... that the "Bust" has been reduced to a 1-point penalty for the 2005 season?
New Block 12: Bundy - Bundyposted Feb 2nd, 2005 -
The NSL News posted a story on December 23, 2004, that explained the topics of the next IPC meeting. This meeting took place in Poland, Europe, and ended on January 30, 2005. The NSL News received an update with all the rule changes and the changes of the current dive pool. The IPC changes take effect officially on May 1, 2005. However, earlier meets, as the SSL's Valentine's Meet 2005 this month at Skydive Arizona and the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2005 at Skydive DeLand in March, will most likely already apply the new set of rules.
The 4-way dive pool has only two changes. It is no surprise that Block 12 (Zipper - Star) disappeared after causing too much judging trouble with its vertical technique and the centerpoint issue. The only question was how the problem would be fixed. There were several different options and proposals, beginning with leaving the block unchanged and adding set turning directions for the pieces to avoid sheering and the vertical technique. Other suggestions offered several old and new blocks replacing Zipper - Star.
New Random Formation M: Star
The IPC Competition Committee for Formation Skydiving decided to pick one of the newly suggested blocks. Bundy - Bundy is the winner of the contest and the new Block 12. The required maneuver has never been in the dive pool before. Similar to Zipper - Star, it still applies a 360-degree turn for the rear piece and a 540-degree turn for the front piece. The turning directions are optional and will allow sheering or cogging of the pieces. This means that a vertical technique will most likely be developed for this new block, as well.
Side affect of the new block is the fact that the Bundy was now taken for the new block. The Bundy used to be Random Formation "M" of last year's dive pool. The committee had to pick a new Random Formation for "M". It voted for the easiest solution. The Zipper and the Star became available, and the committee decided to keep the good old Star alive. The whole history of Formation Skydiving began with the Star. It is good for the tradition of the sport to see this veteran formation continue. "M" is now a "Star".
The small changes of the dive pool came along with a dramatic change of the penalty rules. The most famous "Bust" was reduced to a 1-point penalty, as it has already been applied for the A Class and the Rookie Class of the NSL. In fact, there will only be "good" or "bad" formations or inters in the future. Each infringement will not lead to the deduction of an extra point. The "Omitted Formation" is the only exception. The NSL News will follow up with more detailed information and comments very soon. Following is the exact language of IPC's new penalty rules:
2.10. Scoring formation: is a formation which is correctly completed and clearly presented either as a random formation or within a block sequence as depicted in the dive pool, and which, apart from the first formation after exit, must be preceded by a correctly completed and clearly presented total separation or inter, as appropriate.
2.11. Infringement: is one of the following: 1) An incorrect or incomplete formation which is followed within working time by either - a total separation or, - an inter, whether correct or not. 2) A correctly completed formation preceded by an incorrect inter or incorrect total separation. 3) A formation, inter, or total separation not clearly presented.
2.12. Omission is one of the following: 1) A formation or inter missing from the drawn sequence 2) No clear intent to build the correct formation or inter is seen but another formation or inter is presented and there is an advantage to the team resulting from the substitution.
4.8. Scoring: 4.8.1 A team will score one point for each scoring formation performed in the sequence within the allotted Working Time of each round. Teams may continue scoring by continually repeating the sequence. 4.8.2 For each omission three points will be deducted. 4.8.3 If an infringement in the scoring formation of a block sequence is carried into the inter (ref. 2.8), this will be considered as one infringement only, provided that the intent of the inter requirements for the next formation is clearly presented and no other infringement occurs in the inter. 4.8.4 The minimum score for any round is zero points.
There are additional changes of other rules with a lower impact. The NSL News will also follow up with these minor changes. However, the valued NSL audience can already begin with the discussion of the new rules and the dive pool at the according topic in the Discussion Forum, go to "World News". Any feedback is welcome. Some comments and information are already posted at a previous topic.
