FROM: Travis Williams (Head ESA-Ga judge)


Eastern Surfing Association Rules of Competition
Effective Date 4/01

I. EVENTS (Easterns®, Regional, and District Events)

A. Age division events (determined as date of birth as of Jan. 1 of the current competition season (PROOF OF AGE REQUIRED)

Menehune (boys & girls under 13 years of age)
Boys (13-14 years of age)
Junior Men (15-17 years of age)
Men (18-24 years of age)
Masters (25-34 years of age)
Senior Men (35-44 years of age)
Grandmasters (45-54 years of age)
Legends (55 and older)
Girls (17 years and younger)
Junior Women (18-29 years of age)
Women (30 years and older)
Menehune Long board (14 years and under M/F)
Junior Long board (15-17 years of age)
Men's Long board (18-29 years of age)
Masters Long board (20-39 years of age)
Senior Long board (40 years and older)
Women Long board (all ages)
Menehune Body board (14 years and under M/F)
Junior Body board (15-17 years of age)
Men's Body board (18-29 years of age)
Senior Body board (30 years and older)
Women Body board (all ages)
Kneeboard (all ages)
Open Short board (all ages, male and female)

SPECIALTY
4 Person short board Tag team

EASTERN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS, ELIGIBILITY

B. All ages are determined as of January 1st of the year of the ESC. Every contestant must have
competed in their respective ESA Designated Regional Championship event in order to be eligible
to try to gain a slot for the ESC. You may not surf more than one division for each of the following:
Long board, Short board, Body board. Exceptions - Tag Team, Open

C. Any contestant arriving late for their heat may compete in the remainder of their heat, if there is an opening. If a contestant misses their 1st round heat, their name will be placed at the bottom of the alternate list. There will be no refunds of entry fees for missed heats. An alternate list will be kept by the Contest Director and shall include the competitor's name, division and rating. Alternates must have qualified and competed in their respective ESA regional championship and are individuals who were available, but did not receive a slot in their division at the slot meeting. Their refundable entry fee must be paid in full for their name to be placed on the alternate list. Beach entries are not permissible. Alternates should be ranked largest region to smallest, as well as, regional ranking on an individual basis.

ESA Competition Rules will be made available to all ESA Districts for circulation to their members.

II. EQUIPMENT (All boards are measured from end to end, using a straight edge)

A. In short board age division events, surfboards will not exceed 2 ft. longer than the competitor's height, except LEGENDS, which has no limit as to equipment used.

B. Long boards must be a minimum of 9 ft. in length, in Junior, Men, Master, Women,
and Senior divisions. Menehune division will be 3 ft. overhead.

C. Body boards shall not exceed 5 ft. in length.

D. Paddle boards are limited to surfboards only with a maximum length of 10 ft.

E. Additional equipment, such as leashes and helmets may be used.

F. Kneeboards are a maximum of 6 ft. in length and must be consistent with standard
acceptable equipment normally used.

III. JUDGING AND SCORING

A. The subjective judging system will be used (0-10 points using .1 integrals) and there will
be an active judging panel of one head judge and five scoring judges.
B. When judging standup surfing, a ride will begin to be scored when a surfer's hands leave the rails of their surfboard. When judging knee boarding, judges will take into account that both knees must be on the board for the ride to qualify. When judging body boarding, there is no limitation as to body position on the board and the ride will be scored after the head judge designates the body boarder has caught the wave and executed a maneuver.

C. The judging criteria shall be:

THE CONTESTANT WHO EXECUTES THE (1) MOST RADICAL
MANEUVERS GENERATING POWER AND SPEED IN A
FUNCTIONAL MANNER (2) IN THE MOST CRITICAL
SECTIONS (3) OF THE BIGGEST AND/OR BEST WAVE (4) FOR THE
LONGEST FUNCTIONAL DISTANCE WILL RECEIVE THE
HIGHEST SCORE.

The individual judge's scores should be consistent with one another. If a judge is consistently inconsistent, he/she may be replaced. Please refer to ESA Judges Handbook for detailed policy, instructions and guidelines for judging.

D. The HEAD JUDGE shall be responsible for:

o. Determining which riders and rides are to be scored
o. Determining wave possession
o. Maintaining an accurate wave count
o. Notifying judges of missed rides
o. Assisting judges in making accurate scores for the missed rides.
" The Head Judge cannot call interference or a paddling interference for a panel as a unit but can do so on his own wave count sheet. The Head Judge can call for the panel:

A/ up after the commencement of the next heat penalty
B/ removal of jersey penalty

All missed rides should be indicated by the letter "M" in the appropriate box to be averaged by the head judge according to the individual's scoring scale (interpolation). This should be done at
or before the end of the heat, as time allows. Judges, who are consistently missing rides, may be replaced.

