FAI authority
Definitions of words and phrases used in these rules
The event
General rules
Judging
Rules specific to the competition
Definitions of symbols

1. FAI authority

1.1.

The competition will be conducted under the authority granted by the FAI, according to the regulations of the Sporting Code of the FAI, General Section, and Section 5 as approved by the IPC and validated by the FAI, and these rules. All participants accept these rules and the FAI regulations as binding by registering in the competition.

2. Definitions of words and phrases used in these rules

2.1. Formation:

consists of jumpers linked by grips.

2.2. Grip:

consists of a handhold on an arm or leg. As a minimum, a grip requires stationary contact of the hand on an arm or leg, as shown in diagram 7.2.

2.3. Dive pool:

consists of the Random Formations and Block Sequences depicted in the annexes of these rules.

2.4. Sub-group:

is the individual jumper, or linked jumpers, required to complete a designated manoeuvre during the inter of a block sequence.

2.5. A sub-group's centerpoint:

is the defined grip, or the geometric centre of the grips within a subgroup.

2.6. Inter:

is an intermediate requirement within a block sequence which must be performed as depicted in the dive pools.

2.7. Sequence:

is a series of random formations and block sequences which are designated to be performed on a jump.

2.8. Scoring formation:

is one of the following:

• A correctly completed random formation
• A correctly completed first formation in a block sequence
• A correctly completed second formation in a block sequence which has been preceded by a correctly completed inter as depicted in the dive pool.

2.9. Infringement:

is one of the following:

• An incorrect or incomplete formation which is followed within working time by the team displaying evidence to the evaluating judges of proceeding to the next formation or inter in the sequence, whether correct or not;
• A correctly completed formation preceded by an incorrect inter;
• An omitted formation.

2.10. Working Time:

is the period of time during which teams are scored on a jump which starts the first moment any team member separates from the aircraft, as determined by the Judges, and terminates a number of seconds later as specified in chapter 3.1.

3. The event

3.1.

The 16-Way World Cup is comprised of 8 rounds. A minimum of four rounds must be completed to determine a team's placing and declare the winners in the event.

3.2.

16 way event: Exit altitude 4 000 meters / 13 000 feet. Working time is 50 seconds.

3.3. Objective of the event

3.3.1.

The objective of the event is for the team to complete as many scoring formations as possible within the working time, while correctly following the sequence for the round.

3.3.2.

The accumulated total of all rounds completed is used to determine the final placing of teams.

3.4. Performance requirements

3.4.1.

Each round consists of a sequence of formations described in the dive pools of the appropriate annexes, as determined by the draw.

3.4.2.

It is the responsibility of the team to clearly present the correct scoring formations and inters to the videographer and the judges.

3.4.3.

Scoring formations need not be perfectly symmetrical, but they must be performed in a controlled manner. Mirror images of random formations and whole block sequences are permitted.

3.4.4.

In sequences, teams are allowed free transitions between random formations, between block sequences, and between block sequences and random formations.

3.4.5.

Where degrees of turn are shown, (180°, 270°, 360°), this indicates the approximate degrees of turn required to complete the inter as intended.

The sub-group(s) must continue turning in the direction of the arrow until it is possible for the sub-group(s) to link together to complete the next designated scoring formation.

The degrees shown are approximately that amount of the circumference of the sub-group's centerpoint to be presented to the other sub-group(s) centerpoint(s).

3.4.6.

Contact or grips are allowed between sub-groups during the inter.

3.4.7.

Where sub-groups are shown, they must remain intact as a sub-group with only the designated grips from the break of the previous scoring formation in the sequence until the correct completion of the next scoring formation in the sequence. Assisting handholds on other jumpers within a subgroup are not permitted.

4. General rules

4.1.

Gender Equality: Teams may consist of members of either or both sexes.

4.2.

Jump Abortion: The Team Captain may choose to abort a jump for any pertinent reason, and elect to let his/her team land with the aircraft. Once any team member has left the aircraft after the "EXIT" command has been given, the jump shall be evaluated and scored. A team that has elected to land with the aircraft, shall be given a new opportunity to jump as soon as possible. (Ref.: Sporting Code: 5.1.1)

4.3. The draw

4.3.1.

