SBSSA Judging Criteria & Rules
JUDGING
1. SELECTION OF JUDGES
a. All judges will have experience as competitve surfers themselves, thorough knowledge of the judging criteria and no vested interest in the results.
b. Judges must make all calls in accordance with the SBSSA competition rulebook or will be subject to removal from the panel.
c. No judge of a SBSSA event may pass comment on a surfer's chances in any event to the public, media or other contestants. If so then that judge may be dismissed from the panel.
2. WAVE SCORING
a. The wave scoring will be done from 0.1 to 10, broken into decimal increments.
3. CRITERIA
a. A surfer must perform radical controlled maneuvers in the critical sections of a wave with Speed, Power and Flow to maximize scoring potential. Innovative/Progressive surfing as well as variety of repertoire (maneuvers) will be taken into account when rewarding points for waves ridden. The surfer who executes this criteria with the maximum degree of difficulty and commitment on the waves shall be rewarded with the higher scores.
4. MISSED WAVE
a. If a judge misses a wave, or part of a wave, he should place an M in the square of the judges sheet, contact the Head Judge immediately and have the wave included into his sheet, by him or the Head Judge on the basis of comparison to the previous rides on the other judges sheets that the Head Judge deems appropriate.
b. If the situation arises where a judge cannot consult with the head judge to compare a missed ride, the tabulator will compare and average the ride in relation to the other judges scores and place a score in the box marked 'M'.
5. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
a. At times, errors of special nature occur with respect to judging. This includes but not limited to timing, missed waves, etc. The SBSSA Head Judge along with the Contest Director may consult with those qualified observers (defined as off-duty judges) who may have witnessed the incident in question.
6. OFFICIALS AND JUDGES BEHAVIOR REQUIREMENTS
a. No official or judge of an SBSSA event may pass comment on a surfer's chances in any event to the public, media or other contestants, or that official or judge may be dismissed from the panel.
b. Only the Head Judge may discuss an interference call with the offending surfer and/or parent.
c. Only the Head Judge may discuss scoring issues with a competitor. The Head Judge has the option to designate another judge to discuss issues regarding wave scores, etc to a competitor and/or parent.
d. Judges and officials are subject to the SBSSA Discipline Policy.
e. All judges, officials and event employees are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and are responsible for their actions before, during and after competitions. Violations of NSSA Rules and/or unsportsmanlike conduct may result in warnings, suspension or expulsion from the NSSA.
f. Judges, officials and event employees are expected to use courtesy, good manners and act responsibly and maturely at event venues.
COMPETITION RULES
1. FORMAT & ELIGIBILTY
a. Competition Rules are governed by the official rules of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and the SBSSA Rules and Regulations which contain those exceptions deemed necessary for a youth surfing program.
b. Advancements in all heats must be at least 50% of the surfers in the heat unless it is a repercharge heat or it is a previously agreed upon 7 person first round heat as required in special circumstances.
c. Eligibility is established once your team has paid the required league fees, and your schools Athletic Director has determined each student surfer meets the necessary district academic eligibility requirements.
d. All teams must have proof of liability insurance coverage which specifically names the SBSSA as additionally insured.
e. Competitors must wear the competition jersey in the water at all times and not remove jersey until returning to the beach marshal.
f. A maximum of 2 photographers in the line-up during a heat. The contest director has the authority to disallow photographers in the line-up if they feel it poses problems to the competitors.
2. WAVE COUNT/TIMING
a. Beach Starts
i. All heats are started from the beach unless otherwise directed by the Contest Director.
b. Water Starts including Buoy and Pier starts.
i. Water starts may be utilized under extraordinary circumstances such as large and/or difficult wave or beach conditions.
ii. Water starts may be utilized for SBSSA Championships, specialty events and/or where water starts are applicable.
iii. It is the competitor's responsibility to get water start, buoy start and pier start rules from the beach marshal.
iv. If a competitor enters the contest zone early and is deemed to have an unfair advantage, his waves could be counted as a zero and/or he could incur an interference penalty. Only the head judge may call the penalty.
c. Siren or horn blasts must be used to start and finish heats. Two blasts to start and finish. One blast is optional for the five minute warning.
d. A green and yellow flag or sign may be used. Green to start and yellow for the last five minutes.
e. An attempt may be made to inform the competitor(s) at the completion of their maximum number of rides, however it is entirely the responsibility of the individual to count his own waves. If more than the maximum number of waves is ridden within the time limit, the surfer shall be penalized with interference for every extra wave.
f. Preliminary heats will be 15 or 20 minutes in duration. Finals will be 20 or 25 minutes in duration unless otherwise indicated by the contest director. Additional time could be alloted where applicable for championship heats and finals.
