List of gymnastics terms

This is a general glossary of the terms used in the sport of gymnastics.

0–9

;10.0: Previously, the highest overall score possible. Also called a "perfect 10".

A

;AA: Abbreviation for all-around.

;AB: A scoring abbreviation for uneven bars, from the name Asymmetric Bars.

;A-score: Under the current "Code of Points," this score tallies the gymnast' counted skills, combinations and EGR. In theory, the A-score can be open-ended, depending on the skills the gymnast presents.

;All-around: A competition in which the athletes compete as individuals on all four (women) or six (men) events. Sometimes also written as all-round or all-around final.

;All-arounder: A gymnast who is a strong competitor on all four (women) or six (men) events.

;Apparatus: Specific equipment used in gymnastics.

;Artistic gymnastics: A discipline of gymnastics in which competitors perform upon apparatuses.

B

;B-score: Under the current "Code of Points," this score rates the gymnast's execution, form, artistry and technique. The judges take their deductions from the 10.0 base score.

;Back-to-back tumbling: A series of skills in which the gymnast executes a tumbling run from one corner of the mat to the other, rebounds, and performs another tumbling run in the other direction without stopping. Notably performed by Oksana Omelianchik (URS), Daniela Silivas (ROU) and Dominique Dawes (USA).

;Balance beam: A gymnastics apparatus used by women in artistic gymnastics. It is a 4-inch wide platform upon which gymnastics perform tumbling and dance skills.

;Ball: A gymnastics apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. The ball rests in the gymnast's hands.

;Bib: The number worn on the gymnast's back, and used in the scoring and roster sheets, to identify them to the judges.

;BB: The scoring abbreviation for Balance beam.

C

; Chalk: Carbonate of magnesia, used by gymnasts on their hands, feet and apparatus to make the surface of the equipment less slippery, or to mark lines on the mats.

; Clubs: A gymnastics apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics.

; Code of Points: The document that regulates scoring of each discipline.

D

;Dismount: The act of getting off an apparatus and the skill used to do it.

E

;EGR: Abbreviation for element group requirements.

;Element group requirements: Under the current Code of Points, the specific required skills, or skill families, that the gymnast must show at some point in his or her routine on each event. For instance, on uneven bars, one of the EGRs is a release move. Currently, there are five EGR skills required on every event.

;Elite: The highest competitive level in gymnastics, or a gymnast who competes at the highest level. The term is used in the USA, Australia and other nations, but is not universal.

F

; Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique: the international sports governing body for gymnastics. Its name is commonly abbreviated as "FIG".

;Flight series: On balance beam, a series of acrobatic skills performed in combination from one end of the beam to the other.

;Floor: A gymnastics apparatus used by men and women in artistic gymnastics. The event performed upon this apparatus is known as Floor Exercise.

;Floor Exercise: The event performed on the floor apparatus. Men and women perform choreographed routines that include tumbling and acrobatic skills.

;FX: The scoring abbreviation for Floor Exercise.

G

; Gainer: A gymnastics skill in which a gymnast performs a backwards somersault while moving forward.

;Grip: See "hand guard".

;Gymnastics: A sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, agility and coordination. It evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, including skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and circus performance skills.

H

; Hand guard: A glove or wrist strap worn by gymnasts to protect the skin on their hands when they perform upon apparatuses.

;HB: The scoring abbreviation for horizontal (or high) bar.

;High Bar: See "horizontal bar".

;Hit: (v.) To perform a routine or skill to the best of one's ability, with no major errors or deductions. "Example:" "He hit the dismount." May also be used as an adjective to describe a routine performed well.

;Hoop: A gymnastics apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. It is a hollow hoop with an interior diameter of 80 to 90 cm.

; Horizontal bar: A gymnastics apparatus used by men in artistic gymnasts. It consists of one 2.4m bar upon which gymnasts perform skills. It is also known as "high bar".

I

J

; Junior: A world-class/elite gymnast who is too young to compete as a senior, usually between the ages of 13 and 15.

K

; Kip: A basic skill in artistic gymnastics on the uneven bars that is used at a way of getting on the bar in a front support position or a handstand from a hanging or standing position.; Kip: A training skill in trampolining.

L

M

;Master of Sport: The term used to refer to a gymnast competing at the highest level of the sport in the USSR. Still used in Russia and other former Soviet republics.

;Mat: Safety equipment used in gymnastics to break falls.

;Meet: A commonly used term for a gymnastics competition.

;Mount: The act of getting onto an apparatus and the skill used to do it.