E. For all heats except finals, the best 3 waves of a 10-wave limit will count toward the results. In the finals, the best 4 waves of a 12-wave limit will be counted toward the results. Upon receipt of the completed judges sheets at the end of each heat, the tabulators will immediately check to see if:

1. All judges' sheets have been turned in.
2. The correct number of waves has been scored on
each sheet.
3. Identify interference or other penalty calls, if any.

If a ride has been missed, an attempt will be made to identify the missing rides by referring to the other judge's sheets. If the ride is identified to the satisfaction of the head judge, a score will be given the missed ride by: AVERAGING THE MISSED WAVE ACCORDING TO THE SCORING LEVEL THAT THE JUDGE IN QUESTION USES (INTERPOLATION).
Upon completion of these formalities, the judge's sheets may be totaled. The scoring waves shall be circled, totaled, and interference penalties deducted. The total shall be placed in the total column. The heat places are then calculated and entered on the judge's sheet. The competitor with the highest score will receive one point, the second highest will receive two points and so on. If a judge ties two or more competitors, the points awarded to each of the tied competitors will be the average of the affected placing points added together. EXAMPLE: If 2nd, 3rd and 4th are tied, add 2, 3, and 4 together and divide by 3 = 3 points for each tied competitor.

PLEASE NOTE: The head judge, along with a majority will determine the "official" wave count.

When no further calculations are required on the judge's sheets, the results are transcribed on the tally sheet, which is completed in the following manner:
1. The competitor's names are entered.
2. The judge's names or identification numbers are entered.
3. Places are copied in a row next to each judge.
4. The high and low scores are crossed out for
each competitor.
5. Total the places that remain and enter.
6. The competitor who receives the lowest point
total in the final point column places 1st and so on.

If, at this point, a tie situation occurs, the tabulator will proceed to break the tie as follows:

1. Compare the relative position of the tied competitor's
on the tabulator sheet using the plus/minus system.
If not broken, then see #2.

2. Tabulate the two (three for finals) highest waves on
the TIED judge's sheet ONLY.

3. Tabulate the highest wave (two for finals), and so on.

4. Go to the fourth, fifth, etc. until all waves are exhausted.

If the tie is not broken by these methods, go back to #2 and repeat for ALL judge's sheets.
Go to #3, #4, etc.

In the case of three or more athletes tied, repeat this procedure with the goal of deriving one individual who will be the highest placing tied athlete. Once this individual has therefore been eliminated from the procedure, repeat the formulae for the remaining athletes until a clear order of finish for the heat is obtained. If the tie is still not broken by these methods, there will be a ten-minute surf off (top 3 waves) if one or more of the competitors could advance.

F. JUDGES MAJORITY OVERRIDE: If a heat's final point totals would result in the elimination of a competitor favored by the majority of the judges in the heat, that competitor will advance in place of the competitor favored by the minority of the judges, regardless of point totals. The tabulator will indicate this situation by placing a circled M next to the point total column of the advancing competitor. NOTE: The competitor with the "largest" number of advancing scores from judges will advance over a surfer with "less" of a majority. For Example: If Surfer A has 3 judges advancing him but surfer B has 4 judges advancing then
Surfer B will advance over Surfer A.

G. Competitors may check the results for errors for each heat up to thirty minutes after those results are made public. This applies to all heats, including finals. If an error is found, the contest director should be notified to have the error corrected. Unless there is an unresolved protest, all results become final after the thirty-minute time period.

IV. WAVE POSSESSION AND INTERFERENCE

It is the intent of this rule to encourage all competitors to strive toward situations where there is only one competitor at a time in the wave shoulder. The judges will strictly enforce this rule. Competitors are hereby alerted to the severity of the penalty and the strictness with which it will be enforced.

A. WAVE POSSESSION - A competitor may gain wave possession in one of the
following ways.

1. By catching a wave and completing a maneuver (turn in chosen
direction) before the face of the wave reaches another competitor.

2. If two or more competitors are paddling in the face of the same
wave, in the same shoulder, the competitor closest to the curl
has possession upon catching the wave and completing a
maneuver.

3. Two competitors may go in opposite directions on the same peak,
providing they don't cross paths or hinder one another.

4. If two competitors, at opposite ends of the contest area, catch the
same wave and ride toward each other, both gain wave possession.
If they eventually meet, the competitor who gained wave possession
first on their respective peak shall have the right of way.

B. INTERFERENCE - A competitor may be called for interference for any of the following
reasons.

1. For catching the same wave in the shoulder as the competitor who
gains wave possession in RULE A 1.

2. For occupying any part of the wave that could simultaneously or eventually
be reached by any possible maneuver of the competitor who gains wave
possession as per RULE A2. For breaking down the wave on the
competitor with wave possession or infringing on the possible length of
the ride of the competitor with wave possession.

