IJA - Numbers Rules 2007

The IJA Numbers Championships were established to advance the sport of "numbers juggling" and to provide a forum for competitors to challenge each other and the laws of gravity and physics. The purpose of these events is to show who can successfully juggle the greatest numbers of balls, clubs, rings, and bounced balls for the most catches.

Who May Enter

All entrants must be IJA members in good standing. There are no restrictions based on age, gender, or nationality. Each entrant must pay a $10.00 (US) registration fee per event. "Entrant" or "competitor" here means either a solo juggler or a team; so for teams, the fee is $10 per team, not per person. Paying the registration fee, however, does not guarantee that the entrant will qualify for the Championships Finals in any event. No one can compete on more than one team in the same event. Each registrant must sign the IJA's video release and insurance waiver.

Events

The following Numbers events currently exist for individuals:

o Individual Balls

o Individual Rings

o Individual Clubs

o Individual Ball Bouncing

The following Numbers passing events currently exist for teams:

o Ball Passing

o Ring Passing

o Club Passing

o Ball Bounce Passing

o Three-Person Club Passing

Minimum Numbers of Objects

There is a minimum number of objects required to be juggled in any event. They are as follows:

Individuals: 8 balls, 8 rings, 6 clubs, 8 balls bouncing
Two-person teams: 11 balls, 10 rings, 10 clubs, 12 balls bouncing
Three-person teams: 13 clubs

In the Championships Finals, the Numbers Director(s) may choose to raise the starting level for each event to the greatest common number of objects at which all finalists qualified during their preliminary qualifying rounds. For instance, if, during the preliminary rounds, one of the Individual Balls finalist's best qualifying run was with 9 balls and the other two finalists' best qualifying runs were with 10 balls, then the starting level for the Championships Finals may be raised to 9 balls rather than 8 balls.

Prop Specifications

Balls must be roughly spherical objects, including beanbags. Clubs must be long, roughly cylindrically-shaped objects, including sticks or batons. Rings must be large, roughly flat objects, including plates and hoops.

No object may have significant aerodynamic lifting qualities, such as a flying disk, nor be so light as to be significantly affected by air resistance, such as a balloon or a feather.

Each entrant is responsible for providing his/her own equipment, including props being juggled or special surfaces on which to bounce juggle.

Each entrant may use one or more assistants to pick up dropped objects, call out times, or provide other support. Assistants may in no way help with the start, progress, or finish of any attempted juggle.

The Numbers Director(s) will make final decisions regarding categorization and acceptability of props. (See "Authority of the Numbers Director(s)")

Ball Bouncing Patterns Defined

In the ball bouncing events, each ball thrown must bounce exactly one time before being caught.

Bounce jugglers are not required to actually grip each ball as it comes to a hand. Instead, they may simply push the ball slightly to redirect it to the floor. Since a stable pattern can be maintained in this way, any touch of a ball with a hand will be considered to be a catch in ball bouncing, provided that all other requirements are met.

An entrant may bring a special surface on which to bounce. Similarly, the juggler may bring a raised platform on which to stand. In bounce passing, multiple platforms of any heights may be used for standing or bouncing. If used, all such platforms may be raised at any height or angle, but they must be flat and rigid.

Teams Patterns Defined

For each juggler in a team event, at least every other throw (counting both hands) must be a pass to another team member. This means that the 1-count ("ultimates"), the 2-count (every right hand or every left hand), and pass/pass/self are acceptable passing patterns, but the 3-count (pass/self/self) is not. The intent is to ensure actual team pass-juggling, rather than having two or more mostly-solo jugglers.

In each team event, the passing can be from any combination of right and left hands, provided the above requirements are met.

Preliminary Qualifying Round Requirements

After registering as a Numbers entrant but before the close of Numbers registration, each entrant must prove competence in each event entered by attempting to qualify for the event. In each event, the top three qualifiers will be eligible to compete in the Championships Finals. A qualifying attempt must be witnessed and documented by at least two members of the Numbers staff, as designated by the Numbers Director(s).

Each entrant must set up the time for the preliminary qualifying round with the Numbers staff (see the Championships table). A separate time for qualifying will be arranged for each entrant. The attempt may be scheduled at any time when Numbers staff witnesses are available, prior to the close of Numbers registration. For the deadline date and time for completion of preliminary qualifying rounds, see the Numbers Schedule of Events at [LINK].

