Proposal 21: Changing TieBreaker Rules [ Revision 3 ]
Committee: TrialsSubmitted on 2019-04-08
Status: Passed on May 30, 2019
Background
Ian brought forward the problem with current system of trials tiebreaking for finals.
The trials committee discussed the following problems with tiebreaking (currently)
- Not an accurate measurement (one line, one try, crazy mental pressure on riders)
- Not easy to set up for organizers (make a line that does not favour a rider in no time)
- Can cause time scramble issues to build
- Often is not enjoyable to watch as a spectator (anticlimactic)
Proposal
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12A.1 Definition
The object of unicycle trials is to ride over obstacles. A unicycle trials competition takes place on a “course” containing different obstacles called “sections”. Each section is worth one point, and courses typically contain 15-40 or more sections. Riders earn points by successfully riding (“cleaning”) each section from start to finish. The objective is to earn as many points as possible by cleaning as many sections as possible. At the end of a specified time period, the rider with the highest overall number of points is the winner.
New
12A.1 Definition
The object of unicycle trials is to ride over obstacles. A unicycle trials competition takes place on a “course” containing different obstacles called “sections”. A course typically contains 15-40 or more sections and Riders earn points by successfully riding (“cleaning”) each section from start to finish. The objective is to earn as many points as possible by cleaning as many sections as possible. At the end of a specified time period, the rider with the highest overall number of points is the winner. In the case of a tie in finals the time of last finished line and preliminary results will be used to separate riders.
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12D.12 Tie Breaking
A tie occurs when the competition finishes and one or more riders have completed the same number of sections. The Course Setter should collaborate with the tied riders to create a new, “tiebreaker section” at an appropriate level of difficulty. This section should be relatively long and may consist of several existing sections joined together, or an entirely new section. The section should contain obstacles of increasing difficulty towards the exit location. Each tied rider attempts this section and the winner is the person who rides the furthest without dabbing. Only one attempt is allowed. The furthest location of a rider is defined by the part of the cycle that is touching the ground (the crank, pedal, or tire), prior to dabbing. There is no requirement for the rider to be in control. For example, if a rider lands a drop onto their tire, but immediately dabs, their furthest point would be the location where their tire last touched prior to dabbing. If more than one rider cleans the tiebreaker section, another tiebreaker should be conducted with a more difficult section
New
12D.12 Tie Breaking
Age group or preliminary (if used): The tie may be broken using the time the rider turns in their score card. Organizers must announce this ahead of time and clearly record the time from a consistent source to insure fairness across multiple heats. If there is still a tie, it will be broken by the quantity of “hard” lines, then quantity of “medium” lines, and then the quantity of “easy” line. If there is still a tie, then the riders will finish equal.
Finals: In the case of multiple competitors finishing the finals round on equal points, riders will be separated by the time they completed their last line with preliminary results used in the case of equal finishing times.
The time stamp given by the line judge will be used to separate competitors, with the fastest completion time of lines (to the minute) receiving the higher placing. In the event that the time stamp does not separate tied riders, the preliminary round results will be used for placings. If competitors remain tied after finals points, finals time stamp and preliminary round points, no tie breaker will occur and the riders will finish equal.
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12B.5.5 Multiple Attempts
Riders may attempt any problem multiple times until they succeed or decide to abandon the section. During preliminary rounds, it is not possible to earn additional points by cleaning a section more than once, and no points are awarded if the rider does not clean the entire section. During finals a rider may re-complete a line with fewer pedal grabs to receive a higher score. Only the rider’s best result at each line will be recorded.
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12B.5.5 Multiple Attempts
Riders may attempt any problem multiple times until they succeed or decide to abandon the section. During preliminary rounds, it is not possible to earn additional points by cleaning a section more than once, and no points are awarded if the rider does not clean the entire section. During finals a rider may re-complete a line with fewer pedal grabs to receive a higher score. Only the rider’s best result at each line will be recorded. Similarly, the time of the best result will be recorded as the finishing time for each line. E.g. If a rider finishes their final line at 25 minutes receiving 1 point but retries the line finishing the same line at 45 minutes with 2.5 points, their 2.5 points and 45 minutes time of completion will be recorded in the results. If the rider re-completes a line without improving their original score, the original time of completion will remain.
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12C.1.3 Line Judge
The line judges are responsible for judging whether a rider has successfully cleaned a section
New
12C.1.3 Line Judge
The line judges are responsible for judging whether a rider has successfully cleaned a section.
In the finals round, line judges will be responsible for counting pedal grabs of riders as they clean a section as well as time stamping competitors scorecards at time of line completion. In the case that a competitor re-cleans a line with an improved result the line judge should clearly mark the improved number of pedal grabs and time of completion on the competitor’s scorecard.
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12D.7 Assignment of Line Judges
Line Judges are responsible for judging whether a rider has successfully cleaned a section. There are several possible ways for an Event Director to organize Line Judges at an event:
• One Line Judge can be assigned to judge at each section. This is the best option but is normally not possible because there are normally more sections than Line Judges.
• Each Line Judge can be assigned to judge several sections in the nearby vicinity. In this case, it is the responsibility of the rider to ensure that a Line Judge is watching when they attempt a section.