The draw of the sequences will be supervised by the chief Judge and teams will be given not less than two hours knowledge of the results of the draw before the competition starts.

4.3.2.

16-Way Event Draw: All the "Block sequences" (numerically numbered) and the "Random Formations" (alphabetically marked) shown in the appropriate annex will be singularly placed in one container. Individual withdrawal from the container, (without replacement) will determine the sequences to be jumped in each round. Each round will be drawn so as to consist of three or four scoring formations, whichever number is reached first.

4.3.3.

Drawn Overlaps: If two blocks are drawn consecutively where the last formation of the first block is the same as the first formation of the next block, then the common formation will not be performed twice, but these two blocks will be combined. Either block may be mirror imaged before they are combined.

4.3.4.

Use of Dive Pool: Each block or formation will be drawn only once for the scheduled rounds of each competition. In the event that additional rounds are necessary, due to a tie-breaking jump-off, the dive pool for these additional rounds will consist of the blocks and formations which were not drawn for the scheduled rounds. In the event that all of the remaining blocks and formations are drawn without completing the required number of scoring formations for a round, the draw will continue from an entire original dive pool in that event, excluding any blocks or formations which have already been drawn for that round.

4.4. Jump order

4.4.1.

The jump order for the first competition round of each event will be determined by a draw.

4.4.2.

An updated reverse-order-of-jumping shall be implemented after every break in the competition jumps which occurs after a completed round. The order in which tied teams jump will be determined by their original jump order.

4.5. Video transmission and recording

4.5.1.

Each team shall provide the freefall videographer(s) who will provide the video evidence required to judge each round.

4.5.2.

For the purpose of these rules, "freefall video equipment" shall consist of the complete video system(s) used to record the video evidence of the team's freefall performance, including the camera(s), video tape(s), tape recorder(s) and battery(ies). All freefall video equipment will use the PAL video format and must be able to transfer the video output signal to be received by an RCA (male) plug. Freefall videographer(s) must use the video transmission system if provided by the organiser.

4.5.3.

Official training jumps and competition jumps will be judged using freefall video systems, and/or air to ground freefall transmission if provided by the organiser.

4.5.4.

A Video Controller will be appointed by the chief Judge prior to the start of the Judges' Conference. The Video Controller may inspect a team's freefall video equipment to verify that it meets the performance requirements as determined by him/her. Inspections may be made at any time during the competition which do not interfere with a team's performance, as determined by the Event Judge. If any freefall video equipment does not meet the performance requirements as determined by the Video Controller, this equipment will be deemed to be unusable for the competition.

4.5.5.

After recording each jump, the freefall videographer must turn off the freefall video equipment and not operate it or remove the video tape(s). As soon as possible after each jump is completed, the freefall videographer must deliver the freefall video equipment (including the tape(s) used to record that jump) to the chief Judge, or his/her designee. This video evidence will be used to judge the team's performance if air-to-ground video evidence is not used for this purpose.

4.5.6.

A Video Review Panel will be established prior to the start of the official training jumps, consisting of the chief Judge, the President of the Jury, and the chairman, or acting chairman, of the Subcommittee for Formation Skydiving. Decisions rendered by the Video Review Panel shall be final and shall not be subject to protest or review by the Jury.

4.5.7.

If the Video Review Panel determines that the freefall video equipment has been deliberately tampered with, the team will receive no points for all competition rounds involved with this tampering.

4.6. Exit procedures

4.6.1.

There are no limitations on the exit other than those imposed by the chief Pilot for safety reasons.

4.6.2.

The exit will be controlled by radio and commands relayed to the team in the aircraft by the pilot or crew. Exit commands will be:

"RUN-IN" - "EXIT" with an appropriate signal system.

The "RUN-IN" command will be a minimum of 20 seconds before the "EXIT" command.

4.7. Scoring

4.7.1.

A team will score one point for each visually judgeable correctly completed scoring formation performed in the sequence within the allotted Working Time of each round. Teams may continue scoring by continually repeating the sequence.

4.7.2.

Credit will only be given for formations and inters if the video image is visually judgeable.

4.7.3.

One point will be deducted for each infringement occurring within Working Time from the total points awarded in 4.7.1 for that round except in the case of an omitted formation where two points will be deducted for each omission. The minimum score for any round is zero points.

