Source revision: c0492e874d9d-dirty
Event Organizer Rules
Venue
Traditionally a gymnasium is used. Artistic competitions are also possible in an auditorium, if the stage is large enough. If this is done, a gym must also be available for practice, and possibly for group competition. There must also be enough room for judges and spectators. Seating must be provided for spectators, and a practice area must be provided for riders. Ideally, this practice area would be in a separate gym. The primary practice area cannot be outdoors, as wet or extreme weather would prevent riders from warming up and exchanging skills. If necessary, the practice area can be behind a curtain in the competition gym, or behind the spectator seating. Neither of these solutions is as desirable, due to the distraction that is unavoidably caused by riders using these areas.
The gym or riding surface must be marked with the boundaries of all riding areas for events in which they are required. In some facilities black tires, metal pedals, untaped wooden hockey sticks, etc. might not be allowed. The host must make sure the participants are informed of this in advance. All performing and practice areas must be in well-lit places that are protected from the weather, or have fallback locations in case the weather is bad.
It is very important that a good quality public address system be available for announcements, and to play competition music. At least two music-playing devices must be provided (one as a backup or test machine). These should be compatible with all the media types specified for the various events to be held there.
Size Of Performing Areas
The minimum size for an Artistic Freestyle event must be 28 x 15 meters. Hosts must publicize the dimensions of the available performing area as far in advance of the competition as possible, and organizers of international championships at least three months prior to the event.
Officials
The host must designate the following officials for Artistic Freestyle:
Artistic Director
Chief Judge
Communication
Announcing Of Results
At Unicon and Continental Championships, final results will be announced at the awards ceremony. The protest period begins at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.
At other events, hosts can choose to announce results and the awards ceremony or continuously announce and/or post them for public view. If this second option is chosen, Results Sheets will be posted after each age category of an event. The protest period begins at this point.
Results Sheets show a summary of the overall results for each category. The summary includes the percentage each competitor received out of a total 100% (all competitors together) for Performance, Technical, and Overall, along with the number of major and minor falls from the Dismount category. Judge scores will never be shared. A sample Result Sheet can be found here.
Judges Workshop
The hosts of the convention must provide for a judge’s workshop at least 24 hours prior to the start of the Artistic Freestyle competition. A minimum of 2 hours must be set aside, in a classroom or similar environment. If possible, it is strongly recommended to have more than one workshop to accommodate schedules. Variations on this can be approved by the Chief Judge. Workshop schedule(s) must be announced to all judges at least three weeks prior to the start of the competition.
Classes and Age Groups
Supported Classes
Artistic Freestyle will support classes based on competitions.
Individual and Pair
A youth class as per Classes shall be used when the requirements (see below) are met:
1. Junior (< 15)
2. Youth (15 – 18)
3. Adult (>= 19)
Requirements:
IUF Sanctioned events: All three classes are used
Other events: Youth and Adult class should have at least 8 starters each
Reasons:
Visibility: Ensure athletes from the youth class are represented
Equality: Ensure a stable competitor field within one class with similar conditions that gives athletes more equal chances to win a championship title
Development pipeline: Establish conditions for growth within the discipline
Groups
Small and large group uses two classes:
1. Junior (< 15)
2. Adult (>= 15)
Minimum Age Groups: Individual and Pair
Artistic Freestyle recommends to follow age groups and their guaranteed ranges (as per Age Groups).
IUF Sanctioned & Endorsed events: Recommended age groups will be enforced for Individual and Pair competitions.
Other events (eg. Newcomer Freestyle events that welcome first timers) are free to adjust age groups to match their expected competitors.
Results
Awards can be given for classes (championship titles) or age groups (winners) and must be announced for each event.
IUF Sanctioned events: Athletes are awarded in classes (championship titles).
IUF Endorsed events: Recommended to award athletes in classes (championship titles).
Qualification Event: If an organization uses multiple events throughout the year as a qualification series, athletes advance based on their results in a class, see section Judging Panel Not Change for the judging panel arrangement.
Start Groups
Forming start groups is up to the event, but should be based on classes or age groups. For IUF Sanctioned and Endorsed events (when following the recommendation) class based start groups are enforced.
Warm Up Time
Hosts must ensure warmup time on the competition floor. For example with a separate area (locked away from the competition, but same floor) or through breaks in the schedule to give the next wave of riders time to acclimate with the floor.
Example:
For large start groups, there is a warmup break every 10 routines – or – there is one warmup block for the next three start groups if combined they are not more than 10 people.
The numbers in the example shall give orientation, please pick reasonable numbers that match your schedule and suit the athletes warm up needs.
Pre-Event Practice Time
In order to give fair practice time in the Freestyle competition venue to the high level competitors, thirty minutes for practice must be reserved immediately before each Jr. Expert and Expert competition. During each thirty minute warm-up period, only the competitors for that event are allowed to be on the competition floor.
Each group that is competing also must be given time to rehearse on the competition floor. The Artistic Director is responsible for publishing a rehearsal schedule at least two weeks before the competition day. The amount of time allotted to each group is to be determined by the Artistic Director, however, each group must be given the same amount of rehearsal time and it cannot be less than fifteen minutes.
