Often competition regulations say that athletes will compete in a circular format. This refers to the sequence of rotations in which a gymnast performs with different apparatus.
It looks like this: The first gymnast competes with the hoop The second - with the ball The third – with clubs The fourth – with the ribbon The fifth – again with the hoop The sixth – again with the ball, etc.
After the first rotation when the apparatus is changed, the first gymnast proceeds to compete with the ball, the second – with clubs, the third – with the ribbon, the fourth – with the hoop, the fifth – with the ball.
The circular format is often used when gymnasts do all four routines during one day of competition. However, sometimes it is also applied when gymnasts perform just two routines, in which case the apparatus are rotated.
Not all competitions stick to the circular format rules. For instance, at the Olympics all participants perform with the same apparatus, and only after that do they progress to the next apparatus.