Glossary of Gymnastics Terms

Key Terms
Term	Meaning
All-Around	A gymnast’s combined total across all four apparatus.
Amplitude	The height, distance, and fullness of a skill. More amplitude scores better.
Artistry	The expressive, performance quality of a routine, judged on floor and beam.
Back hip circle	A basic bars element rotating backward around the bar at the hips.
Blind change	A half-turn in handstand on bars performed without sighting the bar.
Code of Points	The FIG rulebook that defines how every routine is scored.
Compositional Requirement	A required element type a routine must include to earn part of the D-score.
Connection Value	Bonus for directly linking qualifying difficult skills.
D-score	The difficulty score; open-ended, built from element value, requirements, and connections.
Dismount	The skill used to leave an apparatus, on bars and beam.
E-score	The execution score; starts at 10.0 with deductions subtracted.
Giant	A full rotation around the high bar passing through handstand.
Hollow body	The foundational rounded core shape underpinning most skills.
Kip	The fundamental bars element used to rise from below the bar to support.
Layout	A salto performed with a fully straight body.
Pirouette	A turn performed in handstand, mainly on bars.
Release move	A bars skill where the gymnast lets go of the bar and re-catches it.
Salto	An aerial somersault rotation (tuck, pike, or layout shape).
Split leap	A leap showing a full 180-degree split in the air.
Spot / Spotting	A coach physically assisting or safeguarding a skill during learning.
Tuck	A body position with knees pulled tightly to the chest.
Tumbling pass	A connected acrobatic line across the floor.
Vault table	The padded apparatus a gymnast pushes off in vault.
Walkover	A slow front or back rotation through handstand, one foot at a time.
Yurchenko	A vault family entered with a round-off onto the board.