Rules

1. Entry
   1.  We reserve the right to refuse any entry for any reason (although we don’t foresee needing to do this!). If this happens we will refund your entry fee. However, disqualifications will not be refunded. 
2. Costume
   1. It is your decision whether or not to wear a leotard, just ensure that any clothing is form-fitting so the judge can see your lines. If they cannot see what you are doing properly they cannot assess you properly! 
   2. Shoes must be worn.
   3. Appearance to be smart.
   4. Clothing for pair or group events does not have to match. 
3. Video submissions
   1. Any recordings uploaded after the deadline of the last day of the month will not be judged that month and you will lose your entry fee. If you cannot make the deadline please get in touch to ask for your entry to be rolled over. 
   2. Edited, cropped or cut recordings will not be accepted.
   3. If a judge feels that the recording is not good enough quality, you will be given the opportunity to roll your entry over to the following month. 
   4. Recordings may only be used once.
   5. Recordings made while you are competing at another contest will be refused and you will lose your entry fee.
   6. At the start of the recording, either the contestant or recorder must state ‘name, event, ability/age level and month of entry’. 
   7. Recordings should be from the front (where a judge would normally sit). You may zoom in on the contestant if necessary, but the entire body must be in view at all times. 
   8. Ensure the recording is running at least a few seconds before speaking and at the end of the routine. 
   9. If the event you are doing is reliant on music, ensure the speaker is close to the recorder so the judge can hear. All recordings must be uploaded with sound; muted recordings will not be allowed.
   10. Verbal reminders of the routine may be given when necessary. However, the only person we should see in the recording is the person entered. Any coaching given will interrupt your routine and affect your scores. 
   11. We reserve the right to retain your recordings for the purposes of training judges across all countries and associations. If you want to opt out of this, please tell us at the point of uploading the recording.
   12. Your recordings will not be shared without your consent on any public platforms.
4. General
   1. Competitors under 16 must be entered by a parent or guardian, who will need to agree to the Terms and Conditions on their behalf.
   2. Age divisions must be strictly adhered to. Any competitor known to be competing in the wrong age division will be disqualified. Your age for the purposes of each contest is what your age will be on 31st December at the end of the current year.
   3. Please enter the ability level that you feel is best suited to your level. If you are not sure what level to enter, please email through a short recording and we will allocate you an ability level. You can choose different ability levels for different events. If a judge feels you are entered in the wrong ability level they will advise you of this on the assessment and you must take this into account for your next contest. 
   4. Unsporting conduct, any form of abuse (including discriminatory) or interference on behalf of, or against, a competitor may result in disqualification from contests.
   5. All queries should go to BatonChamps, and never directly to your judge. 
   6. The judge’s decision is final.
5. Judging
   1. Only qualified judges will be used, although these may be from any association/country. As they may not be the judges you are used to, your scores may be higher/lower than you are used to and may vary between contests. We aim to regularise our scores but this will take time to achieve as the sport is evolving.
   2. To promote fairness, judges will only judge their own students, relatives or close friends when absolutely necessary.
   3. Scores will be out of 100, with the highest score after penalties have been deducted winning.
   4. Judges will be respectful to all contestants and will not share details of recordings with other contestants.

