Event Rules

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SL Surfing Association (SLSA) Event Rules
January 26, 2018

The SLSA Event Rules are designed to ensure that each and every surfer that registers for a surf competition, has the exact same opportunity of winning the competition, and that their result is based solely on their skill and their handling of the break conditions at the competition. All surfers are subject to the exact same rules as set out below.

The SL Surfing Association holds two competition seasons per year; Season 1 February-June, and Season 2 August-December inclusive
Each season consists of 5 competitions with up to two events per competition:

1. To enter an SLSA Surfing competition join the Second Life "SL Surfing Association" group, and then Join the SL Surfing Association web forum Forum. Notices that competition registration is open will be sent to the in-world SL Surfing Association group, and will also appear in the forum in the Competition Registration Topic.

Registration and Competition Event Scheduling
1.1. For each SLSA surf competition, one surf event will run per month. The events shall be held on a weekend predetermined by the Board of Directors. This event shall be referred to as a 'Pro' event.
1.2. Registration for the competition will open at noon SL time on the Sunday two weeks before the date scheduled for the event.
1.3. A total of 30 people registered will surf in the event. The top 20 ranked registered surfers will be pre-qualified for the Pro. The remaining spots will go in order of when surfers signed up to fill out the 30 spots. If more than 30 people register, the 31+ people would move to a wait list for those that remove themselves from comps, and no shows on the day of the competition. Wait list people will fill opened positions, in the order that they registered.
1.4. Twenty (20) positions in the Pro event will be filled in order of the current SLSA individual ranking of registered surfers, starting with the top ranked surfer(s) and continuing until all 20 pre-qualifying places are filled. In the event of a tie in qualification for the 20th place, all such surfers who so qualify will be registered for the Pro event. For the first competition of the season, rank is based on the final rank of the previous season.
1.5 When 15 (or less) register, they will surf in 3 heats of 5, with no semifinal, and the top-6 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.5.1 When 16-19 register, they will surf in 4 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-6 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.5.2 When 20 register, they will surf in 4 heats of 5, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.5.3 When 21 to 24 register, they will surf in 5 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.5.4 When 25 register, they will surf in 5 heats of 5, with no semifinal and the top-7 scoring surfers moving to the finals.
1.5.5 When 26 to 29 register, they will surf in 6 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.5.6 When 30 register, they will surf in 6 heats of 5, with no semifinal and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
1.6. Surfers who register for the Pro event must attend the Pro event or they will receive a Did Not Start (DNS) for the whole competition.
1.7. Pro events will be official SLSA events for the purposes of assigning SLSA voting eligibility.

2. Optional Team Competition

2.1. Surfers may optionally compete on behalf of a surf team.
2.2. Registrants should be an officially designated surfer of a surf team before nominating to surf for that team. Their name should be listed with the team in the SLSA internet forum, prior to the event.

3. SLSA Membership.

Membership of the SLSA for the purposes of competition brings with at an implicit acceptance of the SLSA Code of Conduct, the SLSA Constitution and the SLSA Event Rules. Surfers competing in an SLSA competition must be in the SL Surfing Association group at all times during the competition. Any surfer who leaves the SLSA during a competition will be Disqualified (Section 20), because that act represents a rejection of the governing code of conduct.

4. Surfboards.

4.1 Competition Surfboards

All surfers must use the surfboard type selected for competition. The selected surfboard type will be posted in the forum in the Competition Registration Topic. The Surfboard Type for each competition is a decision made by the SLSA Board of directors during season planning. Surfboards the competitors use shall be verified by the Beach Marshall before the heat starts. Surfboards shall not be modified with scripts additional to those of the board type selected.

4.2 Surfboard Approval
4.2.1 When a new surfboard/script is proposed for competition use in official SLSA surfer ranking competitions, the SLSA Board of Directors will present the proposed surfboard to SLSA members in the SLSA Forums.
4.2.2 SLSA members will be given no less than one week and up to eight weeks as determined appropriate by the Directors, to ride and test the board. SLSA Members can then post any comments, suggestions, and concerns about the proposed board in the forums.
4.2.3 After members have been given a chance to post their comments, suggestions, and concerns about the proposed surfboard, then the SLSA Board of Directors will make a decision if the proposed surfboard could be considered for use in official SLSA surfer ranking competitions. The decision shall be based on a majority of opinion of the Directors on, if the proposed surfboard can be fairly used in competition. If it is decided that competitions could not fairly be held, then the proposed board will be dropped from consideration and reason(s) why posted in forums. "Fairly used" meaning such things as; that all SLSA Members have the same opportunity of access to the surfboard, the board can not be unfairly tampered with, that each wave ride can be scored consistently against the scoring criteria, etc..
4.2.4 If the SLSA Board of Directors decide that official SLSA surf competition could be fairly conducted on the proposed board, then the matter will be brought to the eligible voting members who are currently eligible to vote in Director Elections. Eligible members will vote on whether or not to adopt the proposed board for use in official SLSA competitions. The proposed board will be adopted for use in official SLSA competitions if a simple majority of eligible members who vote agree that the proposed board should be adopted.
4.2.5 This process only makes a proposed board eligible to be used in official SLSA competitions. The Surfboard Type for each competition is a decision made by the SLSA Board of directors during season planning. A surfboard may become eligible, but not necessarily selected for that season.


