Proposal 42: Freestyle Categories for Smaller Competitions [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: FreestyleSubmitted on 2015-03-26
Status: Passed on April 05, 2015
Background
In competitions where there aren't a high number of freestyle competitors, the system of having riders compete based on age doesn't really work very well. The US has this problem and has developed a system of using categories instead of age groups. I thought it would be a good idea to add this text to the rulebook since the IUF made it clear that they are hoping to have their rulebook be used for all sizes of competitions.
Proposal
Old Rule (5.2):
5.2 Age Groups
Note: Age groups may be different for different types of event. The minimum allowable
age groups are listed for each event. Convention hosts are free to add more age groups.
Age group is determined by the rider’s age on the first day of the convention. Junior
Expert is open to all riders 0-14. Expert is open to riders of any age, including 0-14.
Riders must state the age group in which they are entering for each artistic event in
which they participate.
Example: Riders who enter Individual Freestyle as Experts can enter Pairs in their
age group if they wish. Riders are divided male/female in Standard Skill and Individual
Freestyle, but not in Pairs or Group.
New Rule (5.2):
5.2 Age Groups and Categories
Age groups and categories may be different for different types of events. The
minimum allowable age groups and categories are listed for each event. Convention
hosts are free to add more age groups but additional categories can only be added
when agreed upon by the Artistic Director, Chief Judge, and Event Host. Categories may not be added or removed at a Unicon without approval by the IUF Board. Age group is determined by the rider’s age on the first day of the convention. Junior Expert is open to all riders 0-14. Expert is open to riders of any age, including 0-14. Riders must state the category in which they are entering for each freestyle event in which they participate.
Example: Riders who enter Individual Freestyle as Experts can enter Pairs in another category if they wish. Riders are divided male/female in Standard Skill and Individual
Freestyle, but not in Pairs or Group.
Old Rule (other): None.
New Rule (other): (Text adapted from the USA Rulebook.)
5.X Categories for Smaller Competitions
At competitions where the number of freestyle competitors is low, the Event Host may choose to only offer categories and no age groups. This decision would be made to encourage a competition that is fair and engaging for both spectators and competitors.
5.X.1 Categories and Time Limits
Categories are determined by skill level. The IUF Skill Levels are used as a guide to
determine level of skill. Skill level testing is not required; these numbers are just used
as a point of reference.
For Pairs Freestyle the skill levels of the two riders should be averaged to determine category placement.
Category Name | Level | Time Limit
Novice | 0-3 | 2 minutes
Intermediate | 4-6 | 3 minutes
Expert | 7-10 | 4 minutes
5.X.2 Choosing Categories
Riders may enter the competition category they wish according to the approximate skill
level of the skills planned for the routine. Riders who wish to enter a category that falls
outside the guidelines must communicate their choice and reasons to the Chief Judge
before the competition. The Chief Judge will review the choices to assure that riders
enter categories that match their skills.
5.X.3 Promoting Rider(s) to a Higher Category
Because these categories are determined based on skill level and not age, it can be difficult to determine the correct category for any given routine. Therefore, there may be a need to promote routines to a higher category after they have been evaluated.
A routine is allowed to have a maximum of three successfully performed skills that are deemed to be higher than the allowed level for the category. Skills successfully performed is defined as performing the skill for a reasonable distance without falling, given the choreography of the routine. When this limit of three is exceeded, the routine is to be promoted to the next most difficult level. Clearly the skill levels are not an inclusive list of all the skills that may be performed in any given routine. Therefore, the approximate difficulty level of each skill performed in any routine must be evaluated to determine whether or not the skill is too difficult for the given category.
It is up to the discretion of the Chief Judge as to whether or not a routine is promoted to a higher category. The Chief Judge should take into account the opinions of the other judges when making this decision.
New Rule (additional note):
The word “category” must be added in a few other places in the rulebook in order for the text to make sense. For example, the last sentence of 5.2.1 Riders Must Be Ready would be changed to: “Except for Standard Skill, a rider may not perform before a different set of judges than those that judged the rest of their age group or category.”
The sections that need this small change are:
5.2.1 Riders Must Be Ready
5.6.2 Music Preparation
5.9.2 Assignment Of Age Group Judges
5.9.4 Judging Panel May Not Change
5.9.6 Re-Instating Judges
5.10 Scoring
Body
These rules have worked well in the USA and I would like to seem them added to the IUF Rulebook as an option for smaller competitions. In the proposal it makes it clear that at Unicon it is still required to use the typical Age Group, Jr. Expert, Expert system. The category system would only be used at small competitions and only if it was wanted. We have used these rules in the US for a long time and have had great success and a really fair and fun competition.
References
USA Rulebook Chapter 5
Discussion
View Discussion
Votes on this proposal:
18 out of 27 voting members have voted.
Agree: 15, Disagree: 2, Abstain: 1.