In order for female athletes to train and perform safely, the floor must have certain properties.
The standard size of a gymnastics floor according to regulations is a square of 14 by 14 meters. At the same time, the plywood flooring underneath has slightly smaller parameters - 13.72 by 13.72 meters. The working area used by the athletes is 13 by 13 meters. It is marked with red tape with a sticky layer around the entire perimeter. It is that line that the gymnasts are not allowed to step outside while performing the program.
Most often, the main material of the floor for rhythmic gymnastics is felt. It is usually beige in color. The thickness of the pile (consists of a jute mesh - an interweaving of elastic fibers) varies from 3 to 7 millimeters. Under the covering is multilayer polyethylene foam, this is usually called a platform. The dense structure of the platform holds the flooring in place.
The main characteristics of a gymnastic floor are softness of the coating, elasticity, resilience, reliability and ability to resist wear and tear.
First of all, the floor must guarantee a soft landing after elements, especially jumps. Heat resistance also plays an important role - weather conditions in the halls vary. Modern carpets are adapted to large temperature ranges.