Rhythmic gymnastics initially appeared and developed as an individual sport. Group exercises competitions were first held only in 1967. Then the first world championship in this discipline was held in Copenhagen. At that time, there were six gymnasts in the team, they performed with one type, hoops. By the way, the winners of the tournament were gymnasts from the USSR.
Later, starting 1987, the competitions began to present not one, but two types of the program: the first type was the same object for all gymnasts in the team, and the second - two different objects.
Despite the fact that now each Olympic cycle the competitive types in group exercises change, this rule has been preserved. For example, in the current cycle of competitions for seniors, one type is five hoops, and the second is three ribbons and two balls.
This, however, does not apply to juniors. If we consider the same four-year period, then as a second event, juniors don’t perform with ribbons and balls, but also with the same objects - with five pairs of clubs.
If we talk about the number of gymnasts, then only five athletes must perform in one event on the floor. There may be six of them in a team, but in this case all gymnasts must participate in at least one of the two exercises.
The International Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs Association rules have important features regarding group exercises. They have increased the number of body elements: 12 difficulties of the highest value are counted (in the FIG rules - a maximum of 10). More object difficulties are also allowed - up to 20 against 18 in the FIG rules.