N

;Neutral deduction: A score deduction which is taken as a penalty for violations of rules not related directly to the gymnasts' performance, for instance, failure to adhere to required standards of competition attire. Neutral deductions may be applied against a team's cumulative score as well as against individual gymnasts.

;Number: See "bib."

O

;OOB: Abbreviation for out of bounds.

;Out of bounds: Situation on floor exercise when a gymnast crosses the line indicating the border of the floor mat, resulting in a score deduction.

P

;Parallel bars: A gymnastics apparatus used by men in artistic gymnastics. It consists of two 3.5m bars.

;PB: The scoring abbreviation for the parallel bars.

;PH: The scoring abbreviation for the pommel horse.

;Pommel horse: A gymnastics apparatus used by men in artistic gymnastics. It consists of a rectangular body and two pommels.

Q

R

;Release move or release: Skill on the uneven bars, parallel bars or high bar in which the gymnast lets go of the apparatus, performs a skill in the air, and regrasps the bar.

;Ribbon: A gymnastics apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. The ribbon is a long piece of material attached to a stick.

;Rings: See "still rings".

;Rope: A gymnastics apparatus used in rhythmic gymnastics. It is made of a material that retains the qualities of lightness and suppleness. It is knotted at the end.

; Rhythmic gymnastics: A discipline of gymnastics in which competitors manipulate apparatuses. The sport combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, theatrical dance, and apparatus manipulation. Athletes are scored on their leaps, balances, pivots, flexibility, apparatus handling, and artistic effect.

;Salto: A somersault.

;Score protest: A written complaint, submitted by the gymnast or their coaches or federation, to request reconsideration and possible revision of scores felt to be incorrect or unfair. Under FIG rules, protests must be filed immediately after the original score is reported, and before the end of the competition.

;Senior: A world-class/elite gymnast who is at least 16, or will be turning 16, within the calendar year.

; Somersault: A gymnastics maneuver in which a person rotates around the somersault axis, moving the feet over the head.

;Specialist: A gymnast who is especially strong on one or two events. A specialist often competes only on his or her specific events.

;Springboard: Gymnastics equipment required on vault, and used as an optional aid for mounts on parallel bars, balance beam and uneven bars.

;SR: The scoring abbreviation for the still rings.

;Start value: Under the pre-2006 "Code of Points," the maximum score a gymnast could receive for a routine, after taking into consideration all bonus skills, combinations and fulfillment of required elements. The score was determined by subtracting deductions from the start value.

;Stick: (v.) to land an acrobatic skill, jump or dismount perfectly, without any steps, stumbles or errors.

;Still Rings: A gymnastics apparatus used by men in artistic gymnastics. It consists of two swinging hollow rings suspended by a frame.

;Stuck landing: A perfect landing, without any steps, stumbles or errors.

;SV: Abbreviation for start value.

T

; Teza: A balance beam skill in which the Yurchenko loop is performed with a full twisting handspring. It is named after Elvire Teza.

; Tsukahara: A vault and family of vaults. The vault consists of a half turn off the springboard onto the vault table, then a push backwards, usually into a back salto or layout. Any vault that has a handspring with 1/4 - 1/2 turn onto the vault table into a salto backwards is classified as a Tsukahara vault. It is named after Mitsuo Tsukahara.

;Tumbling: The acrobatic skills performed on floor exercise and balance beam, such as back handsprings and saltos. Also, a specific dicipline of gymnastics, performed on a 25 meter long dynamic track, in which participants perform tumbling skills.

;Tumbling run, or Tumbling pass: A series of acrobatic skills performed on floor from one corner of the mat to the other, typically beginning with a run and hurtle and ending with a major salto.

U

;UB: A scoring abbreviation for Uneven Bars.

; Uneven Bars: A gymnastics apparatus used by women in artistic gymnastics. It consists of two horizontal bars at different heights and with a distance between them.

V

;Vault: (n.) A gymnastics apparatus used by both men and women in artistic gymnastics, or the skills performed upon it, which consists of a . (v.) to perform a vaulting skill.

;VT: The scoring abbreviation for "vault".

W

X

Y

; Yurchenko loop: A balance beam skill in which the gymnasts stands sideways on the beam, dives backwards into a back handspring (the "loop"), grasps the beam, performs a back hip circle and ends up in a front support position, resting on the hands. It is named after Natalia Yurchenko.

; Yurchenko vault: A vault and a family of vaults. It consists of a round-off onto the springboard and a back handspring onto the horse or vaulting table, followed by a salto. Any vault with a roundoff-back handspring entry is classified as a "Yurchenko-style" vault. It is named after Natalia Yurchenko.

Z