Compliance Guidelines

In order to keep our aerial arts competition fair, safe, and consistent, all participants are expected to follow the rules outlined in our guidelines. This page explains the General Point Deductions that apply to all competitors, as well as the Mandatory Skills and Prohibited Skills required for each competitive division.  By understanding these rules in advance, you can avoid penalties and ensure your performance is judged at its full potential.

Competition | Infractions & Deductions

Division Eligibility

The WCAAF Competition Compliance Guidelines are designed to promote fairness, safety, and progressive skill development across all competitive divisions.

Each division establishes both Mandatory Skills and Prohibited Skills.

  • Mandatory Skills define the minimum technical requirements expected for each division.
  • Prohibited Skills define the maximum allowable technical level for each division.

Competitors must meet the minimum training experience and/or training hour requirements and perform within the compliance level of their registered division.

The skills listed in these Guidelines are representative and are not intended to be exhaustive. As aerial arts continue to evolve, the Compliance Committee may determine that a skill or variation is non-compliant if its technical characteristics exceed the intended compliance level of the registered division.

Competitors who wish to perform skills beyond their division’s compliance level may request to upgrade to the next division no later than October 1. Once registered, competitors may upgrade, but may not downgrade after registration.

General Point Deductions

The following are general point deductions that apply to ALL contestants, regardless of skill level. Please read carefully and adapt your routines accordingly.

Vertical Space

Automatically adjusted based on level. Please note for reference.

Novice: 15 ft Max

All Other Levels: Up to 18 ft

Act Duration

Compliance officers will time the routine in case of excessive overtime and note this on the comment section. Routine time includes set up on apparatus prior to music starting as well as dismounting the apparatus.

NOTE: Individual Routines: 2-3 minutes. Duo Routines: 4 minutes. Group Routines: 5 minutes

5pts | Over 6-10 seconds

8pts | 11-15 seconds

10pts | Over 16 seconds

Costume

5pts | No clearance on the face when inverted

10pts | Costume entanglement with apparatus

10pts | Costume with inadequate coverage

Cue Lifts

Cue lifts are only allowed in the Amateur, Elite, and Professional levels.  The coach or other pre-authorized person is required to be beside our WCAAF operator provide lifting cues during the entirety of the routine. Novice competitors are not allowed to be lifted and shall receive a 5 point infraction for each lift.

5pts | Per each lift cue in Novice level

Mat Coverage

5pts | Mat issue resulting in medium coverage (specifically if forgotten to inform WCAAF staff beforehand) 

5pts | Single occurrence of contestant going beyond six (6) feet radius

10pts |  Excessive/multiple occurrence of contestant going beyond mat coverage

Aerial Percentage Content (APC)

APC of routine must be at 85%

5pts | 15-20% non aerial content

10pts | Over 20% non aerial content

Execution Skills

5-10pts | Any situation where the contestant keeps repeating the skill or executing a skill way longer than normal in an attempt to complete the skill, but at the same time poses an unsafe condition or compromising his/ her or the audience safety, depending on the gravity it imposed.

In situations where in the Amateur and above levels, they get entangled due to an incorrect exit in any lock – this will be considered an infraction – due to non-mastery of the skill. For the infraction to take place, the entanglement must be a serious one that can cause safety concerns.

In situations where a range of point deduction is noted, it is the position of the organization to default to the lowest infraction unless an exceeding gravity may compromise the safety of the contestant.

Delay

10pts | Over 2 minute delay caused by the contestant including music change and/or other factors

No Show at Designated Schedule

10pts | When a contestant is not present on the designated call time or at the time they are scheduled to perform. Compliance will be informed or will note of any contestant that has been skipped.

Props

10pts | No props allowed. Deduction for non-compliance.

Vertical Clearance of Act

5pts |If their head ALMOST touches the mat. 

10pts | If their head or any part of their body hits the mat unintentionally. For example, from a drop or when performing momentum skills due to a miscalculation of height requirement.

Infractions per Skill Level

Each competitive division has a set of Mandatory Skills (minimum technical requirements) and Prohibited Skills (maximum allowable technical level). Failure to demonstrate a required skill or the performance of a prohibited skill will result in the applicable Compliance Deduction(s).

NOTE: Consecutive is defined as no pause or hold. 

Changing Skill Level

If you need to downgrade or verify your current skill level, fill out the skill verification form.

For further questions on any compliance rules, please email us at aerialartsamerica@gmail.com