The INNOVATIVE APPARATUS SPORTS TOURNAMENT is one of Azul Fest’s most innovative proposals, created to highlight the discipline, precision, and technical control of participants on non-conventional apparatuses. This tournament is designed to assess the skills required to perform figures and movements with impeccable technique, safety, and specific mastery of the chosen apparatus.

In the Innovative Apparatus Sports Tournament, athletes have the opportunity to demonstrate their technical mastery on apparatuses such as Cube, Spiral, Umbrella, Rope, Net, Straps, Chains and other innovative apparatuses that, due to their unique characteristics, require specific technical adaptations. The evaluation prioritizes the correct execution of figures, inversions, grips, sequences, transitions, and mandatory movements corresponding to each apparatus, together with body control, stability, physical endurance, and fluidity of movement. Each apparatus has its own technical requirements, which are considered within the evaluation criteria established for each competitive level.

Our goal is to provide a competitive environment where participants can demonstrate their technical and physical development, with precision, control, and clean execution serving as fundamental pillars. Technical difficulty is an essential aspect of the evaluation, but it must always be performed within safe and appropriate limits for each competitive level, while respecting the specific characteristics of each apparatus.

These regulations are specific to the discipline of Innovative Apparatus. The regulations corresponding to other apparatuses, such as Aerial Silks, Aerial Hammock, Aerial Hoop, and Trapeze, are developed independently and include specific technical criteria according to the particular characteristics of each discipline.

It is determined by “Calendar Age”, meaning that it will depend on the participants’ year of birth and is calculated as follows:

REMEMBER:

A participant may register for as many routines as they wish, provided they belong to different tournament types, different styles, or different apparatus.

For example, María registered for the Solo Cube category in both the Sports Tournament and the Artistic Tournament.

Routine duration will be determined by the type of tournament in which the participant registers and by their level. The level is explained later in the rulebook, according to the required and prohibited exercises. The routine includes both floor work and work on the apparatus.

The following are the Minimum and Maximum Routine times:

VERY IMPORTANT:

Failure to comply with the required time limit may result in disqualification.

Please cooperate, keep your time well.

In all cases the timing of the routine will begin with the 1st choreographic movement or musical note and will end in the same way.

The Innovative Apparatus Sports Tournament prioritizes technical precision, the correct execution of mandatory movements, and personal improvement within a competitive environment. Since each apparatus has its own unique characteristics, the evaluation considers the specific technical requirements of each one while maintaining a unified judging system across all apparatuses.

The pillars of this category are:

Technique and Execution

The quality, precision, and cleanliness of execution in the mandatory figures and movements constitute the central evaluation criterion. Compliance with the technical requirements established for each level and for the chosen apparatus is taken into consideration.

Difficulty Appropriate to the Level

Routines must demonstrate a level of difficulty appropriate to the corresponding category (Amateur or Professional). Technical complexity must always be accompanied by control, stability, and safety throughout the entire performance.

Apparatus Mastery

The participant’s ability to adapt to the specific characteristics of the apparatus is evaluated, demonstrating body control and the correct use of supports, grips, inversions, transitions, and the specific movements required for each apparatus.

Fluidity and Continuity

The routine must be performed with continuity, connecting figures and movements naturally while maintaining an appropriate level of energy from the beginning to the end of the performance.

Compliance with Safety Regulations

All routines must strictly comply with the established safety regulations to ensure the participants’ well-being and preserve the proper development of the competition.

Objetividad en la Evaluación

Scores are assigned based on objective, pre-established technical criteria, ensuring equal conditions for all competitors, regardless of the apparatus used.

The choreography, as indicated in section 1, must be registered according to the type of tournament, Sports or Artistic, and according to the described levels, respecting the required movements detailed below:

ESSENTIAL NOTE:

The use of a Safety Mattress is Mandatory for all choreographies.

In the INNOVATIVE APPARATUS SPORTS TOURNAMENT, technical skills take precedence over the other qualities of the performance during the execution of the mandatory movements. Nevertheless, each routine is expected to incorporate an appropriate level of artistic development, demonstrating musicality, stage presence, and effective use of space.

We recommend paying special attention to the “SPORTS TOURNAMENT EVALUATION” section, where you will find all the criteria that will be considered by the judges and that should be taken into account when designing your routine, in addition to complying with the mandatory movements corresponding to the chosen level and apparatus.

In it Sports Tournament, In addition to highlighting your technical skills through the required figures, it's essential that you don't lose sight of the artistic development of your choreography. The fusion of technical and artistic aspects is what transforms a routine into a visually and emotionally impactful experience.

Artistic development includes elements such as connection with the audience, fluidity of movement, musical interpretation, and the ability to convey emotion through your performance. These aspects not only elevate the visual quality of your routine but also allow you to stand out from other performances by adding a unique and memorable touch.

Although the required exercises and technique predominate in the evaluation, the jury also evaluates creativity, the cohesion of the narrative in your choreography, and the connection you manage to establish with the aerial element. Therefore, remember that the balance between the technical and the artistic will be key to standing out.

For those choreographies eligible to participate in the World Cup, it is suggested that they modify their choreography based on the judges' feedback during the Qualifying Tournament. However, they may choose to change their costumes, routine, and music if they wish. Qualifiers cannot change the element or category they initially entered.

Participants in Duo or Trio choreographies that have qualified for the final stage can be replaced, but new choreographies CANNOT be added without having gone through a qualifying stage.

The teacher is responsible for the entry and exit of his students on stage, and for reviewing the manner of exit and entry.

He is legally responsible for each of his students and himself, and must sign a participation agreement before the event and present the documentation, including photocopies of the under-18 age categories, with the authorization of the parents.

The teacher must have read and understood these regulations, which are addressed only to teachers who handle and use aerial acrobatics techniques with their students, understanding that they may be re-categorized depending on whether or not their presentation has the corresponding technique, and they may never dispute the jury's decision.

Disqualifications: The athlete or school in question will be immediately disqualified in cases of unsportsmanlike conduct or disrespect towards other athletes, jury members or any other person present at the event, at the discretion of the organization or the jury, as well as in cases of attitudes that incite violence, crime or illegal consumption on or off the stage at the discretion of the organization or the jury, attitudes with a high sexual content or that violate the morals and privacy of people at the discretion of the organization or the jury.

Athletes waive any legal action against The Organization, its members, members of the jury, The Theater or Establishment, its staff and related parties for any loss, damage, injury or harm that may arise from their participation in the competition or that is related to participation in the competition, including transportation to and from the venue where the competition is held.

The attached registration form contains the fee for the presentation of the choreographies.

IMPORTANT: For categories with two or fewer participants, the local representative may decide to combine age categories. This decision will be communicated after registration closes and before the event. Example: if there is only one participant in “Solo Cube Amateur Children B” and two participants in “Solo Cube Amateur Youth A,” they may be grouped together as “Solo Cube Amateur Children/Youth.”

We are now available to answer any questions you may have.

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