QUALIFICATION RULES FOR BREAKING AT THE 2018 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

The rules for Stage I have been archived.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Rules for Stage II Continental Qualifiers

Competition Phases 1, 2 and 3

Phase 1 – Preselection (Showcase Rounds)

Each breaker must go through a Preselection showcase, during which he or she will break for one round in a showcase. The top breakers in the showcase will be selected by the five judges and will move on to Phase 2. Depending on the number of participants in the Phase 1 showcase, the expectation is that the top 32 males and top 16 females would move on to Phase 2. The breakers will be seeded for Phase 2 based on their performance in the Preselection showcase, with a ranking established by the judges after the Preselection showcase

Phase 2 – Preliminary Rounds (Round Robin)

The top breakers selected by the judges during the Preselection showcase will battle against one another under a Round Robin format during the Preliminary Rounds. In the Round Robin, each breaker will battle three times. Each of the Round Robin battles will consist of two rounds, so every breaker will have the opportunity to battle for six rounds during the Round Robin phase (i.e. three battles x two rounds per battle). Each round will be judged by five judges against six criteria using the Trivium Value System summarized in Section 3 below. In each of the Round Robin battles, the breaker with the lower seeding after the Preselection showcase shall start off the battle in Phase 2, followed by the breaker with the higher seeding. The cumulative number of rounds won and cumulative votes received will be used in calculating the placement of each breaker in Phase 2, with the top four breakers moving on to Phase 3, the Knock-out Rounds. If there are ties among the top four breakers in Phase 2, then additional tie-break rounds may be contested to determine the top four breakers in the Round Robin, who will move on to Phase 3.

Phase 3 – Knock-Out Rounds

Following the Round Robin, the top four breakers from Phase 2 will move on to the Knock-Out phase, during which they will battle in the semi-finals, as well as battling for 3rd place and for 1st place. Each battle in the Knock-out phase will involve four rounds, and the battles will be split in half with 90-second pause. In the first half of the battle, which involves two rounds, one breaker will start breaking first – in the second half of the battle, which again involves two rounds, the other breaker will start breaking first. The breaker with the lower ranking after the Preliminary Rounds in Phase 2 will start off the battle in Phase 3. Each round will be judged by the five judges under six criteria using the Trivium Value System summarized in Section 3 below. If there is a tie after four rounds, then an additional round will take place.

Ranking of Breakers from the Continental Qualifiers

All rounds won, as well as the votes received from each judge in each round, will be tabulated to derive a ranking for each breaker in each Continental Qualifiers. The top 20 b-boys and the top 10 b-girls from each of the three Continental Qualifiers will qualify for Stage III, the 2018 WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships in Tokyo (Japan) during May 2018, subject to a limit of three b-boys and 2 b-girls per nation. The WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships will serve as the formal qualifying event for the 2018 YOG. Rankings will also be calculated from the Continental Qualifiers for the positions that follow the top 20 b-boys and 10 b-girls in each Continental Qualifier, thus establishing a list of alternates, just in case some of the top 20 b-boys and 10 b-girls from each Continental Qualifier decline their qualification for the 2018 WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships. For the avoidance of doubt, the top 20 b-boys and 10 b-girls from each Continental Qualifier will be eligible for the WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships, even if certain NOCs have indicated that they may not be interested in including breakers in their NOC delegation for the 2018 YOG. In the event of a tie or ties at a Continental Qualifier for the final spot for the 2018 WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships, i.e. 20th place for the b-boys and 10th place of the b-girls, tie-break rounds may be contested at the Continental Qualifier.

Important Note Regarding Youth Olympic Games Delegation Caps

Breaking has only recently been added to the official sports program of the Youth Olympic Games. Not all of the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will therefore be able to support breaking in time for 2018, given that there are 32 different sports featured in Buenos Aires – with well over 100 medal events between them – and that the size of a delegation is capped at maximum 75 athletes per NOC for individual sports. Consequently, it could happen that a breaker qualifies for the YOG, but that, at the end of the YOG qualifying process for all sports (between April and June 2018), the NOC for that breaker's country decides not to include any breakers in the 2018 YOG delegation. For the avoidance of doubt, the top 20 b-boys and 10 b-girls from each Continental Qualifier will be eligible for the 2018 WDSF World Youth Breaking Championships, even if certain NOCs have indicated that they may not be interested in including breakers in their NOC delegation for the 2018 YOG.

