Longitudinal Study of Individual Exercises in Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics

Abstract

The performance evolution in rhythmic gymnastics depends on changes in code of points. At the beginning of each Olympic cycle the code of points changes and therefore, the content of the competition exercises, as well. This study aimed to analyze – for each apparatus – the evolution of number of technical elements and final score over the last two decades (last 13 world championships), how they have been affected by changed code of points, and how the final score relates to the number of technical elements performed. The sample consisted of 416 exercises in five apparatus: ball (96), rope (40), hoop (96), ribbon (88), and clubs (96). The following variables were gathered: code of points, apparatus, technical group, total number of elements, final classification, and final score. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects on the number of elements and final score in each apparatus. The number of technical elements increased in all apparatus, between 7.4 and 20% over a 10-year period. There were mixed evolutions of final score between the different apparatus, between -6.3 and 14% over a 10-year period. There is small increase in number of elements in hoop and a small decrease in rope after a code change. There was a small decrease in final score in championships after a code change in hoop, moderate in clubs and ribbon, and large in rope. There was a negative relationship between number of elements performed and final score in clubs. In conclusion, the code change generally effects the final score negatively, but there were apparatus specific effects of code change on number of elements and relationship between number of elements and final score.

A Different Perspective for Coaching and Training Education According to Score Changes During Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

“…Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport event and in this sport, gymnasts perform their routines by coordinating body elements with the handling of an apparatus (rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) in a choreographic composition accompanied by music (Sierra-Palmeiro, Bobo-Arce, Pérez-Ferreirós, & Fernández-Villarino, 2019). Competitions in rhythmic gymnastics consist of two programs: (1) individual and (2) group.…”

“…In rhythmic gymnastics with high artistic and aesthetic aspects, the performance is evaluated by both quantitative and qualitative criteria specified in the Code of Points (CoP). The CoP is set by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and is updated after every Olympic Games (Sierra-Palmeiro et al, 2019). For the past 20 years, FIG has made numerous changes to the rules to increase the objectivity of judging and scores, and to stimulate the development of rhythmic gymnastics (Sierra-Palmeiro et al, 2019).…”

Preliminary Study on Psychomotor Abilities Decisive for Technical Routines in Rhythmic Gymnastics

“…In the current context of high-performance sport and sport show, rhythmic gymnastics is going through a difficult transition period, facing major changes over the last decade, which have been transposed into the rules imposed at each new edition of the FIG Code of Points (2018). This document developed by the Technical Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation undergoes changes every four years but can be updated anytime during an Olympic cycle (Trifunov & Dobrijevic, 2013, p. 120) in order to increase the objectivity of the judges' scoring and stimulate the development of this sport discipline (Sierra-Palmeiro et al, 2019). According to the study conducted by Leandro et al (2017) on the issue of judging in rhythmic gymnastics at different levels of performance, there are problems judging medium-level athletes (in the second part of the ranking) mainly due to the lack of clearness and precision of the 2013-2016 Code of Points.…”

The effect of difficulty and execution scores on total ranking during 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships

“…RG is a competitive sport and gymnasts perform their routines with music, using different apparatus (rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) (Hashimoto et al, 2017). Gymnasts must adhere to both quantitative and qualitative criteria specified in the rules called code of points (CoP) (Sierra-Palmeiro et al, 2019). COP is set by FIG RG Technical Committee (Hashimoto et al, 2017) and updated every four years.…”

“…COP is set by FIG RG Technical Committee (Hashimoto et al, 2017) and updated every four years. For the past 20 years, FIG has made numerous changes to the CoP aiming to increase the objectivity of the judges scoring, and to stimulate the development of RG (Sierra-Palmeiro et al, 2019). The last rules were revised after the Rio Olympic Games (2016), and according to the outcomes of competitions in 2017, rules were updated.…”