The apparatus
In RG, there are five different small handapparatuses. Every year four of them are used
on competitions, according to a bi-annual cycles. Every apparatus has its own special
movements.
Rope
The rope is made of hemp or synthetic
material. Its length depends on the length of the gymnast; when the gymnast stands on it
with one foot, the ends have to come just under the shoulders. In both ends of the rope is
a knot. The rope's diameter must be 1 cm or less.
The gymnast has to hold and catch the rope nearby the knots, not in the middle. In a routine,
you can jump through the rope, throw and catch it and wirl it.
The compulsory group for rope is jumps, so the large majority of difficulties in the rope routine must be jumps.
For the rope is a slack apparatus, it can be difficult to handle. The rope must always have
a clear pattern and its movements should be uninterrupted.
Hoop
The hoop is made of wood or synthetic
material. Its inside diameter is between 80 and 90 cm and its weight is more then 300 gr.
You can wrap the hoop with one or more colors adhesive tape.
With the hoop you can wirl, throw and catch, move through the hoop and over the hoop. You
can also roll the hoop and rotate it around the hand or another part of the body.
The advantages of hoop are that it keeps its shape and is easy to hold. But when it drops,
it can easily roll out of the floor.
For hoop there is no compulsory body movement group, but the gymnast and coach have to make sure
that all groups are used equally.
Ball
The ball is made of rubber or synthetic material. Its diameter is between 18 and 20 cm and
its weight is at least 400 gr.
With the ball you can throw and catch, bounce, roll and make spirals. Ball routines are
often slow, romantic routines; because of all rolls ball is the perfect apparatus for such
a routine. Though there are very cool speedy ball routines too.
Ball is sometimes a hard apparatus, if it drops, it rolls or bounces away very easily.
Also moving the ball during difficulties is not as easy as, for example, with hoop or clubs,
as the gymnast is not allowed to 'grab' the ball with the whole hand.
The compulsory body movement group for ball is flexibilities/waves.
Clubs
The clubs are made of plastic or sometimes of wood. Wooden clubs are smaller and look different. They are
older and almost never used anymore. The height of the clubs is 40-45 cm and their weight
is at least 150 gr for one club. The clubs consist of three parts: head, neck and body.
The diameter of the neck may not be more then 3 cm.
With the clubs you can do twists, mills, throw and catch, ticking and more. You can also
make asymetric moves with the clubs; one club performs a totally different move then the
other one.
Clubs can be difficult because there are two of them. But you gain a lot of artistic bonus
points, because they're easy to hold and move during difficulties. Only when they hit your
head, it's less funny!
The compulsory body movement group for clubs is balance.
Ribbon
The ribbon consist of a stick and the ribbon itself. The stick is made of wood, plastic or
fiberglass and its length is 50-60 cm. Its diameter may not be more then 1 cm. The ribbon
is made of satin or some material like that. The ribbons weight is at least 35 gr.
The ribbon creates pictures in the air, like snakes and spirals. You can also throw and
catch and move through or over the ribbon.
People who don't practise gymnastics mostly like the ribbon the most, but since it's so long
and slack, the ribbon is very hard to handle. The gymnast must take care not to get wrapped
in the ribbon or get knots in it. The ribbon must move all the time and may never lay 'dead'
on the floor.
The compulsory body movement group for ribbon is pirouettes.