Aerial - a stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with his or her hands.
Amplitude - the height, or degree of execution of a movement. In general, the higher the salto or the more breathtaking the movement, the better the amplitude and the score.
Apparatus - one of the various pieces of equipment used in gymnastics competitions.
Arch Position- the body is curved backwards.
Back-in, Full-out - a double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the second salto).
Compulsories - predesigned routines which contain specific movements required of all gymnasts.
Composition - the structure of a gymnastics routine. Each individual movement or skill is a building block; how they are arranged into an exercise is called the composition of the routine.
Dismount - to leave an apparatus at the end of a routine; usually done with a difficult twist or salto.
Execution - the performance of a routine. Form, style and the technique used to complete the skills constitute the level of execution of an exercise. Bent knees, poor toe point and an arched or loosely-held body position are all examples of poor execution.
Flic-Flac - also known as a flip-flop or back handspring. Take off one or two feet, jump backwards onto hands and land on feet. This element is used in a majority of tumbling passes on the floor exercise. It's also used a great deal on the balance beam.
Full-in, Back-out - a double salto with a full twist (the complete twist performed during the first salto).
Gaylord on high bar - front giant into a one-and-one-half front salto over the bar to regrasp. First done by U.S. Gymnast Mitch Gaylord.
Giant - a swing in which the body is fully extended and moving through a 360 degree rotation around the bar.
Half-in, Half-out - a double salto with a half twist on the first salto and a half twist on the second salto.
Handspring - springing off the hands by putting the weight on the arms and using a strong push from the shoulders; can be done either forward or backward; usually a linking movement.
Kip - movement from a position below the equipment to a position above.
Layout Position - straight or slightly arched body position, may be seen during a movement or a still position.
Optionals - personally-designed routines which show the gymnast to the best advantage.
Pike Position - body bent forward more than 90 degrees at the hips while the legs are kept straight.
Pirouettes - changing direction by twisting in the handstand position.
Release - leaving the bar to perform a move before regrasping it.
Routine - a combination of stunts displaying a full range of skills on one apparatus.
Salto - flip or somersault, with the feet coming up over the head and the body rotating around the axis of the waist.
Tuck - a position in which the knees and hips are bent and drawn into the chest; the body is folded at the waist.
Twist - not to be confused with a salto, a twist occurs when the gymnast rotates around the body's longitudinal axis, defined by the spine.
Virtuosity - the artistry, or the degree of rhythm and harmony, displayed while a movement is executed. In general, the more flowing and seamless a series of skills appears to be, the greater the virtuosity and the higher the score.
Yurchenko Vault - Round-off entry onto the board, flic-flac onto the horse and one of the following off the horse: layout, full twist, one-and-a-half twist or double twist.
© America Online [Keyword: Gymnastics]
