Definitions:

Solo: Consists of a single skater.
Pairs: Consists of two (2) skaters.
Shuffle: Consists of two (2) or more skaters.
Team: Consists of three (3) or more skaters (maximum of six (6) in Battle).


Events:

Solo
Pairs
Mixed Pairs
Shuffle
Team Performance
Solo Battle
Pairs Battle
Team Battle
Special Events may be scheduled, such as the High Jump, Limbo, JamQuest. etc.


Age Groups:

Solo Events:
Tiny Tot: 9 & under
Rink Rat: 10-12
Junior: 13-15
Elite: 16 & up
Senior: 26 & up
Old Skool: 35 & up

Pairs Events (for 2009):
12 & Under

16 & up
26 & up

The Team events are for all ages.
A skater's age for the skating season is their age on January 1st of that season.
Skaters can only compete in one age group, per event.
In Solo events a skater may compete in his/her age group, or can choose to compete in a higher age
group. In all Senior and Old Skool event’s, skaters must be at least 21 years of age.

In Pairs events a skater may compete in his/her age group, or can choose to compete in a higher age
group. In all Senior and Old Skool Pairs event’s, skaters must be at least 21 years of age.
The age group for skaters in all Pairs events are determined by the oldest skater.


General:

In the Solo and Pairs Events, skaters should include both jamskating and shuffle moves (any
combination).
In the Shuffle Event, skaters are not allowed to be in a stationary position for more then a few
seconds at a time. Skaters should be in continuous motion. Skaters routines will be judged on
shuffle skating.

Shuffles should be omitted in the Performance Events.
Battle events are open to any skaters. Battle events will take place at the center of the floor, in the
form of a circle made up of the contestants. Referees will tell them when their time is up.

In all events, except for the Battle Events, skaters will have the floor to themselves for the length of
the routine.

All skaters will be provided a warm up period prior to their event.
Skaters will not be allowed to use any props, except during the Performance round of the Battle
events. Props must be “rink safe”.

Skaters that fail to check in at the required time will not be allowed to compete in that event.
Skaters will provide they’re own music on a CD. Skaters are required to turn in their music when
called to do so. Skaters will be given a maximum of two minutes to report with their music when
called, and must be ready to skate immediately following the prior skater. Failure to do so within
that time will be considered a withdrawal from the event. All music must be free of profanity.
The order of skating will be determined by the WSA prior to the event.
If the WSA determines there are too many entrants in an event, they may change the format to
include an Elimination and a Final. In such a case, the skaters who place in the top 8 of the
Elimination round will skate in the Final round. The Final round scores will then be added to the
Elimination round to produce a total score for each skater(s). If a change in format is to occur, it will
be determined prior to the start of the event.

A Skater may only compete once in each event. This rule applies to age groups as well.
A skater may not leave the skating floor at any time during the routine. This includes the use of
walls, railings, kick boards, etc., UNLESS the rink that the competition is held in will allow the use
of those surfaces (skaters will be informed prior to the event). The routine must be kept within the
barriers of the floor. If the skater intentionally leaves the skating area during the routine, the skater
is disqualified.

Routine times

Tiny Tot routines must run between two (2) and two & one half (2 ½) minutes in length.
Rink Rat routines must run between two (2) and two & one half (2 ½) minutes in length.
Junior routines must run between two (2) and two & one half (2 ½) minutes in length.
Senior routines must run between two (2) and two & one half (2 ½) minutes in length.
Old Skool routines must run between two (2) and two & one half (2 ½) minutes in length.
Elite routine times must run between two & one half (2 ½) & three (3) minutes in length.
Shuffle routine times must run between two & one half (2 ½) & three (3) minutes in length.
All Pro events; routine times must run between two & one half (2 ½) & three (3) minutes in length.
The Team Performance event must run between one (1) and two (2) minutes.
Solo Battles; the Performance round times must run between forty-five (45) and ninety (90) seconds.
Team Battle; the Performance round must run between one (1) and two (2) minuets.
Actual Battle times will be determined at the event.
Points will be deducted from routines that run below or over the allotted times.
Routine times begin when the music starts, and ends at the point the skater stops the routine.


Code of conduct:

If an individual’s actions, statements or conduct is unruly, they will be subject to discipline up to and
including disqualification, suspension, or barred from all future WSA events. An individual who
is unruly may be removed from the area.

No contact, verbal or otherwise, toward a judge or WSA official is allowed. Any motions or
comments to a judge or official will be a violation of the code of conduct.

Unsportsmanlike conduct is not allowed.

Skaters will not be allowed to wear indecent or embarrassing clothing during an event. Skaters must
not remove any clothing during an event if the result is indecent or embarrassing. Skaters must not
wear clothing that could be hazardous to them or other skaters. Skaters will not be allowed to
reskate an event due to clothing malfunction or failure.

Skater’s routines that contain profanity will be disqualified.

Skaters that fail to adhere to the WSA Contest Events & Rules may be disqualified.

Interruption of skating:

Skaters will be allowed to reskate only due to music failure, or mechanical failure of skates. If a
skater interrupts the routine for any other reason, they are disqualified from that event. Reskates will
be performed within 15 minutes of the interruption. If the skater cannot continue the routine at that
time, they are disqualified.