Rules for the Preliminary Qualifying Rounds

For each event, the preliminary qualifying round for each entrant will begin with a two-minute period in which to achieve a qualifying run of at least the minimum number of objects required (see Definition of a [Successful] Qualifying Run). If a qualifying run is achieved during the initial two-minute period, then another two-minute period will be given to the entrant to achieve a qualifying run at a greater number of objects. An additional two-minute period is awarded each time an entrant qualifies at a greater number of objects.

An entrant may use a portion or all of any period to attempt to qualify a greater number of objects, but the entrant may not attempt a run at a lesser number of objects than the number for which the two-minute period is officially assigned. For example, during the 9-ring period, an entrant may attempt to qualify 9 or more rings, but cannot use the period to attempt a better run of 8 rings.

The entrant must indicate to the judges the number of objects to be juggled each time the number changes.

An entrant may skip a given number of objects, providing that all of the other requirements are met.

If an entrant fails to achieve a qualifying run of the required, or greater, number of objects during a number-assigned period and has not qualified at that number of objects, or greater, during an earlier time period, then the entrant's preliminary qualifying round is finished in that event. The entrant's final score for the preliminary event is the qualifying run of the most catches achieved with the greatest number of objects.

For example: Sue qualifies 8 balls (16 catches) during the initial 2-minute period, thereby earning an additional (9-ball) 2-minute period. She may use the remainder of the initial period to either try for a better run of 8, or move on to 9 or more balls. During the second (9-ball) two-minute period, Sue chooses to skip 9 and tries to qualify 10 balls. If she does not qualify 9 or more balls, this round is finished. If Sue does qualify 10 balls (20 catches) in the 9-ball period, she earns TWO additional two-minute periods (a 10-ball period and an 11-ball period). In short,

1^st 2 minutes (8-ball period): Sue qualifies 8 balls.

2^nd 2 minutes (9-ball period): She must qualify 9 or more to continue. Sue skips 9 and qualifies 10 balls.

3^rd 2 minutes (10-ball period): She may try for a better run of 10, or may attempt to qualify 11 or more balls. Sue does not achieve a better run of 10.

4^th 2 minutes (11-ball period): She must qualify 11 or more to continue. Sue attempts 11 balls but does not successfully qualify 11.

Sue's score is her best run of 10 balls (which she happened to achieve during the 9-ball period).

Scores from the preliminary qualifying rounds do not carry over to the Championships Finals; they simply determine who will be finalists and the finalists' running order for the Championships Finals. There is one exception: if no competitor in an event is able to successfully achieve a qualifying run during the Championships Finals, then medals (but no prize money) will be awarded based on the scores from preliminary qualifying rounds among the entrants who qualified for and competed in the Finals.

Runs Attempted within Given Time Limits

Any number of attempts may be made within the time period. Any run still going when the time period ends will be permitted to continue until the first drop. That is, if a run is continuing, catches will not stop being counted just because the time period is over, although no more runs may be started after the time period ends.

Definition of a (Successful) Qualifying Run

To successfully qualify a given number of objects, an entrant (solo or team) must keep the pattern going without a drop long enough for each hand to make as many catches as there are objects being juggled. For instance, in solo juggling of eight balls, each hand must make eight catches before there is a drop; and in two-person passing of ten clubs, each hand must make ten catches before there is a drop.

A greater number of objects cannot be used to qualify a lesser number of objects. For example, 19 catches of 10 rings by an individual does not count as a qualifying run of 9 rings, even though nine of the ten rings were each thrown and caught twice. A qualifying run must be made with the actual number of objects that are being juggled.

Definition of a Drop

Except for bounce juggling, a drop is a failure to catch an object which, as a result, hits the ground or any foreign object.

For bounce juggling, a drop is a failure to touch a ball which, as a result, hits the ground twice in a row or hits any foreign object.

Collisions among the objects being juggled are permitted and are not considered as hitting foreign objects.

The drop is considered to happen at the moment when the object logically should have been caught or touched (not when it hits the ground).

Which Catches Are Counted

Catches made after an object has been dropped will not be counted, even if made before the dropped object hits the ground. That is, the catches counted must be consecutive catches with no missed catch in between.