• Riders can be split into groups, and one Line Judge is assigned to each group. This Line Judge would then follow the group around as they go from section to section. 193 12 Urban: Trials – Event Organizer Rules
• At small events, there may not be a need for Line Judges. Riders waiting to attempt a section may serve as Line Judges for the rider who is currently attempting the section. This is termed “self-judging”, and it is up to the riders to ensure that scores are honestly recorded. This is the most common method for smaller competitions.
New
12D.7 Assignment of Line Judges
Line Judges are responsible for judging whether a rider has successfully cleaned a section. For the finals round, line judges are to be provided with a synched stopwatch or clock to provide line completion time stamps to be used in the event of ties. There are several possible ways for an Event Director to organize Line Judges at an event:
• One Line Judge can be assigned to judge at each section. This is the best option but is normally not possible because there are normally more sections than Line Judges.
• Each Line Judge can be assigned to judge several sections in the nearby vicinity. In this case, it is the responsibility of the rider to ensure that a Line Judge is watching when they attempt a section.
• Riders can be split into groups, and one Line Judge is assigned to each group. This Line Judge would then follow the group around as they go from section to section. 193 12 Urban: Trials – Event Organizer Rules
• At small events, there may not be a need for Line Judges. Riders waiting to attempt a section may serve as Line Judges for the rider who is currently attempting the section. This is termed “self-judging”, and it is up to the riders to ensure that scores are honestly recorded. This is the most common method for smaller competitions.
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12B.5.3 Scoring Points
The preliminary course is divided in different sections of easy, medium and hard lines. Easy lines are worth one point, medium lines are worth three points and hard lines are worth seven points. The objective is to score as many points as possible by successfully riding (“cleaning”) sections within the specified time period.
Preliminary Round
Difficulty Points
Easy 1 point
Medium 3 points
Hard 7 points
During finals, completion of a line with zero pedal grabs will be worth three points. A deduction of 0.5 points will be made for each pedal/crank grab used during completion of the line, with a maximum of two points deducted i.e. 4 pedal grabs.
Final Round
Base Points for Line Completion 3 points
Number of Pedal Grabs Used for Line Completion Total Points Received for Line
1 2.5 points
2 2 points
3 1.5 points
=>4 1 points
A pedal/crank grab is defined as the rider placing their weight on an obstacle through the bottom of the pedal/crank which is in contact with the obstacle (see 12B.5.4 Definition Of “Cleaning”).
A pedal/crank grab is considered complete after a clear takeoff by pushing through the pedal/crank and not though the tyre.
The pedal/crank may be re-positioned during a pedal/crank grab without being considered a new grab as long as the pedal does not move more than the width of the pedal away from the initial position on the obstacle. i.e. traversing an object in continuous half pedal width grabs will result in multiple pedal/crank grabs recorded.
New
12B.5.3 Scoring Points
The preliminary course is divided in different sections of easy, medium and hard lines. Easy lines are worth one point, medium lines are worth three points and hard lines are worth seven points. The objective is to score as many points as possible by successfully riding (“cleaning”) sections within the specified time period.
Preliminary Round
Difficulty Points
Easy 1 point
Medium 3 points
Hard 7 points
During finals, completion of a line with zero pedal grabs will be worth three points. A deduction of 0.5 points will be made for each pedal/crank grab used during completion of the line, with a maximum of two points deducted i.e. 4 pedal grabs.
Final Round
Base Points for Line Completion 3 points
Number of Pedal Grabs Used for Line Completion Total Points Received for Line
1 2.5 points
2 2 points
3 1.5 points
=>4 1 points
A pedal/crank grab is defined as the rider placing their weight on an obstacle through the bottom of the pedal/crank which is in contact with the obstacle (see 12B.5.4 Definition Of “Cleaning”).
A pedal/crank grab is considered complete after a clear takeoff by pushing through the pedal/crank and not though the tyre.
The pedal/crank may be re-positioned during a pedal/crank grab without being considered a new grab as long as the pedal does not move more than the width of the pedal away from the initial position on the obstacle. i.e. traversing an object in continuous half pedal width grabs will result in multiple pedal/crank grabs recorded.
A time stamp (to the minute) of each line completion will be recorded by each line judge during finals to be used in the event of a tie.
Body
Reasoning behind rule change is that trials tie breaking becomes:
- Not too difficult to organize,
- straightforward, simple and fair
- fun for the audience, adds to commentary material and builds excitement
- it will make the current tiebreaking a thing of the past in finals.
References
Further discussion needs to be completed to decide age group ties Connie Cotter has started this.
https://iuf-rulebook-2018.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/101
Discussion
View DiscussionChange Log:
- Revision 3 changed by Connie Cotter (19 May 16:26)
Edited 12D.12 to include the information and changes discussed in #101
- Revision 2 changed by Steven Hughes (12 May 17:13)
Put in changes
- Revision 1 changed by Daniel Cormeau (08 Apr 14:04)
Votes on this proposal:
8 out of 10 voting members have voted.
Agree: 8, Disagree: 0, Abstain: 0.