5. Heat Assignment.

5.1. Surfers are ordered by the sign up registration. First surfer that signs up goes first, last surfer that signs up goes last. When someone requests an early or late heat, then they are bumped to front or the back based on order of registration. The first person to request an early heat would be bumped up to first surfer, the second person to request an early heat would be bumped up to the second spot. Same for those that request late heats, first to request a late heat would get bumped to the end, the next second from last and so on.
5.2. Wait-listed surfers will fill available open positions (up to 30 surfers total) in the order they registered for the event. They may not receive advance warning that they are able to compete.
5.3. Surfers that are ranked in the top twenty who miss a competition by volunteering for an event official role and subsequently slip from the top twenty, shall be given a wild card entry into the next competition Pro event. Any registered surfer that matches this case is added to the 10 qualifiers from the Open. A surfer may only qualify for one wild card entry per season.
5.4 Pro Final Assignment - Surfers shall advance to the Finals based on score. If there is a tie for the 6th position in a comp of less than 20 registered, a surf-off will be conducted. If there is a tie for the 7th position in a comp of more than 20 registered, a surf-off will be conducted.

6. Rashguards - All surfers must wear their assigned rashguard during their heats. An 'assigned rashguard' for the purposes of this rule, consists of an upper body garment with a Color and the Title Sponsor Logo. Failure to wear the appropriately colored rashguard will result in disqualification from that competition.

7. Event Check-in

Surfers should check in with the Event Coordinator (EC) 15 minutes prior to their assigned heat. They should:
7.1 Ensure that they are wearing the correct color rash-guard (rashie) as prescribed in the official heat draws.
7.2 Remove ALL HUDs and scripted attachments.
7.3 Remove prim or texture heavy (unscripted) attachments during your event.

8. Beach Marshall Check-in

8.1 When directed to by the EC, surfers should go to the designated marshaling location on the surf SIM.
8.2 The marshal will provide confirmation of surfing rashie color sequence check and perform a random board check, for measurement and script, at the beginning of the heat at the request of the judges or the marshal. If a surfer changes boards mid-heat, it may checked again prior to use.
8.3 If there are designated Stand-by surfers available, then surfers MUST be at the beach check-in within 5 minutes of the call to the beach. Failure to be in attendance, will forfeit their position and they will be replaced by the stand-in, if they arrive after that time, they cannot be re-substituted into the heat.
8.4 If there are no designated Stand-by surfers available, then surfers can arrive up until the last wave of the last surfer, and still be given their 3 waves in consecutive sequence.
8.5 If you log in after your assigned heat has completed, you cannot be placed into a later heat. You forfeit your place for that event.

9. At the Marshal Buoy

Breaking any of the following rules (down to 9.4) is deemed "interference" see section 17 for penalties.
9.1 You must never block the path of the next surfer to the wave.
9.2 You are not permitted to bump or jostle against another surfer in the marshal line up.
9.3 You are not permitted to IM another surfer during their wave.
9.4 You are not permitted to Rez particles on the surf SIM.
Breaking any of the following rules (down to 9.7) is deemed "griefing" and can result in disqualification see section 20 for penalties.
9.5 You are not permitted to Rez Prims on the surf SIM, other than your surfboard, surfboard checker or avatar.
9.6 You are not permitted to attach any form of HUD while on the surf SIM.
9.7 Your script count can be monitored throughout your heat, no scripts are permitted of any kind.