Age categories – Use age as at 31st December of current year

Event specific rules

Event	Rules
Basic Strut	Timing: Maximum 1 minute Music: Compulsory- any music can be used Restrictions: None Description: Basic marching without footwork. Forward motion with head facing front at all times. Baton shall be carried in right hand, over arm, cradle position (baton to be held like a pencil, near the ball with thumb and first two fingers grasping the shaft. The shaft should lie in the crotch of the hand) Arms should swing forwards to shoulder level alternately, using opposite arm to leg.  Other: Contestants will march in a square to the left and complete all 4 sides of the square. Each side will have a minimum of 8 marches. The left foot should hit the floor on the heavy beat of the music.  Judged on: Timing, posture, technique, smoothness
Military Strut	Timing: Maximum 1 minute Music: Compulsory – any music can be used Restrictions: None Description: Marching in a sharp military manner whilst using arm beats with the baton. Upper leg should be at a 90-degree angle to the body and the knee angle should be a minimum of 90 degrees. Baton held by the ball in the crotch of the right hand, with the shaft at an upward angle to the right between off centre (vertical) down to 45 degrees. Once strutting has commenced, the shaft should not touch the arm. Left hand should be on the waist at all times, with a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the fingers. Both elbows pointed to the sides. Arm beats should be sharp. On the left foot (heavy beat) the right hand executes a beat level with the eye / nose. On the right foot the beat is executed down by the right hip. The sequence of the right hand should therefore be hip, eye / nose / eye, hip. The right upper arm should not move. March into and out of the corners, but with the front then back anti-clockwise baton lobs, with the right arm straight up, elbow locked. After the lob corner, the baton should return to nose on the first left step. Lob on corner is optional. Other: Contestants will march in a square to the left and complete all 4 sides of the square. Each side will have a minimum of 8 marches. The left foot should hit the floor on the heavy beat of the music.  Judged on: Timing, posture, technique, smoothness
Fancy Strut	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes Music: Optional Restrictions: No more than 2 continuous revolutions (from the centre) of the baton. Releases not allowed.  Description: A strut incorporating body work and baton work Other: Contestants will strut in a square to the left and complete 3 sides of the square. Recorder to stand at the side not completed.  Judged on: Technique of body and baton
Pom Strut	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes Music: Optional Restrictions: Releases not allowed Description: A strut incorporating body work and pom pon work Other: Contestants will strut in a square to the left and complete 3 sides of the square. Recorder to stand at the side not completed.  Judged on: Technique of body and use of poms
Solo	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes, timed from first to last movement Music: Optional Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: One person using one baton showcasing the 3 modes of twirling Other: Start and end in a salute or pose Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, speed, control, smoothness and gracefulness
2 Baton	Timing: Maximum 1.45 minutes, timed from first to last movement Music: Optional Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: One person using two batons showcasing the 3 modes of twirling continuously and simultaneously Other: Start and end in a salute or pose Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, speed, timing, control, smoothness and gracefulness
3 Baton	Timing: Maximum 1.45 minutes, timed from first to last movement Music: Optional Restrictions: None Description: Continuous and simultaneous twirling of three batons by one person Other: Start and end in a salute or pose Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, speed, timing, control, smoothness and gracefulness
Artistic Twirl	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Compulsory, any music can be used Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: Choreographed routine combining dance and baton, which focuses on musical interpretation Other: Any style can be used, but must match music Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, musicality
Freestyle	Timing: Maximum 2.5 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Compulsory, any music can be used Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: Choreographed routine, combining dance and baton, which showcases dance and twirl skillsOther: any style can be used, but must match music Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, musicality
X Strut	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Compulsory, standard IBTF issued music to be used Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: Choreographed strut set to music showcasing strong body, baton and timing technique Other: Floor Pattern Basic Strut Portions – A minimum of four forward consecutive steps of basic strut shall be executed after the salute on the first leg, and then at the start of the second leg, third leg and fifth (final) leg.  Baton Work – No more than two consecutive revolutions in one hand. The baton must be in full-hand grip, in one hand or the other at all times. Floor Contact – No part of the body other than the feet comes into contact with the floor, intentionally or unintentionally. Timing – The left foot should hit the beat of music at least once every 8 counts, except during feature moves.  Judged on: Technique of body and baton, timing to music, showmanship and gracefulness
Lyrical/Poise & Personality	Timing: Maximum 40 seconds, timed from first to last movement Music: Compulsory Restrictions: No twirling – dead stick baton movements only Description: Routine to music incorporating body work and dead stick baton work Other: Intended for developing contestants to showcase their technique Judged on: Technique, posture, gracefulness, appearance and presentation
Duet	Timing: Maximum 2 minutes, timed from first to last movement Music: Optional Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: Two people using one baton each showcasing the 3 modes of twirling including partner work and exchanges Other: Start and end in a salute or pose, maintenance of unison is of prime importance Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, speed, control, smoothness and gracefulness, partnership
Artistic Pairs	Timing: Maximum 2.5 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Compulsory Restrictions: Competitors entered into Level B, Level A and Elite should follow the restrictions set by the IBTF, competitors entered in beginner should not exceed the limitations of Level B Description: Choreographed routine for two people each using one baton each combining dance and baton, which focuses on musical interpretation and partnership Other: Maintenance of unison is of prime importance, any style can be used, but must complement music Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, musicality, partnership
Trios	Timing: Maximum 2.5 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Optional Restrictions: None Description: Choreographed routine for three people each using one baton each showcasing the 3 modes of twirling including group sequences and exchanges Other: Maintenance of unison is of prime importance Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, musicality, teamwork
Twirl Teams	Timing: Maximum 3 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Optional Restrictions: None Description: Routine for four or more people using one baton each showcasing the 3 modes of twirling including group sequences and exchanges Other: Maintenance of unison is of prime importance Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, teamwork
Dance Teams	Timing: Maximum 3.5 minutes, timed from first to last note of music Music: Compulsory Restrictions: None Description: Choreographed routine for four or more people using one baton each showcasing the 3 modes of twirling including group sequences and exchanges focusing on musical interpretation Other: Any style can be used but must match music Judged on: Variety and difficulty of content, technique of baton and body, musicality, teamwork

Penalties