4.8. Rejumps

4.8.1.

Where formations or inters are not visually judgeable due to meteorological conditions, or factors relating to the videographer's equipment, then the video evidence will be considered insufficient for judging purposes, and the Video Review Panel will assess the conditions and circumstances surrounding that occurrence. In this case a rejump will be given unless the Video Review Panel determines that there has been an intentional abuse of the rules by the team, or by the freefall videographer on behalf of the team, in which case no rejump will be granted and the team's score for that jump will be zero.

4.8.2.

Contact, or other means of interference, between a team and its freefall videographer shall not be grounds for the team to request a rejump.

4.8.3.

Adverse weather conditions during a jump are no grounds for protest. However, a rejump may be granted due to adverse weather conditions, at the discretion of the chief Judge.

4.8.4.

Problems with a competitor's equipment shall not be grounds for the team to request a rejump.

4.9. Training jumps

4.9.1.

Each team in each event will be given the option of at least one training jump prior to the first Competition Jump. The aircraft type and configuration, plus the judging and scoring systems to be used in the competition will be used for the official training jump.

4.9.2.

Three sequences to be used during the official training jump will be created by the chief Judge based on proposals submitted by the Team Captains prior to the start of the official training jump.

4.9.3.

Team Captains should advise the chief Judge about which of the three sequences his/her team will perform and only teams performing the sequences prescribed in 4.9.2 will receive an evaluation and posted score. Any team which performs a sequence not prescribed will be considered to have had a jump evaluated and scored, even though no evaluation or score may be given.

5. Judging

5.1.

Three judges must evaluate each team's performance.

5.2.

The Judges may view any available video evidence from the team's freefall videographer(s), and any video viewing method to judge the team's performance. Infringement marks will be assigned to the respective formation, if it has been penalised by a majority of judges observing the jump.

5.3.

If a minority of the judges record an NJ, then the remaining judges' evaluations will be used to score the jump. If the remaining judges' evaluations result in a split decision, then the score is given to the benefit of the team.

5.4.

If the Judges use a score sheet to record their evaluation, they will operate their own chronometer and they will use the following signs:

Correct scoring formation Infringement Formations or inters not visually judgeable Insufficient video evidence End of Working Time

/ 0 NJ NV //

6. Rules specific to the competition

6.1. Title of the Competition:

"The    ^TH World Cup of 16 way Formation Skydiving".

6.2. Aims of the 16 way World Cup:

To determine the World Cup champions of 16 way Formation Skydiving, and:

• To determine the world standings of the competing teams.
• To establish Formation Skydiving world records.
• To promote and develop Formation Skydiving .
• To present a visually attractive image of the competition jumps and standings (scores) for competitors, spectators and media.
• To exchange ideas and strengthen friendly relations between the sport parachutists, judges, and support personnel of all nations.
• To allow participants to share and exchange experience, knowledge and information.
• To improve judging methods and practices.
• Have great skydives !

6.3. Competition Information:

[ Boring administrative stuff except : ]

6.3.6. Composition of delegations:

Each team /delegation may be comprised of:

• One or more 16 way teams consisting of nineteen (19) 16-way team members per team, (any of whom may be the team's Freefall Videographer(s)) to a maximum number of teams as determined by the Organiser and announced in the bulletins;
• Freefall Videographers as necessary
• Supporting delegation members and judges as necessary

6.4.

Determination of World Cup champions: The 16 Way World Cup champions is the team with the highest scores in the completed rounds. If two or more teams have equal scores, the first three places will be decided by jump off rounds, which will continue until separate placings are determined. If it is not possible to complete the jump off rounds, the placings will be decided by the highest number of points for a single round. If there still is a tie, the placings will be decided by the teams fastest first formation on any jump out of the completed rounds.

7. Definitions of symbols

7.1.

Coding in the dive pool annexes is as follows:

7.1.1.

A unique arrow indicates direction of turn by the sub-group

7.1.2.

A double arrow indicates turn by the sub-group in either direction

7.1.3.

An arrow with "ALL" written on indicates turns by all sub-groups

7.1.4.

indicates clarification on intents

7.1.5.

any side-body link-up requires an arm grip and a leg grip on the same person

7.2. Visualisation for grip positions, (Ref.: 2.2):

	Arms
	Legs