Balance beam - Definition and Overview

The Balance Beam is a artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is only used by female gymnasts. It is be made of a metal or steel frame and a wooden beam with a leather cover. The exercise time is up to 1 minutes 30 seconds.

Dimensions

• Height 125 cm (including about 20 cm landing mats)
• Length 5 m
• Width 10 cm

Scoring

Competitors are expected to perform a number of elements. Judges reward elegance of movement and punish a gymnast for a lack of control. Elegance might be defined as an appearance of ease and confidence in movement with different movements on the apparatus appearing to flow together smoothly. A lack of control might be a wobble on the beam to maintain balance, an unplanned pause between linked movements to regain composure or a change of choreographed movement to disguise a mistake. Half a point (0.5) may be lost for falling off the beam. As with other gymnastic disciplines the dismount is important: it should be completed with a landing where both feet are together and no steps, particularly large strides, are needed to remain upright.

External links

US Gym Net's glossary of beam skills (http://www.usgyms.net/beam_skills.htm) - hops, jumps and leaps (http://www.usgyms.net/jumps_leaps.htm) - and dismounts (http://www.usgyms.net/tumbling_skills.htm)