Contingency Plans for Continental Qualifiers

Please note – What happens if...

• If a breaker cannot enter the Preliminary Phase (Phase 2) right before the Preliminary Phase commences, then the next breaker in the rankings from the Preselection showcase (Phase 1) will replace him or her.
• If a breaker cannot finish the Preliminary Phase or is disqualified, then his or her opponent automatically wins all of the rounds in which the breaker cannot complete, and receives credit for all five votes from the judges in those rounds, and the battle is over.
• If a breaker cannot enter the first battle of the Knock-Out Phase (for any reason), then the breaker will be replaced by the next breaker in the rankings based upon the results from the Preliminary Phase (Phase 2).
• If a breaker cannot finish a battle in the Knock-Out Phase (Phase 3) or is disqualified, then his or her opponent automatically wins all of the rounds in which the breaker cannot compete, and receives credit for all five votes from the judges in those rounds, and the battle is over.
• If there are difficulties with the DJ / music (e.g. needle skipping, record broken) and if the Head Judge does not react, the judges must continue the judging process. In the case of larger issues with the DJ or music, the round may need to be repeated. In the case that the incident occurs again, the Head Judge may elect to replace the DJ.
• If a judge is not functioning satisfactorily according to the judging standards in the view of the Head Judge, then the Head Judge may discuss the matter with the judge in question. If the behaviour is repeated, the judge may be replaced by majority vote of the remaining judges, with the Head Judge breaking any ties.
• If there are technical difficulties with the computer-based and8 Judging System, there will be a paper-based contingency system in place to maintain the statistics and track results. The judges will need to make a decision by showing flags (red / blue) for the winner after each round of each battle.
• The judging panel will vote on any disqualifications during Phases 1, 2 or 3.
• If a physical altercation takes place during a battle and both breakers are disqualified, or if one breaker is disqualified and the other breaker cannot continue because of an injury caused by his opponent, then:
  • During the Preselection (Phase I): The disqualified breaker or breakers (if both are disqualified) will be eliminated, with no chance to move to Phase 2. An injured breaker who has not been disqualified will be given the chance to repeat his or her showcase round.
  • During the Preliminary Phase (Phase 2): Any breaker who is disqualified will lose his or her rounds in the battle in question, as well as all votes for that battle. An injured breaker who has not been disqualified will win the rounds for the battle in question and will receive credit for all votes for that battle. The judge’s panel will decide by majority vote whether or not any disqualified breakers may continue with further battles in Phase 2.
  • During the Knock-Out Phase (Phase 3): Any breaker who is disqualified will lose his or her rounds in the battle in question, as well as all votes for that battle. An injured breaker who has not been disqualified will win the rounds in the battle and will receive credit for all votes in that battle. The judges’ panel will decide whether or not any disqualified breakers may continue with further battles in Phase 3. If any breakers are disqualified during Phase 3, the WDSF may decide that they will not qualify for Stage III, replacing them with the next breakers in the rankings from Phase 2.

Important: In cases in which questions arise, the five judges will make final decisions by majority vote.

Judging & Criteria

The main work of a judge lies in evaluating the contesting performers by comparing their skills. The two opposing performances of one round in a battle create the equation. Each judge analyzes the different performances by using the criteria of the Trivium Value System to create an assessment.

The Trivium Value System is based upon balancing cross-faders into positions that represent the different weight of quality between the performers. The judges must make use of any cross-fader to create the best possible representation of their interpretation of the observed skill. The judges must submit their vote after each round of a battle.

The Trivium Value System has 6 cross-faders. Each one represents a criterion. All criteria interlink and influence one another.

The body: Physical Quality

• Technique 20.0% value fader
• Variety 13.333% value fader

The soul: Interpretative Quality

• Performativity 20.0% value fader
• Variety 13.333% value fader

The mind: Artistic Quality:

• Creativity 20.0% value fader
• Personality 13.333% value fader

Judges also look at form, execution, confidence, spontaneity, repeat, bite, crash, slip, fault, wipe out or misbehaviour -- these values are also considered as part of the Trivium Value System.

For more detailed information on the Trivium Value System and the complete rules governing breaking at the YOG, please review the publication "Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games - Rules and Regulations Manual - Breaking".
It will be available in time for the 2018 WDSF Youth Breaking Championships.

The International Olympic Committee’s publication "Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games - Qualification System - Breaking" governs the selection of the breakers who will advance from Stage II to III