Proposal 73: New Section for Speed Trials Rules [ Revision 5 ]
Committee: TrialsSubmitted on 2019-05-22
Status: Passed on June 09, 2019
Background
This competition has been done at Unicons and other events. Time for the rules to be official.
Proposal
Old: none
New:
Urban: Speed Trials Rules – New section (to follow Trials)
13A Overview
13A.1 Definition
The object of Speed Trials is for riders to traverse a pre-set course as quickly as possibly. Riders are either timed or raced against each other. Time is kept when the start of the race is called and when the riders cross the finish line. The winner is the fastest rider to cross the finish line or make it the furthest along the course.
13A.2 Rider Summary
This section is intended as an overview of the rules, but does not substitute for the actual rules.
• You must wear shoes and a helmet.
• There is no restriction on type of unicycle.
• You may change unicycles during the competition.
13B Competitors Rules
13B.1 Safety
All riders must wear a helmet and shoes as defined in chapter 1D.1. Gloves, shin guards and knee protection are recommended.
13B.2 Unicycles
Any unicycle may be used. There is no restriction on changing unicycles during the competition.
13B.3 Rider Identification
The rider number must be visible on the rider or unicycle.
13B.4 Event Flow
13B.4.1 Start
Riders must begin on the start pallet, mounted. It is acceptable for riders to hop in place to balance however riders will be disqualified if the lowermost surface of their wheel crosses the front of the pallet before the signal. The start signal will be given by the Starter by whistle to begin the race. Line judges and the starter are responsible for identifying false starts.
13B.4.2 Race
Once riders have crossed the start line, they must traverse the course without being disqualified. (See section 13.B.4.3) Should a rider make contact with their unicycle on the ground during the course IE: before the final obstacle, they can return to the course from the last obstacle successfully completed or at an earlier obstacle in the course.
e.g. If a Rider loses balance on a skinny and jumps to the ground (while remaining mounted), they must go back to the obstacle touched before the skinny.
13B.4.3 Finish
A rider finishes the race once their wheel fully crosses over the finish line. Once a rider has traversed the last obstacle of the course, they may touch the ground until they cross the finish line. Timekeepers and Finishers will determine the results.
13B.4.4 Disqualification
Disqualification is instant and permanent for the attempt or heat. A disqualified rider must stop and clear the course without interfering with judges or other riders. Disqualification happens as follows:
1. False start: Starting before the signal has been given by the Starter.
2. Allowing any part of the rider’s body to touch the ground or obstacle. If loose clothing brushes against the ground or obstacle but does not influence the rider’s balance, then this is acceptable.
3. Allowing any part of the cycle except the tire, rim, spokes, crank arms, pedals, or bearing caps to touch the ground or obstacle.
4. Yelling or verbally distracting the opponents or judges.
13B.5 Preliminary Rounds
Competitors have 2 or 3 individual attempts to complete the course. Determining if there should be 2 or 3 attempts is decided by the Trials Director. Should the number of competitors be less than 10, see 13B.6.3
13B.6 Finals
Finals can be run in three different ways depending on the number of competitors. At world championships, the trials director must follow the format indicated in 13B.6.1-13B.6.3 depending on number of competitors. For smaller events where materials and construction time is reduced, the trials director may choose from the formats without having to determine event by number of competitors.
13B.6.1 Four Rider Heats
1. If the number of competitors is 30 or more, finals must be composed of the fastest 16 riders and will be organized with 8 heats of 4 riders. 4 identical lines will need to be constructed. For four rider heats, the first two riders to cross the finish line move forward and the last two riders are eliminated. The heats will be organized as follows:
QUARTER FINALS:
Heat 1: Seed 1 versus Seed 5 versus Seed 9 versus Seed 13
Heat 2: Seed 3 versus Seed 7 versus Seed 11 versus Seed 15
Heat 3: Seed 2 versus Seed 6 versus Seed 10 versus Seed 14
Heat 4: Seed 4 versus Seed 8 versus Seed 12 versus Seed 16
SEMI FINALS:
Heat 5: Heat 1 1st, Heat 1 2nd, Heat 2 1st, Heat 2 2nd
Heat 6: Heat 3 1st, Heat 3 2nd, Heat 4 1st, Heat 4 2nd
5-8TH PLACE ROUND
Heat 7: Heat 5 3rd, Heat 5 4th, Heat 6 3rd, Heat 6 4th
FINALS:
Heat 8: Heat 5 1st, Heat 5 2nd, Heat 6 1st, Heat 6 2nd
13B.6.2: Two Rider Heats
If the number of competitors is between 10 and 30, finals will be composed of the fastest 8 riders and will be organized by 8 heats of 2 riders. 2 identical lines will need to be constructed. For two rider heats, the first rider to cross the finish line moves forward and the last rider is eliminated.
QUARTER FINALS:
Heat 1: Seed 1 versus Seed 5
Heat 2: Seed 3 versus Seed 7
Heat 3: Seed 2 versus Seed 6
Heat 4: Seed 4 versus Seed 8
SEMI FINALS:
Heat 5: Heat 1 Winner versus Heat 2 Winner
Heat 6: Heat 3 Winner versus Heat 4 Winner
3RD - 4TH PLACE ROUND:
Heat 7: Heat 5 Loser versus Heat 6 Loser
FINALS
Heat 8: Heat 5 Winner versus Heat 6 Winner
13B.6.3: Prelim Results as Final Results
If the numbers of competitors is less than 10, prelim results will be the final results (no finals necessary).
13B.7 Prohibited Activities
No rider may attempt any obstacle prior to the start of the competition. Intentional modification of a section by riders or spectators is prohibited. Note that kicking objects to test stability does not constitute intentional modification if an object moves. If the course is unintentionally modified or broken by a rider, they should inform the Event Director or Course Setter who will return the obstacle to its original form if possible.