g. Top 2 waves will be scored in all preliminary heats. Top 2 waves will be scored in all finals unless otherwise indicated by the contest director.
i. Extraordinary wave/beach conditions, SBSSA championships and/or specialty events could dictate changes in wave count/timing/flags/horns, etc. Only the Contest Director can direct any changes to be made.
h. During the heat the surfer must be clearly in possession of the wave on the wave face by getting to their feet and hands having left the rails (rail grabs excluded) for the wave to be scored. Surfer's hands must have left the rails prior to the horn signaling the end of the heat for the wave to be scored. Surfer's hands must have left the rails after the horn signaling the start of the heat for the wave to be scored.
i. There will be no time extensions once a heat has entered the water. If a heat is interrupted for any reason (ie: fog, lightning, etc.) it will be stopped by the contest director or head judge and will be resumed with all surfers in the line up at the time it was stopped and will run for the originally set period. Exception is if the head judge feels the entire heat should be rerun because altered conditions made it impossible for the judges to score fairly.
3. TABULATION
a. To decide a winner (five man panel), top two waves (top two waves in final) on each judge's sheet will be tabulated and placings then given on each judge's sheet. The placings are then transposed to a master sheet with all five judge's placings. The high and low judge for each surfer is crossed off and the three remaining places added. The lowest total is first, next lowest second, etc.
b. To decide a winner (three man panel), top two waves (top two waves in final) on each judge's sheet will be tabulated and placings then given on each judge's sheet. The placings are then transposed to a master sheet with all three judge's placings and then added. The lowest total is first, next lowest second, etc.
c. If there is a tie on the master sheet, the high placing will receive a plus and the lower placing will receive a minus. The surfer with the most plus' will get the higher placing. If it is still tied after the plus/minus has been completed and there is tied sheet(s), the tied sheet(s) will be added with the top one wave, then up to three waves, etc. until the tie is broken. If it is still tied, then all of the judges sheets will be added with top one wave, etc. and the process on the master sheet is repeated.
d. Only unbreakable ties will be resurfed. Re-surf time duration, wave count, etc to be determined by the contest director. If it is in the opinion of the head judge that surfers in the heat deliberately did not catch a wave advancing to the next round will go as per higher seeding.
e. For interference tabulation see INTERFERENCE RULES AND PENALTIES; #7 INTERFERENCE PENALTY.
f. Where a tie occurs and a surfer has an interference penalty this surfer has already had one or more waves deducted so any count backs will result in this surfer winning as they would be deducting 50% score or a zero score.
g. Where the ASP computer tabulation is available, the high and low judges scores are eliminated for each wave to give an average score out of 10.
4. TEAM SCORING - HEAD to HEAD / SCHOOL v SCHOOL CONTESTS
a. In the TEAM contest format - each surfer on each team will earn points based on their placing in their individual heats. The total points accumulated by all the surfers on each team will determine the winning the team.
b. The points per heat break down as - 1st place = 6 points, 2nd = 5, 3rd = 4, 4th = 3, 5th = 2nd, 6th = 1
c. Each surfer must ride a minimum of 1 wave to score any points.
d. In the event of a tie between 2 teams - the tie will stand.
5. EVENT SCHEDULES
a. The Contest Director and/or Beach Marshal are the only people who can give the exact schedule of events. If any other employee of the event is asked and wrong information is received, subsequently missing a heat or some other problem, then they have no form of protest.
b. If the Contest Director and/or Beach Marshal gives the wrong information and a surfer subsequently misses a heat then a resurf can occur.
6. PROTESTS
a. Protests must be written. The protest shall contain all pertinent facts and rules involved and must be signed by the pertaining surfer or the pertaining surfer's parent.
b. The process for lodging a prostest with the SBSSA Head Judge is as follows: 1. Fill out a protest sheet available at the Beach Marshall. 2. Return the completed sheet to the Beach Marshall. 3. Written protest must be presented to the Beach Marshal and/or Contest Director within 15 minutes after the results of the heat in question have been announced and the judges sheets made public. 4. The Beach Marshall will pass on the protest to the SBSSA Head Judge who will talk to the surfer as soon as possible.
c. Only the Contest Director, after consulting with the Head Judge may rule on a protest.
d. Only the Head Judge and/or Contest Director may discuss an interference call with the protesting competitor. No other judges and/or officials are to be approached over any calls or a fine or suspension could be imposed on the offending surfer.
e. Video will be accepted at the SBSSA Championships and/or only at the Head Judges discretion. Video cannot be used to protest judges scores, timing or up after calls.
f. Tabulation errors will always be corrected regardless of time elapsed. Protests are not required.
g. A judging scoring decision once made is irrevocable no what proof is available to show otherwise unless the Head Judge feels that the majority of the judging panel did not see the situation or wave completely.
