Pre Trials Handbook

94 Pages·2016·0.89 MB·English

Pre Trials Handbook

U.S. PRE TRIALS
For the Sport of Baton Twirling

COMPETITION HANDBOOK

Rules, Regulations, Procedures and Entry Forms for
Regional & U.S. Pre Trials Athletes

Sanctioned by:
The United States Twirling Association

Produced by:
The U.S. Technical Advisory Group

2017 Edition
Pre Trials Handbook
HANDBOOK:

Pre Trials Handbook contains the following information:
1. Rules
2. Regulations
3. Procedures

Information not contained in the Handbook:
1. Compulsory Descriptions
2. Movement Technique Descriptions
3. Scoring Scales
4. Score Sheets

Note: Members may order the Compulsory and Movement Technique DVD’s from the USTA
Merchandise Department for the appropriate fee.

Competition Handbooks available online from the USTA website – Elite members only:

- They will not be mailed via U.S. Mail.
- They will be updated and accessible through the website (www.ustwirling.com) for Elite
members’ convenience.

PRE TRIALS COMPETITION INFORMATION PACKET:

Pre Trials Information Packet [including information letter, order of appearance, and schedule of
events] will also be posted on the website. No packets will be mailed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/ADDENDUMS:
All announcements, addendums, entries and important information will be available via the
website in the Elite Members Only section.

NEW RULES & REGULATIONS:
All new rules and regulations will be in red ink type to make it easier to locate rule changes
for the current competition year.

i
Pre Trials Handbook

INTRODUCTION AND CONTACT INFORMATION

This is the official handbook of rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to the Regional and U.S. Pre
Trials. These rule adaptations have been established by the U.S. Technical Advisory Group and
sanctioned by the United States Twirling Association (USTA). Should further clarification be necessary,
write U.S. Technical Advisor; Sandi Rios, 297 S. Wildwood, Hercules, CA 94547 Email:
[email protected] for interpretation of any rule, regulation, or procedure contained herein.

U.S. TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS:

Sandi Rios – Western Rep
Address: 297 S. Wildwood Phone: [phone]
US Technical Advisor
Hercules, CA 94547 e-mail: [email protected]
Western Regional Pre-Trials Director

Jackie Stewart
Address: 4000 Deer Creek Blvd B2 Phone: [phone]
Education Department Director
Spring Hill, TN 37174 e-mail: [email protected]
WBTF Judges Chairperson

Karen Ogden – Central Rep Address: 922 Beglis Pkwy Phone: [phone]
Central Regional Pre-Trials Director Sulphur, LA 70663 e-mail: [email protected]

Amby Taylor – SER Rep
Address: 160 Kensington St. Phone: [phone]
Southeast Regional Pre-Trials Director
Lumberton, NC 28358 e-mail: [email protected]

Kyle Keiser – MER Rep
Address: 3412 Bronson Boulevard Phone: [phone]
Mid-East Regional Pre-Trials Director
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 e-mail: [email protected]

Michael Harris
Address: 393 Lincoln Street Phone: [phone]
TAG Member Amherst, OH 44001 e-mail: [email protected]

Alaine Robbins – NER Rep
Address: 3 Neil Drive Phone: [phone]
Northeast Regional Pre-Trials Director
Smithtown, NY 11787 e-mail: [email protected]

Dale White
Address: 1147 Captains Bridge Phone: [phone]
WBTF USA Judges Representative
Dayton, OH 45458 e-mail: [email protected]

U.S. TWIRLING ASSOCIATION:

Karen Cammer
Address: 47 Kilburn Ave. Phone: [phone]
USTA President
Huntington Sta., NY 11746 e-mail: [email protected]
WBTF USA Representative

Julie Jenkins
Address: 244 Overland Drive Phone: [phone]
USTA Membership Entry Department Sidney, OH 45365 e-mail: [email protected]

STAFF MEMBERS:

Callene Derrick Address: 5871 Cottonwood Drive Phone: [phone]
USA Tour Director Lorain, OH 44053 e-mail: [email protected]

USTA Web site for the latest
Information and updates: www.ustwirling.com

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Pre Trials Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Rules and Regulations………………………………………………………..Section 1

