Decoding the Composition Requirement: Balance Beam
In this week’s edition, we’re decoding what’s expected of an elite balance beam routine.
A quick reminder that composition requirements are select skills types or connections that the judges expect to see in an elite routine, and are worth half a point in difficulty each. They must be fulfilled by a skill in the code of points, and one skill can be used for multiple requirements.
There is one unique specification for the balance beam. All but one composition requirement must begin and end on the beam. This means that mounts and dismounts cannot be used to meet them.
Let’s dive into the oldest of the women’s artistic gymnastics events, and what it means to have a full balance beam routine.
Requirement 1: Dance Series
The gymnast must do two dance skills in connection, or one right after the other. One of those skills must be a leap, jump, or hop with a full 180 degree split in the air. This requirement is to prove a minimum level of flexibility, as well as the ability to perform a sequence without any acrobatic skills.
The majority of gymnasts will do two different jumps or leaps to fulfill this requirement. However, some bolder, more turning-inclined gymnasts have discovered that it can also be fulfilled with a turn as one of the dance skills.
Requirement 2: Full Turn
The only requirement that explicitly demands constant contact with the beam, gymnasts must complete a minimum of a full 360 degree turn. For many, this requirement is the ultimate test of balance.
Recently, some leniency has been given for this specific requirement. For gymnasts that aren’t particularly good turners, they’re given two more options. They can instead fulfill this requirement with a roll, or skill where they roll their body over or around the beam. Or, if this still isn’t their speed, they can do a flair, where they prop themselves up on their hands and swing, or flair, their legs around and over the beam.
Another bit of leeway is the fact that this is the only exception to the rule that all composition requirements must begin and end on the beam. While there are no turning mounts in the code of points (yet), a flair or rolling mount is allowed.
Why all the exceptions?
While a single turn may look like the easiest part of a gymnast’s routine, the truth is that it can often be the most challenging. Judges are strict about the body doing a full rotation in the exact same position throughout. An accidental drop of the heel or wobble of the leg, even just to keep yourself from teetering off the edge of the beam, could cost you an entire half point.
Requirement 3: Acrobatic Series
The gymnast must connect two acrobatic skills. Both must have flight, meaning a moment where their body is fully in the air, and one must contain a salto, or a flip that doesn’t involve using your hands. This requirement is meant to prevent gymnasts from competing a routine full of several high difficulty skills done in isolation.
For this requirement, you can technically do two of the same skill to meet it. So if a gymnast does, say, two back tucks in succession, they’ve fulfilled the requirement. Most don’t choose this route, as they can only count the skill once anyways and would consider repeating it wasted time and energy. But if their repertoire of skills is limited, or they want to use their other skills in ways that are more beneficial to them, this is a good way to get around that.
Requirement 4: Acrobatic Skills in Different Directions
Gymnasts must include both an acrobatic skill done backwards and an acrobatic skill done forward or sideways. This requirement is to ensure gymnasts aren’t just moving in one direction across the beam.
This can become an issue for gymnasts who’ve developed mental blocks with acro skills going forward or backwards. If their brain is telling them not to flip a certain way, it doesn’t quite matter what the judges want from them.
The key to getting around this is typically found in the fact that, unlike the acrobatic series requirement, flight is not a necessity. Your body setting off alarm bells every time you try to flip backwards? A back walkover, where you're in constant contact with the beam, might be the way around it. You’re brain yelling “no” at the thought of flipping forward? A cartwheel, which counts as sideways acrobatics, may be for you.
Beam is the most precarious of the events, where anything and everything is possible. To show a true mastery of it, gymnasts must prove they’re capable of every type of skill, at least at the most basic level.
Join us next time as we break down the final composition requirements on floor in our never ending journey to decode the code of points!