WCA regulations, version 2005, final draft

[Ron]

Fellow cubers,

Thanks for all the great feedback on the draft version of the WCA regulations, version 2005!
We tried to use all your remarks and additions.

Please check out the final draft version at:
http://www.speedcubing.com/events/regulations_draft2005.html

On the bottom of the page you can find a list of changes (* means latest changes).

You are all very welcome to send in your comments, additions and other suggestions. For your feedback please use this forum.
If you want to see text or regulations changed, then please post a new text proposal.

We want to finalize this version on September 5, 2 months before WC 2005. So don't wait too long with your feedback.

Thanks,

Ron van Bruchem

[StefanPochmann]

Article 3: Puzzles
The tiles of my Megaminx are thicker than Rubik's Deluxe tiles. Are they still ok? And the tiles of my Magic are even thicker .

Article 5: Puzzle Defects
What if a defect happens *while* stopping the timer? For example, if someone (I won't say names but we know at least two ) lets his 5x5 fall down not only onto the mat, but off the table and off the competition platform, and it pops or even breaks there? Suggestion: if no attempt is made to fix a puzzle defect and continue the solve then it can be declared as such at any time, even after stopping the timer.

Article A: Speed Solving, Ending the Solve
You added that the competitor may manipulate the puzzle after the judge has inspected it but it's not in the list of changes. Also, I'd still like to let the judge clearly release the puzzle in order to prevent situations where the competitor picks up the puzzle because he only *thought* the judge has inspected it. Suggestion: Say "The competitor may pick up his puzzle only after the judge has inspected the puzzle and written down the result of the solve on a tournament sheet and the competitor has checked it."

Article F: Rubik's Clock Solving
I'm happy the standing clock rule has been added, thanks. I also noticed Article 4 (Scrambling) has been changed (not mentioned in the list of changes!) to say the start pin positions shall be random, now only Jaap's program needs to be updated. I'd suggest to mention in Article F that the judges need to be careful to not change the pins, particularly they need to be fully pressed (either direction).

[StefanPochmann]

What if a defect happens *while* stopping the timer? [...] Suggestion: if no attempt is made to fix a puzzle defect and continue the solve then it can be declared as such at any time, even after stopping the timer.

Ok ok, so it was probably me who caused this change by asking whether I can declare a Magic solve as puzzle defect after stopping the timer because of a broken string. That should still not be allowed if the puzzle is otherwise solved and only the broken string looks bad. However if I smash it down (almost necessary with this puzzle and the tough competition) and break the puzzle (so that it's not at all solved) while stopping the timer...

No, ok. Leave it as it is right now, I fear other regulations would be too complicated, and we should just be more careful when stopping the timer.

[Masayuki]

Hi,

Thanks for your making the regulations clearer.
I wish you could define solved or not solved status for big cubes.
It is clear for 3x3x3.
But not clear for other cubes.

Suppose each slice of 5x5x5 turning 15 degree in CW.
The angle between first and last slices becomes 60 degree.
I would accept this situation as solved.

In case just one middle slice shows more than 45 degree from the other adjuscent slice, I wouldn't accept it as solved.

How should we do for Megaminx?


Masayuki

[Masayuki]

Hi,

This is minor.
A Japanese cubist asked me about shoes.
"Are Sandals allowed?"

I answered probably yes.
I was not sure Sandals may or may not be included.

Since Florida is always hot, there are no reason to disqualfy because of wearing Sandals as long as the venue allows them.

But I recommended for him to wear shoes in stead of Sandals, in case you don't like Sandals.

Masayuki

[ChrisSzlatenyi]

Hi,

The regulations look pretty good. There are a few minor issues I have though. In Article 2, I don't think the paragraph about dress is necessary as it is unrelated to cubing. Also "Shirt and shoes are always required" is in contradiction to Article D where "the competitor may only use his bare feet"

On the subject of cubing with feet, I assume I can inspect the cube with my hands during preinspection. There is no rule against it but I figure I should ask since in is not explicitly stated. Also, can this "surface" that the cube touches be any surface of my choosing? Any size/area restrictions?