3. In the case of RULES A3 and A4, both competitors may be called for
interference if no right of way has been established in the opinion of the
judges. Interference must be called on one or both competitors for cross
overs or collisions. If one competitor is clearly the aggressor in forcing
the cross over or collision, in the opinion of the judges, only he/she will
be penalized. All cross overs are discouraged in competitions.

4. THE HEAD JUDGE, along with the other judges, may rule interference
on any competitor for:

a. Blatantly paddling for a wave in a manner so as to intimidate
or hassle a competitor who is in position to gain wave possession.

b. Grabbing or touching any part of another competitor or their
equipment in a manner that impairs their ability to surf.

c. Paddling out in such a manner as to interfere with the ride of
the competitor with wave possession, whether intentional or not.

d. Board caddying is not allowed. This includes losing your board
and having someone retrieve it for you for the specific reason of
helping you in your heat. Saving boards from damage is allowed
so long as the board isn't paddled, handed, carried or pushed to
the competitor.

C. PENALTIES

1. If a judge thinks an interference has taken place, the judge shall triangle the
ride of the offending competitor and draw an arrow to the ride of the competitor
who was interfered with. In the case of a paddling interference, the triangle
shall be placed on the line between the appropriate rides for the offending
competitor and filled with P. I. (no ride/no score) and the arrow still drawn.
P.I. will receive a 2.5 deduction from their total score.

2. If any four of six judges, including the head judge, or 3 of 5 scoring judges
rule interference, the tabulators shall give the offending competitor a score
of zero for the ride on each of the judge's sheets and that score will count as
one of the rides tabulated for the offending competitor. It is the responsibility
of each competitor to keep track of his or her wave count. Officials, judges, and
other administrators are discouraged from assisting competitors, coaches,
friends, or any others in keeping track of individual's wave counts.

V. HEAT PREPARATION AND STRUCTURE

A. All contestants must report to the ready area 15 minutes prior to the start of their
heat to be checked in and receive their instructions. When possible, the competition
area will be defined by the use of flags, barriers, points, piers, jetty's and/or buoys.
If, in the event a competitor does not check in by the 5-minute warning, they will be
replaced by the next highest ranked alternate. The "late" surfer goes to the bottom
of the alternate list.

B. All heats, except finals, will run 15 minutes. Finals will run 20 minutes except in 10
heat, man on man double elimination configuration where all 10 heats are finals and
all are to be 15 minutes each. Administration's time clock will be deemed the "official
time," regardless. A 'buffer' delay between heats ending and heats starting of no more
than 5 seconds is highly recommended. This helps alleviate the possibility of an 'up after'
penalty.

C. WATER STARTS - All heats will begin with the blast of the horn and/or the raising
of the green flag. The raising of the yellow flag will indicate the five-minute warning.
At the five minute warning, the next heat of competitors may start paddling to the
designated standby area, being careful not to interfere with the heat in progress.
When the horn sounds ending the heat in progress, the standby heat may paddle into
the take off zone, but not catch any waves until the horn sounds starting their heat.
Surfers up before or after the start of their heat or the next heat will be penalized.

BEACH STARTS - All competitors in the "on deck" heat will gather at the waters
edge anytime between the five minute warning for the "heat in progress" (raising of the
yellow flag) and the start of their heat. The "heat in progress" will end with one horn
blast and/or the raising of the red flag. The "on deck" heat will begin with one horn
blast and/or the raising of the green flag,

BUOY START - In the instance of exceptionally large surf or an extremely long or
difficult paddle to the line up, a buoy technique may be employed with the competitors
"on deck" using a marker buoy, located some distance from the line up, instead of the
water's edge for a starting point for their heat. The flag, horn and timing system are
the same used in other types of starts.

All heats require competitors to paddle, ride prone, or on their knees, (WITH NO MANEUVERS), to the beach when the signal is given that their heat has ended. All heats end with one horn blast and/or the raising of the red flag. In the event of danger or a problem, three or more horn blasts will sound and/or the red flag will be raised. All competitors must leave the water immediately under this condition. If a competitor starts a scoreable ride after their heat ends, they must return to the non-scoreable position before the start of the next heat or risk being penalized. All jerseys are to be worn into the beach as they were used going out, and returned in a sportsmanlike manner by all competitors. Any competitor who removes their competition jersey while still in the water is subject to a 2.5 penalty.

