LEVEL 9 REQUIREMENTS Level 9 athletes are required to perform two exercises, balance and dynamic, with a maximum exercise length of 2 minutes. There will be a 2 tolerance for music. However, that does not mean that music can be 2:02. The maximum time limit is 2 minutes. BALANCE EXERCISE Required Elements for Pairs Six (6) pair balance elements without a flight phase, comprised of: 1. Four (4) compulsory elements, each selected from a different row in the compulsory tables. Compulsory elements with an X by the value may not be used as compulsory or optional elements for Level 9. 2. Two (2) optional elements, selected from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. The two optional elements must be static holds of 3 seconds and CAN NOT be any of the compulsory elements choices. Special Requirements 1. Press to handstand by top or middle acting as the top (can be any handstand position). Restrictions for Pairs 1. The maximum number of pair/group elements is six (6). 2. A motion of the base may not be repeated during an exercise (i.e. slide to splits may be done only one time). 3. Pair static holds in sit, split, or on knees will receive credit if the base does not raise his/her hand from the floor during the hold, but a 0.5 execution deduction will be taken for additional support. 4. The number of repeated top positions is restricted as static holds and in motions. In one exercise, a top may repeat the same position (i.e. handstand on two hands) twice as a static hold and twice as a motion. Required Elements for Groups Three (3) pyramids composed of: 1. Two compulsory pyramids, selected from a different row in the compulsory tables. The compulsory pyramids must be performed separately; they cannot be joined. 2. One (1) optional pyramid, selected from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. The optional pyramid must be a fixed pyramid with a 3 second hold. Note for Women's Group: The optional pyramid may be selected from one of the same categories used for the compulsory elements (this includes category 1 and 2 pyramids).
Special Requirements for Groups 1. Straddle/pike press to handstand by the top or middle acting as the top (can be any handstand position). Restrictions for Groups 1. The maximum number of pyramids is three (3). 2. The number of repeated top positions is restricted in static holds and in motions. In one exercise, a top may repeat the same position (i.e. handstand on two hands) twice as a static hold.clarification if doing a category 2 pyramid and the top and middle are doing the same static position, it only counts as 1 of that static position. Individual Element Requirements for Pairs and Groups Three (3) Category 1 individual elements, representing each of the three characteristics: flexibility, agility, and balance. Individual elements are selected from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. 1. A maximum of six (6) individual elements can be performed by all partners. 2. Elements may be performed separately or in a series, but they cannot overlap (i.e. flic to split, and then hold in spilt counts as one element not two separate elements). 3. Partners must perform elements of the same characteristic simultaneously or in immediate succession. Linked elements in a series must be performed in the same characteristic order by all partners. 4. A special requirement deduction of 1.0 is taken by the DJ for each missing individual element of the three required from Category 1. 5. Additional penalties for missing characteristics may be taken from the artistic score (0.1 deduction for each missing characteristic see Tables of Artistic Faults in Section 11.0. 6. In order for an element to receive difficulty credit, all partners must perform an element of value at the same time or in immediate succession. If one partner cannot receive difficulty credit due to repetition or restriction then none of the partners will receive credit. DYNAMIC EXERCISE Required Elements for Pairs and Groups Six (6) dynamic elements with a flight phase, comprised of: 1. Four (4) compulsory elements, each selected from a different row in the compulsory tables. Compulsory elements with an X by the value may not be used as compulsory or optional elements for Level 9. 2. Two (2) optional elements, selected from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. The two optional elements CAN NOT be any of the compulsory elements choices. Special Requirements for Pairs and Groups 1. The landings of ALL DYNAMIC pair/group skills must be supported by the base(s). If unsupported, a 1.0 special requirement penalty applies. This includes dismounts and dynamic elements. However, the support may be by only one base and is not
required for both bases to catch in a WG for example. For skills from cannonball or gainer 5/4 dismount from wrap, support by the base is optional. Restrictions for Pairs and Groups 1. The maximum number of pair/group elements is six (6). 2. No more than three dismounts will be credited. A maximum of two dismounts may be chosen from the compulsory tables, and in addition one optional element may be a dismount. 3. Rule 4.4.6.3 does not apply for Level 9 Men s Groups. Men s Groups may perform one horizontal catch selected from the compulsory elements and one horizontal catch as an optional element from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. 4. The maximum number of identical start and catch positions is restricted to three (3) of each. Exceptions for horizontal catches are as follows: a. Women s Group: the number of horizontal catch positions is restricted to a maximum of four (4). b. Men s Group: the number of horizontal catch positions is restricted to one (1) from the compulsory tables and one (1) optional element. c. Note: Artistry penalties still apply according to Section 11.0. 5. Linking is permitted between any elements (compulsory or optional) in an exercise, but cannot exceed value 5. a. Links are not considered elements when calculating the total elements in an exercise. b. Links must be declared on the tariff sheet as NV for No Value (0). c. Only three (3) links are permitted in an exercise. d. For developmental purposes, it is recommended that pairs/groups have 1 link in the routine even if it is of no value. Individual Element Requirements for Pairs and Groups REQUIREMENT #1: Three (3) Category 2 individual elements, selected from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. A special requirement deduction of 1.0 is taken by the DJ for each missing individual element of the three required from Category 2. REQUIREMENT #2: Each partner must perform a salto. Aerial cartwheel/walkover is not considered a Category 2 element. a. If this requirement is not fulfilled by all partners, a special requirement deduction of 1.0 is taken by the DJ, only one time for all partners missing the SR. If you are missing a Category 2 element AND you are missing a salto, the deduction would be 2.0. 1. A maximum of six (6) individual elements can be performed by all partners.. 2. Category 2 individual elements must be preceded by motion and must finish on two feet according to character (see Sections 2.3.9 2.3.11). A one foot step from a tumbling element is allowed only when linking. A choreographic element does not count towards one of the required three.
