The rope is an apparatus used in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. It is one of the five apparatuses utilized in this discipline, alongside the ball, clubs, hoop, and ribbon. While previously used at both the senior and junior level and in both individual and group exercises, the rope has been mostly phased out of usage and is now only used in the junior group exercises in some years. [1]
Jump ropes were used in some "modern gymnastics" (the precursor to modern rhythmic gymnastics) programs. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) considered several types of rope before adopting plain hemp ropes with no handles. [2] It was one of the original official apparatuses along with the ball and hoop. [3] From 2001-2012, each apparatus had a compulsory body group of movements that had to predominate in the exercise; for rope, this was jumps and leaps. [4]
The rope is still used in junior group exercises in some years, but at the individual level, it is generally not competed. However, the code of points still allows for it to be used at local competitions. [1] The reason given by the FIG for its retirement is that it was not as visually appealing as the other four apparatuses. [2]
The rope may be made of hemp or a similar synthetic material. Its length is in proportion to the size of the gymnast. [5] The rope should, when held down by the feet, reach both of the gymnasts' armpits. [6] At the ends, there may be one or two knots and an anti-slip material to help the gymnast hold on, but there should be no handles. The middle may be reinforced. It may be any color, but bright ones are preferred. [5]
It may be used open or folded. However, the basic rope technique is considered to be holding it open with one end in each hand to perform jumps and hops of various kinds and in different directions. While elements such as rebounding the robe, spinning the ends, and wrapping it around body parts are allowed, they should be a minimal part of the exercise. [1] Throwing the rope is difficult because it does not keep its shape well in the air, and to do so the gymnast must throw both ends with the same acceleration. [7]
Gymnasts perform a variety of elements with the rope, including skipping over it, throwing it, and hanging it from the body while balancing or turning. The elements that are considered to be particular to the rope are: [1]
Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shoulders, back, chest, and abdominal muscle groups. Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks that included skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills.
In gymnastics, the floor is a specially prepared exercise surface, considered an apparatus. The floor exercise is the event performed on the floor, in both women's and men's artistic gymnastics. The same floor is used for WAG FX and MAG FX, but rules and scoring differ; most obviously, a WAG FX routine is synchronised to a piece of recorded dance music, whereas MAG FX has no musical accompaniment.
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. Rhythmic gymnastics is governed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which first recognized it as a sport in 1963. At the international level, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport.
A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning, swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act.
A skipping rope or jump rope is a tool used in the sport of skipping/jump rope where one or more participants jump over a rope swung so that it passes under their feet and over their heads. There are multiple subsets of skipping/jump rope, including single freestyle, single speed, pairs, three-person speed, and three-person freestyle.
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The ball is an apparatus used in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. It is one of the five apparatuses utilized in this discipline, alongside the clubs, hoop, ribbon, and rope.
The clubs are an apparatus used in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. They are one of the five apparatuses utilized in this discipline, alongside the ball, hoop, ribbon, and rope.
The hoop is an apparatus used in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. It is one of the five apparatuses utilized in this discipline, alongside the ball, clubs, ribbon, and rope.
The ribbon is an apparatus used in the sport of rhythmic gymnastics. It is one of the five apparatuses utilized in this discipline, alongside the ball, clubs, hoop, and rope.
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This is a general glossary of the terms used in the sport of gymnastics.
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