TGSA Competition Rules

NOTE: THESE RULES ARE OUT OF DATE

We need to re-write these to reflect today's changes to meet Surfing America's Standards.

Revised for 2004/2005 Competition Season

Contents:

I. Events

A. Open Contests and the Texas State Surfing Championships (TSSC)

B. Surfing in Multiple Age Divisions

C. Texas State Surfing Championships

D. Pro/Am Competitions

II. Equipment

A. Shortboards

B. Longboards

C. Body Boards

D. Other Equipment

III. Heat Preparation and Structure

A. Reporting for Heats

B. Heat Duration and Wave Counts

C. Water Starts

D. Beach Starts

E. Buoy Starts

F. End of Heat

G. Sportsmanship

H. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

I. Appeals Process

IV. Judging and Scoring

A. Judging System

B. Start of Ride

C. Judging Criteria

D. Head Judge’s Responsibilities

E. Wave Counts and Tabulation of Heat Results

F. Checking Results

V. Wave Possession and Interference

A. Basic Rule

B. Right of Way

C. The Right of Way Criteria

D. Snaking

E. Paddling Interference

F. Board Caddying

G. Penalties

VI. Awards

VII. Protests and Complaints

VIII. Team Competition Rules

I. EVENTS

A. Open Contests and the Texas State Surfing Championships (TSSC)

Age divisions for all Open contests and TSSC are determined by the surfer’s age as of Jan. 1 of the current competition season. Proof age is required upon the request of TGSA officials.

• Micro-Groms (8 years of age & under)
• Mini-Groms (boys 11 years of age & under)
• Mini-Girls (girls 11 years of age & under)
• Groms (boys 13 years of age & under)
• Boys (boys 15 years & under)
• Girls (girls 15 years & under)
• Junior Men (boys 17 years & under)
• Junior Women (girls 17 years & under)
• Men (29 years & under)
• Women (18+ years of age)
• Masters (30+ years of age)
• Senior Men (40+ years of age)
• Legends (50+ years of age)
• Open Shortboard (Men & Women all ages)
• Junior Longboard (17 years and under)
• Men’s Open Longboard (18-39 years of age)
• Senior Longboard (40+)
• Women's Longboard (18+)
• Air Division (Men & Women all ages)
• Bodyboard (Men & Women all ages)

B. Surfing in Multiple Age Divisions

Surfing in Multiple Age Divisions, also called "Surfing Up" into more competitive age divisions, is allowed and encouraged. This will allow our competitors to push their skill levels by having more heats to surf in and by having the challenge of tougher competition. This format has been a key factor in how other surfing organizations have raised the skills of their youth competitors to the point professional careers are possible. For example, a competitor who is 11 would be in the Grom division but could also compete in the Boys, Junior Men and Men divisions gaining many more times the competition experience than just surfing in one division. The following table details the possible divisions a surfer can enter based on the surfer’s gender and age.

Female Competitors - Shortboard Divisions

Female Competitors - Longboard Divisions

Male Competitors - Shortboard Divisions

Male Competitors - Longboard Divisions

C. Texas State Surfing Championships (TSSC)

The Texas State Surfing Championships are invitational contests. In order to receive an invitation to compete in a division or divisions at TSSC you must have accumulated at least 1001 points in that division during the regular season in the Open contests, with the exception of Legends & Bodyboard which are TSSC events only.

D. Pro/Am Competitions

1. Pro/Am competitions are surfing contests where prize money is awarded to top finishers. Both professional surfers and amateur surfers are eligible to compete. Only amateur surfers can compete in TGSA Open, District, and TSSC contests as well as most other amateur contests in the United States, including the American Surfing Championships.
   
   
2. An amateur surfer is defined as one who engages in surfing competition or exhibition solely for the pleasure and physical, mental or social benefits he/she derives there from and to whom the sport of surfing is nothing more than an avocation. Amateur surfers may not have received any financial rewards or material benefits in connection with the sport of surfing except as permitted in the following paragraphs.
   
   
   1. Surfing Travel and Training
      
      Amateur surfers may accept reimbursement for expenses incurred for any surfing related travel and training expenses such as food, lodging, cost of transportation, pocket money to cover incidental expense, insurance coverage, personal sports equipment and clothing, cost of medical treatment, coaches and trainers, and any surfing competition entry fee expense.
      
      Amateur surfers may have travel and training funds established for their benefit. These funds may be either from funds sent to the TGSA to be held in trust or from prize money won in competition. In both cases, the funds will be disbursed to the amateur surfer only with receipts for expenses or anticipated expenses with regard to travel, training or competition expenses.
      
