![]() If a gymnast falls from the beam mid-way through a competition routine they can’t use the beam to restart. It’s optional and some gymnasts will find different ways of mounting the beam without a springboard. This is when the gymnast performs a jump or acrobatic move to get onto the beam at the start of the routine. Yes, a springboard can be used to help mount the beam. Some practice beams can be placed straight onto the floor so wouldn’t require legs. Balance beam padding material includes leather or carpet as well as the usual suede used on competition beams. Some balance beams are wooden and others are foam. At the bottom of the beam legs will be anti-slip feet, often made from rubber and designed to keep the beam stable.īalance Beams found in professional gym facilities will usually have height adjusters on the legs which allows them to move lower than the competition height down to as low as 90cm.īeams used for practice at home or at the gym can vary in the materials used. The legs are usually metal and can be padded with foam to protect gymnasts from injury. The main body of the beam is supported by legs at either end. ![]() It is designed to stay fairly rigid – if it creates too much bounce gymnasts would find it hard to control their movements. What is a balance beam made of?Ĭompetition standard beams are made from a hollow aluminum body and the padding material is suede. These measurements are decided by the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) but measurements vary for practice beams and beams for home use. It’s 16 feet long and at competitions, the beam is raised to 4 feet and 10 inches from the ground. How wide is a balance beam?Ī full-size balance beam is 3.9 inches wide. A beam routine will finish with a dismount which is typically a tumbling move such as a salto. Gymnasts are expected to perform with elegance, and flair and demonstrate good posture throughout. The beam is only competed only by female gymnasts and tests their ability to link dance, tumbling, jumps and leaps whilst staying on the beam. The balance beam is a rectangular-shaped apparatus and is usually just referred to as the ‘beam’. Photo Credit Pierre-Yves Beaudouin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Table of Contents Let’s jump into the details of the balance beam! Gymnasts must have pinpoint accuracy when placing their hands and feet on the beam, especially as the skill level in elite gymnastics has increased in modern times. In this article, I dive into an event competed by female Artistic gymnasts – the Balance Beam (BB).Īt less than 4 inches wide, the beam is arguably the scariest of all the apparatus. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |