Gymnastics

Gymnastics is often regarded as one of the most physically challenging sports in the world. It requires balance, stamina, strength and multi-colored leotards!  For any budding gymnast, there's a whole list of supplies to start out with.

Equipment

Equipment is generally expensive and often only sold to certified gyms. However, check out some small trampolines  and mats  for practice at home. If you're looking to splurge, tumble tracks  are a great way to learn and improve tumbling techniques. Practice balance beams  are also available and can often roll or fold for storage. For a little extra help with technical skills, invest in some training videos  specially designed for gymnasts.

The Basics

Every gymnast needs the basic uniform: a leotard. Leos come in many different colors for both men  and women.  During practice lots of gymnasts like to wear shorts  over their leos; Soffee  brand shorts are a comfortable and flexible option. For girls with longer hair you'll want to buy lots of hair ties  and bobby pins  to keep it out of your face (and in line with many competitive league guidelines!).

If you are considering participating in the uneven bars, invest in a durable pair of grips.  These slip over your fingers and prevent any tears on the skin of your palms, and therefore are a must-have for any competitor. Once you get a little more involved with the sport you may also want to look at ankle  and wrist supports  to prevent injury.

Outfit Essentials
Danskin Leotards  are one of the most popular brands and you can easily find them at almost any sporting goods store.	Make sure to add a competition leotard  to your wardrobe. Most companies will make custom leos for any competitor.	Grab some warm-ups  for the hours before a big meet.

The Extras

There are hundreds of fun products that are related to gymnastics as well, so don't just stick to the necessities! Take a look at some score books,  gymnast tote bags  and tumble shorts.  A great gift option for these athletes would be a charm bracelet  or a gymnastics teddy bear. 

For the Observer

If you prefer to watch from the sidelines instead of turning back-flips, check out some gymnastics videos including the last few Olympic competitions.  Also try reading Little Girls in Pretty Boxes  or Gymnastics: The Trials, the Triumphs, the Truth.  Both books give a unique inside perspective to the sport.

Related Guides

• Cheerleading: This guide provides some useful links to cheerleading supplies. If you're one of the many crossover gymnast cheerleaders, this is a must view.
• Fitness: You can find some suggestions to improve your general fitness here.
• Yoga Gear: Yoga and gymnastics use a lot of the same supplies. Try some of these yoga pants for your workouts or use a yoga mat for warm-up stretching.

External Links

• USA-Gymnastics.org: This website has all the details about the current US gymnastics team.
• Buzzle.com: For some facts about gymnastics, check out this article.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
DE: Pilates