PHAT Dance/Cheer/Jump Competition Rules

CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE

Each school may be required to mail a copy of their Certificate of Insurance for the current competition year to YPF.  No school will be allowed to enter any competition if they fail to meet this deadline.  Additionally, certificates with coverage of less than 2 (two) million dollars and/or those not listing competition locations and YPF, as Òadditional insuredÓ will be returned and the school will be unable to compete.

  APPLICATION AND DONATIONS

a.   Applications and Donation fees must be postmarked on or before the contest deadline date, September 15, 2011 (midnight).

b.   Refunds will be made only if YPF has been notified of the cancellation no later than the entry deadline dates.  Call the YPF number 832 237-9856, and if necessary leave a message for the PHAT Dance Coordinator.    

TEAM SIZE

a.   YPF team dance competitions carries a higher entertainment value than is placed on precision and technical merits.  There are two divisions, Junior (5, 6, 7,& 8th) grades and Senior (9, 10, 11, &12th grades). Style and Genre is the teams' choice.

b.   High Schools may enter one ÒfreeÓ team in the senior division at no charge, but pay the $20 Donation per student for a second team entry.

c.    A team may compete in only one class per division.

d.   Participants not represented by a school may compete as paid ($20) per student member.

e.   The number of participants who will be competing for your team(s) must be ÒdeclaredÓ on the initial entry form, in order to compete during the season.  There will be no exceptions.  The number declared will determine the class in which the teams will compete.

f.   Teams competing with more or less than the number of participants ÒdeclaredÓ in their classes will be penalized as follows:

1.    If over the class size number, the penalty is DISQUALIFICATION.

2.    If under the ÒdeclaredÓ number no penalty unless new names have been added without a prior declaration to the PHAT Dance/Cheer/Jump Coordinator. A penalty of 0.1 per new participant will be deducted from the teamsÕ final average.

g.   Team sizes are explained in the Categories section

COMPETITION FLOOR

 

      a.   The competition floor is the Anheuser-Busch stage at Discovery Green: 40Õx 30Õ covered area with a ceiling height of 30Õ; Uncovered wing extending from stage left measuring 49Õ x 19Õ;

                          - wheelchair accessible;

                          - Dance sub-floor and Marley floor (upon request);

                - Green Room lounge area with two dressing rooms, mirrors, sinks, shower and toilet

b.   The competition floor will NOT be provided for practice.  A practice area may be provided.

c.    No practicing is permitted on the stage (subject to DISQUALIFICATION). Only the on-deck team will be permitted to stretch in the designated on-deck area, out of the judgesÕ view.

d.   As a matter of sportsmanship and courtesy, team members must remain away from the stage during another teamÕs performance (subject to DISQUALIFICATION).

e.   Team members must remain on the team side of the stage or designated area (as they must throughout the entire competition).

TIMING

a.    Set-up:

1.    If a team sets-up outside the competition floor, no set-up time is taken, and no penalties apply.

2.     If a team ends their routine inside the competition floor, they will have 15 seconds from the first sign of movement (after the final position) until the last participant has crossed the competition floor.

b.    Clearing

1.   If a team clears the floor to music, no clearing time is taken, and no penalties apply.

2.   If a team sets-up inside the competition floor, they will have 30 seconds from the time the first team member crosses the line until they assume their starting position.

c.     Length of Routine:

1.   The length of the routine is based on the size of the act (see Dance/Cheer/Jump Categories).

2.   Timing starts with the first beat of music immediately after the introduction.

3.   Timing ends on the last beat of music for team ending on the floor.  Teams exiting to music will be timed until the last participant has left the floor.

d.    All team members must remain outside the competition floor until the announcement, Ò...make some noise for YOUR TEAM/ACT NAMEÉ

e.    Timing Penalties:

1.   A 1-point penalty will be assessed for overtime in set-up and/or clearing.

2.   A 1-point penalty will be assessed for routines longer than maximum times allotted per division/category.  Specifically for Step, Cheer and line routines, the penalty will be assessed for all routines.