Catches made at the end of a run by "stacking up" or collecting multiple objects in the hands and body of one or more jugglers will be counted to the extent that such catches are made before any object is dropped. Any part of the body can be used to assist in catching or collecting, provided that the objects being juggled never touch the ground or a foreign object. Only throws made before collecting begins can have their subsequent catches counted. Entrants are not allowed to use pockets, nets, or other special clothing or apparatus to aid in catching or collecting. Collecting can only be used to end a run. Any object thrown after collecting has started is considered to be a drop at the moment of release of the throw.

Any object dropped after being collected is considered to be a drop at the moment of errant release and no subsequent catches will be counted in that run.

While an object is touching any part of the body, it is considered to be in the hand that last caught it, or otherwise "should have" last caught it, in the normal pattern. For example, an object held between your legs or under an arm counts as being in a hand (the hand by which it "should have" been caught). Holding an object with the body in any way and then catching another object in the "same" hand results in collecting, and can only be used at the end of a run.

Multiplex ("squeeze") catching is considered collecting and is only permitted at the end of a run. If any hand, or hand and body combination, catches or touches one object while already holding another object, the entrant is considered to be collecting and ending a run.

A bobbled object will be counted as caught, provided it is caught before the first drop. A bobble will not be counted as more than one catch. In particular, two consecutive catches by a given hand must always be of two different objects; the second and subsequent consecutive catches of the same object by the same hand will not be counted as catches but will be considered parts of a bobble (at most one catch).

Catching a ring and placing it over the head (pull-down) or dropping a ring onto an arm are acceptable, but these actions do not constitute additional throws or catches. Body catches only count when used in lieu of a hand catch.

In team events, all catches are counted, including catches resulting from self throws.

Holding Objects at the Start of a Run

Entrants are not required to hold all of the objects in their hands at the start of a run. The start may be achieved partly by picking up, kicking up, and/or lowering any of the objects from a balance. For instance, objects can be pulled from holsters, prop stands, or the hands of assistants. However, each object not initially held in the hands must be at rest (not moving) at the time an entrant first encounters it. Objects cannot be thrown or catapulted into the pattern by an assistant or a device. An object must be thrown from an entrant's hand to count as a catch.

An entrant can choose to achieve a pattern by first juggling a lesser number of objects and then picking up or kicking up additional objects. However, in all cases, no catches will be counted while any object remains to be picked up or kicked up. Furthermore, no catches will be counted at the beginning of the pattern while any hand contains more than one object.

An object which is kicked up, picked up, lowered from a balance, or taken from a prop stand or from an assistant only counts as a catch once it has been thrown from a hand. Assuming that all objects initially held in the juggler's(s') hands are thrown first, and followed by the object(s) to receive such special handling, the catch (when thrown from a hand) of the final such object is counted as catch N (where N equals the number of objects being juggled).

Multiplex throws are not allowed.

Numbers Championships Finals

The order of events for the Numbers Championships Finals will be specified by the Numbers Director(s). In each event, the top three finalists from the preliminary qualifying rounds will be eligible to compete in the Championships Finals. Competitors will compete in the reverse order of their qualifying scores from the preliminary qualifying rounds. That is, the best qualifier will go last in each heat of the Championships Finals.

Competitors must check in with the Numbers staff at the beginning of each event entered. Anyone not present for directions at the beginning of an entered event may be disqualified from that event.

As in the preliminary qualifying rounds, each event in the Championships Finals will begin with each competitor being given a two-minute period in which to achieve his/her best qualifying run of at least the minimum number of objects. If a qualifying run is achieved during the initial two-minute period, then another two-minute period will be given to the competitor to achieve a qualifying run at a greater number of objects. An additional two-minute period is awarded each time a competitor qualifies at a greater number of objects.

The Championships Finals of each event will be conducted in levels. Every competitor in a particular event will take turns using their two-minute time periods in the first level, before anyone starts the next level of that event. For example, in the Individual Clubs event, every competitor will use his/her first time period (the 6-club level) before any competitor moves on to their second time period (the 7-club level). Those who earn another two-minute period then take turns at the next higher level, and so on.

A competitor who has successfully qualified for another time period should conduct any warm-ups outside of the competition area while other entrants are competing.

A competitor may use a portion or all of any period to attempt to qualify a greater number of objects, but the competitor cannot attempt a run at a lesser number of objects than the number for which the two-minute period is officially assigned. For example, during the two minutes at the 7-club level, a competitor may attempt to qualify 8 or more clubs, but cannot use the period to attempt a better run of 6 clubs.

