LAGC

Formerly known as Sports Acrobatics, this is a modern form of Gymnastics where the athletes work in pairs, threes or fours.   There are five disciplines; men’s pairs, women’s pairs, mens groups, women’s groups, mixed pairs (base always male) The sport is governed internationally by the Federation International De Gymnastique [FIG] and in the United Kingdom by British Gymnastics [BG]. It is a spectacular sport that combines strength, flexibility, power, and elegance.

Participants form partnerships [pairs, trios or fours] and work together by performing acrobatic skills with each other.  In each partnership one or more members is classed as a ‘base’ and the other as a ‘top’.  The bases are bigger and usually older and they are responsible for balancing or throwing and catching the top during the routines.  Unlike other forms of gymnastics, the athletes learn to work together as a team and many form long term friendships after retiring from the sport.

This consists of 5 level, regional novice (cannot qualify through to nationals) and intermediate levels 1-4. Gymnasts have to perform one routine (two at level 4), consisting of balance and dynamic elements which are compulsory. Routines should value 25/30 to be scored out of 10, anything lower than this results in routines start values being lower than 10.  Routines are also marked on artistry (5.00marks) and difficulty (3.00 marks).

Once through the NDP levels gymnasts progress to FIG level. Competitors have to perform three routines on a gymnastic sprung floor [12m x 12m] with music.  Each routine lasts about 2 and a half minutes; · Balance – the partners perform a variety of skills where the top balances on the base · Dynamic – the partners perform a variety of skills where the bases throw and catch the top · Combined – the partners mix balance and dynamic elements together Coaches use a code of points to decide which skills their gymnasts will perform, this will depend on maturity, and physical fitness.  All skills are given a difficulty value, so the harder the skill the higher the value. These values are added up to give a final difficulty score which is then interpreted in a table to give a score out of 10.Routines are judged as follows: 10.00 marks for technical proficiency, 10.00 marks for artistry (how well the routine is structured, timing and performance), and 10.00 marks for difficulty.

Competitions under British Gymnastics start from the age of 6 at Club level and progress to Regional, National and International levels where the ages range from 8 to 20+ [or more].  There are three age groups in FIG competitions; these are 11 to 16, 12 to 19 and over 15.  The over 15 age group is the ‘Senior’ level of competition.