It is impossible to imagine modern gymnastics competitions without a set of special equipment. All of them are difficult for athletes in one way or another. The most original and unusual place for performing unimaginable complexity exercises is a gymnastic beam. It requires the athlete not only agility and strength to perform the elements, but also an excellent sense of balance.
Gymnastics
In the fifth century, the term "gymnastics" was known in ancient Greece. It implied a specific set of exercises for health, martial arts and education. The Greeks used gymnastics to train the military and for physical development. It was believed that exercise nurtures courage and a sense of nobility. They develop strength, agility, speed, beauty, grace.
Gladiators used it in their training to improve reaction speed and increase endurance. In the Renaissance, for the full development of youth, gymnastics was mandatory.
In 1881, the European Gymnastics Association was created, in 1987 it became the International Gymnastics Federation. In 1896, Athens gymnastics was included in the program of the Olympic Games. True, only for men. Women's gymnastics at the Olympics appeared in 1928, and in 1936 a gymnastic beam was included in the program. The individual competition on the projectile was first played by athletes in 1952.
History
Earlier, horizontally fixed boards were used to develop a sense of balance in athletes. They were supported at a certain height by several supports. They practiced emphasis, turns, walking, bounces and hops.
We used such a simulator not only gymnasts, but also athletes. For the first time, a German sports teacher Johann Christoph Friedrich Gutsmuts came up with a tree trunk as a simulator. Only with time did the advanced apparatus become officially recognized in gymnastics. Gymnastic beam helps to develop the vestibular apparatus, develops a sense of balance and balance.
Design
From the name of the shell it’s clear what is at stake. Actually, this is a horizontal beam, very durable, mounted on two racks. The standard length for the competition is 5 meters, the width of the gymnastic log is 10 cm, its height is up to 16 cm, the height of the apparatus itself can be adjusted up to 120 cm from the floor level.
It is made of coniferous trees. It can be solid or glued from plywood sheets. Top must have anti-slip coating. It can be hard or soft. Corners and edges are rounded along the entire length of the log. The projectile is equipped with two adjustable racks made of metal.
Manufacturers of sports equipment guarantee the quality of their products, the reliability of their mounts and the maximum possible safe operation of the projectile.
Log exercises
Performance on this projectile takes only 60-90 seconds and consists of three stages: a jump (climb on a projectile), performance, a bounce. Gymnastic beam allows athletes to perform a variety of elements, they have their own classification:
- Pounce. This is the beginning of the performance when the gymnast jumps onto the apparatus, usually with the help of a bridge. The jump can be simple or complicated elements of gymnastics (circle, max, horizontal emphasis) or acrobatics (somersault, coup).
- Bounce. They can be performed from different positions - bent over in a grouping. A sophisticated option - with the breeding of the legs into horizontal twine.
- Turn. The athlete can perform them on the leg, back or stomach. The position of the body is also different: with a bent leg or with vertical twine.
- Static element Its implementation, according to the rules, requires fixing at least two seconds. These include twines, racks, bridges.
- Acrobatic element. The most difficult and entertaining part of the performance. This group includes somersaults, coups from various positions, somersaults, emphasis.
- Dismount. The ending of the performance, as a rule, somersaults (single or multiple) in various versions, simple and complicated with turns.
Gymnastic beam - exclusively a female projectile. In men's gymnastics, they compete on rings, parallel bars, vaulting, floor exercises and a horse.
Types of Logs
There are several varieties of this sports equipment:
- Outdoor gymnastic beam. Various models are available. There are small ones - only 1.5 meters long, 10-22 cm wide, for kindergartens. For sports sections, models from 3 to 5 meters long, 10 cm wide, and a height above the floor of no more than 40 cm are used. They are available in two versions: with a soft or hard coating.
- Universal gymnastic beam. This projectile allows you to change the height above the floor, up to a maximum of 120 cm. Also performed with a hard or soft coating.
- "Soft" logs. They are a tape 5 meters long, 10 cm wide, and are used in training.
- Logs can be made of aluminum, covered with elastic packing using hygroscopic material.
Additionally, the industry produces special surface enhancers (nozzle of rigid construction), more precisely, the width of the projectile, covered with artificial leather. Attaches to the surface with adhesive tape. In addition, there are also soft nozzles made of special fabric. Improved props allow you to adjust the height (standard gradation 5-10 cm) without the need to shift the mats. The weight of the log is compensated by a special spring filled with nitrogen. To move the projectile designed special carts.