RULES FOR ADJUDICATORS

 
 

ADJUDICATORS RESTRICTIONS

  1. An adjudicator must excuse him or herself from any adjudicating or judging panel over any individual or group of individual heats when a member of his or her Immediate Family, or any member of the same household is a participant – either as a professional, amateur or student in such events of a competition.  "Immediate family" includes spouses, ex-spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws and first cousins.
     
  2. A professional competitor who wishes to judge professional events must, prior to the event, provide a written statement to the USNATA detailing:
    • that he or she is ending his or her professional competitive career, and therefore ceasing to take part in Professional Competitions;
    • the date upon which his or her retirement will be effective; 
    • and that he or she understands and agrees that he or she will not come out of retirement without written notice to the USNATA of such re-engagement as a Professional Competitor One Hundred Twenty (120) days prior to such re-engagement.
  3. Professional competitors who retire from competing may not judge professional events for which they are qualified to judge, for One Hundred Twenty (120) days following the date of their last professional event.
     
  4. Only Professionals who have passed examinations overseen by the USNATA or its affiliated associations and are current USNATA members will be considered eligible to apply for an USNATA Adjudicator's License. Professionals who have or are seeking residence in this country, and who have been qualified by affiliated associations, may be granted a USNATA temporary license pending their examination and qualification by an USNATA affiliated association in the type, style, or branch in which they wish to judge. Such temporary license shall be limited to one year and be based on the recommendation of the USNATA Adjudication Department. Where such special license is granted, the professional shall still be required to take an USNATA Adjudicator's Examination as part of a application for a permanent USNATA Adjudicator's License.
     
  5. Adjudicators must be Qualified and Certified on the level of the competition they are engaged to judge. Adjudicators who hold an "Associate" degree or higher may judge all categories except Championships, which shall be judged by Full Member or Fellows only. All Adjudicators must hold an USNATA Adjudicator's License, either permanent or temporary.
     
  6. Active Professional competitors may also hold Adjudicators licenses but, until their retirement from professional competition, may only judge Amatuer and ProAm categories under the restrictions and guidelines detailed above.  They may not judge Professional Events until they have retired from competitive dancing, and have given such notice as detailed above.
     
  7. Adjudicators who are also active Pro/Am Professional competitors may judge Pro/Am events but should recuse themselves from those heats or sessions where they have an active Pro/Am student partner dancing, as detailed above.
     
  8. Adjudicators, chairperson of adjudicators and all other officials of a USNATA sanctioned events are prohibited from giving live press, media or social media commentary during the entire period of any sanctioned event at which they have been engaged as adjudicators or officials.  All press inquiries should be directed to the event’s organizers or the USNATA.
     
  9. Officials (including but not limited to Adjudicators, Scrutineers, Registrars, Music Directors and Organizers) of a USNATA sanctioned competitive are prohibited from giving private coaching lessons, on or off the premises, to any professional, amateur, ProAm student or couple participating in that event throughout the entire period of time commencing at 12:00 a.m. on the day of the first competitive session and concluding with the end of the last session. This does not apply to Lectures, Workshops or Seminars scheduled by the organizer and open to any interested parties.
     
  10. If officials and competitors mutually consent to discuss markings and results after the conclusion of the event, they should do so in a civil, ethical, and professional manner. Any breaches of professional conduct should be immediately reported to the USNATA and may result in investigations and penalties for unacceptable behavior.
     
  11. Adjudicators and other officials are prohibited from using electronic or other video transmitting or recording devices or cell phones while adjudicating.
 
 
 

ADJUDICATORS CONDUCT

 
 
  1. Adjudicators shall position themselves appropriately apart from each other, although they may shift positions as necessary so as to view all couples on the floor during a particular heat.  They should stand apart or be seated at such locations so that they do not speak with each other during their judging sessions or interfere with the competition.  They should not take, share or compare notes or opinions about the participants and endeavor to judge as independently and ethically as possible.
     
  2. Adjudicators should remain aware that if they engage in conversation with any spectators, participants or coaches during the event, they may not discuss any participants’ performances until after the conclusion of the entire event. Violations of this may result in disciplinary action.
     
  3. Adjudicators are required to remain on the floor until the end of the music of a particular heat.
     
  4. Adjudicators shall mark and sign their score cards as applicable to the system in use.
     
  5. All professionals engaged to judge, adjudicate or serve in any other capacity shall, upon their arrival at the venue:

    a) Report / check in to the Organizer;
    b) Ascertain the schedule of the competitions and his or her schedule within the event, and
    c) Be available as scheduled.
     
  6. Alcohol or other intoxicating substances will not be tolerated during judging sessions and adjudicators shall conduct themselves with the utmost of professional decorum throughout the event.
 
 
 

CHAIRMAN OF ADJUDICATORS

 
 

The Chairperson of Adjudicators shall be responsible for:

  1. Determining the number of couples to be recalled.

    a) The Chairperson must ask for at least 50% of the number of couples to be recalled in each round. However, if the number of couples that are actually recalled by the adjudicators would require an additional round, then the Chairperson is allowed to recall less than 50% of the couples. If the Chairperson asks for a 50% recall for a second round and the actual number is more than 50%, the Chairperson may still call for a 50% recall of his original desired number of couples in the third round, etc.

    b) At no time will the maximum number of couples allowed in any final or final round will be greater than eight.

    c) For all professional competitions, and for all “championship amateur” competitions, if there are eight or more couples pre-registered to compete then a semi-final round must be scheduled. Likewise, if there are fifteen or more couples pre-registered then a quarter-final round must be scheduled. It is further recommended that the same policy be adopted (but not be made mandatory) for all Pro/Am Championship events.

    d) The Chairperson should consult with the competition organizer whenever there is a question in regards to the number of couples to be recalled.

    e) The Chairperson should determine when a semi-final should be split into two heats, taking into account the size of the floor, the number of couples in the semi-final, and the style being danced. This should be done in consultation with the competition organizer. When the semi-final is split all couples must dance concurrently for a minimum of 40 seconds prior to any heat being split.  The competition organizer may have planned such divisions in considerations of session timing, but these should be confirmed by the Chairperson.

    f) When the adjudicators are instructed to select a given number of couples to dance in a final, only that number shall dance, except in the case of a tie.

    g) For competitions in the Exhibition & Formation categories: 1. When there are more than eight couples or teams entered in a particular event, the competition may be held as a final round, with the adjudicators being asked to rank all entries in order of merit. 2. When there are more than fourteen couples or teams entered in a particular event, the competition may be held as a preliminary round, with less than 50% of the couples or teams being recalled from the qualifying round for the final.
     
  2. At no time will the maximum number of couples allowed in any final or final round will be greater than eight.
     
  3. The Chairperson should be observance of the established timetable for the competition, or alterations to the established timetable if required.
     
  4. Instructing and reminding adjudicators of evaluation standards and the scoring system in use.
     
  5. Correct interpretation of marks by inspecting marks after each heat and confirming that they have been correctly transcribed.
     
  6. Referring any score card requiring correction to the adjudicator concerned.
     
  7. the Chairperson's decision shall be final in all matters related to the conduct of the competition(s), questions on adjudicators marking, and changes in program scheduling.  Changes in program scheduling should be made in consultation with the event organizer.
     
  8. The Chairperson will be solely responsible for excusing an adjudicator from officiating due to illness, extraordinary circumstances or when the Chairperson feels that the sound judgment of the adjudicator may be impaired.
     
  9. In the event of an unresolved dispute regarding eligibility of a competitor to compete in a particular level of age category the Chairperson shall refer the dispute to the USNATA Membership Department for resolution, to be dealt with after the conclusion of the event.