A balance beam is disclosed which utilizes a conventional beam member with conventional support legs wherein the upper ends of the support legs are mounted in a bracket secured to the lower surface of the beam. The bracket has spaced elongated angularly disposed slots in which a transverse pin is mounted. The pin is also secured to the upper ends of the leg members. A spring mechanism is secured to the bracket and engages the upper end of the leg member to hold the pin and the upper end of the leg member in a position at the upper end of the slots. When the gymnast lands on the beam, the weight of the gymnast causes the spring mechanism to compress which permits the pin in the upper ends of the leg members to move downwardly in the slots to partially absorb the impact of the gymnast's weight. The immediate recovery of the spring imparts some impetus to the gymnast as the gymnastic routine is continued immediately after the moment of impact. At the moment of impact, the beam moves from a first horizontal position to a slightly lower horizontal position as the pin moves downwardly in the slots as the compression spring is compressed.