Besides, it happens to be a chance for her to get away from the boring world of routine (both at home and at school). With this sport, she has something fun and interesting to do, get some physical activity, learn something new, and even improve her social life by meeting friends. It’s the kind of hobby that can stay with her for life, regardless of whether she wants a professional career in it or an activity that she’d use to relax.

So, how do you get her to start with it? It’s pretty simple, all you have to do is sign her up for classes and choose from the versatile girls gymnastics leotard range, and she’s good to go. As the most basic piece of equipment, it’s also the most important, so it deserves some extra attention when you’re shopping for it.

Source: thelaneandco.com

Right Fit

Having in mind she’s going to be doing various movements, she needs to wear something that’s comfortable – neither too tight nor too loose, but the right fit.

When it comes to competition, the leotard should be well-fitted to feel like a second skin and show off the gymnast body, specifically the defined muscles. Whereas for training, it’s okay to have a little room. In case you want her to wear underwear with it, take this also into consideration and make sure it’s snug and in a colour that blends in instead of standing out from the leotard.

If you’re buying online, it’s better to have your girl measured to be sure on the exact size needed. The easiest way to do so is to measure her height from head to toe, as well as get the hip and chest circumference with a cloth tape. Additionally, when buying long-sleeved leotards, don’t forget to measure up the length of the arms as well as the upper arm circumference.

Design Options

There are two types of girls gymnastics leotards: sleeveless and long-sleeved. The basic distinction is that the sleeveless are ideal for the hot days of the year while the long-sleeved provide warmth for the cold. The other difference is that long sleeves are a more elegant sight for competitions. But when buying for training, feel free to go for sleeveless.

In addition, there’s another design called both a unitard and a biketard, known for the combination with shorts. They’re especially good for toddlers as they’re more comfortable and don’t show off the diaper.

Source: sfaturi.decathlon.ro

Fabric Choices

You may not find the fabric to be all too important but it is, especially when fit and comfort are concerned. Though there are various options of girls gymnastics leotard, not all of them are suitable.

Leave the jewelled and sparkly aside when buying your daughter’s first training leotard. For instance, the metallic fabric, also known as foil panelled, is a great choice for competitions given that it’s flashy. However many find it to be rather uncomfortable because it’s a little tighter, so it’s better to choose something stretchy like lycra, spandex or spandex in combination with polyester.

Little girl leotards made of fabric blends are often better because besides being stretchy enough, they’re also lightweight, breathable and easy to care for as they’re quick drying. Cotton may be a soft fabric but it lacks elasticity whereas microfibre offers the right amount of comfort for performance. So, combining the two allows you to get the best of both world for your child.

If you’re nostalgic about the fashion of the 80s and 90s, fabrics like the velour and velvet are still fashionable. And best of all, they hold up well to wear and tear – just what you need for a sport with lots of movement such as gymnastics. Still, if sweating is your concern, then they aren’t good options for summer.

Source: hamihagh.ir

Different Styles

Fabrics aren’t the only versatility you’d come across when shopping for kids gymnastics leotard, there are the styles too. I wouldn’t say they’ve got that much to do with comfort but rather with the look. So, depending on how fancy you want your girl to be during training and competition, you can choose camisole, racer, mock-neck, tank, keyhole or wide open back.

For a little girl any of these are great, but once she reaches the age of wearing a bra or bralette, you’d have to think of covering them. The best way to do so is to choose the mock-neck and tank leotards as they provide enough coverage.

This explains why there’s such a vast variety of the gymnastics leos nowadays, in versatile styles and colours you can find at specialised stores, as the basic equipment they are. Before we move on to the purchasing aspect, it’s important to focus on the reasons as to why they’ve come to be so essential in the first place.

Source: Dancestore.com.au

The Performance

Ever since they were first used officially in the sport, back in 1886, the main purpose was to allow the gymnast a greater amount of comfort and flexibility needed for the precise movements. The first gymnast to wear one was Jules Leotard hence the name of this piece of equipment. Such clothing was and still is requisite to this day, especially during the aerial performances which demand more freedom.

The Focus

Let’s face it, just a little distraction is enough to mess up your precision, lead to errors and even injuries. Being able to focus on the moves and perform well is more important than having to deal with clothing that’s made of uncomfortable fabrics, isn’t in the right fit, and is heavy to the point of causing overheating. In other words, if you care about your focus and performance, it’s important that you choose your lightweight leotard carefully so it’s not ill-fitting, making you have to adjust it all the time.

The Safety

Moreover, it’s also a matter of safety for the gymnast when doing some of the most difficult moves, as in the example of the Produnova vault. The shape and materials chosen for the gymnastics leotards were mainly out of necessity so the design wouldn’t have any loose parts that would easily interfere with the performance. This being said, it’s understandable stretch fabrics are still favoured.

Source: Quatrogymnastics.com

The Confidence

While the design of the gymnastics leos is close-fitting and shows off the muscular figure of the gymnasts, it still provides enough coverage so it’s neither too open nor closed, exactly why it can be of help when a boost in confidence is needed prior to the performance. That is, as long as the athlete likes the leotard he or she is wearing which is an aspect that’s crucial for making them feel good about themselves!

The Impression

Apart from making a lasting impression with the moves, an athlete can also get everyone’s attention (the judges and the audience!) with the choice of leotard which further goes to show its importance. Thankfully, there’s a vast array of options of gymnastics leotard on the market that can steal the show with a bit of glitter, and they’re all created to cater to gymnasts’ requirements regarding taste and functionality!

Choosing Your Leotard

As I already mentioned, the right leotard makes a world of difference, and let’s face it, with such a wide range of choices it might be rather difficult when it comes to shopping for the ideal one. If you’re in need of some help taking your pick, remember these aspects:

The Occasion – When choosing the leotard, it’s important to buy based on the occasion which can either be training or competing. For the first, there’s more flexibility in terms of the fabrics and the fit. It can be a design made of cotton that’s well-fitting, as opposed to the latter which ought to be tighter and made of stretchy shiny materials necessary to make you stand out from the crowd.

The Season – There are long-sleeved and short-sleeved leotards for a reason: you can choose them based on the season you’re wearing them. Still, some individuals find the long-sleeved design to be rather restrictive and opt to wear the short-sleeved year-round, so the choice basically comes down to what makes you feel more comfortable.

Source: Destira.com

The Level – Depending on which level you are in gymnastics, you could go for something simpler for the beginner levels whereas the more you advance in the sport and reach a pro level, the more your leotard style should follow too into more elaborate.

The Brand – When you truly want to make your presence known among competition, you care more about the brand you’re wearing. If you intend to take the sport seriously, the advice is to invest in quality designs from reputable brands, like Energetiks, as they’re durable and good value for money. The last thing you want is to buy a leotard that would split the minute you do your moves!

The Size – As the tight-fitting clothing they are, leotards tend to be in smaller sizes which is why many choose a size larger than the one they usually wear. In case you aren’t sure about the size, particularly when purchasing online, be sure to check out a sizing chart from the store or the specific brand you’re buying from to avoid mistakes.