      
   2. Prize Awards
      
      Amateur surfers may accept prize money won from participation in competition, up to and including $250 per event. Any amount in excess of $250 must be remitted to the TGSA within 30 days after said event. The TGSA will hold and control these funds until a request for reimbursement for surfing travel or training expenses, along with proper documentation such as receipts, is submitted to the TGSA.
      
      
   3. Advertising
      
      Amateur surfers may appear in advertising.
      
      
   4. Salaries
      
      Amateur surfers are expressly forbidden from being salaried athletes with any sponsor when the sole purpose of such salary is payment for being a part of that sponsor’s sports team.
      
      
3. Any breach of these rules by an amateur surfer may result in the loss of his/her amateur status making him/her ineligible to compete in TGSA Open, District, and TSSC contests as well as most other amateur contests in the United States, including the American Surfing Championships.
   
   
4. TGSA Pro/Am competitions are “non-points rated” and will not be considered for invitations to the TSSC or American Surfing Championships.

II. EQUIPMENT (All boards are measured from end to end, using a straight edge along the deck).

A. Shortboards

In short board divisions, surfboards must not exceed 2 ft. longer than the competitor’s height. This rule applies to ALL divisions including Mini-Girls, Mini-Groms and Legends.

B. Longboards

Long boards must be a minimum of 9 ft. in length for all longboard divisions.

C. Body Boards

Body boards shall not exceed 5 ft. in length.

D. Additional Equipment

Additional equipment, such as leashes and helmets may be used.

III. HEAT PREPARATION AND STRUCTURE

A. Reporting for Heats

All contestants must report to the ready area 15 minutes prior to the start of their heat to be checked in and receive their instructions and colored jersey. When possible, the competition area will be defined by the use of flags, barriers, points, piers, jetty’s and/or buoys. If a competitor does not check in by the 5-minute warning prior to their heat, they may be replaced by the next highest ranked alternate.

B. Heat Duration and Wave Counts

All heats, except finals, will last 15 minutes. Finals will last 20 minutes. The officials’ time clock will be deemed the “official time,” regardless. In preliminary heats a competitor’s best 2 rides will count towards their placing and the competitor must not catch more than the maximum of 10 rides. In final heats a competitor’s best 3 rides will count towards their placing and the competitor must not catch more than the maximum of 12 rides. Any wave over this maximum amount will result in a 2.5 point penalty per wave on each judge’s sheet for the offending competitor. Although TGSA officials or judges may attempt to warn competitors that have reached their maximum wave count, it is the sole responsibility of each competitor to keep track of his or her wave count.

C. Water Starts

Most heats in TGSA contests are water start heats. However, the TGSA reserves the option of running beach start heats and/or buoy start heats.

All heats will begin with the blast of the horn and/or the raising of the green flag. The raising of the yellow flag will indicate the five-minute warning (five minutes remain in the heat in progress). At the five-minute warning, the next heat of competitors may start paddling to the designated standby area, being careful not to interfere with the heat in progress. It is recommended that all competitors paddle out together and wait together for their heat to begin, as this will aid the judges in starting their heat. When the horn sounds and the red flag is raised, ending the heat in progress, the standby heat may paddle into the take off zone, but not catch any waves until the horn sounds again, and the green flag is raised, starting their heat. Any wave caught before the start of the heat will not be scored by the judges.

D. Beach Starts

All competitors in the “standby” heat will gather at the waters edge anytime between the five-minute warning for the “heat in progress” (raising of the yellow flag) and the start of their heat. The “heat in progress” will end with one horn blast and the raising of the red flag. The “on deck” heat will begin with one horn blast and/or the raising of the green flag.

E. Buoy Starts

In the instance of exceptionally large surf or an extremely long or difficult paddle to the line up, a buoy technique may be employed with the competitors in the standby heat paddling to a marker buoy, located some distance from the line up. The rest of the procedures heats with buoy starts are the same as the heats with water starts.

F. End of Heat

And the end of the heat, as marked by the horn blast and/or the red flag, all competitors are required to paddle, ride prone, or ride on their knees to the beach. If a ride has begun, as indicated by a competitor standing up with his/her hands leaving the rails of the surfboard, before the horn and red flag, the ride may be completed and will be scored by the judges. In circumstances where there is uncertainty as to if the competitor was up prior to the end of the heat, the Head Judge of the judging panel will have the final decision as to if the ride will be scored. Any competitor that stands up after the end of their heat and is still standing at the start of the next heat may receive a 2.5 point penalty to their scores.

