What Are the rules for Competing in Washington State?
Washington dance/drill teams follow NFHS rules outlined in the NFHS Spirit Rules Publication as well as the rules outlined in the WIAA "Bound for State" regulations.
What Is a Sanctioned Competition?
Non school-sponsored competitions are not sanctioned by the WIAA. The definition of "School-Sponsored" is included in the Bound for State Regs 1.2.1, available on the WIAA website. Entry fees for school-sponsored competitions need to be processed through school ASB accounts.
Digital Audio Feedback
Coaches will receive all judges' comments on digital audio files. Cassette tapes will no longer be used. Coaches will need to bring a flash drive to competitions in order to receive audio feedback from judges. The flash drive must be labeled with the team name. One (1) GB of memory should be more than sufficient. Please delete files from flash drives after each event to make room for more files.
FOR COMPETITION DIRECTORS: Judges are using Olympus WS 311m (and other similar Olympus recorders). No software is required to transfer files on a computer, but it works best on a PC rather than a Mac because the files are automatically saved in .wma format. Competition Directors will need to provide a PC laptop or other computer at their competition for file transfer (separate from the tabulator's computer). Close proximity to the competition area is important.
Competition Etiquette
- Submit registrations no later than the deadline established by the competition host. Early submissions are always appreciated!
- Make sure registration fee arrives in a timely manner. If it cannot be sent with the registration form, be sure to follow up with school personnel to confirm that it is being mailed.
- Do not cancel unless there is a dire emergency. This includes cancelling just one category. Cancellations impact every single team invovled in the competition by changing practice times, performance order, and awards. Cancellations also impact judging; sometimes judging changes must be made at the last minute, which should be avoided. Many coaches often feel their team is not "ready" for an event or that they have too many illnesses/injuries, students on academic probation, etc. These are problems that many teams face and should not lead to cancellations. (Exception: if your school district forbids you to travel because of adverse weather conditions, always follow your school district's decision.)
- If you do cancel, you probably will not get your registration fee back because many competition expenses are paid in advance of the event.
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