When an interruption occurs, the skater must immediately report to the WSA designated official.
The official will determine if the interruption is justified, and will state if the skater may reskate or
not. If a reskate is allowed, the official will determine if the skater will reskate the entire routine or
pick up from the point of interruption. The judges will include the prior score, but will only continue
the scoring from the point of interruption. Judges will not re-score the part of the routine already
skated.

Mechanical skate failure means that it is impossible to skate without a repair to the skate. This does
not include a skate falling off, even partially. Skates should remain on at all times. If a skater
removes a skate(s), the routine will be considered over at that point. If a skate clearly falls off, the
skater will receive a four (4) point fall deduction for each occurrence, but will be allowed up to 30
seconds to put the skate back on. If the skater fails to affix the skate within the 30 seconds, or
make’s no effort to put the skate back on, the routine will be considered over at that point.

Competitive Levels:

Two competitive levels will be held at all WSA Championship competitions.

Standard;
Any skater may compete in this level, unless they have qualified for the Professional division.

To advance to the Professional Division;

Skaters who place 1st , 2cd , 3rd , or in the top 25% (whichever is LESS) in an Elite event at Nationals
will move up to the Pro division in that event the following season. They are no longer eligible for
Standard in that event. In cases where the top 25% is in effect, only full numbers apply (not
fractions).

Pairs and Mixed Pairs are separate events, but at this time there is no separation of Pro status in a
pairs event. If a skater qualifies for Pro status in any pairs event, they are no longer eligible in any
Standard Pairs event. *

Professional (Pro);
Skaters that are not eligible for Standard in that event. Pro eligible Skaters may advance to the
Senior or Old Skool standard events when they become of age, but may not voluntarily revert back
to any other age group. *

Pro skaters that fail to compete at a WSA National Championships for two (2) consecutive seasons
in a Pro event, will be listed as “inactive”. Pro skaters who fail to compete at a WSA National
Championships for more than two (2) consecutive seasons in a Pro event, will loose they’re
Professional eligibility in that event. This rule is retroactive starting with the WSA 2006 season.

If a Pro Pairs skater competes with a Standard Pairs skater in a Pairs event, the pair will be
considered a Pro Pair and must skate in the Pro division. The Standard Pairs skater will remain a
Stanard Pairs skater. *

* For 2009, the WSA is suspending the Pro Pairs events. Pro Pairs skaters will be merged into the
Elite Pairs event for this season.
National Qualifiers:

The WSA schedules National qualifying events in each Region within United States. Skaters must
qualify at one of these events to compete at the National Championships. Skaters may only compete
at one (1) National Qualifier per year. For 2009, the WSA will use the following formula to
determine the number of skaters that qualify for Nationals from each Qualifier:

Number of skaters Number who qualify
1-6 4
7-11 5
12-16 6
17+ 7

If no National Qualifier is held as scheduled, or an unforseen issue prevents skaters from competing
at a National Qualifier, the President of the WSA may approve a bye to effected skaters. The
location of the National Qualifiers will be selected based on rink availability, and must be suitable
for all WSA events.


National Championship:

Skaters that qualify at a National Qualifying event are eligible for the National Championships in
that event. Skaters are only eligible to compete at Nationals in the events which they qualified in at
the Regional level, unless the event is non-qualifying (open events at Nationals).

All WSA Pro events are “open” at Nationals.

National location will be selected based on rink availability and location. The location must be
suitable for all WSA events.


Scoring for WSA events:

Whenever possible, the WSA will use five judges for each event.

WSA scoring will be divided into two sections, Technical & Performance. The Technical section
will consist of marks for Basic Skating Skills; Technical Skills; Degree of Difficulty; Variety; and
Synchronicity/Unison (in pair/team/shuffle events). The Performance section will consist of marks
for Use of the Floor; Style; Originality & Creativity; Choreography; and Performing with the music.

The Technical section will be worth 60 points. The Performance section will be worth 40 points.
The two marks (scores) from each judge are used to determine a skaters ordinals.

Skaters will be deducted points for a “fall” or a “cheat.” A skater who falls or cheats will be
deducted points in the Technical section. A “Fall” is defined as “the complete loss of balance
involving body contact with the skating surface.” A “Cheat” is an item clearly performed
incorrectly. Falls will receive a deduction of four (4) points for each infraction. A cheat will receive
at least one (1), but no more then two (2) for each infraction.

Final placements will be determined by the Majority Ordinal (a number indicating the highest place
for which a skater has a majority). The WSA uses software to determine placements using common
methods as listed below. In the event of a tie after tie break rules have been applied, the score from
the Technical section will be used in rule 7.

1. Total the marks and determine the ordinals for each skater from each judge.
2. Break ties using the first or second mark depending on the program being skated.
3. Determine the majority for each skater from their individual ordinals.
4. Place the skaters in order from best majority to worst majority.
5. If any skaters have the same majority, break the tie using the total ordinals of the majority.
6. If any skaters have the same majority and total ordinals of the majority, break the tie using

total ordinals.

7. If any skaters have the same majority, total ordinals of the majority, and total ordinals, use the
totals of the first or second mark depending on the program being skated.
Skaters may view the Ordinals of an event. Score sheets will not be viewed.
General Rules applying to Judges at WSA events:
Judges must be certified by the WSA.
No judge will be allowed to judge any event of any person who is related to them.