In the event of danger or a problem, a long horn blast will sound and the red flag will be raised. All competitors must leave the water immediately under this circumstance.

All heat jerseys must be worn with the imprint clearly showing and not inside out. At the conclusion of a heat, all heat jerseys are to be worn onto the beach and all the way to the officials’ area, just as they were used going out, and returned in a sportsmanlike manner. Any competitor who removes their jersey in the water or prior to returning to the officials’ area will be subject to a 2.5 point penalty to their heat score at the discretion of the Competition Director.

G. Good Sportsmanship

All competitors, friends and family of competitors, spectators, volunteers and TGSA officials and judges are expected to display Good Sportsmanship at all times. Good Sportsmanship is defined as conduct becoming to one participating in a sport. Such as fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing. This definition of good sportsmanship will be strictly applied and enforced at all TGSA competitions and events.

H. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Unsportsmanlike Conduct will not be tolerated. A competitor may receive one verbal warning for the displaying Unsportsmanlike Conduct. If further Unsportsmanlike Conduct is displayed after the verbal warning, that competitor will be suspended for the remainder of that TGSA event and will lose all individual and team points that may have been accumulated at that event. Examples of behavior that are considered to be Unsportsmanlike Conduct include but are not limited to the following:

• Rude gestures to contest officials and judges.
• Swearing at contest officials and judges.
• Spitting at contest officials and judges.
• Ripping up judges sheets
• Writing on judges sheets
• Swearing in official’s area.
• Use of illegal drugs in or near the official competition area.
• Any and all behavior deemed to be unsportsmanlike conduct by any two TGSA officials.

Any competitor who assaults a TGSA official or employee will in any way will be suspended from the association for the remainder of the competition year and will lose all individual points that may have been accumulated up to the point of the infraction. Any competitor that causes destruction or damage to property will be subject to immediate suspension from that TGSA event and will lose all individual and team points that have been accumulated at that event.

Any competitors practicing in a designated contest area or causing any other interference with competitors when it is not his/her heat, may be disqualified from the contest, or the next contest, and lose any rating points and team points from that contest.

I. Appeals Process

Any competitor who loses their TGSA membership due to the violation of this sportsmanship conduct code may appeal to the Board of Directors. Upon review, the Board’s decision will be final.

IV. JUDGING AND SCORING

A. Judging System

A subjective judging system will be used (0-10 points using .5 increments). Points awarded are based on the judging criteria, detailed below, with a range of 0-2 points for a “poor” ride, 2-4 points for a “fair” ride, 4-6 points for an “average” ride, 6-8 points for a “good” ride and 8-10 points for an “excellent” ride. Judging panels will contain 3 judges, with one of these being the Head Judge for the panel.

B. Start of Ride

When judging standup surfing, a ride will begin to be scored when a surfer’s hands leave the rails of their surfboard. When judging body boarding, there is no limitation as to body position on the board and the ride will be scored after the head judge designates the body boarder has caught the wave and executed a maneuver.

C. Judging Criteria

The judging criteria shall be: “The surfer must perform committed radical maneuvers in the most critical sections of a wave with style, power, and speed to maximize scoring potential. Innovative and progressive surfing will be taken into account when rewarding points for committed surfing. The surfer who executes these criteria with the highest degree of difficulty and control on the better waves shall be rewarded with the highest scores.”

Each judge’s scores should be consistent with the other judges’ scores on the judging panel. If a judge’s scores are repeatedly inconsistent with the other judges’ scores, he/she may be replaced. Please refer to TGSA Judges Course for detailed policy, instructions and guidelines for judging.

D. Head Judge’s Responsibilities

The Head Judge of each panel shall be responsible for:

• Determining which riders and rides are to be scored
• Determining wave possession
• Maintaining an accurate wave count
• Notifying judges of missed rides
• Assisting judges in making accurate scores for the missed rides.

The Head Judge cannot call interference or a paddling interference for a panel as a unit but can do so on his own wave count sheet.

The Head Judge can call for the panel:

a. Up after the commencement of the next heat penalty

b. Removal of jersey penalty

All missed rides should be averaged by the Head Judge according to the individual’s scoring scale. This should be done at or before the end of the heat, as time allows.

E. Wave Counts and Tabulation of Heat Results

Wave counts to be used for tabulation of results are top 2 rides for preliminary rounds or top 3 rides for final heats. The Contest Director, after consultation with the head judge, may determine a different number of high waves per heat to be tabulated and this shall be posted and announced prior to the start of the contest.

Upon receipt of the completed judges’ sheets, the tabulators will immediately check to see if:

1. All judges’ sheets have been turned in.
2. The same number of waves has been scored on each sheet.
3. Identify interference or other penalty calls, if any.

