Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport. Gymnasts compete routines individually on a floor of 13 metres square to music. Routines are between a minute and two minutes long. A good gymnast has control over her apparatus and her body movements while moving in time to the music. There are several apparatus used as well as freehand routines performed.
The apparatus are as follows:
Ribbon
The stick is usually made of wood, plastic or fibreglass. The ribbon is either satin or non-starched synthetic such as rayon. The ribbon is 5 metres or more (depending on the level of the gymnast) and is thrown and swirled through the air while the gymnast moves around the floor. The ribbon creates designs in the air such as snakes and spirals. The ribbon can be thrown and caught in the routine.
Hoop
The hoop is made of plastic and is thrown, caught, spun around the body and used to skip through the routine. Handling of the hoop requires changes in grip while changing the motion of the body. Sometimes the gymnast will pass through the hoop while moving across the floor. Hoops are often taped with coloured tape to increase the weight and to add colour to the performance.
Ball
The ball is made of rubber or plastic. The ball is to be held without grip. It must float on the hand of the gymnast and move in harmony with the body. The ball can be rolled across the body, thrown and caught with spectacular results when performed as part of another movement such as a roll.
Rope
The rope is either made of hemp or a synthetic material. It's length is proportional to the height of the gymnast. The rope is thrown around and can be taut or loose to create shapes. Sometimes it is moving gracefully and other times is snapped back to create dramatic effect.
Clubs
Clubs are made of plastic or rubber or sometimes wood. The clubs are swirled and thrown to create many figures as possible. Throws are sometimes at great heights to enable the gymnast to perform body movements under the clubs before catching them again. Performance with clubs requires good coordination skills as well as a sense of timing to be able to catch them without looking.
Group Routines
Group routines consist of 3 or more gymnasts performing together, either with the same apparatus or with a combination of two different apparatus. This requires good coordination and control to be able to throw and catch between gymnasts at the same time as performing different body movements.
The stick is usually made of wood, plastic or fibreglass. The ribbon is either satin or non-starched synthetic such as rayon. The ribbon is 5 metres or more (depending on the level of the gymnast) and is thrown and swirled through the air while the gymnast moves around the floor. The ribbon creates designs in the air such as snakes and spirals. The ribbon can be thrown and caught in the routine.
Clubs are made of plastic or rubber or sometimes wood. The clubs are swirled and thrown to create many figures as possible. Throws are sometimes at great heights to enable the gymnast to perform body movements under the clubs before catching them again. Performance with clubs requires good coordination skills as well as a sense of timing to be able to catch them without looking.
