The World of Gymnastics

Archive for November, 2009

Gymnastics leotards not only have a great verity of fabric, colors, patterns, cuts, and styles, but they also have many different sizes. After your gymnast picks out the perfect gymnastics leotard, all you have left to do is measure her to ensure you get the right size.

Keep in mind gymnastics leotards and dance leotards have different purposes and are made to fit different. Gymnastics leotards are made to fit much tighter. To ensure the perfect fit that all gymnasts desire, once again, make sure you measure before you buy, DO NOT GUESS WHAT SIZE!

Measuring is extremely important when purchasing a new girls gymnastics leotard. If you buy one that is to big your gymnast won’t be able to wear it due to the bagginess and improper fit. If you buy one too small they also will not be able to wear it. It will be very uncomfortable and will ride up their whole gymnastics class. To avoid wasting your money on the wrong size gymnastics leotard here are some guidelines for measuring your gymnast for the perfect fitting leotard.

The Way to Measure for a Gymnastics Leotard

1. Girth- Take your measuring tape and measure from the top of one shoulder, down the chest, between the legs, up the back to the top of the same shoulder you started at. This will give you your girth measurement.

2. Bust- Take your tape measure and wrap it around the chest at the biggest and fullest part.

3. Waist- Use your measuring tape and wrap it around the narrowest part of your torso. Make sure you do not to this over your pants or shirt (this will give a false reading)

4. Hips- Measure around the largest and widest part of your lower body, where your booty is.

All of these measurements are in inches. To get the best result make sure you do not measure over thick or baggy clothes!

Many parents wonder if one gymnastics leotard is enough or if they need more. This is a great question! The first thing to keep in mind is gymnastics leotards can get expensive. Not everyone can afford an excessive amount of leotards. Some gymnasts have one gymnastics leotard while other gymnasts have forty-five! Both of these are extremes. My general rule of thumb for the amount of leotards you should have is based on the amount of days you go to gymnastics. If you go two days a week then I think two gymnastics leotards are a perfect amount. If you go to gymnastics class six days a week then I think you should have six leotards for gymnastics. This amount should not include your team leotard. This is only the workout leotard I am talking about.

There are several reasons I think this is a good rule of thumb. First, this will keep a gymnast from wearing a sweaty, smelly, dirty leotard to class without being washed. Having a few different ones will allow parents (or gymnasts) more time to wash the previously used ones. This will cut down on washing gymnastic leotards non stop. It is also nice to have extra so you can keep a second in your gymnastics bag at all times just incase something happens and you need a back up.

Whether you can afford it or not, having many leotards for gymnastics can be a waste of money. What is the point of having this many gymnastics leotards when the only place you can wear them to is gymnastics class. You can take the money you would spend on these extra leotards and spend it on a private lesson or an extra gymnastics class. This would be MUCH more beneficial for your gymnast!

Gymnastics leotards are so cute theses days compared to when I was a gymnast. Back then (only 10 years ago) there was one main style and all were solid colors, yuck! How boring is this?

Today’s gymnastics leotards are a totally different story. There is such a wide selection: sparkles, studs, rhinestones, shimmers, glitter, cutouts, crisscross, velour, lycra, high cut, low cut, embroidery, flowers, hearts, flames, razor back, metallic, long sleeved, three quarter sleeved, sleeveless, etc. Variety is the keyword for gymnastic leotards of the twenty-first century!

It is very hard to pick out the perfect leotard because of the great variety but variety is what makes it so much fun! Here are a few tips that will help you and your gymnast pick out the perfect gymnastics leotard specifically for her.

• MATERIAL- Make sure you select a material that your gymnast like the feel of, especially if they have sensitive skin. Many of my gymnasts are picky and if they select the wrong material they tend not to wear it because it is, “too itchy.”

• CUT- This is usually all about your gymnast preference, do they like high cut or lower cut styles around their legs?

• SLEEVE STYLE-Do they like sleeveless, three quarter sleeves, or long sleeves. Many people choose sleeveless because it much cooler when working out and doing gymnastics.

• CUTOUTS- These are cute, little holes that are cut out on the sides or in the back of a leotard. You and your gymnast have to decide if this is appropriate for her and if she would be comfortable in it.

• STRAPS- There is many different strap types. Gymnastics leotards now have spaghetti straps, crisscrossed, racer back, etc. Make sure you select one that is comfortable for your gymnast. If she wears a bra please select one that doesn’t show her straps or any part of her bra; this is extremely tacky.

• COLOR and DESIGN- First you must decide what style, cut, material, and straps, you want. Now comes the fun part! It is now time to select the color and design that you have been longing for!

GOOD LUCK PICKING YOUR PERFECT NEW GYMNASTICS LEOTARD!

Gymnastics grips are extremely important when it comes to a gymnast’s uneven bar success. One thing more important than the gymnastics hand grips themselves is the fit. If the gymnastics grips are too big or too small they are worthless and will do their job insufficiently!

In order to get the perfect fitting gymnastics grips you need to know the gymnast’s grip size. You can ensure you get the correct grip size very easily; all you have to do is measure!

When you begin to measure for dowel grips have the gymnast make her hand straight.  Take a ruler or tape measure and measure from the bottom of the palm (where the wrist and hand meet) to the very top of the middle finger (do not include finger nails, which shouldn’t be there anyway). Make sure you measure the underside of the hand, not the front. The measurement should be in inches. Once you get the final measurement all you have left to do is pick out the brand and style of gymnastics grips you want. Go to the sizing chart, look at the different grips sizes and select what grip size matches your measurements. Make sure you double check the grip size you selected.

Both hands should be the same size but on rare occasions I get a gymnast who has one hand that is significantly bigger than the other. If this is the case, you will need to measure both hands and buy two different size dowel grips that are the same brand and style.

How to Measure for Palm grips

Gymnastics grips are very essential when it comes to a gymnast’s uneven bar success. One thing more vital than the gymnastics hand grips themselves is the fit. If the gymnastics grips are too big or too small they are useless and will not do their job sufficiently!

In order to get the ideal fitting gymnastics grips you need to know the gymnast’s grip size. You can guarantee you get the correct grip size very easily; all you have to do is measure!

When measuring for palm grips, make the gymnast opens her hand were it is completely straight.  Take a ruler or tape measure and measure from the bottom of the palm (where the wrist and hand meet) to the top of the palm (where the top of the palm and bottom of the middle finger meet). This should be measured in inches. After you get the gymnast’s measurement, the only thing left to do is select the type of palm grip you are going to buy. Check the sizing chart and see what grip size your child needs based on the brand and palm grip style you have selected. Make sure you double check this because there are many different grips sizes.

Both hands should be the same size but on few occasions I get a gymnast who has one hand that is considerably bigger than the other. If this is the case, you will need to measure both hands and buy two different size gymnastics grips that are the same brand and style. You will have to wear a different size palm grip on each hand.