If a ride has been missed, an attempt will be made to identify the missing rides by referring to the other judges’ sheets. If the ride is identified to the satisfaction of the head judge, a score will be given the missed ride by: AVERAGING THE MISSED WAVE ACCORDING TO THE SCORING LEVEL THAT THE JUDGE IN QUESTION USES (INTERPOLATION).

Upon completion of these formalities, the judge’s sheets may be totaled. The scoring waves shall be circled, totaled, and interference penalties deducted. The total shall be placed in the total column. The heat places are then calculated and entered on the judge’s sheet. The competitor with the highest score will receive one point, the second highest will receive two points and so on. If a judge ties two or more competitors, the points awarded to each of the tied competitors will be the average of the affected placing points added together. EXAMPLE: If 2nd, 3rd and 4th are tied, add 2, 3, and 4 together and divide by 3 = 3 points for each tied competitor.

PLEASE NOTE: The head judge, along with a majority of the judging panel will determine the “official” wave count. When no further calculations are required on the judge’s sheets, the results are transcribed on the tally sheet, which is completed in the following manner:

1. The competitor’s names are entered.
2. The judge’s names are completed
3. Places are copied in a row next to each judge.
4. Total the places and enter.
5. The competitor who receives the lowest point total in the final point column places 1st and so on.

If, at this point, a tie situation occurs, the tabulator will proceed to break the tie as follows:

1. Compare the relative position of the tied competitor’s on the tabulator sheet using the plus/minus system. If not broken, then see #2.
2. Tabulate the top one (two for finals) highest wave on the TIED judge’s sheet ONLY.
3. Go to the third, fourth, etc. until all waves are exhausted.

If the tie is not broken by these methods, go back to #2 and repeat for ALL judge’s sheets. Go to #3, #4, etc.

In the case of three or more athletes tied, repeat this procedure with the goal of deriving one individual who will be the highest placing tied athlete. Once this individual has therefore been eliminated from the procedure, repeat the formulae for the remaining athletes until a clear order of finish for the heat is obtained. If the tie is still not broken by these methods, there will be a ten-minute surf off (top 3 waves) if one or more of the competitors could advance.

F. Checking Results

Competitors may check the judges’ sheets, tally sheers and results for errors for up to thirty minutes after their heat results are made public. This applies to all heats, including finals. If an error is found, the contest director should be notified to have the error corrected. Unless there is an unresolved protest, all results become final after the thirty minute time period.

V. WAVE POSSESSION AND INTERFERENCE

It is the intent of this rule to encourage all competitors to strive toward situations where there is only one competitor at a time in the wave shoulder. The judges will strictly enforce this rule. Competitors are hereby alerted to the severity of the penalty and the strictness with which it will be enforced.

A. Basic Rule

1. The competitor deemed to have inside position for a wave has unconditional right of way for the entire duration of the ride. Interference will be called if during the ride a majority of the judges feel that a fellow competitor has possibly hindered the scoring potential of the competitor deemed to have right of way on the wave.
   
   
2. Anyone, who catches a wave in front of the competitor that has the right of way, has a chance to ride or kick out of the wave without being called for interference, unless he/she hinders the scoring potential of the competitor with right of way by any means including excessive hassling, leash pulling, or breaking down a wave section.

B. Right of Way

Wave possession or right of way will vary slightly under the following categories as determined by the nature of the contest venue but basically it is the responsibility of each individual judge to determine which competitor has the inside position based on whether the wave is a superior right or left. If at the initial point of take off neither the right or the left can be deemed superior, then the right of way will go to the first competitor who makes a definite turn in their chosen direction.

1. Point Break - Where there is only one available direction on any given wave the competitor on the inside shall have unconditional right of way for the entire duration of the wave.
   
   
2. One Peak Break (reef or beach) – If there is a single well defined peak with both a right and a left available at the initial point of take off and neither the right or the left can be deemed superior then the right of way will go to the first competitor who makes a definite turn in their chosen direction (by making an obvious right or left turn). A second competitor may go in the opposite direction on the same wave without incurring a penalty provided they do not interfere with the first competitor who has established right of way (i. e. second competitor may not cross the path of the first competitor to gain the opposite side of the peak unless he/she does so without possibly hindering in the opinion of the majority of the judges, the first competitor).
   
   
3. Beach Break – With multiple random peaks. In these conditions wave possession may vary slightly according to the nature of the individual wave.
   
