Date: Aug 23, 2021
Version 8.0 of the WSSA Rule Book has been posted and will take effect on September 1, 2021. The biggest change is in the rules around starting and stopping the timer due to the worldwide usage of the G5 Timer in sanctioned competitions starting September 1. Here is a summary of the changes that stackers and coaches should be aware of:
- The G5 timer must be attached to the mat with both buttons and in the correct orientation.
- Stackers cannot use a single hand to activate more than 2 pads on the timer.
- Stackers must start the timer with fingers on the top pads, right thumb on the right thumb pad, and left thumb on the left thumb pad.
- Stackers must stop the timer with both hands.
- Stackers can touch cups when starting and stopping the timer, but they cannot hold cups.
- The G5 timer and mat must be used at all WSSA sanctioned competitions, but older versions of the timer and mat can be used in Online and Recreational tournaments.
- Stackers in the standard divisions must use 4-pad mode at all WSSA sanctioned competitions.
- Stackers in the Special Stacker divisions will use 2-pad mode at all WSSA sanctioned competitions (unless an individual chooses to stack in 4-pad mode).
- Side judges are no longer needed for individual and doubles finals.
- Judges are no longer required to say the stacker's name, division, and event to the camera in order for a potential record to be verified. They may do so if they like, but it is not needed to identify the stacker.
Records Reset
The current WSSA records database will be frozen on September 1, 2021. These records will remain accessible on the WSSA website and will not change. WSSA Online Best Times will not be affected since any generation timer may still be used in online tournaments.
A new records database will be started, providing LOTS of opportunities to set new State, National and World records! Because of the low volume of sanctioned tournaments happening around the world, the WSSA will begin video verifying the following types of potential records from the beginning starting September 1, 2021:
- Overall World Records
- Divisional World Records
- Overall National Records
If the number of tournaments for this season increases more quickly than anticipated, the WSSA may scale this back and prioritize differently. But for now, these types of records will get verified following the close of a sanctioned tournament.
Divisional National Records will be reviewed at a later time. As new potential divisional national records come in from sanctioned tournaments, they will still populate the records pages. As faster times come in they will replace the slower times as the new records. Since they will not be video verified in the beginning, these times will show a mark next to them that indicates they are only verified by a judge and not by official WSSA video review.
-The WSSA Rules Committee