A rotation is the action of rotating about an axis or centre. In Rhythmic Gymnastics there are 2 types of Rotations:

1. Rotations on the foot: relevé (Pivot) or flat foot
2. Rotations on other parts of the body

In adition, all the rotation difficulties must have the following characteristics:

•  Minimum basic rotation of 360 degrees with a fixed and well-defined shape
  (some could be 180 degrees). A well-defined shape means that the correct shape taken by the gymnast is held fixed during a minimum basic rotation; slight deviations in the shape.

Rotation will be evaluated according to the number of rotations performed. In case of an interruption, like a hop, only the value of the rotations already performed prior to the interruption will be valid.
They also must be coordinated with a minimum of one Fundamental Apparatus Technical element, specific to each apparatus and/ or an element from the Non-Fundamental Apparatus Technical groups in any part of the Rotation to be valid.

In the series of identical Pivots (with two or more), each Pivot is performed one after the other without interruption and with heel support. Each Pivot in the series counts as one Difficulty. Each Pivot is evaluated separately (except for the combination of identical “Fouettés,” which counts as one Difficulty).
Different Rotations are Rotations with a different shape regardless of the number of rotations (valid also for “Fouettés” pivots).

The support leg whether stretched or bent does not change the value of the Difficulty, but the shape must be achieved before the end of the minimum basic rotation. In all Rotation Difficulties with ring, or back bend of the trunk, the head must be close to some part
of the leg (closed position, touching required).

Pivots with change of shape

• Counts as 1 Difficulty
• Each shape performed on relevé
• Each shape included in the Pivot must have a minimum basic rotation.
• Passing from one shape to another must be performed without heel support and as directly as possible
• With a minimum of 1 Fundamental Technical element specific to each apparatus and/or an element from the Non-Fundamental apparatus groups during any component of Pivot Difficulty

Fouetté

• Counts as 1 Difficulty
• Two or more identical or different shapes connected with heel support
• Various shapes may be performed:
  a) isolated
  b) combined (consecutively or alternating) within the same “Fouetté” but none of those shapes may be repeated in another Fouetté Rotation.
• During every two “Fouettés,” one different Fundamental technical element or Non-Fundamentalapparatus element is required.

Illusion

• Counts as one Difficulty
• For 2 or more identical shapes connected with or without heel support: +0.10 for each additional rotation above the base 360 degrees
• During every two Illusions, one different Fundamental technical element or Non-Fundamental apparatus element is required.