes both balance and dynamic moves.

These routines include tumbling and dance. Each type has its own time length. Balance routines last about two minutes and forty seconds. Dynamic routines last about two minutes. Combined routines last about two minutes and thirty seconds, depending on the competition level.

Scoring

The score of an acrobatic gymnastics routine is found by adding the difficulty, execution, and artistry scores, and then taking away any penalties.

Difficulty shows how hard the moves are. Senior gymnasts can do many hard moves. Execution is how well the moves are done. Artistry looks at how well the gymnasts work together, use the music, and make a fun routine. Penalties lower the score for things like height differences between partners, going off the floor, or not holding poses long enough.

Judging

In acrobatic gymnastics, judges look at three things. Some judges see how hard the moves are. Others see how well the routine is done and how pretty it looks. There are also judges who decide how many points to take away if the gymnasts do not do their moves perfectly. All these judges work together with a head judge.

Main articles: Gymnastics at the Summer Olympics, World Gymnastics Championships

Safety

Gymnasts train with safety mats and spotting belts to stay safe during practice. Gymnasiums need high ceilings so gymnasts don’t hit their heads when doing high moves. Bases often keep their hair short or use chalk to help tops hold on tight during routines.

Most injuries in acrobatic gymnastics happen in the lower body, like knees and ankles, and wrist injuries are also common. Ligament injuries happen often, and bases can get tired muscles, while tops might get sudden injuries like sprains.