I.J.A. NUMBERS CHAMPIONSHIPS
RULES
2008
See also NUMBERS SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS: [LINK]
Contents
Changes
to the Rules since 2007
Introduction
Divisions
Who May
Enter
Events
Minimum
Numbers of Objects
Prop
Specifications
Ball
Bouncing Patterns Defined
Teams
Patterns Defined
Preliminary
Qualifying Round Requirements
Rules
for the Preliminary Qualifying Rounds
Runs
Attempted within Given Time Limits
Definition
of a Qualifying Run
Definition
of a Drop
Which
Catches Are Counted
Holding
Objects at the Start of a Run
Numbers
Championships Finals
Order of
Finishing
Awards
Videotape
Review
Judges
Judging
Authority
of the Numbers Director(s)
Changes
to the Rules since 2007
For 2008,
the only substantive change is that the entry fee has been raised from $10.00 to
$15.00 (US).
For
reference purposes, the 2007 rules may be found
here.
Introduction
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 $15.00 (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:
·
Individual Balls
·
Individual Rings
·
Individual Clubs
·
Individual Ball Bouncing
The following Numbers passing events
currently exist for teams:
·
Ball Passing
·
Ring Passing
· Club Passing
·
Ball Bounce Passing
·
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). 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,
1st 2 minutes (8-ball period): Sue qualifies 8 balls.
2nd 2 minutes (9-ball period): She must qualify 9 or more
to continue. Sue skips 9 and qualifies 10 balls.
3rd 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.
4th 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 $100 will be split among the team members.
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 video recorded, 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 video recording 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 video.
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.
Scott
Cain and Merry Spahr
2008
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.
11 Mar
08
