Gymnastics Apparel

The very basic gymnastics apparel consists of a simple tee shirt and a pair of shorts. Gymnastic clothing, however, can vary widely between practice gymnastic wear and that worn for competitions. Initially, there is little difference between beginner boy gymnastic apparel and girl’s gymnastic clothing. Essentially, boy’s gymnastic clothing and girl gymnastics wear is similar in its simplicity and style. All clothing is body forming and lightweight. For practice, both sexes can wear the shirt and shorts, but for formal competitions or meets, each must wear official gymnastics wear, usually sporting the logo or slogan of their club.

Basic youth gymnastics apparel and dance and gymnastics wear includes leotards, a warm-up suit, gym slippers and grips. These outfits are essential, but not for all gymnastic events. It is necessary to order them well in advance, sometimes as much as a year prior to usage. Consider ordering gymnastic clothes through or under the auspices of your club or association. This will help reduce the price of various articles of kid’s gymnastics apparel.

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Specifically, boy’s gymnastics apparel consists of shorts for floor exercises and long white pants for all other events. The gymnastic wear for girls in competition is a leotard. A colored body suit or leotard worn over footless tights is also fashionable and acceptable. In team events, male and female gymnastics apparel wear identical clothing to indicate their support of and membership in their team.

Gymnastic apparel must not stand alone. You must have more than one pair of tights and more than one leotard or pair of pants. These may be all the same color or in different colors for each event entered. Gymnasts who compete in both optional and compulsories require two different leotards for each type of competition. This is beyond the warm-up outfits and the practice attire. There is only need, however, for one team warm-up outfit. In addition, consider personal items to keep the hair out of the face, cosmetics, tape and a gym bag to keep hold it all.

Gymnastic apparel for boys has rarely resulted in penalties, although the sporting of a Red Baron helmet, goggles and scarf, by Illinois gymnast Hal Shaw during his vault at the Big Ten competition, during the 1960s, raised some eyebrows and created giggles. This does not hold true for women. A woman tugging at her leotard can have marks deducted. In the 1992 Olympics, the judge’s penalized three women for wearing what they felt were too skimpy and revealing leotards. What these judges would have said about the naked Greek gymnasts is another matter.