Acrobatic Gymnastics
Acrobatic Gymnastics is a growing sport in the United States, largely due to its merger with the USAG. Routines are performed on the 40 x 40 spring floor to music like a floor exercise, but uses 2 or more partners in the routine. The sport is a true gymnastics discipline using the gymnastics elements of dance, individual acrobatic agilities, presses, balances, and strengths; along with tumbling and partner stunts of balance and tempo. Sports Acrobatics has hosted World Cups for many decades, but is still not an Olmpic Event, although it has been exhibited at several past Olympiads.
The events within the discipline of Acrobatic Gymnastics are divided by gender and numbers. There are 5 events competed: Women's Pair, Men's Pair, Mixed Pair, Women's Trio and Men's Quad or Four. Elites have 3 routines they compete: a Balance Routine, a Tempo Routine, and a Combined Routine. The lower levels (L4-L7) compete only one routine: Combined. That means elements of balance such as a hand-to-handstand, and tempo such as a foot pitch back flip, are in the routine. Upper levels (L8- L10) have 2 routines: a Balance and a Tempo.
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Women's Pair By far the most common event since it is easier to get two girls to work together. There are height, mass and maturity deductions if the partners are too far apart in size. The tops are usually younger than the bases. Years ago they were called topmounters and understanders. That expression is rarely heard today. |
Men's Pair Getting two men to work together is harder so this event usually only has a few in mumber that compete. When two men do work together thay often develop long time friendships. |
Mixed Pair This is much mnore common than Men's Pair, especially at the upper levels. The Mixed Pair can be very beautiful and draws upon ballet's Adagio and Pas de Deux. A great Mixed Pair has a man that can dance as well as the woman. |
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Women's Group The group events are the most popular events in Sports Acrobatics. The Women's Trio is the second largest event in terms of getting competitors to perform. Pyramids and group tempo elements such as basket tosses are crowd pleasers. |
Men's Group This is the most exciting event of all and the audience always loves the event. Regrettably, it is just as hard to get four men to work together as it is to get two men to work together. Although it is a little easier since boys don't feel as uncomfortable in a a group as they do with just one other male. The Men's Four Balance exercise is the only exercise not performed to music. |