10. Taking your wave.

Surfers should only take a wave if given clearance by the marshal to do so. They must wait for the marshal’s call; this is to ensure that all judges are ready and locked on to the surfer about to surf.
10.1 Early Wave. If a surfer takes a wave prior to being told to go by the marshal, they shall in the first instance be recalled and warned that any further call jumping will lead to minimum score for that wave and loss of their turn.
10.2 Missed Wave.
10.2.1 Missed Non Phantom Waves. If a surfer moves to catch a wave and touches the wave but then slides back off that is designated as a missed wave the surfer gets minimum points and goes to the back of the sequence. (Catching a wave is a basic skill of surfing). The only exception to this rule is when all 3 judges agree that SIM side lag prevented the surfer from moving smoothly onto the wave.
10.2.2 Missed Phantom Waves (eg SSi Fluffy). If a surfer moves to catch a wave and passes through the wave without popping up that is designated as a missed wave the surfer gets minimum points and goes to the back of the sequence. The only exception to this rule is when all 3 judges agree that SIM side lag prevented the surfer from moving smoothly onto the wave.

11. Wave Count.
Surfers are entitled to 3 waves each in preliminary heats, semi-finals and finals.

12. Judge Selection.

12.1 The Board of Directors selects and ratifies the selection of a Head Judge for each Open or Pro event. If not all Board members are available then a majority vote will suffice for each Head Judge selection.
12.2 The Head Judge Selects two or more additional judges, to act as the judging panel for the event.
12.2.1 Whenever possible, there shall be a maximum of one judge only from each team per event. In the event it is not possible then the selection of a judge from the same team must be approved by a simple majority vote of the BoD.
12.2.2 Judges Selected for the judging panel must have been trained or served as a judge within the last 2 years, or else the judge must be retrained by a Level 5 or 6 SLSA Judge (A Judge that has judged in at least 6 pro events).
12.2.2.1 Judge training transcripts must be saved and made available on request.
12.2.3 All Judges selected for a particular event must attend a clinic prior to that event, surfing a minimum of 25 waves at the event venue using the event selected surfboard and wave combination.
12.2.4 Whenever possible, the Head Judge for each Pro event in a Season must come from a different team. In the event it is not possible then the selection of Head Judges from the same team must be approved by a simple majority vote of the BoD.
12.3 All wave ride attempts will be scored by each of 3 or more judges. If one judge crashes or is unsighted during a wave ride attempt, the wave ride score is taken from the other judges. If only one judge sees the wave ride, the wave ride attempt must be taken again.
12.4 The Head judge may request a full score breakdown analysis for any wave score from either of the other judges at any time. The other judge will need to provide the justification for the score given based on scoring criteria that go to give the total wave score that the judge assigned to a surfer for a wave.
12.4.1 Should the Head Judge be unsatisfied with the score break down, and the other judge's score is at least 2 points higher or lower than the average of the other two judges, that score may be discarded by the Head Judge.
12.5 Judges that have more than 3 waves discarded in any one event, will be suspended from judging until they perform mandatory retraining.
12.6 Surfers that judge a Pro event and who receive the average of their other scores may have that average applied to their teams score, if it results in a top 3 result for their team.

13. Wave ride score.

Each wave that a surfer surfs is scored by 3 or more judges independently, Each judge assigns a score between 0.5 minimum and 10 maximum for each wave surfed.
13.1 Surfer Crashes. If a surfer crashes while on a wave, the wave is scored up to that point, no re-do applies. The surfer may re-log on to SL and will be allowed to complete their remaining waves provided that the heat has not concluded.

14. Judging Criteria

All wave rides are scored out of ten points. The criteria below are a categorical breakdown of what the judges will use to score surfer rides.
For each heat, the top two wave scores per surfer are taken for a possible score of 20 points (10 per wave) from each judge. Each wave can be scored 0.25-10.00, in .25 increments. The best 2 wave total from each judge is then averaged with the other judges to arrive at each surfer's final score for that heat, with a maximum possible score of 20.
Criteria Base:
Length of Ride
Style and Control
Tricks and Technique
14.1 Wave Ride length:
A maximum of two points can be assigned for how far down the break the surfer makes it (on their feet).
-The distance from the point where the wave rezzes to the beach break is divided into quarters and 0.5 points are assigned for each quarter of the break that the surfer completes.
14.2 Style and control
A maximum of 4 points is assigned for style and control. This is a measure of how in-control the surfer was of his board and the wave,
-whether they were able to use the entire wave (top to bottom and end to end),
-whether the surfer was able to remain in control of their board at the extreme edges of the wave,
-whether their moves were choreographed into a smooth transition between wave sections and tricks, and
-whether any innovation was exhibited.
-whether they surfed with speed, with continuous forward momentum.
Loss of control also pertains to bellying and falling off the wave. Surfers that belly or fall off a wave, lose points in the style, control and length of ride part of the scoring. However, surfers that belly or fall off a wave, may recover to their feet and re-catch the wave. The amount of point deduction in the style, control or length of ride categories, depends on the length of the belly or how long it takes to recatch the wave.
14.3 Tricks and technique
A Maximum of 4 points is assigned for tricks and technique.
Tricks and technique include:
-Tricks can be scripted-part of the board scripts written by the original board creator-, or unscripted. No additional scripts may be added to the board,
-the ability to perform inner and outer turns,
-low carves and high rolls,
-360 and 180 combinations,
-barrel-rolls, flips,
-aerial maneuvers, floaters
-hops between wave segments or transitions between waves, and
-obstacle avoidance or jumping.
The nature of the break and the board used dictates what tricks are possible.

