Amateur gymnasts do not always choose leotards. Instead they choose t-shirts and shorts when just starting out. However soon you will want to get yourself a leotard for gymnastics that will provide you with great support as you perform. There are a lot of places that sell leotards, both in your local stores geared towards athletes and online. However you may want to check with your gymnastics teacher before deciding on the right leotard.

Many leotards designed for gymnastics are practically weightless and very durable. They offer the sort of support and elasticity that no t-shirt can offer; thus letting you move around with greater comfort. You can choose between short or long sleeve. You can get different styles, with open backs, full backs, cross straps, or turtlenecks. And even though some leotards you have seen may appear strapless, all the leotard for gymnastics have straps to create a better fit.

When choosing a leotard for gymnastics you should chose the one that is most fitting for your body type, and the movements you tend to perform in your gymnastics routines. The price of a leotard can vary from $10 to past $100. The price of course depends on the style, design and brand you choose. Whether it's for a competition or a group performance, you have a wide selection available to you. Certain suppliers also allow you to create a unique leotard yourself, and while that may cost a bit extra, it's a guaranteed way to be unique. Your coach may influence the colors you choose, as you may have to represent your gymnastics organization. More than likely your coach will want you to wear a particular style and color of a leotard to make it easy for any competition judges to identify you with a particular school or establishment.

Any decision should ultimately be best for you. Your performance may drop if the leotard is poorly fitted. It's also common to experiment with different styles and brands at the beginning, but once an athlete finds one or two styles of leotards that provide a "perfect fit", they then tend to wear only that leotard. It's like second-skin, and wearing something else will give a feel that something is not right. Choose the materials that you like, to have the feel you find most comfortable, and stick with it!

Don't be too surprised however to find that the materials that gymnastics leotards are made out of tend to be synthetic. The market is dominated by synthetic materials, as they tend to be more durable than those of a natural blend.