3. In order for an element to receive difficulty credit, all partners must perform an element of value at the same time or in immediate succession. If one partner cannot receive difficulty credit due to repetition or restriction then none of the partners will receive credit. DIFFICULTY The difficulty of the exercise is based on the FIG 11 16 Age Group Difficulty Chart 10.5 on page 12 in the FIG Age Group Rules. Element Difficulty: Minimum and maximum values, as listed in the tables below, must be followed for the performance of optional elements and individual elements. Discipline Balance Dynamic Individual Elements Cat 1 Cat 2 Women s Pair* Min 1v Max 8v Min 1v Max 14v Min 1v Max 10v Min 1v Max 10v Men s Pair Min 1v Max 8v Min 1v Max 14v Mixed Pair Min 1v Max 8v Min 1v Max 14v Women s Group Min 4v Max 16v Min 1v Max 14v Men s Group Min 4v Max 16v Min 1v Max 10v *The co efficient normally applied for WP balance and dynamic does not apply for 11 16 Each element must meet or exceed the minimum stated value in order to be counted as a required element and/or special requirement. The +1 for legs together value applies as additional credit to the value of an optional element and the specific leg position must be identified on the tariff sheet. For developmental reasons, in both pair and group balance and dynamic compulsory elements, a handstand may be performed with legs in either a straddle (legs apart) or straight position (legs together). There is no need to identify the specific leg position on the tariff sheet. Level 8 would not receive a +1 for legs together in compulsory elements. A deduction of 1.0 will be taken by the DJ if a pair or group exceeds the maximum difficulty value of an optional element or individual element and any restricted element cannot be used to satisfy a required element or special requirement. Example: if a women s pair performs a balance element of value 10, they will receive a 1.0 deduction, since the element exceeds the maximum of v8 and would also lose 1.0 for missing an optional element.
GENERAL INFORMATION 1. For each special requirement violation, there is a deduction of 1.0. 2. The maximum number of pair/group and individual elements is defined in the previous sections. If the maximum number is exceeded, the penalty is a 1.0 deduction taken by the DJ (maximum of once per exercise). If it is clear that a pair/group is performing a rated element that is not declared on the tariff sheet which would put them over the maximum number of elements, the 1.0 penalty will be applied. If a pair/group element is being used to fulfill a requirement, that element must be counted in the total number of elements in the exercise, regardless of value. 3. Additional pair/group elements in an exercise are permitted if they are used as entries (i.e. mounts), motions, links, catches or dismounts and meet the following restrictions: a. The difficulty must not exceed value 5 for entries, motions, links and value 1 for catches or dismounts. b. These elements may not be considered as required elements and therefore, do not count toward the difficulty of the exercise. c. They must be declared on the tariff sheet and identified as NV/the value of the element in box B or C with ID # s on the appropriate lines, otherwise they will be considered extra elements in the exercise and a deduction of 0.3 will apply. d. This information applies to pair/group elements only. e. For pairs balance, calculating the value of a motion by the base includes the work of the top + base. f. Examples would include foose up, inlocate mount, press from handstand to arch or ¼ salto from cradle catch to stand on floor. 4. If an individual element, such as tumbling skills of round off or flic, is repeated in an exercise, the repeat will not count toward the required element count, but would count toward the maximum element count. A repeated individual element may fulfill a special requirement. 5. Handstand positions that are part of compulsory skills may be performed with legs together or in straddle, regardless of the picture. The leg position does not need to be declared on the tariff sheet. For optional elements, the leg position must be declared on the tariff sheet and cannot exceed the maximum difficulty value for optional elements. 6. Forbidden elements are listed on page 10 article 7.6 in the FIG Age Group Rules. If a forbidden element is performed, a 1.0 deduction is taken by the DJ from the difficulty score and this element may not count as a required element or special requirement. 7. Optional elements may not be chosen from the illustrated compulsory elements. 8. Should Level 9 athletes go to finals, they will perform the finals exercise determined by FIG for that term. 9. Exercises are judged by the rules for judging elite athletes with the exception of the special requirements, restrictions, and difficulty minimums and maximums listed in this section. 10. The maximum time length for routines is 2:00 minutes. There is a 0:02 second tolerance. There is a.3 deduction if the music goes over time of 2:02 minutes. 11. Optional tariff sheets are to be used. Their preparation is the same as for the elite level, with the exception that compulsory elements should be labeled with the row #, element # and value from the FIG Age Group Rules. Optional elements and individual element
should be labeled with the ID and value from the FIG Tables of Difficulty. Although the value of the element does not factor into the exercise difficulty, it should still be included on the tariff sheet to ensure the element falls within the minimum/maximum difficulty range. 12. All elements must be declared on the tariff sheets as either: compulsory with ID # and value, optional with ID # and value, or NV/value of the element and ID # (entries, exits, repeated elements).