Fans Guide To Balance Beam

If you have not already read Fans Guide to the Code of Points - please do so as it will make this all much clearer.

The gymnast performs a choreographed routine consisting of leaps, acrobatic skills, somersaults, turns and dance elements on a padded sprung beam. Apparatus norms set by the International Gymnastics Federation.  The event requires in particular, balance, flexibility and strength.

Important Facts:

• The routine must be within 60 to 80 seconds in length
• The beam must be specified at 125 cm (4'1'') high, 500 cm (16'5'') long, and 10cm (4") wide.

The 5 Element Groups that must be completed are:

1. One connection of at least two different dance elements, one being a leap, jump or hop with 180° split (cross position only)
2. Turn – On one foot
3. One acro series, min. of 2 elements 1 being a salto
4. Acro elements in different directions (fwd/swd and bwd)
5. Dismount (must be of D value)

Also, connection bonus is awarded according to the following:

Connection Value can be awarded for direct connections.The value of the coefficients for CV will be added into the A- Score.

Two acro flight elements excluding the dismount:

• C+C/D= 0.1
• B+E=0.1

3 acro or dance element including mount and dismount:

• B+B+D=0.2
• B+B+E=0.2
• C+C+C=0.2
• B+C+D=0.2

Here is a sample routine from the 2007 World Beam Champion Nastia Liukin: