Proposal 85: Classes and Age Groups [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 6. FreestyleSubmitted on 2025-07-18
Status: Passed on August 10, 2025
Background
In the general committee the “chaos” between age groups, novice/intermediate/experts, who is a winner, etc. is going to get reworked. The proposal is to use classes that will be used to award championship titles. And within that age groups are possible. This is really great to freestyle as it will simplify a lot of rules and benefit a lot of riders with that.
It adresses all aspects of organizing/structuring the event wrt classes (new) and age groups. All while "modernizing" the quite antiquated freestyle section here in catching up with parts in general (existing and those to come as per current discussions).
Additionally Artistic Freestyle is the only discipline that has limits at Unicon (Championship and Convention competitions), we propose that freestyle will be the first one to support a youth class - germany is already using them (see the numbers posted there) to divide competitors into that ages as we hit the limits with the IUF rulebook. We took the opportunity to share our experiences in managing such a high number of athletes.
Proposal
OLD:
6C.4.4 Judging Panel May Not Change
6E.5 Classes and Age Groups
6E.6 Categories for Smaller Competitions
NEW:
## 6E.5 Classes and Age Groups
### 6E.5.1 Supported Classes
Artistic Freestyle will support classes based on competitions.
### 6E.5.1.1 Individual and Pair
A youth class as per 1C.x shall be used when the requirements (see below) are met:
1. Junior (< 15)
2. Youth (15 - 18)
3. Adult (>= 19)
Requirements:
IUF Sanctioned events: All three classes are used
Other events: Youth and Adult class should have at least 8 starters each
Reasons:
- Visibility: Ensure athletes from the youth class are represented
- Equality: Ensure a stable competitor field within one class with similar conditions that gives athletes more equal chances to win a championship title
- Development pipeline: Establish conditions for growth within the discipline
### 6E.5.1.2 Groups
Small and large group uses two classes:
1. Junior (< 15)
2. Adult (>= 15)
### 6E.5.2 Minimum Age Groups: Individual and Pair
Artistic Freestyle recommends to follow age groups and their guaranteed ranges (as per 1C.7 Age Groups).
IUF Sanctioned & Endorsed events: Recommended age groups will be enforced for Individual and Pair competitions.
Other events (eg. Newcomer Freestyle events that welcome first timers) are free to adjust age groups to match their expected competitors.
### 6E.6 Results
Awards can be given for classes (championship titles) or age groups (winners) and must be announced for each event.
IUF Sanctioned events: Athletes are awarded in classes (championship titles).
IUF Endorsed events: Recommended to award athletes in classes (championship titles).
Qualification Event: If an organization uses multiple events throughout the year as a qualification series, athletes advance based on their results in a class, see section 6C.4.4 for the judging panel arrangement.
### 6E.7 Start Groups
Forming start groups is up to the event, but should be based on classes or age groups. For IUF Sanctioned and Endorsed events (when following the recommendation) class based start groups are enforced.
### 6E.8 Warm Up Time
Hosts must ensure warmup time on the competition floor. For example with a separate area (locked away from the competition, but same floor) or through breaks in the schedule to give the next wave of riders time to acclimate with the floor.
Example:
For large start groups, there is a warmup break every ~10 routines - or - there is one warmup block for the next three start groups if combined they are not more than 10 people.
The numbers in the example shall give orientation, please pick reasonable numbers that match your schedule and suit the athletes warm up needs.
###6E.7 Pre-Event Practice Time -> 6E.9 Pre-Event Practice Time
### 6C.4.4 Judging Panel May Not Change
A judging panel remains persistent minimum per age group. If the event awards athletes by class or uses class results, the judging panel must remain persistent per class. In the event of a medical or other emergency, this rule can be waived by the Chief Judge.
Body
see Discussion
Some aspects depend on discussions/proposals from upstream committees and may impact this proposal. We continue with this proposal as planned. We will make a placeholder proposal to adjust it to upstream outcomes.
References
Discussion
View Discussion
Votes on this proposal:
10 out of 15 voting members have voted.
Agree: 6, Disagree: 3, Abstain: 1.