Procedures……………………………………………………………………………..Section 2

• Content Restrictions
• Glossary of Terminology

Compulsory Competition……………………………………………………………...Section 3

Short Program……………………………………………………………....................Section 4

Freestyle……………………………………………………………………………….Section 5

Freestyle Pairs…………………………………………………………………………Section 6

Team…………………………………………………………………………………..Section 7

Tabulation……………………………………………………………………………..Section 8

• Baton and Costume Inspection Sheet/Floor Monitor

Sheets………………………………………………………………………………….Section 9

• Compulsory Score Sheets
• Short Program Score Sheet
• Freestyle Score Sheet
• Official Timing & Penalty Sheet

U.S. Pre Trials Entry Form Instructions………………………………………………Section 10

No part of this handbook may be produced in part or whole without the written permission from
The U.S. Technical Advisory Group of the United States Twirling Association.

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Pre Trials Handbook

Section 1

General Rules
&
Regulations
Pre Trials Handbook

PRE TRIALS EVENTS CONCEPTS

To prepare the athlete, coach and judge for the more demanding Trials event through:
• Proper preparation and development for the athlete: physically, psychologically, socially
• Logical progression for the athlete from the Pre Trials to Trials Competition
• Proper preparation for coaches and judges to challenge them creatively and professionally
• More preparation in Trials

Section 1 – General Rules & Regulations 1
Pre Trials Handbook

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

 Pre Trials Levels
• A Level [Freestyle Only] – offered at the Regional Pre Trials Level only
• AA Level [Freestyle, Pairs, Teams] – offered at the Regional Pre Trials Levels with
qualifiers proceeding to the U.S. Pre Trials
• AAA Level [Freestyle, Pairs, Teams] – offered at the Regional Pre Trials Levels with
qualifiers proceeding to U.S. Pre Trials
• Elite Level [Freestyle, Pairs] – offered at the Regional Pre Trials Levels with qualifiers
proceeding to the U.S. Pre Trials

 Eligibility
Age

All athletes who are current Elite Members of the USTA may participate in the categories listed
below.

A. Freestyle:
1) Juvenile Division – A, AA, AAA, Elite – all male and female athletes who will be a
minimum of 9 years of age to a maximum of 12 years of age during the year of the Pre Trials
(from January1 to December 31).
2) Junior Division – A, AA, AAA, Elite – all male and female athletes who will be a minimum
of 13 years of age to a maximum of 17 years of age during the year of the Pre Trials (from
January 1 to December 31).
3) Senior Division – A, AA, AAA, Elite – all male and female athletes who will be 18 years of
age and above for levels A, AA, AAA (Elite to Age 21) the year of the Pre Trials (from
January 1 to December 31). **Elite see age division below
4) Adult Division-Elite – all male and female athletes who will be 22 years of age or older
during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).
B. Pairs:
1) Junior Pairs Division:
a) AA – both athletes must be a minimum of 9 years of age to a maximum of 17 years of
age during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).
b) AAA – both athletes must be a minimum of 12 years of age to a maximum of 17 years of
age during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).
c) Elite – both athletes must be a minimum of 12 years of age to a maximum of 17 years of
age during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).

Section 1 – General Rules & Regulations 2
Pre Trials Handbook

B. Pairs (continued):
2) Senior Pairs Division:
a) AA – one or both athletes who will be 18 years of age or older during the year of the Pre
Trials (from January 1 to December 31). If the pair consists of one eligible Junior and
one Senior, they must compete as a Senior Pair. The Junior athlete must be a minimum
of 9 years of age during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).
b) AAA – one or both athletes who will be 18 years of age or older during the year of the
Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31). If the pair consists of one Junior and one
Senior, they must compete as a Senior Pair. The Junior athlete must be a minimum of 12
years of age during the year of the Pre Trial (from January 1 to December 31).
c) Elite – both athletes will be a minimum of 18 years of age or older during the year of the
Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31). If the pair consists of one Junior and one
Senior, they must compete as a Senior Pair. The Junior athlete must be a minimum of 12
years of age during the year of the Pre Trials (from January 1 to December 31).
C. Teams:
a) AA – all athletes must be at least 9 years of age during the year of the Pre Trials (from
January 1 to December 31).
b) AAA – all athletes must be at least 12 years of age during the year of the Pre Trials (from
January 1 to December 31).