15. Appeals and Re-do's.

15.1 Appeals for a re-do
A surfer may appeal ONLY to the marshal, to a wave re-do, via IM. Communication in Open Chat will not be considered an offical request. The appeal will be relayed to the judges for deliberation who will decide if a re-do is allowed. The Judges decision is final and shall be relayed to the surfer via the marshal; under NO circumstance should the surfer correspond with any judge directly. Correspondence with a judge regarding any score or event ruling will result in immediate disqualification..
15.1.1 Wave Re-do can be granted for any of the following circumstances.
15.1.1.1 Lag on the SIM (SIM side lag). If lag on the sim effects a surfers performance they may be offered a re-do. This is only for SIM side lag and not for Client side Lag.
15.1.1.2 Wave rezzing failure. If the Wave only partially rezzes or the pushing component does not rez a re-do may be offered.
15.1.1.3 Interference. If the surfers' ride is interfered with or 'griefed' by another surfer or spectator they may be offered a re-do.
15.2 Appeals for score check
Post heat appeals can be made ONLY to the Event Coordinator if the surfer feels that there may have been an error calculating their score, or they were disqualified unfairly. Scores will be checked and the surfer notified of any correction or otherwise.
15.3 Post Comp Score Inquiries
Following the close of the event, post comp score inquiries can be made ONLY through the EC (if the EC is a Director) or one of the other Directors. At NO time may a surfer contact judges directly regarding their scores.

16. Heat score

A surfers heat score is calculated as follows. The surfer's two best wave scores from each judge are added together for each judge. The surfer's judge total is then averaged with the surfer's total from each of the other judges to arrive at the final score for the heat for that surfer.

17. Competition Advancement
17.1 Qualifying for the Pro Event.

The top 20 ranked registered surfers will qualify for the Pro. The remaining spots up to a total of 30 are open to all qualified registered surfers.

17.1.1 Standbys for the Pro event. If more than 30 people register, the 31+ people will move to a wait list for those that remove themselves from comps, and no shows on the day of the comp (yes, you will have to come and hang out the day of the comp to wait for an opening.) Wait-list people are slotted in, in the order that they registered. Standbys will only be substituted if a surfer (or surfers) has not reported to the Beach Marshal after 5 minutes from the final call from the EC for that heat to go to the beach marshal. Once a standby has been substituted into the heat, the surfer that was substituted cannot take their place in the heat, nor in a later heat (this may be overridden by Event Day Staff on a case by case basis). More than one standby may be substituted into a heat.

17.2 Pro Event.
The Pro event is open for the top 20 ranked surfers that register for the competition and the next registrants up to a total of 30 surfers.
The Pro event consists of 3,4,5 or 6 Preliminary heats (dependent on how many are registered), followed by 1 Pro final.
When15 (or less) register, they will surf in 3 heats of 5, with no semifinal, and the top-6 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
When 16-19 register, they will surf in 4 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-6 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
When 20 register, they will surf in 4 heats of 5, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
When 21 to 24 register, they will surf in 5 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
When 25 register, they will surf in 5 heats of 5, with no semifinal and the top-7 scoring surfers moving to the finals.
When 26 to 29 register, they will surf in 6 heats with a combination of 4 to 5 surfers, with no semifinal, and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
When 30 register, they will surf in 6 heats of 5, with no semifinal and the top-7 scoring surfers will surf in the finals.
17.2.1. Surfers who register for the Pro event must attend the Pro event or they will receive a Did Not Start (DNS) for the whole competition.
17.3 In Pro events surfers shall advance to the finals based on score. The Top 6 (if there are less than 20 registered) or top 7 (if there are 20 or more registered) scoring surfers from the Preliminary Heats will advance to the Finals. If there is a tie for the 6th or 7th positions, a surf-off will be conducted, each surfer will be given a single wave until one surfer prevails (has the highest scoring wave) to move on.
17.3.1. Surfers who register for the Pro event must attend the Pro event or they will receive a Did Not Start (DNS) for the whole competition.
17.4 In Pro events surfers shall advance to the finals based on score. The Top 6 (when less than 20 register to surf) or 7(when 20 or more sign up to surf) scoring surfers from the Preliminary Heats will advance to the Finals. If there is a tie for the 6th or 7th position, a surf-off will be conducted, each surfer given a single wave until one surfer prevails (has the highest scoring wave) to move on.