7. WAVE MAXIMUMS
a. In all 15 minute heats there will be a 10 wave maximum.
b. In all minimum 20 minute heats and finals, there will be a 15 wave maximum.
c. An attempt may be made to inform the competitor at the completion of his ten or fifteen waves, however it is the competitors responsibility to know his wave count.
d. Any competitor who remains in the water after his tenth wave in the preliminaries or fifteenth wave in the final will be penalized for interference if:
i. The competitor rides any extra waves. Each wave counts as an interference. See interference penalty page 19 7.a.
ii. The competitor interferes with any other competitor by paddling, positioning or some other reason.
8. BOARD REQUIREMENTS
a. Shortboard length will be confined to a maximum length of 7’6” measured from nose to tail on the deck of the surfboard.
b. Bobyboard length must not exceed 45” measured from nose to tail on the deck of the bodyboard. Fins are not permitted. Bodyboard construction materials are limited to soft beaded polypropelene top and core. Surlyn bottom skin and carbon or wood stringers are permitted. Fiberglass of any sort is not allowed.
c. Longboard length will be defined as a minimum 9 feet or a minimum of 3 feet more than the possessing surfers height measured from the nose to tail on the deck of the surfboard.
d. Traditional longboard Malibu shape to be used with use of multiple fins and channels allowed.
INTERFERENCE RULES AND PENALTIES
1. BASIC RULE
a. The surfer deemed to have the inside position for a wave has unconditional right of way for the entire duration of that ride. Interference will be called if during that ride a majority of judges feel that a fellow competitor has hindered the scoring potential of that surfer deemed to have right of way for the wave.
b. Anyone who stands up in front of a surfer with right of way has the chance to ride or kick out of the wave immediately without being called interference, unless they hinder the scoring potential of the surfer with right of way by any means. These include excessive hassling, breaking down a section.
c. A surfer who remains in the water after their maximum number of waves or at the end of their heat will be penalized for interference if: 1. A surfer rides any extra waves that obviously deprive another surfer of a ride. 2. A surfer interferes with any other surfer by paddling, positioning or some other reason
2. RIGHT OF WAY IN SIX/FOUR MAN HEATS
a. Wave possession or right of way will vary slightly under the following categories as determined by the nature of the contest venue. Basically it is the responsibility of the judge to determine which surfer has the inside position based on whether the wave is a superior right or left, but never on which surfer is first to their feet (exception Rule F.2. d.i. with two peaks). If at the initial point of take off neither the right or left can be deemed superior, then the right of way will go to the first surfer that makes a definite turn in their chosen direction as determined by the Head Judge.
b. Point Break-When there is only one available direction on any given wave, the surfer on the inside shall have unconditional right of way for the entire duration of that wave.
c. One Peak Situation (reef or beach)-If there is a single well defined peak with both a left and a right available at the initial point of takeoff and neither the right or left can be deemed superior, then right of way will go to the first surfer who makes a definite turn in his chosen direction (by making an obvious right or left turn). A second surfer may go in the opposite direction on the same wave without incurring a penalty, providing they do not interfere with the first surfer who has established right of way (ie they may not cross the path of the first surfer in order to gain the opposite side of the peak unless they do so without possibly hindering, in the majority of judges opinion, the inside surfer).
d. Multiple Peak Situation-With multiple, random peaks. In these conditions, wave possession may vary slightly according to the nature of an individual wave:
i. With Two Peaks: there will be cases where one swell will have two separate, defined peaks far apart that eventually meet at some point. Although two surfers may each have inside position on those respective peaks, the surfer who is first to his feet shall be deemed to have wave possession and the second surfer must give way by cutting back or kicking out before hindering the right of way surfer.
ii. If two surfers stand at the same time on two separate peaks that eventually meet, then:
a. If they both give way by cutting back or kicking out, so that neither is hindered, there will be no penalty.
b. If they collide or hinder one another, the judges will penalize the surfer who has been the aggressor at the point of hindrance.
c. If neither surfer gives way, by cutting back or kicking out, and both share responsibility for the confrontation, then a double interference will be called. Both surfers will score a zero for that wave and each of their second scoring waves are halved.
3. RIGHT OF WAY CRITERIA
a. The choice of right-of-way criteria for each of the above possible situations is the responsibility of the SBSSA Head Judge.
4. SNAKING
a. The surfer who is farthest inside at the initial point of takeoff and has established wave possession is entitled to that wave for the duration of his ride, even though another surfer may subsequently take-off behind them. The judges will not penalize the surfer because they have right-of-way even though he is in front.
b. If the second surfer has not hindered the original surfer with right of-way, then the judges may choose not to penalize him and will score both surfers rides.
c. If in the opinion of the judges, the second surfer has interfered with (snaked) the original surfer with right-of-way, by causing them to pull out or lose the wave, then interference may be called on the second surfer, even though they were behind the first when the penalty was called.