There is a waiver to compete as Senior Elite available to Junior Elite athletes who are 17 years of
age. Request the information and waiver from the U.S. Technical Advisor. You must submit your
request in writing to the Technical Advisor by the Pre Trials entry deadline. Email Sandi Rios at
[email protected]. Requests will not be accepted after the entry deadline.

Simply include the athlete’s name, USTA Number and primary coach information along with a
statement of request.

At the U.S. Pre Trials: In the case of only one entry/athlete in a division, at the discretion of the
Technical Advisor, athlete(s) may be moved up one age division to the next age division, within the
same category for the competition. If there is not an age division to move up to, then they may be
moved down one age division, within the same category/level.

Section 1 – General Rules & Regulations 3
Pre Trials Handbook

AGE – ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPETING
IN REGIONAL OR U.S. PRE TRIALS
(AGE DURING YEAR OF PRE TRIALS – from January 1 to December 31)**

LEVEL MINIMUM MAXIMUM

FREESTYLE

Juvenile A, AA, AAA, Elite 9 12

Junior A, AA, AAA, Elite 13 17

Senior A, AA, AAA, Elite 18 No maximum* except
Elite; 21

Adult Elite 22 No Maximum

PAIRS

AA 9 17

AAA, Elite 12 17

Senior AA, AAA, Elite 18 No Maximum

TEAM

All AA 9 No Maximum

All AAA 12 No Maximum

**Athlete’s age on December 31st of the year of the Pre Trials
***If the Pair consists of one eligible Junior and one Senior, they must compete as a Senior Pair and the
Junior must be a minimum of 9 for AA and 12 for AAA and Elite during the year of Pre Trials.

MEMBERSHIP
All athletes must be current Elite Members of USTA. This includes all team members and alternates.
Athletes must provide USTA Elite membership number on entry form. If the USTA cannot locate and
verify your current USTA Elite Membership Record, you will be required to send photocopy of your
membership card prior to the entry deadline before your entry will be accepted. INCOMPLETE
ENTRIES WILL BE RETURNED. MEMBERSHIP MUST BE CURRENT BY THE DEADLINE
DATE AND NO EXTENSIONS ARE GRANTED.

Section 1 – General Rules & Regulations 4
Pre Trials Handbook

 Compulsory/Movement Status
A. Freestyle Athletes must PASS THROUGH the level of Compulsories and Movement Technique
at which they wish to compete. (For example: a freestyle athlete wishing to compete at the AAA
level, must have passed both AAA Compulsory and Movement Technique)

Athletes must pass up to the desired level BY the deadline date and proof that required
Compulsories/Movement Technique have been passed must be received by the deadline date.
When completing entry, state current level of compulsories. If the USTA cannot verify the
athlete’s Compulsory status in the database records, a photocopy showing that the required
level(s) have been passed must be sent in to the USTA Membership/Entry Department. Current
address can be found on the website and on the entry form.

B. All Pair and Team Athletes must have PASSED up to and including the A Compulsories and
Movement Technique to be allowed to compete at the Regional/U.S. Pre Trials.

 Determining the level of Freestyle to Compete in Regional/U.S. Pre Trials:
A. Freestyle Athletes in the Regional/U.S. Pre Trials will NOT be allowed to enter more than one
level of Freestyle. They may enter EITHER the level they are classified at OR one level below.
1. A Athletes – must have passed A Compulsories and A level Movement Technique and may
only enter A level freestyle. They are not allowed to go up a level to compete.
2. AA Athletes – must have passed AA Compulsories and AA level Movement Technique and
may enter AA or A freestyle. They are not allowed to go up a level to compete nor to
compete at both levels.
3. AAA Athletes – must have passed AAA Compulsories and AAA level Movement Technique
and may enter AAA or AA freestyle. They are not allowed to go up a level to compete nor to
compete at both levels.
4. Elite Athletes – must have passed Elite Compulsories and Elite level Movement Technique
and may enter Elite or AAA freestyle. They are not allowed to compete at both levels.

 Competing at Both U.S. Trials and Pre Trials:
Freestyle and pair athletes, who have competed at the U.S. Trials and wish to participate in the
Regionals/U.S. Pre Trials, may only enter the AAA or Elite divisions.

Teams, who have competed at the U.S. Trials and wish to participate in the Regionals/U.S. Pre
Trials, may only enter the AAA division.

Section 1 – General Rules & Regulations 5