Event Rules

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Revision as of 15:47, 31 January 2013 by Sally lasalle (talk | contribs) (Re-wrote section 15 on Appeals to include redo situations - pe Figgers suggestion)
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SL Surfing Association (SLSA) Event Rules
January 22, 2013

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, up to two surf events may be run. The events shall be held on consecutive weekends. The first event shall be referred to as the 'Open' event and the subsequent event shall be referred to as the '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 Open event.
1.3. If more than 30 legitimate registrations have been received by midnight Second Life Time (SLT) on the Tuesday preceding the date scheduled for the Open event, registration will be closed and the Open event will proceed. If 30 or less than 30 legitimate registrations have been received by that time, the Open event will be merged with the Pro event and registration will remain open until midnight SLT on the Tuesday preceding the date scheduled for the Pro event or when 30 legitimate registrations have been received, whichever comes first.
1.4. If more than 30 persons register for the competition, 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. All persons not assigned a position in the Pro event will be registered for the Open event.
1.5 When 15 or more surfers are registered for the Open event, they will surf in 5 heats.
1.6 When less than 15 surfers are registered for the Open Event, they will surf in 3 heats.
1.7. Surfers in the Open event who did not advance will still be assigned ranking points in accord with the governing ranking system in place at the time of the competition. However, surfers that qualify for the Pro event must attend the Pro event or they will receive a Did Not Start (DNS) for the whole competition.
1.8. Pro as well as Open events will be official SLSA events for the purposes of assigning SLSA voting eligibility.
1.9. If necessary, the Open and Pro events may be held at different locations.

2. Optional Team Competition

Surfers may optionally compete on behalf of a surf team.
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.

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.

5. Heat Assignment.

5.1 Open Heat Assignment
Surfers assigned to the Open event (see 1.4) are first ordered by their current season ranking (see 17), and then by the order in which they registered if unranked.
For the first competition of the season, rank is based on the final rank of the previous season.
Surfers from this ordered list are then assigned to each Open heat in sequence. Rank 1 to Heat 1, Rank 2 to Heat 2, .. Rank 5 to Heat 5; Rank 6 to Heat 1, Rank 7 to heat 2 etc.
5.2 Pro Heat Assignment
Surfers assigned to the Pro event (see 1.4 and see 17.2) are first ordered by their current season ranking (see 17), and then by their Open Event Score if advancing from the Open event.
For the first competition of the season, rank is based on the final rank of the previous season.
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 in addition to the 10 qualifiers from the Open. A surfer may only qualify for one wild card entry per season.
Surfers from this ordered list are then assigned to each Pro heat in sequence. Rank 1 to Heat 1, Rank 2 to Heat 2, .. Rank 6 to Heat 6; Rank 7 to Heat 1, Rank 8 to heat 2 etc.
5.3 Pro Heat Sequence
When registering, surfers may request a Late or Early Heat. After Assigning surfers to heats by rank. Whole heats (not individual surfers) may be re-sequenced to accommodate as many Early or Late heat requests as possible.
5.4 Pro Semi-Final Assignment
Pro Semi-Finals are assigned surfers with one principle in mind. To, if possible, avoid surfers from the same Pro preliminary heat, being in the same Pro semi-final.


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 and perform a board measurement, board script and rashie check.
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 Count.
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.

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. 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.
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 wave entry point 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, whether their moves were choreographed into a smooth transition between wave sections and tricks, and whether any innovation was exhibited. Loss of control also pertains to bellying out, and falling off the wave.
14.3 Tricks and technique
A Maximum of 4 points is assigned for tricks and technique. Tricks and technique include the ability to perform inner and outer turns, low carves and high rolls, 360 and 180 combinations, barrel-rolls, flips, hops between wave segments or transitions between waves, and obstacle avoidance or jumping. The nature of the break dictates what is 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. 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.

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 Open Event.
The Open event is open for all new surfers and also those surfers currently ranked below the top 20 surfers registered for the competition.
Open Event Final.
In the case of a 5 heat Open event (see 1.5) all Open heat winners will advance to an Open event final.
In the case of a 3 heat Open event (see 1.6) the top 5 scores will advance to an Open event final.
17.2 Advancement to the Pro Event (this is independent of the Open Event Final)
17.2.1 Qualifying for the Pro Event.
In the case of a 5 heat Open event (see 1.5) all 5 heat winners and the next 5 best scoring surfers will automatically be qualified to compete in the Pro event for that competition.
In the case of a 3 heat Open event (see 1.6) the top 10 scoring surfers will automatically be qualified to compete in the Pro event for that competition.
In the case of two surfers tied for the 10th Pro qualifying place, both surfers will qualify for the Pro event.
17.2.2 Standbys for the Pro event.
In addition to the 10 Pro qualifiers (17.2.1) from the Open event, the next 6 (and only six) highest scores from the Open event will be designated standbys for the Pro event. Standbys may be substituted for surfers that are no-shows at the Pro event. Standbys will be substituted in order of their score at the Open event. 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. More than one standby may be substituted into a heat.
17.3 Pro Event.
The Pro event is open for the qualifiers from the Open event and the top 20 ranked surfers that register for the competition.
The Pro event consists of 6 Pro preliminary heats, followed by 3 Pro semi-finals, followed by 1 Pro final
17.4 In Pro events surfers advance from Pro preliminary heats to the Pro semi-finals by winning their Pro heat or by scoring in the top 6 surfers who did not win their Pro heat. In the case of a tie for winners of a Pro heat, both winners will advance to the Pro semi-finals. In the case of a tie for last advancing place based on score, the tied surfers will 'surf-off', each given a single wave until one surfer prevails (has the highest scoring wave) to move on.
17.5 In Pro events surfers advance from the Pro semi-final to the Pro final by winning their Pro semi-final or by scoring in the top 3 surfers who did not win their Pro semi-final. In the case of a tie for winners of a Pro semi-final, both winners advance to the Pro final, and there is then one less Pro final place based on score advancement.
In the case of a tie for last advancing place based on score, the tied surfers will 'surf-off', each given a single wave until one surfer prevails (has the highest scoring wave) to move on.
If there are more than 7 Pro finals qualifiers, there will be a surf-off for the 7th qualifying position.

18. Individual Rank Calculation

18.1 Competition Placing
Overall placing in a competition is determined as follows:
- Pro Finals placing takes precedence.
- Pro Semi-final Surf-off losers take the next placing(s) in descending score order.
- Pro Semi finalists that did not progress to the final take the next placings by adding together their Pro semi-final and Pro preliminary heat scores in order to sort their position by descending total score.
- Surfers not advancing to the Pro semi-finals from the Pro preliminary heats are sorted by their scores to obtain their competition place.
- Surfers not advancing from the Open Event are sorted by their scores to obtain their overall competition place.
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 will be assigned points equal to the number of surfers that are assigned a score + 1. So for example if 40 surfers surf and obtain a score, DNC Surfers would receive 41 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 40 surfers surf and obtain a score, Disqualified Surfers would receive 42 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.