How to Measure For A Gymnastics Leotard
Click here to watch our video on how to measure your gymnast for a leotard!
Having a leotard that fits is very important for performing your best in the gym and at meets, and getting the perfect size starts with measuring the right way. Before we start, here’s what you’ll need:
- A soft measuring tape (or string and a ruler/yardstick if you do not have a soft measuring tape available)
- A parent, guardian, or coach to take the measurements
- The Snowflake Designs size chart to check your measurements
Here are a few important things to remember:
- We’ll be taking four measurements for the size of the leotard: chest, waist, hips, and girth.
- While being measured, make sure not to wear baggy clothing. We recommend wearing what you would normally wear to the gym: a leotard and any undergarments you may wear under your leotard during normal practices.
- When being measured, make sure the measuring tape is parallel all the way around, or else the measurement won’t be accurate.
- When measuring for a leotard, there are two types of fits: workout and competition. Workout fit allows for room to grow and may show a few wrinkles when worn. Competition fit should be a “second skin” and should fit snuggly to the body with little to no wrinkles. Make sure to know which style of leotard you are measuring for before you start.
- For all measurements, make sure you start by having the gymnast stand tall and relaxed with their feet together.
To measure for the chest:
Wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of the chest and around the back to create a loop. Make sure the gymnast’s arms are down but outside of the measuring tape loop before writing down the final measurement.
To measure for the waist:
Wrap the measuring tape around the smallest part of the gymnast’s stomach and around the back to create a loop. This part of the body is usually just above the belly button.
To help find this spot, have the gymnast bend sideways. The gymnast’s waist should be around where a crease appears. When you find the waist and make the loop, write down that measurement.
To measure for the hips:
Wrap the measuring tape around the largest part of the gymnast’s torso and around the back to create a loop. The tape should go around the hip bones and the gymnast’s bottom. After wrapping the tape around, write down that measurement.
To measure for the girth:
The girth measurement is the most important in determining leotard size. To measure the gymnast’s girth, start your measuring tape at the top of the shoulder, where a tank top strap would rest. Bring the tape down the front of the gymnast, between the legs, and up the back to the starting point on the shoulder again.
Make sure to press the tape flat against the front and back of the gymnast where the tape might not touch on its own for the most accurate measurement. Once you have the tape set in the right spot, lying flat on the gymnast’s body, write down the measurement.
Now that you have the chest, waist, hips, and girth measurements, compare your results to the size chart to determine which leotard size you need! Remember which kind of fit you’re measuring for, workout or competition when comparing your measurements to the chart.
We hope this helped you in measuring for a leotard! Remember, properly measuring for a leotard is very important in making sure that you can perform your best in a leotard that you love for its fit, comfort, and style.
