Gymnastics Glossary
Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Gymnastics.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Example | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apparatus | A piece of gymnastics equipment or event area used for training or routines. | Beam, bars, vault, rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, and floor are apparatus examples. | Event; equipment |
| Event | A specific competition area or apparatus where a gymnast performs a routine. | A gymnast may compete floor, beam, bars, and vault at one meet. | Apparatus |
| Routine | A planned sequence of skills, shapes, dance, strength elements, or passes performed on an event. | The gymnast salutes, performs the beam routine, and salutes again at the end. | Set; exercise |
| Rotation | The order or movement of a group from one event to another during practice or a meet. | A team may rotate from vault to bars to beam to floor. | Event order |
| Deduction | A score reduction for a form issue, fall, step, pause, missing requirement, or other judged error. | A step after landing can be a deduction. | Point off |
| Start Value | The possible scoring base for a routine before deductions, depending on credited requirements and scoring rules. | A coach may explain that two routines had different start values. | SV |
| Execution | How cleanly and safely a routine or skill is performed under the judging rules. | Pointed toes, straight arms, rhythm, and controlled landings can affect execution. | Form |
| Salute | A formal signal to the judge before and after a competitive routine. | The gymnast raises arms to show readiness before starting. | Present |
| Dismount | The ending skill or movement used to leave an apparatus. | A beam routine ends with a dismount to the mat. | Finish |
| Spotting | Coach assistance or supervision used during training when appropriate for safety and learning. | A coach may spot a station during practice but not during the judged routine unless rules allow it. | Coach assist |
| Compulsory Routine | A routine or set of required elements that many athletes in a level perform in a similar way. | A compulsory floor routine may have set choreography and skills. | Required routine |
| Optional Routine | A routine designed within level rules rather than one identical routine for everyone. | An optional beam routine may be choreographed for the gymnast while still meeting requirements. | Custom routine |
| All-Around | A combined result from multiple event scores in the same meet format. | A gymnast's vault, bars, beam, and floor scores may be added for all-around. | AA |
| Scratch | When an athlete does not compete an event, often because of coach choice, readiness, illness, or another meet decision. | A gymnast may scratch bars but still compete beam and floor. | Withdraw from event |
| Stuck Landing | A landing finished without an obvious step or hop, as judged in that routine context. | The crowd claps when the gymnast finishes vault with a stuck landing. | Stick |
| Meet Session | A scheduled block of a gymnastics meet with specific teams, warmups, rotations, and awards. | Families may arrive for Session 2 and wait until awards after the last rotation. | Session |