Judging schedule will be posted each morning with heat schedule. Failure of any judge to fulfill his/her obligation will lead to immediate dismissal and forfeiture of any payment due. This would include, but not be limited to: tardiness, excessive low percentages, inability to score accurately, failure to consistently call interference calls, discussion outside panel of competitor's scores, interference calls, quality of administration and performance of the event. At a district contest judges represent the members equally as to age and equipment, on a Regional or Championship level they represent the members of the ESA as a whole, not individual districts or regions. Each judge will be required to submit a reference sheet, a letter of recommendation, and sign a contract with the competition director and/or judging coordinator (head judge). It is recommended that judges selected to premier and post season competitions be the highest qualified experienced individuals that can be obtained by utilizing a performance formulae based on previous experience, deportment, and adherence to the ESA judges course, without regard to geographical location. Head Judge Position of the ESA: Acts, when at all possible as Head Judge to all premier and post season events and this position is filled by the Competition Director of the ESA.

D. Any competitor who starts surfing after the flag is presented to start the following heat,
will be penalized 2.5 points on all judge's sheets if a majority of the judges or the head judge individually calls it. Any competitor removing their competition jersey while still in the water shall be subject to a 2.5-point penalty. Each wave surfed in a heat beyond the wave limit will be penalized 2.5 points per infraction on all judge's sheets.

E. Any competitors practicing in the competition area or demonstrating unsportsmanlike
conduct will be disqualified from the event.

F: SPORTSMANSHIP CLAUSE: No official of an event, in any capacity, shall at any time be
Submitted to unsportsmanlike conduct in either word or deed. Any display of poor
Sportsmanship by either a competitor or, in the case of a minor, the competitor's parent,
shall be cause for automatic dismissal from the contest of the competitor. This also
applies to unsportsmanlike conduct directed to another competitor by any ESA competitor

VI. OTHER EVENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS

A. IRON SURFER - To be eligible for the iron surfer award and individual must enter and
compete in a minimum of three individual events. Tag Team does not
count toward the Iron Surfer award. All other results will count toward total points.

C. Regional and individual points will be awarded to all finalists in each division
Point values will be equal to the number of entries in the division. (i.e.
first place in field of 36 would receive 36 points, second place 35 points, and so on).

VII. AWARDS

Trophies will be awarded to first through fourth places in all divisions. Other awards
may be Men and Women Iron Surfer, top judge, and sportsmanship awards.
.

VIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. Complaints and protests by competitors shall be in writing and handed to the ESA
Competition Director/Contest Director before action can be taken. All written protests will
be handled by the ESA Competition Director/Contest Director and/or
:

The HEAD JUDGE AND THEIR DECISION WILL BE FINAL
No heat that involves a competitor whose advancement is under
protest will take place prior to the resolution of the protest.

.

IX. ESA ALL STAR TEAM

A. TEAM SIZE

37 athletes of which 23-26 are the youth competition/travel team
(Menehune, boys, juniors, girls, youth body board divisions, girls body board, youth long board divisions, open short board)

B. TEAM SELECTION

Each June, the districts of the ESA are invited formally (by written notice) to make recommendations to the Allstar team director of potential athletes in their district who might meet the strict tri-fold criteria:

1. STYLE
-How one is perceived, how they carry themselves
-Their involvement in their district, put back to the organization.
-Their prime loyalty to the ESA and its principals

2. ATTITUDE

-An athletes over all persona. His/her beach attitude, his/her reputation in and out
of the water.
-Reception to constructive criticism and willingness to improve and positive
reception to coaching

3. PERFORMANCE

This is the accumulated result of 5 trials. They, and the formulae used to give a
Performance ratio are:

1. Season: Top 4 of their district season: 4 points, Champion bonus: 2 pts
2. Freestyle/AAU National Junior and Scholastic Championships: (youth team and any scholastic aged nominee) 1 point for each round advanced (in any division in which there are more then two preliminary rounds) subject to maximum point accumulation of 6 points. Champion bonus: 2 pts.
3. Regional Championship contests: same as 2. Exception: Maximum point accumulation is 5 points. Champion bonus: 2 pts.
4. United States Championships: Same as 2. Exception: Maximum point accumulation for advancement points is 7 points. Champion bonus: 3 pts. Commitment bonus Entering the event): 2 points
5. Eastern Surfing Championships (ESC® {Mandatory Trial}: Same as 2. Exception: Maximum point accumulation for advancement points is 6 points. Champion bonus: 3 pts.

Once these trials results are calculated, the lowest trial shall be discarded (best 4 of 5 for youth, best 3 of 4 for Open and adult) to give the final performance ratio.

The final team roster shall be comprised of the nominees who have the highest degree of all three criteria and the team for the following calendar year shall be presented during the awards ceremonies at each years ESC® in both divisions (youth/travel team and adult/honorary divisions.

Prior the January 1st of each year, the Allstar director will announce the following positions on the team:
Team Captain, Junior Captain (responsible for all team members on the youth competition team), Female divisions Captain, Body board Captain, Long board Captain

All members of the ESA Allstar team are contracted athletes of the ESA.