Order Of Performance
Performance order for Jr. Expert and Expert in Pairs/Individual/Group Freestyle are defined by an open drawing without a computer. The drawing/selection should be done publicly and transparently, at a time that is announced ahead of time so people can witness it. The method to randomly determine performance order for age groups is completely up to the Artistic Director.
Media Types
The Artistic Director is responsible for announcing what media types will be supported, and making sure the necessary equipment is provided.
Music Volume
Volume level is controlled by the DJ, at instructions from the Chief Judge. The base volume for Freestyle music should be loud enough to sound clear, and be heard by all. Some competitors’ music may start with especially loud or quiet sections, and the DJ should be advised of these so volume levels do not get compensated in the wrong direction. Some competitors may request that their music be played at lower levels. These requests can be made directly to the DJ. Requests for higher volumes must be approved by the Chief Judge, who has the option of passing this responsibility to the DJ.
Special Music Instructions
Some competitors may have special music instructions, such as stopping or starting the music at a visual cue, changing volume level during the performance, etc. The DJ is not responsible for errors carrying out these instructions. For best results, the competitor should supply a person to coach the DJ during the performance, so there are no mistakes. If the DJ receives instructions that sound unusual, the Chief Judge should be consulted for approval.
Limiting Competitors
Maximum Number of Competitors for Jr. Expert and Expert: Individual
Non-Unicon: Organizers of non-Unicon events can choose to limit the number of competitors using the guidelines below, come up with their own limit guidelines, or have no limit.
Unicon: Each country can submit a maximum of three individuals in each category to compete at Unicon in the Individual Freestyle events (three in Jr. Expert Men, three in Jr. Expert Women, three in Expert Men, three in Expert Women). If a country has placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in Individual Freestyle at the previous Unicon, they can submit one additional competitor for each placing in that category. For example, if Country-A wins first place in Expert Men at the previous Unicon, they may submit up to four individuals for Expert Men at the current Unicon. If Country-B wins second and third place in Jr. Expert Women at the previous Unicon, they may submit up to five individuals in Jr. Expert Women at the current Unicon.
Method for Limiting the Competitors at Unicon: Individual
A country that has more interested individuals than allowed should select individuals by their own way. Any type of competition using the IUF judging methods to determine their competitors is recommended. If a country is unable to hold a competition, a country can choose individuals by their own rating method. For example, if a country has placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Individual Freestyle at the previous Unicon, it can give these individuals a higher rating, because they brought additional number of individuals to a country. If a country did not place in the top three, it can give only the highest placing individual a higher rating. It is strongly recommended to complete the selection at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon. If a country cannot select by then, the method and schedule of the selection must be communicated to the Chief Judge and Artistic Director at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon.
Maximum Number of Competitors for Jr. Expert and Expert: Pair
Non-Unicon: Organizers of non-Unicon events can choose to limit the number of competitors using the guidelines below, come up with their own limit guidelines, or have no limit.
Unicon: Each country can submit a maximum of three pairs in each category to compete at Unicon in the Pairs Freestyle events (three in Jr Expert Pairs, three in Expert Pairs). If a country has placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in Pairs Freestyle at the previous Unicon, they can submit one additional competitor for each placing in that category. For example, if Country-A wins first place in Expert Pairs at the previous Unicon, they may submit up to four Pairs for Expert Pairs at the current Unicon. If Country-B wins second and third place in Jr Expert Pairs at the previous Unicon, they may submit up to five pairs in Jr Expert Pairs at the current Unicon. If a pairs team is submitted consisting of members from two countries, that team must choose one of their two countries to represent.
Method for Limiting the Competitors at Unicon: Pair
A country that has more interested pairs than allowed should select pairs by their own way. Any type of competition using the IUF judging methods to determine their competitors is recommended. If a country is unable to hold a competition, a country can choose pairs by their own rating method. For example, if a country has placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in Pairs Freestyle at the previous Unicon, it can give these pairs a higher rating if BOTH partners from the previous Unicon still be pairs, because they brought additional number of pairs to a country. If a country did not place in the top three, it can give only the highest placing pairs a higher rating. It is strongly recommended to complete the selection at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon. If a country cannot select by then, the method and schedule of the selection must be communicated to the Chief Judge and Artistic Director at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon.
Maximum Number of Competitors for Jr. Expert and Expert: Group
Non-Unicon: Organizers of non-Unicon events can choose to limit the number of competitors using the guidelines below, come up with their own limit guidelines, or have no limit.
Unicon: Each country can submit a maximum of three groups to compete at Unicon in each of the following categories: Expert Small Group, Jr. Expert Small Group, Expert Large Group, and Jr. Expert Large Group.
Method for Limiting the Competitors at Unicon
A country that has more interested groups than allowed should select group by their own way. Any type of competition using the IUF judging methods to determine their groups is recommended. If a country is unable to hold a competition, a country can choose groups by their own rating method. It is strongly recommended to complete the selection at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon. If a country cannot select by then, the method and schedule of the selection must be communicated to the Chief Judge and Artistic Director at least three months prior to the start of the Unicon.