Sports gymnastic shells

Gymnastics is the technical basis of numerous sports. Gymnastic shells and equipment allow not only to hone the technique of performing individual elements, but also provide an opportunity to improve coordination of movements, improve the sense of balance, develop flexibility, endurance.

Discipline includes, above all, supporting jumps and floor exercises. Let's look at the types of gymnastic shells, we'll figure out for what purposes they are used.

Bars

Allocate multiple and parallel bars. The former are used for exercises by gymnasts, the latter by male athletes.

The shell is made in the form of two parallel poles. The length of each of them is 3.5 m. Hardwoods are used as the materials of manufacture : beech, ash, birch. To improve the breaking strength, the core of the poles is reinforced with steel rods.

The telescopic construction of the bars allows you to adjust their height, depending on the needs of the athlete or the requirements of the competition. Female gymnastic projectiles of this category are fixed on stretch marks.

According to generally accepted requirements, during the competition the bars of the male bars are placed at a height of 1.75 m. At the same time, the upper jumper of the female shell is located at a level of 2.45 m from the surface of the safety mats, and the lower one at an altitude of 1.65 m .

Horizontal bar

The tourniquet and the crossbar are gymnastic projectiles, the names of which designate the same device. The design is presented in the form of a steel rod with a diameter of 28 mm and a length of about 2.5 m, which is installed on two parallel telescopic racks. The latter are fixed on stretch marks in the form of cables or chains, which are attached to the floor.

Since during the operation on such sports gymnastic shells extraordinary loads occur, the main structural elements here are made of high-tensile spring steel. Allocate universal horizontal bars and crossbars for competitions.

Horse

Gymnastic projectiles of this category are used in the programs of women's and men's competitions. The main purpose of this inventory is the performance of acrobatic elements.

The horse includes an elongated plastic or wooden base, lined with elastic material, and a heavy metal stand that prevents the projectile from moving. The device contains two parallel knobs, which serve as sticks.

The length of the shell of the standard projectile is 1.6 m, width - 35 cm, and height - 28 cm. The latter is strengthened on metal "legs", which allow to change the position and height of the projectile. To test the men's competitive gymnastics program, the horse is located at a height of 1.15 m from the surface of the site. If, however, the projectile is used as a basis for repulsion in the performance of the support jump, the racks are moved to the level of 1.25 m for women and 1.35 m for men. The horse's weight is 125 kg.

Such gymnastic shells are made of wood. The body is covered with rubber or felt, and then burlap.

There are several types of gymnastic horses:

• Jumping - deprived of handles;
• Mahovye - have handholds;
• Universal - contain a slot for the installation of handles.

Gymnastic bridge

Used when performing acrobatic jumps. Mounted on a flat surface in a closed type. It consists of a rigidly connected base and a hopping platform of curved shape. Between these elements is a spring.

The platform of the gymnastic bridge is made of plywood 15 mm thick and has a multi-layer structure. The outer coating of the projectile is represented by elastic packing, which prevents slipping during jumping.

Rings

Represent a moving gymnastic projectile. The rings are hung on special elastic, high-strength cables. A gymnastic project is used in the program of the Olympic Games to develop the men's program.

According to the requirements of the International Gymnastics Federation, the ropes of the device must be fixed at a height of 5.75 m from the surface of the site, and the rings themselves at a level of 2.75 m. The inner diameter of the grapples is 18 cm. The distance between the rings in a calm state is 50 cm.

Log

This gymnastic projectile - the 6th in our review - is used to perform exercises for balance. This inventory is presented in the form of a horizontal beam 10 cm wide and not more than 5 m long. According to the standards, the height of the projectile is 125 cm.

Make a log from softwood. On top of the shell is covered with a shell in the form of solid veneer. The log must necessarily contain an outer cloth covering of the material, which prevents slipping during exercise and accordingly protects the athlete from injury. For the same reason, the corners and edges of the beam are rounded. These gymnastic projectiles are strengthened on two adjustable racks that contain fixed shock absorbers.

Currently, there are: universal logs of variable height, low devices of constant height, as well as products with soft and hard coatings. These types of gymnastic projectiles are used in various types of training and competitive activities.

Gymnastics carpet

It is used to develop a program aimed at performing free exercises and acrobatic jumps. Can be used both in combination with an elastic platform, and without it. For the assembly of the latter, plywood sections are used, which contain coatings with markings, elements with damping qualities.

Mats

Gymnastic mats are used as a safety device to mitigate shock loads when performing a jump from various projectiles. Products of this category are produced from linen cloth, cotton fabrics, canvas. The stuffing here is foam rubber, cotton wool or sponge rubber. As for external cases, they are made from natural or artificial leather.

There are gymnastic mats of several standard sizes: 2x1 m and 2x1.25 m. According to the safety requirements, the thickness of the products should not exceed 6.5 cm.

Today, when carrying out youth competitions, mats with foam rubber are used. However, due to the increased loads, in the adult competitive practice the use of such devices is prohibited. Therefore, mats with rubber fillers are used here.