Considerations for children’s leotards

Posted on - 19th July 2021

Here at Olympique, we regularly get parents of budding gymnasts looking for the perfect leotards. Luckily our team have years of experience and are able to share the best advice for beginners to the gymnastics scene.

For this blog, we will talk you through some important considerations to ensure you make the right choice for your child.

The difference between competition and training leotards

When it comes to training leotards, any colours or patterns are permitted as long as they don't violate the rules of the gymnastics club. It does not really matter if the leotard is slightly too big or small. As long as the gymnast is comfortable with what they are wearing, the leotard will serve its purpose.

Competition leotards tend to be more bespoke, as gymnastics clubs or representative countries will have embroidery on the garment itself. For girls, competition garments will be eye-catching and combine glitz and glamour with bold colours to help get the judges' attention.

Long-sleeve vs short-sleeve

For women, short-sleeved leotards are the most popular whereas men opt for sleeveless garments. The long-sleeved versions are generally used for competitions, although lower-level competitions have started to use short sleeve versions.

The good news is that your child's club probably has a set competition leotard, so asking the club coach can help you get your order in ahead of time.

Long-sleeve leotards aren't just competition garments, as they are also great for training. They are warmer than short-sleeve options and can be beneficial in winter.

For competitions, the general rule of thumb is that long-sleeved leotards are worn by women, while men wear short sleeves. However, women commonly choose short sleeve garments for training as they do not trap the sweat like their long sleeve counterparts.

One option that bridges the gap between the two is the three-quarter sleeve. This type of leotard is a sufficient all-rounder, plus they are great for the summer and winter months and are widely accepted in competitions.

The final option is a full-length leotard, which will be warmer in winter but could become quite uncomfortable during regular training unless the material is particularly soft.

Colour and design

If your child is new to gymnastics they probably won't have any idea about the colour and design they would like. In this instance keep things simple. Starting off with a plain leotard or one with the material but less intricate stitching helps to keep the price down. As they develop through the sport, so can their leotards. Our only advice would be to avoid white as it is very hard to clean and can become transparent over time.

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about children’s leotards, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Olympique today.