THE SPORT
Twirling a baton is a complex and demanding competitive sport. It is a sport for girls and boys, women and men. The athlete's main instrument is a balanced steel baton, which is manipulated from hand to hand to spin continuously. The speed and control of the baton's revolution depends upon the athlete's skill level. Years of training are required to master the sport.
The sport of baton twirling is complex because technique of the twirling baton and the movements of body are given equal credit.
The major modes of baton twirling are aerials, contact material and rolls. Aerials comprise tossing and catching the baton in stationary, stationary complex and travel positions. Contact material, the second mode, is composed of twirling near and around the body in the horizontal and vertical patterns in either forward or reverse direction. Rolls are elements that require the baton to twirl over a body part like the neck, arms and elbows without any hand contact.
The variety of baton twirling material is further combined with body movements including dance, gymnastics and musical interpretation. The choreography of baton and body is set to a musical selection. This makes baton twirling an interesting and exciting sport to perform and watch.
In addition, baton twirling is a physically and mentally challenging sport because of the physical stamina required to perform a routine, the grace and entertainment value needed when competing, the ability to concentrate and to achieve perfect musical timing and co-ordination of the twirling baton with the baton movements. When all these many factors are mastered, baton is an awesome, thrilling, creative and phenomenal sport to behold.
