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Dr. George

Concepts of Balance Beam*
by Gerald S. George, Ph.D.
February 21, 2012 
gymnast balance beam

  

Absolute balance is to experience a

"moment of ecstasy"...

 

 

Like Floor Exercise, the Balance Beam event provides a unique venue for each performer to tell her story through complex maneuvers combined with classical ballet and expressive dance elements. Although these skills are in effect no different from those in Floor Exercise, the physical constraints of the Balance Beam, coupled with its added dimension of height, demand significantly higher levels of technical exactness and balance, and entail greater risk.1 Seemingly minor miscalculations in skill execution that would be scarcely discernible on the floor often manifest themselves as gross errors in performance on the beam. Consequently it would be fair to say that the beam's narrow performing surface and greater height give this event an unforgiving nature, which ruthlessly exploits and sorely magnifies even the smallest of mistakes.

 

IN-LINE SPACE

 

Imagine the surface area of the beam extending directly outward and upward and then returning in a giant circle, as illustrated in figure 10.1. Gymnasts should use this "in-line space" as the conceptual framework for the execution of all beam skills. While the height dimension is limited solely by the gymnast's capability, the forward/backward and particularly the side-to-side dimensions of the beam require uncompromising technical excellence. And as in Floor Exercise, the more a gymnast can call upon advanced tumbling maneuvers to explore the upper range of this "in-line" space, the greater the potential for success, particularly at the elite level.

 

1 The performing surface of the competitive beam is only 4 inches wide by 16 feet long and is raised approximately 4 feet above ground level.
In-Line Space Dimensions for the Balance Beam Event
Balance Beam Space Dimensions
Figure 10.1 In-line space dimensions for the Balance Beam Event

Mastering Skills at Ground Level

 

Many factors come into play when learning to control one's balance. Mastering correct body shape and developing proper muscular tension in basic movements are important first steps. However a second and equally important consideration for the beam centers upon ensuring that the intended skills are first mastered on the ground, with particular attention to exactness in technique as well as precise in-line accuracy.

 

      All too often, one observes performers attempting skills and combinations on the balance beam that are only half-mastered at ground level. Worse yet, performers then strive to achieve full mastery of these skills while training on the beam, only to ingrain incorrect movement patterns, resulting in decreased performance consistency. Consequently it is important to stress that without first achieving mastery at ground level, the probability of successfully executing the same skills on the beam becomes less than remote.

 

Let's start with level flight... 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

*This article excerpted from Championship Gymnastics: Biomechanical Techniques for Shaping Winners. For additional information, see Chapter 10, "Concepts of Balance Beam," pages 215-228. Also covered are:  

  • Training the Core
  • Stacking the Vertebrae
  • Strong Ankles/Wrists and Pliable Feet/Hands
  • The Cross-Extensor Reflex
  • Follow-Through to Completion
  • Focusing on the Target
  • Consistent Environmental Perspective
  • Progressions and Repetitions
  • Smoothing the Transitions

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