3.   Penalties will be deducted from a teamsÕ final average.

SCORING

a.    Three (3) judges will consider a team's total performance and allocate from .01 to 10 points: Judging will be scored based on originality, artistic expressions, performance intricacy, choreography, execution, syncopation/synchronization and overall entertainment value, where the highest points can be attained. 

b.    The decision of the judges is final.

c.    In the event only 3 teams enter a competition, only 1st and 2nd place trophies may be awarded.

d.    In case of a tie score at a contest, the next place trophy will be used and the plate changed.  A coin toss will decide which team receives each trophy.  In the event of a tie for third place, a new trophy will be ordered.

e.    In the event a tie occurs at the Championships:

1.   The high and low scores will be added in as a tie breaker and if there is still a tie,

2.   The tied teams will perform their routine again to determine placement.

 

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE/PROPS

a.    Rubber soled shoes or appropriate dance shoes are required.  (The full foot must be covered.)

b.    Jewelry: as a safety precaution, the wearing of jewelry of any kind (including captain pins, etc.) is prohibited. 

1.    Any jewelry observed by the penalty judge will result in a deduction of 0.1 point per piece of jewelry from the team's final score. EXCEPTION: NON-DANGLING, HANGING EAR RINGS (IN EARS).

2.    Covering jewelry (i.e. with band aids) is not allowed.

3.    Discovered jewelry will be taken from student and returned in the scoring envelope.  If jewelry is not surrendered to the Floor Judge, the dancer will not be permitted to perform

c.     Props, including shakers and poms are permitted.  However props such as sticks, chairs, canes, umbrellas, etc are not permitted in any division.

MUSIC

a.    Music should be MP3 or on compact disc (CD/CDR) format.Each team must provide their own music on CD and MUST be turned in no less than 15 prior to the start of the contest.  It is advisable that each team has a back-up tape as a precaution.

b.    In the event a team changes their music, they may NOT select the music of another team in their own Class.

c.     Entrants can perform to the same music.

d.     It is the responsibility of the dancers to ensure that their media is not defective.  No repeat performance will be allowed for defective media.

e.   Re–Runs. Dance contestants will be allowed to begin their dance routine again in any category because of equipment failure.

    SPORTSMANSHIP

The display of un sportsmanlike conduct by any team, individual team member, an advisor or chaperone will, at the sole discretion PHAT Fest 2 Coordinator, subject the entire team to disqualification.  This rule will be held enforceable for the entire time of the event.

ADVISORS

a.    Each team must have an adult advisor, coach or school appointed chaperone accompanying them at the competition.  A team captain does NOT qualify as an advisor.

b.    During the team's performance, their advisor is to remain off the dance floor (except in an emergency) and should be seated so as not to impede the view of either judges or spectators.

c.    Each advisor will certify, on the day of a contest, that to the best of their knowledge each member of their team is physically capable of performing.

NOTE: Students with leg braces or previous (visible) injury must have a clearance from a doctor to participate.

d.   As per Texas State coaching guidelines, it is recommended that the Advisor or other school representative be certified in first aid and CPR.

ARRIVAL TIME

A team must arrive at the competition site between the "doors open" time and 15 minutes prior to the start of the contest.  Teams entering the building before the "doors open" time or after the official starting time may receive a 5.0 penalty.  A team arriving after their scheduled performance time may be DISQUALIFIED.  

CLOSING

After the last team has performed, all teams must remain away from and off the stage.  Team members must remain on the team side of the stage or in their designated area (as they must throughout the entire competition).  The awarding of trophies will take place at the stage with the captains of each placing team to be called forward.

ADVISOR PASSES

Upon receipt of a team entry fee for a competition, each team will receive one (1) advisor pass to be used exclusively for practice area and back stage access.  These passes will not be reissued for free.  

ORDER OF APPEARANCE

a.    The order of appearance within each Class will be established prior to each contest by random drawing.

b.    In the event of multiple school entries, all schools will compete in the same session.

CONTEST DATES, DEADLINES & TIMELINES

PHAT FEST II Competitions will begin promptly at 1pm on October 2, 2011 at Discovery Green in Houston, Texas.

  SPECTATORS

a.    Spectator fee MAY be collected at the gates.

b.    Spectators are expected to follow the same rules of sportsmanship as are imposed on the competing teams.

c.    Spectators must remain on the spectator side of the stage.  Failure to do so may result in your team being DISQUALIFIED.

d.    The use of flashbulbs or other forms of photographic lighting may distract performers and judges.  It is suggested that they not be used in any inside or night performances outside.

e.    Food and drinks may not be brought into the stage.  Those found with food will be asked to leave.  This includes team members (Subject to location of contest).  

Regional Championship CHAMPIONSHIP (RC)

Regional Championships will happen only after the BOBY has expanded its PHAT FEST D/C/J competition reach to areas outside of the Houston Region in Texas or to another state(s).  RC rules and guidelines will be shared at that time.