Side Somersault Meaning in Gymnastics

A side somersault is a sideways flip performed on the balance beam. The gymnast jumps into the air and rotates the body toward the side. This move requires the athlete to tuck the knees toward the chest. The rotation happens over the shoulder rather than forward or directly backward. This skill is unique because the gymnast stays aligned with the beam. The athlete must maintain a tight tuck to spin quickly in the air. This flip shows the gymnast has excellent balance and coordination on a narrow surface. A gymnast performs a side somersault during a high level beam routine. The athlete must push off the beam with a very strong leg drive. Keeping the eyes on the beam helps the gymnast find the landing. The gymnast lands on two feet with the knees bent to absorb force. This move counts as a difficult acrobatic element for a gymnastics score. Strong hip muscles help the gymnast initiate the sideways rotation with enough speed. The athlete must land perfectly straight to avoid falling off the four inch beam. Careful arm movement helps the gymnast stay centered during the fast sideways flip.