The use of the word "may" throughout the regulations I found somewhat ambiguous. Sometimes it is used as a synonym for "must" (e.g. "Tiles may not be thicker than standard Rubik's Game Cube") and sometimes it is used according to its other definition: "To be allowed or permitted to" (e.g. "Competitors may borrow puzzles from other competitors") It's a triviality but its misinterpretation could have major consequences.

thanks for reading,
-Chris

[Ron]

Hi fellow cubers,

Thanks again for your feedback!
Please check whether we changed your suggestions correctly.

We changed 'tournament' to 'competition' today, because tournament has an annotation of head-to-head, which we do not do for cubing.

@Stefan:
The rules for Clock scrambling were not changed. Jaap's program does not give complete random pin positions, but they can be different.

I also had a pop during Euro 2004 when I stopped the timer for 4x4x4. That is life.

We do not think that the judge handing over the puzzle after the solve is a good idea. We expect too many rule violations. But we may change that in the future.

@Masayuki:
We hope you like the new pictures of the 5x5x5.
We changed shoes to foot-wear.

@Chris:
We think the text about dress and behaviour is very necessary, and we are looking at extending it widely in the future. We may just copy the IAAF or FIFA regulations on this. At the moment we have a very nice community, with positive people. But we must protect ourselves.

It already says: "During the preinspection and solve the competitor may only use his bare feet and the surface." So preinspection is included.

Please give us the examples of incorrect/ambiguous use of may/must.
We see three variations:
1) must: what must be done
2) may: what can be done
3) may not: what must not be done
Should we change 'may not' to 'must not'?

Again thanks for the feedback!

Ron

[StefanPochmann]

@Stefan:
The rules for Clock scrambling were not changed.

Oh, ok. I thought so because they say "random pin positions at the end" of scrambling and I've never seen this in competitions yet.

We do not think that the judge handing over the puzzle after the solve is a good idea. We expect too many rule violations. But we may change that in the future.

I think the current rule is often violated, too. If I remember correctly, I was surprised to see Chris Hardwick (who even made those demo videos about the procedure) at least once pick up his cube almost right after stopping the timer (on the Horace Mann DVD).

I don't say it must lead to disqualification if you pick up your puzzle too early. It'll be under the discretion of the judge anyway. But since you have to wait for the judge to write down the result and verify it anyway, why not let the puzzle rest on the table until then? I just think it's good behaviour and we should encourage it by requesting it.

[Ron]

Fellow cubers,

We needed to change one additional thing in the regulations to prevent cheating in larger competitions:
"
Competitors have to solve the same scrambles per round. At the main judge's discretion, scrambling algorithms in a given solve of preliminary rounds may be randomly chosen from a pool of scrambles, for example to prevent cheating in larger competitions.
"

Please let us know your feedback before 9PM GMT on Monday September 5.

Thanks,

Ron

[ChrisSzlatenyi]

Hi Ron,
the more I read the text about dress, the more I understand its necessity but it is still unclear. I interpret the second sentence as "Competititors are given permission to dress in one of the following: jeans, pants, etc." The reason I make a big deal about it is because I must be barefoot for a few minutes before my solving with feet attempt (mainly to avoid excessive sweating that shoes cause). Of course I would love to be barefoot the whole time but will wear flip flops if necessary. I don't want to cause any trouble and certainly not undermine our very nice community. It is just that I would hate to find myself disqualified for such a silly reason. On a somewhat unrelated topic I invite you to browse through http://www.barefooters.org

Also, I just noticed Article D says see article A which states the timer must be started and stopped with hands. I would recommend adding a sentence to article D stating that the timer must be started and stopped with the competitor's feet and not his hands.

As for the ambiguity of "may", I would consult someone with experience writing legal documents because honestly I am not sure what is correct.

thanks again,
-Chris

[Ron]

Fellow cubers,

OK, so it is 2 months before WC2005 today.
The WCA regulations are content complete now.
We will only accept textual improvements and corrections.

Thank you all for your feedback!

Looking forward to more feedback in december 2005, when we will make the 2006 version. In that version we are looking at some bigger changes, like no POP's allowed anymore. You can start now by sending in your suggestions.

Thanks,

Ron