18. Individual Rank Calculation

18.1 Competition Placing
Overall placing in a competition is determined as follows:
- Pro Finals placing takes precedence.
- Pro Preliminary Heat Surf-off losers take the next placing(s) in descending score order.
- Pro scoring surfers that did not progress to the final take the next placings by descending total score.
18.2 Points for Placing
Surfers are assigned the exact same number of points as their competition placing. First place = 1 point, second place = 2 points, 10th place = 10 points and so on.
Points for Non Competing
Surfers that do not compete (DNC) in a competition, did not register for the event, will be assigned points equal to the number of surfers that are assigned a score + 4. So for example if 25 surfers surf and obtain a score, DNC Surfers would receive 29 points.
Points for Non Showing
Surfers that register but do not compete, No Shows (DNS) will be assigned points equal to the number of surfers that are assigned a score + 5. So for example if 25 surfers surf and obtain a score, No Show Surfers would receive 30 points.
Points for Disqualification
Surfers that are disqualified from an event will be assigned points equal to the number of surfers that are assigned a score + 2. So for example if 25 surfers surf and obtain a score, Disqualified Surfers would receive 27 points.
18.3 Rank
Overall Ranking will be determined by which surfer has the lower total for the season. The Surfer's Season Ranking is calculated by adding the points for each competition in the season and discarding the highest point (worst competition score).
Where two or more surfers have the same number of ranking points, the surfers will be seeded (listed in order) for subsequent competition heat allocation, based on which surfer has achieved the best placing in the season. This is only for heat seeding, and does not effect the season placing, the surfers will be considered tied for season placing.
Discarding One Competition Result.
- All surfers may discard one and only one competition score (irrespective of if and how many times they may have been a volunteer).
- Surfers that act as Pro event judges, will be given rank points for that competition equal to their average surfing place for the season. The average position for the judge volunteer will be recalculated as new surf placings for that surfer are achieved during the season. Only one competition will be eligible to be scored this way per surfer.
- Surfers may not discard a disqualification.
- Surfers that finish a season ranked in the top twenty, may discard a DNC for the first competition of the next season, but they will become un-ranked for the second competition and will need to compete in the Open event to proceed to the Pro Event.
- Surfers that are ranked in the top twenty who miss a competition by volunteering for an event official role and subsequently slip from the top twenty, shall be given a wild card entry into the next competition Pro event.

19. Team Rank Calculation

- The event rank points of the top 3 placing scorers for each team are added to give the team rank score for the event.
- If less than 3 surfers competed for a team, points are added equal to the points for 1, 2 or 3 (as required), DNC scores for that competition.
- If a team is formed mid-season, then they receive points for DNC for the competitions that they missed.
- If a team member changes teams, the points they earn remain with the team they were a member of when they earned them.
- The team with the lowest number of points for the season wins the season.

20. Disqualification - A disqualification will result in the following penalties-

1st offense - surfer will be disqualified from the current competition and their competition score will be the number of competition scoring surfers + 2 points.
2nd offense - surfer will be disqualified from the current competition and banned from any further competition that season.
Disqualification may be caused by:
- violation of the SL Surfing Association Code of Conduct, Second Life Terms of Service or Community Standards of Second Life. During a surf competition
- not belonging to the SL Surfing Association group at all times during the competition;
- using a non-supported surfboard, or a script modified surfboard in the competition;
- interference with other competitors rides in any way;

21. Interference

- This applies to a riding interference or a paddling interference, where a surfer blocks or interferes with the ride of another surfer on a particular wave.
- Under top two wave tally, the interfering surfer will be penalized with a loss of 50% of his second best scoring ride.
- If a surfer incurs another interference penalty during the same heat his best wave score will be halved also.
- A majority of judges must call the interference to be considered an interference.

22. Spectators

The event Security Officer may use their sim rights to eject or ban a spectator from the spectators area or surf sim they act in a disruptive manner. While not officially a part of the event, spectators are expected to behave in a respectful manner to other participants of the event - spectators, competitors and officials.
Spectators who are SLSA members and who are ejected or banned from the spectator sim for misconduct, may be disqualified from that competition whether they have registered for the competition or not, pending investigation by the event commitee.