Rhythmic Gymnastics belongs to the technical-compositional sports and combines high level sport performance with difficult body movement elements (jumps and leaps, balances, flexibilities and waves, pivots) and apparatus techniques of ball, hoop, ribbon, rope or clubs with an aesthetic and artistic aspect. Thus, performances in Rhythmic Gymnastics are influenced by quantitative and qualitative factors. Qualitative factors are difficult to analyse as they are highly dependent of subjective perceptions. Quantitative factors are more objective and as a consequence, more suitable for performance analysis. Pivots are thought to be an important body movement group in terms of the required constant performance improvements as they provide a high variability in movement execution and therefore, increase the creativity and originality of the whole routine. The finals of the Berlin Masters competitions 2011 (Berlin, Germany) were analysed with a special interest in Pivots. The aim was to define the current performance level in individual competitions in Rhythmic Gymnastics, to detect tendencies in performance development and thus, derive recommendations for the specific coaching process. The analysis was done post-event, based on video footage of the 32 final routines (each 8 routines with the apparatus ball, hoop, ribbon, and clubs). The videos were recorded at 25Hz and showed the entire gymnastics mat from the perspective of the jury desk. The analysis was performed utilising the notational software Utilius vs. (CCC-Software, Germany). Finally, the Cohen`s Kappa test was employed to check the results for reliability. 115 pivots were carried out within the examined final routines. Most pivots were performed with the apparatus ribbon and clubs. It also became apparent, that the highest number of pivot revolutions (more than 4 full revolutions) was demonstrated in the routines with clubs (6) and the fewest with the ball (3). With regards to the behaviour of the free leg during the pivots with the most revolutions it was found, that the most frequent position was `At Horizontal` or `In Split`. Also Fouetté-Pivots were demonstrated very often. Almost every pivot (84-93%) was started using the Relevé technique and was then performed in the direction of the supporting leg (equilateral [85-89%]). Spirals with the ribbon and Handling of the clubs tend to be combined with pivots most frequently. The test for reliability showed good to very good results for intra- and inter-reliability in all apparatus final groups (Table 1). Concluding, it must be stated that the choreography analysis of the Berlin Masters 2011 contributes to the description of the performance structure in rhythmic gymnastics. Most findings conform to the statements in the Code of Points (official competition regulations) or can be explained by biomechanical aspects. For example, it was found that the most pivots were performed with clubs and ribbon and the fewest with ball. Clubs and the ribbon may be utilised as an elongation of the free mass and thus have a positive effect on the generation of the angular momentum. The Relevé can be stated as beneficial for the routines due to the powerful extension of the previously bent supporting leg in terms of load relieving in upward movements. To gain more knowledge about the performance structure in rhythmic gymnastics more analysis of high level individual competitions need to be done.
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