A competitor may skip a given number of objects, providing that all of the other requirements are met.

The competitor must indicate to the judges the number of objects to be juggled each time the number changes.

If a competitor fails to achieve a qualifying run of the required, or greater, number of objects during a number-assigned period and has not qualified at that number of objects, or greater, during an earlier period, then the competitor is finished in that event. The competitor's qualifying run of the most catches achieved with the greatest number of objects in the Championships Finals is the competitor's finishing score.

Order of Finishing

In each event, the winner is the competitor with the qualifying run of the greatest number of catches of the most objects.

If no competitor in an event is able to successfully achieve a qualifying run during the Championships Finals, then medals (but no money) will be awarded based on the scores from preliminary qualifying rounds among the entrants who qualified for and competed in the Finals.

If two or more competitors have successfully juggled the same highest number of catches of the greatest number of objects, then a tie will be declared. In the event of a tie, the Numbers Director(s) will opt to either declare both competitors as tied winners, or to allow each of the tied competitors an additional two-minute period in which to attempt better runs of the greatest number of objects and thereby possibly break the tie.

Awards

Gold medals will be awarded to the winners of each event.

A $100.00 (US) prize will be awarded to the winner of each Numbers event, provided that the winner achieves a qualifying run of the minimum number of objects during the Championships Finals. If the winner is an individual, that person will receive the entire $100. If the winner is a team, the team members will split the $100 among themselves.

An additional $100 prize will be awarded to each top IJA Numbers record breaker. No prize money will be given to competitors who break IJA records but fail to win the event. Prize money will be awarded only for records broken during Numbers Championships Finals events (not preliminaries).

If a tie for first place occurs, the $100 prize will be split equally between the tying competitors.

Videotape Review

In an event that is being videotaped, if at any time the Numbers judges are in doubt about an attempt, they may choose to assume that the attempt was successful, while reserving the right to review the videotape later and to subsequently reverse or confirm their decision. This judges' assumption of success and option to review will be communicated to the competitor, since it means that the attempt in doubt may later be disqualified. The Numbers Director(s) may opt to stop an event during the Championships Finals to review videotape.

Judges

Numbers judges will be selected by the Numbers Director(s) from the general membership of the IJA for their knowledge of and attention to numbers juggling, and for their ability to accurately observe and record the Numbers competitions. The Numbers Director(s) may be a Numbers judge.

Due to the objective nature of the Numbers Championships, Numbers judges are allowed to have a personal or professional relationship with any entrant or competitor. Any Numbers judge is allowed to enter any Numbers event, but is not allowed to judge an event in which he/she is competing.

A timekeeper will track the time used by a competitor, and alert the judges and competitors when time has run out. At the request of a competitor, the timekeeper may announce the approximate time used or remaining at selected intervals. In order to avoid distracting the competitor, the timekeeper should not make any announcements while a run is in progress, unless such announcements are specifically requested in advance by the competitor.

Judging

In the Championships Finals, there will be at least three judges for each Numbers event. Their tasks are to count and record the number of catches made during each attempt. For solo events, one judge will be assigned to watch each of the competitor's hands. For team events, one judge will be assigned to watch each person competing. The judges will consult with each other to determine the total number of catches.

The judges have the option of using flags to communicate to the competitor and the audience about when the competitor may start and when a qualifying run has been achieved. To avoid distracting a competitor, judges will not raise a flag during a run.

Flag	Meaning
None	do not start
Green	start (judges are ready; the competitor may start when ready)
Orange	a qualifying run at this level has been achieved

Authority of the Numbers Director(s)

The Numbers Director(s) will resolve all questions pertaining to the interpretation of these Numbers Championships Rules, and will exercise discretion in handling circumstances which may arise that are not addressed in these Rules. For instance, if any question comes up as to whether or not a pattern attempted by a competitor meets the criteria for the particular event, the Numbers Director(s) will make the final decision on the validity of the pattern. The Numbers Director(s) has the authority to disqualify a competitor who does not abide by these rules.

Merry Spahr and Scott Cain

Numbers Co-Directors

numbers@juggle.org

Thanks to Martin Frost, Barry Bakalor, David Cain, and Peter Blanchard

for their contributions to the writing of these rules.

5 Jun 07