13C Judges and Officials Rules
13C.1 Trials Officials
13C.1.1 Trials Director
The Trials Director is the head organizer and administrator of trials events. With the Convention Host, the Trials Director determines the course, obtains permits, interfaces with the community, and determines the system used to run the event. The Trials Director is responsible for the logistics and equipment for all trials events. The Trials Director is in charge of keeping events running on schedule, and answers all questions not pertaining to rules and judging. The Trials Director is the highest authority on everything to do with the trials events, except for decisions on rules and results.
13C.1.2 Chief Judge
The Chief Judge is the head Trials official, whose primary job is to make sure the competitors follow the rules. The Chief Judge makes all final decisions regarding rule infractions. The Chief Judge is responsible for resolving protests.
13C.1.3 Starter
The starter is responsible for giving each competitor a fair and equal start. There must be only one starter for an event to maintain consistency. The starter must use a whistle to signal the start of the race. The start judge must make sure all riders are ready, alert and given the signal to begin the race. The starter must check for false starts. The starter must begin the race with random delays between 1 and 10 seconds. The starter must be positioned close to the start line as possible but must not interfere or impede riders.
13C.1.4 Line Judges
Each rider must have a separate line judge assigned to them. The line judges are responsible for checking for false starts. As riders progress over the course, the line judge must make sure that their assigned rider is successfully cleaning the course. Should the rider fall or dismount, the line judge must indicate the location where the rider last made contact before dismounting.
13.C.1.5 Timekeepers/Finisher
Timekeepers are responsible for keeping time during Prelims. Timekeepers are unnecessary during finals since finals are heats. During prelims, The timekeepers must press their stop watches when the races commences and when the rider crosses the finish line. A minimum of two timekeepers must be used to record time. The average of the two times must be calculated to determined the final score for the attempt. During finals, 2 Finishers will watch the finish line to determine order of riders. Time keepers must be positioned close to the finish line for accurate results. Should the result be too close to tell, see 13.D.7.
13D Event Organizer Rules
13D.1 Venue
In the Trials events, the organizers should postpone the events in the case of wet weather and exchange all the affected parts of the course for dry ones (replacing pallets for example). Events should be cancelled if considered dangerous. If postponed or moved to an indoor location the organizers must try to keep the allowances the same as outdoors competitions with metal pedals and marking tires allowed. Cancelled competitions should be rescheduled during the convention duration with Trials events held early in the competition schedule where possible to give a larger period of time for rescheduling. There should be no dangerous objects to land on from the course with sections constructed in a manner that ensures they do not collapse or fall over under normal riding conditions.
13D.2 Officials
The host must designate the following officials for Trials:
• Trials Director
• Chief Judge
Starter, Line Judges and Timekeepers will be assigned by volunteers during the event.
13D.3 Age Groups and Categories
Male and female competitions should be offered with age group winners set as 0-9 (Kids), 10-15 (Junior), 16-34 (Adult) and 35+ (Senior).
13D.4 Course Design
Construction of the course is at the discretion of the trials director. However, the course should have a combination of long jumps, high jumps, balance elements, precision jumps. The finals course should be more difficult than the preliminary course and all courses must not favour a particular hopping stance or direction. The trials director needs to provide a warm area with obstacles for riders.
13D.5 Course Planning
Adequate time and resources is required to set up a proper course with at least one day required to build identical lines for multiple riders to complete preliminary runs concurrently.
13D.6 Rematch
At the discretion of the chief judge a rematch for a heat (finals) or retry of individual attempt (prelims) may be needed if the winner is unclear. The riders in question will redo the heat without other competitors.
e.g. 2nd and 3rd place rankings are unclear, a new heat will begin with only 2nd and 3rd for tiebreak.
Rematches will not be provided for broken parts or flat tyres once the competitor in question has entered the course.
Body
See the discussion.
References
See the discussion.
Discussion
View DiscussionChange Log:
- Revision 5 changed by Daniel Cormeau (26 May 22:12)
CHANGELOG
Changed some more grammar/spelling and format mistakes.
Made the prelims attempts to 2 or 3 as this was not decided in the discussion. I think we leave it to the trials director to sort out (time scheduling, volunteers, etc.). This gives flexibility for the T.D. to work with what they have.
Since speed trials rules are so much more strict I think that 3 attempts should be used and will lead to more accurate results for finals.
- Revision 4 changed by Steven Hughes (26 May 16:47)
13B.5 Preliminary Rounds
Competitors have 2 individual attempts to complete the course. Should the number of competitors be less than 10, see 13B.6.3
Changed to competitors have 2 individual attempts as it was believed 3 is probably unnecessarily high.
13D.5.1 Course Planning
Adequate time and resources is required to set up a proper course with at least one day required to build identical lines for multiple riders to complete preliminary runs concurrently.
Removed the 1 in 13D.5.1
- Revision 3 changed by Daniel Cormeau (24 May 22:01)
Removed shin guards as requirement to follow Proposal 10
- Revision 2 changed by Daniel Cormeau (23 May 22:53)
Update by Dan May 23rd.
- Added role of timekeeper/finisher
- Added role of starter
- Explained role of line judge more clearly
- Small grammar revisions through-out
- Removed outdated "cleaning" vocabulary and flagging tape examples that are no longer used
- Merged two prelim and finals sections for clarity
- Explained finals heats more clearly with specific seeds and explained alternatives for smaller events
- Revision 1 changed by Connie Cotter (22 May 12:22)
Votes on this proposal:
9 out of 10 voting members have voted.
Agree: 9, Disagree: 0, Abstain: 0.