> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.gymart.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.gymart.org/scheduling/configure-rotations.md).

# Configure rotations

Rotations determine how gymnasts move through apparatus during a session. You set the apparatus order, create rotation groups, and the system handles the cycling. This page covers both the automatic and manual approaches.

## Prerequisites

* [Create a session](/scheduling/create-a-session.md)

## How rotations are created

When you create a session, Gym Art Meets sets up the rotations for you automatically. It creates one rotation per apparatus in the discipline, in the standard order. For WAG that is Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise; for MAG it is the six men's apparatus. You do not set the apparatus order or the number of rotations by hand.

Each rotation appears as a squad card (Squad A, Squad B, and so on) labeled with the apparatus it starts on, for example "Squad A - Vault". The starting apparatus is read-only.

From here, your job is to fill the rotations with gymnasts. Open the session, go to **Rotations**, and see [Assign gymnasts to rotations](/scheduling/assign-gymnasts-to-rotations.md).

## How rotations work

Picture a WAG session with 4 rotations and the apparatus order Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor:

|                | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 |
| -------------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- |
| **Rotation 1** | Vault   | Bars    | Beam    | Floor   |
| **Rotation 2** | Bars    | Beam    | Floor   | Vault   |
| **Rotation 3** | Beam    | Floor   | Vault   | Bars    |
| **Rotation 4** | Floor   | Vault   | Bars    | Beam    |

Every rotation competes on every apparatus, cycling through the order you defined. After each round, everyone shifts to the next apparatus in the sequence.

## Custom rotations

A new session starts with one squad per apparatus, filled by bib number. The Rotations view always shows every rotation. The **Custom rotations** switch, on the row of buttons above the rotations, decides how the later rotations are built.

### Custom rotations off (default)

You manage rotation 1, and the system builds the later rotations from it. Those rotations are shown greyed out. The **Rotation Bump Number** setting in Session Settings controls how many gymnasts shift position each rotation (for example, with bump 1: 1,2,3 becomes 2,3,1, then 3,1,2).

This works for most meets. If your setup is straightforward, leave the switch off and move on.

### Custom rotations on

Turn the switch on to edit each rotation's squad list separately. Every rotation keeps the gymnasts it showed, and you can now place different gymnasts in each one. Use this when your rotations are not simply shifted copies of the same group. Turn the switch off again, and the later rotations follow rotation 1 once more.

## What's next

* [Assign gymnasts to rotations](/scheduling/assign-gymnasts-to-rotations.md) -- fill rotations with gymnasts
* [Manage flights](/scheduling/manage-flights.md) -- split large rotations into smaller groups

## Related

* [Scheduling overview](/scheduling/index.md)
* [How do competitions, age groups, and subdivisions work?](/competitions/index.md)
* [Glossary](/getting-started/glossary.md)