Artistic gymnastics equipment
 Women’s artistic gymnastics foresees competition in four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. In reality, this apparatus and the exercises that can be performed with them, are tied to the same thread, therefore every gymnastic action can be repeated with opportune variations, on any of the aforementioned apparatus.
Learning the exercises is often facilitated by the use of equipment, which, not by chance, are called facilitating apparatus. Their purpose is to enable the global or partial execution of a given exercise in easier conditions and they stimulate the propriocectivity. Let’s explore them further:
The vault: the horse for vaulting is 160 cm long, 35 cm wide and has a variable height from the ground. In competition it is 120 cm. It is supported by two legs that give it excellent stability and it is covered with a non-slippery elastic material.
The facilitating apparatus for learning the vault are: the bench (stimulates the strengthening of lower limbs); the plinth (permits easily regulating the height of the obstacle); the little horse (it is similar to the horse but its smaller dimensions facilitate movement); mats (protect from falls); mini trampoline (facilitates the push from the lower limbs, is used instead of the spring board).
The uneven bars. They consist of two bars fixed to the lateral uprights. The height of the bars can be regulated as well as the distance between them. The entire apparatus is supported by a series of braces that increase its stability.
The bars are 2.40 meters long. The facilitating apparatus for the uneven bars are: the single bar (it avoids the obstacle of the second bar); the mini bar (it enables sensitizing the grip); the diamond-shaped bars (they facilitate muscular strength and some exercises.
The balance beam. It consists of a wooden axis that is 10 cm wide and 5 meters long. Its height from the ground can be regulated and is at 120 cm for competitions.
The facilitating apparatus for learning are: a line on the ground (it enables controlling movement without risking balance); the balance axis (it stimulates the sense of balance due to its reduced support base); the bench (it enables a first try detached from the ground but on a wider support base); the low beam or based on the ground; the modified beam (with the help of maps to increase the support base).
The floor. It is highly elastic and measures 12 x 12 meters with a height of about 10 cm. Floor exercises are carried out on it. The facilitating apparatus are represented by inclined planes (they facilitate movement by taking advantage of gravity); the slopes; the elastic platform (it facilitates pushing with the lower limbs); mini trampoline; parachute mats; safety pit.
The gymnast must take note of the characteristics of each apparatus, in fact being familiar with them will contribute to developing strength, balance and skill that are useful both from the physical and psychological points of view, increasing trust and confidence in their possibilities.
Sensitization must be carried out by drawing on all the motor schemes foreseen for gymnastics, using various apparatus each time and possibly working in a circuit. This type of work will be carried out in cases in which the student proves to be particularly prepared for this type of work.
Sensitization with the horse foresees acquiring a technique for getting over obstacles and landing on the floor. When one has found his or her own technique, more precision in body control and limb extension will be required.
As far as the uneven bars are required, the work will tend toward acquiring a grip, in order to propose exercises requiring resting or suspension.
The work will be developed both on the even bars as well as on the facilitating apparatus.
Becoming familiar with the beam means acquiring a good degree of balance and awareness of the apparatus and its limited support base. Falling techniques will also be learnt.
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