Rules & Regulations

Please note the following teaching / judging rule change effective January 1, 2017:

• Judges who conduct teaching or coaching classes, seminars, or any other forms of tuition e.g. by skype (excepting only Championship Step, Scottish National Dance Premiership steps or medal test seminars for their examining body or for judges and/or members of examining bodies) may not adjudicate any competitor who has attended any of these classes for a period of three months after the last class, workshop or any other form of tuition that competitor has attended.

• Dancers should be aware that the responsibility is on them not to dance in front of the Judge who conducted the class.

A New Scrutineering Points System effective January 1, 2017:

At the meeting of the SOBHD held on Saturday 19th November 2016, a change was agreed with regards to the Rule VIII – Scrutineering. Effective from 1st January 2017, all scrutineering points will change to the following:

• 1st place 137 points

• 2nd place 91 points

• 3rd place 71 points

• 4th place 53 points

• 5th place 37 points

• 6th place 23 points

The only change to the scrutineering system is to the value given to placings i.e. 137, 91, 71, 53, 37 and 23 replace 88, 56, 38, 25, 16 and 10 respectively. The scrutineering methodology remains unchanged.

ScotDance Canada important qualifying rule change for the Canadian Championship:

• Notice for Organizers

• Notice for Dancers

Please note the following category rule changes effective January 1, 2016:

BEGINNERS

• As of 1 January 2016 any dancer registering in Beginners for the first time can stay in Beginners for 12 MONTHS from the date of their 1st stamp or once they achieve a "stamp" (1st, 2nd, 3rd placing) in 6 separate Beginner competitions whichever is later. Beginners stamp for Highland only. A dancer always has the option to move to Novice, Intermediate or Premier earlier than the 12 months or 6 stamps.

• Beginner dancers renewing their registration AND have part of their 6 months (from the date of their 1st Beginner stamp) remaining — i.e. Beginner dancers registered on or AFTER 2 July, 2015 - can continue for 1 year from the date of their first stamp. For example: If a dancer's 1st stamp is 10 August 2015 their last day of Beginners is 9 August 2016. Provided the dancer has at least 6 stamps they must compete in Novice competitions on or after 10 August 2016.

• Beginner dancers renewing their registration whose 6 months from the date of their 1st Beginner stamp has expired - i.e. Beginner dancers registered on or BEFORE 1 July 2015 - and have less than 6 stamps may continue in Beginners until all 6 stamps are achieved.

NOVICE

• As of 1 January 2016 any dancer registering in Novice for the first time can stay in Novice for 12 MONTHS from the date of their 1st stamp or once they achieve a "stamp" (1st, 2nd, 3rd placing) in 6 separate Novice competitions whichever is later. A dancer always has the option to move to Intermediate or Premier earlier than the 12 months or 6 stamps.

• Novice dancers renewing their registration AND have part of their 6 months (from the date of their 1st Beginner stamp) remaining — i.e. Novice dancers registered on or AFTER 2 July 2015 - can continue for 1 year from the date of their first stamp. For example: If a dancer's 1st Novice stamp is 15 September 2015 the last day of Novice is 14 September 2016. Provided the dancer has at least 6 stamps they must compete in Intermediate competitions on or after 15 September 2016.

• Novice dancers renewing their registration whose 6 months from the date of their 1st Novice stamp has expired - i.e. Novice dancers registered on or BEFORE 1 July 2015 - and have less than 6 stamps may continue in Novice until all 6 stamps are achieved.

INTERMEDIATE

• As of 1 January 2016 any dancer registering in Intermediate for the first time can stay in Intermediate for 12 MONTHS from the date of their 1st stamp or achieve a "stamp" (1st, 2nd or 3rd placing) in 6 separate Intermediate competitions whichever is later. A dancer always has the option to move to Premier earlier than the 12 months or 6 stamps.

• For Intermediate dancers renewing their registration, their start date is recorded on the back of their card and their year commences from that date.

• The process of issuing Intermediate cards will change. Dancers changing status from Novice to Intermediate must now present their Intermediate card at their 1st Intermediate competition. Competition Organizers will no longer need to issue Temporary cards to dancers at their 1st Intermediate competition.