About the Sport
of Rhythmic Gymnastics

Rhythmic Gymnastics is a gymnastics sport for women that combines elements of floor exercise, dance, and apparatus handling. The exercise is choreographed with the music. The sport requires a high skill level of balance, turns, pivots, and other near-acrobatic movements, with the ability to use the various accompanying apparatus, with a smooth musical flow, and presentation. Technique is very important in rhythmic gymnastics.

Apparatus and Floor

The apparatus used are the hoop, ball, rope, clubs, and ribbon. A free floor exercise is also performed at certain levels of competition.

• All exercises are performed on a carpeted floor that measures 13 meters square (42' 8") with a 50 cm (1' 8") border. Overall size is 14 m square (45' 11"). There should be a 2 meter safety zone around the floor. The total size including the safety zone is 18 meters or about 59 feet. (NOTE: This is a change from previous norms. The carpet is now the same overall size as an artistic carpet, but has a smaller safety border. The carpet may be lightly padded. The outer edge of the border marking is defined as out of bounds.
• The ceiling: Because of the high tosses used with the apparatus a ceiling height of a minimum of 8 meters (26' 3") is required for international competitions. A ceiling height of 10 to 12 meters is recommended.
• The hoop must be from 80-90 cm (31.2" - 35.1") inner diameter, and must weigh at least 300 grams. The hoop is often decorated with bright colored tapes to provide a pleasing appearance and provide the necessary weight.
• The ball must have a diameter for 18-20 cm, and must also weigh more than 400 grams. The ball may is made of rubber or plastic, and may be in any color, or mixture of colors.
• The clubs are made out of wood, plastic, and are used to perform tosses, and other maneuvers. The clubs must be between 40-50 cm in length, and weigh at least 150 grams each. NOTE: Hard rubber clubs are in common usage but are not specified in the FIG norms.
• The rope is made from hemp or synthetic material. It length is optional, what is right for the individual gymnast. Its thickness to be uniform or reinforced in the center. Its shape may be with or without knots, must be without wooden or other handles. It may be wrapped with a thin non-slip material corresponding to the width of the hand. Color is optional, but must be of a visible color.
• The ribbon is usually made of silk or polyester, and must be 6 meters long for the elite gymnast. The ribbons weight is 35 grams minimum. The ribbon may be colored or died to provide color. A cane is attached to one end of the ribbon to assist with tosses and making patterns. The cane must be 50-60 cm in length, and a maximum diameter of 10 cm. The connection hardware between the cane and ribbon (a swivel mechanism) must not exceed 7 cm in length.

Age Brackets

In the United States rhythmic gymnastics competitions have different skill levels, numbered from 1 to 10, Only levels 5-10 are competitive. Levels 1-4 are for beginners. Within the levels, are age brackets. The level a gymnast is at is determined by her skills and her coach. Beginning in 2001, upward mobility is influenced by a qualifying all-around score during a sanctioned event. An AA score of 30 is recommended to move to the next level. At the coaches discretion the appropriate level for the gymnast can be selected.

Level 10 can only be achieved by qualifying for the US National Championship.

Competitions are normally held between levels, and similar age brackets. That is each level may have competitions of juniors against juniors, seniors against seniors, etc. In an invitational meet or at JO's age brackets may be ignored.

Age bracket table:

NOTE: In 2005 the minimum age for seniors will increase to 16 in the year they compete.

See the Age Bracket Chart

Levels of Competition

Each country has its own rules concerning competitive levels. Only levels 9 and 10 are universally recognized world wide. The United States operates under the rules of the USA Gymnastics. Under their rules level 5 is the first competitive level, and each level above that requires certain competitive scores to be obtained before an athlete may advance to a higher level.

The selection of apparatus is determined by the governing body (USAG) and the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Four apparatus are selected each year, or three apparatus and a floor exercise are used.

Length of Exercises:

Level 5 - 25-30 second compulsory routines,
Level 6 - 50-60 second compulsory routines,
Level 7/10 - 75-90 second optional routines,
Level 7/8 - include optional floor routines.

Scoring

Starting in 2001 all routines at all levels will be scored on a scale of 10 points for JO levels. FIG levels 9 and 10 will be scored on a scale of 30 points maximum. Deductions are made for errors in technique, execution, and artistic impression. There are neutral deductions for loss of apparatus, out of bounds, etc.