5. PADDLING INTERFERENCE
a. In six/four man heats another surfer paddling for the same wave should not excessively hinder a surfer who has inside position. Paddling interference may be called if:
i. The offending surfer makes contact with or forces the inside surfer to change his line while paddling to catch the wave causing possible loss of scoring potential.
ii. The offending surfer obviously causes a section to break down in front of the inside surfer which would not normally have done so and by causing loss of scoring potential.
iii. When a surfer is put in a position while paddling out that he cannot get out of the way and a collision happens due to this, it is up to a majority of the judges to call interference based on whether it is felt to be accidental or not.
6. UP AFTER/SURFING DURING NEXT HEAT
a. Any surfer who stands up after his heat is over (see rule E. Competition rules 2. c.& d.), is considered surfing during the next heat in progress and an interference penalty and a $15.00 per wave fine will be imposed. There is an approximate 10 second grace period after the heat ends before the penalty is imposed. An interference plus a $15.00 per wave fine will apply. If a surfer has less than the required minimum scoring rides, then his second scoring wave will be halved. Only the Head Judge may call the up after. There is no up after penalty after the final heat of the day. If a surfer re-enters the contest area after his heat is over intentionally to interfere with the heat in progress, he/she will be suspended from the event and could face suspension from future NSSA events.
7. INTERFERENCE PENALTY
a. If a majority of judges call interference, then that wave will count in the final tally as a zero score. This applies to a riding interference or a paddling interference, where the surfer catches that particular wave. For a straight paddling interference a loss of that scoring ride applies to the interfering surfer who causes the surfer to not catch the wave. Under top two wave tally, the interfering surfer will be penalized with a loss of 50% of his second best scoring ride. If a surfer incurs another interference penalty during the same heat his best wave score will be halved also. A majority of judges must call the interference to be considered an interference (three of a five judge panel or two of a three judge panel). Interference will be shown as a triangle on each judges score card (the triangle placed around his score if caused by riding, above his score if he rides a wave but causes interference while paddling for that wave ridden or between scores if caused by paddling for that ride) with an arrow drawn to the riders score who was interfered on. In the case of a tie where one surfer has an interference marked against them any count back will result in them winning as they already had one wave deducted. If this surfer incurs another interference penalty during the same heat his best wave score will be halved also. If the interfering surfer has only one other wave then that wave is halved. Ie he counts his interfering wave as a zero and halves the other wave.
b. Head Judge may be included and in this case an interference would be determined on a majority of the judges sheets.
c. The rider who is interfered with, will be allowed an additional wave, beyond his ten wave maximum in the prelims or fifteen wave maximum in finals, within the prescribed time limit. Exception to this is a double interference where neither surfer gets an extra wave.
d. When any surfer incurs two or more interference penalties, they must immediately leave the competition area. Failure to do so will result in possible suspension or expulsion from the SBSSA.
South Bay Scholastic Surfing Association
Code of Conduct
All athletes, coaches, parents, officials and others directly or indirectly involved with any and all SBSSA events are required to adhere to the following Code of Conduct guidelines.
1. Understand and respect all League Rules and decisions.
2. Be respectful and courteous to fellow surfers, opponents, coaches, spectators, judges, league officials, administrators, etc... at all times – in and out of the water.
3. Refrain from the use of foul, abusive, or profanity laced language.
4. Avoid confrontation – maintain perspective. This is amateur high school surfing. Any physical violence or activity that may provoke an altercation is a violation of the Code of Conduct.
5. Respect the beach, ocean, other beach-goers, neighbors, surrounding area and environment. Leave the beach cleaner than you found it every time.
6. Abstain from the use of illegal and or non-prescribed prescription drugs.
Any behavior that is deemed to be disruptive and contrary to the above outlined code of conduct may be grounds for immediate dismissal from any SBSSA event and potentially any and all future SBSSA events. Additionally, the SBSSA operates in conjunction with all School rules, as well as all City, State and Federal laws and each and every SBSSA athlete, coach, parent, official or other, directly or indirectly involved, is subject to these rules / laws, along with any punishment, fine, or imprisonment as set forward by each respective governing body.
In the event of an action or actions that require disciplinary measures related to the eligibility of an athlete that is not dealt with at the School level (or above), a committee consisting of 5 members of the SBSSA will be formed. This committee will be comprised of the 2 coaches involved, 2 judges and the League Director. The decision on the eligibility - any suspension, expulsion or other discipline of the athlete, made by this 5 member committee will be final.
Signature Date
Printed Name Representing School