   
   1. With two peaks there will be cases where one swell will have two separate defines peaks far apart that eventually meet at the same point. Although two competitors may each have inside position on their respective peaks the competitor who first gains wave possession shall be deemed to have right of way and the second competitor must give way by cutting back or kicking out before hindering the right of way competitor.
      
      
   2. If two competitors gain wave possession at the same time on separate peaks of the same wave and eventually meet, then
      
      
      1. If they both give way by cutting back or kicking out so neither is hindered there will be no penalty.
         
         
      2. If they cross paths and collide or hinder one another the judges will penalize the competitor who has been the aggressor at the point of contact.
         
         
      3. If neither competitor gives way by cutting back or kicking out and both share responsibility for the confrontation then a double interference will be called.
         
         

C. The Right of Way Criteria

The choice of right of way criteria for each of the above possible situations is the responsibility of the event director and the head judge.

D. Snaking

1. The competitor who is the farthest inside at the initial point of take off and has established wave possession is entitled to that wave for the duration of his ride, even though another competitor may subsequently take off in the white water behind him/her. The judges will not penalize the competitor because he/she has right of way even though he/she is in front.
   
   
2. If the second competitor has not hindered the original competitor with right of way, then the judges may choose not to penalize him/her and will score both competitors rides.
   
   
3. If in the opinion of the majority of the judges, the second competitor interfered with the first competitor, who has right of way by causing him/her to pull out or lose the wave or to damage the scoring potential of the wave, then interference may be called on the second competitor even though he/she is behind the original competitor when the penalty was called.

E. Paddling Interference

1. A competitor who has the inside position should not be excessively hindered by another competitor paddling for the same wave. Paddling interference may be called if:
   
   
   1. The offending competitor makes contact with or forces the inside competitor to change his/her line while paddling to catch the wave causing possible loss of scoring potential.
      
      
   2. The offending competitor obviously causes a section to break down in front of the inside competitor which would not normally have done so causing possible loss of scoring potential.
      
      
   3. When a competitor is put in a situation while paddling out that he/she cannot get out of the way and a collision occurs due to this, it is up to the judges to call interference based on whether it is felt to be accidental or not.

F. Board Caddying

Board caddying is not allowed. This includes losing your board and having someone retrieve it for you for the specific reason of helping you in your heat. Saving a board from damage is allowed so long as the board isn’t paddled, handed, carried or pushed to the competitor. Penalty DQ (automatic disqualification).

G. Penalties

1. If a judge thinks interference has taken place, the judge shall place a triangle around the ride of the offending competitor and draw an arrow to the ride of the competitor who was interfered with. In the case of a paddling interference, the triangle shall be placed on the line between the appropriate rides for the offending competitor and filled with P. I. (no ride/no score) and the arrow still drawn. P.I. will be counted as a score of 0 and that score will count as one of the rides tabulated for the offending competitor.
   
   
2. If a majority of scoring judges, 2 of 3 or 3 of 5 scoring judges rule interference, the tabulators shall give the offending competitor a score of zero for the ride on each of the judge’s sheets and that score will count as one of the rides tabulated for the offending competitor.

VI. AWARDS

Trophies will be awarded to first through fourth places in all divisions. Other awards may be Men and Women Iron Surfer, top judge, and sportsmanship awards. The Iron Surfer Award, when presented, is awarded to the competitor with the highest placing in at least 3 divisions. Various prizes donated by sponsors, when available, may be awarded to finalists, in drawings at random or by other methods.

VII. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

All protests and complaints by competitors must be in writing and handed to the TGSA Competition Director/Contest Director to be considered for possible action. The Surfer Representative may be consulted to help present the protest or complaint. All written protests will be handled by the TGSA Competition Director and one of the following: First the Head Judge, second the TGSA contest Director, third any TGSA official. The decision of the officials will be final. No heat that involves a competitor whose advancement is under protest will take place prior to the resolution of the protest.

VIII. TEAM COMPETITION RULES

1. All Teams must complete a Team Entry Form and submit it to the contest officials prior to the start of the first heat of the contest. No changes may be made to a Team Entry form after the contests starts.
   
   
2. Teams may consist of no more than 6 and no less than 4 individuals.
   
   
3. Each individual can not be entered in more than 2 divisions for one team but can be entered on more than one team. For example, Joe Shred could enter Junior Men and Men for Big Bad Surf Shop – Team A and Senior LB and Mens LB for Big Bad Surf Shop Team B.
   
   
4. Team points are earned only when a team member makes a final (places 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th but not 5th in the case of a 5 person final). The larger the number of competitors in a division the larger the possible points a competitor can earn for his or her team.

TABLE OF TEAM POINTS AWARDED: