The Balance Beam is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is only used by female gymnasts. It is be made of a metal or steel frame and a wooden beam with a leather cover. The exercise time is up to 1 minutes 30 seconds.

Dimensions

• Height 125 cm (including about 20 cm landing mats)
• Length 5 m
• Width 10 cm

Scoring

Competitors are expected to perform a number of elements. Judges reward elegance of movement and punish a gymnast for a lack of control. This is regulated in the Code of Points. Elegance might be defined as an appearance of ease and confidence in movement with different movements on the apparatus appearing to flow together smoothly. A lack of control might be a wobble on the beam to maintain balance, an unplanned pause between linked movements to regain composure or a change of choreographed movement to disguise a mistake. Half a point (0.5) may be lost for falling off the beam. As with other gymnastic disciplines the dismount is important: it should be completed with a landing where both feet are together and no steps, particularly large strides, are needed to remain upright.

External links

US Gym Net's glossary of beam skills - hops, jumps and leaps - and dismounts