posted Feb 16th, 2014 - The delegates of the countries that are organized in the International Parachuting Commission (IPC) of the International Air Sports Federation (FAI) met once again on February 1st for their annual meeting, this time in Vienna, Austria.

That's the time when the rules of Formation Skydiving competition get their latest tweaks if necessary. The IPC has a committee of experts in Formation Skydiving competition who collect information and feedback year by year and turn it into adjustments of the rules.

The world of rules has been quiet and peaceful for many years in the traditional Formation Skydiving competition events, as dive pool and the general outline of the rules have been working very well. Only smaller adjustments have been made in the recent years, and another one is coming out of this year's meeting.

Rd. 10 Aerodyne French Girls	Rd. 10 Golden Knights

The tie-breaking procedures were under scrutiny last year when more very close finishes ocurred at 4way meets than ever before. The most relevant one happened at the World Cup 2013 in Banja Luka.

The Sun Path Products reported the dramatic battle between Golden Knights and Aerodyne French Girls in 4way Women comprehensivley. The French national team won the gold medals after a jumpoff round and the following tie-breaking procedure.

The story on 14 November 2013 followed up with an article that Blue Skies Mag published under the TURNING POINTS column. "Sudden Death" evaluated the current tie-breaking rules and suggested better solutions.
Click on the score for a round with a link to see the teams' videos

World Cup 2013		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Rd. 11	T.
Rank	4way Women	O,4,H,3	9,17,P	L,1,G,12	7,10,21	16,E,A,15	8,2,B	18,5,Q	F,14,K,N	M,C,D,13	20,J,19	22,J,19	T.
1	Aerodyne French Girls	21	27	16(-2)	18	20(-1)	17	17(-2)	23	24(-1)	20	17	220
2	Golden Knights	22	25	17(-2)	17	19(-1)	18	21	20(-3)	24(-1)	20	17	220

The current rules have used previous rounds of a competition to find a way to determine the winner, after a jumpoff round that would not break the tie. The IPC committee for Formation Skydiving competition has now suggested and defined a new tie-breaking procedure for the "determination of the final placings" in "Objective of the Events" (3.2) in Vienna.

There will still be a jumpoff round if two or more teams are tied in a medal position after all completed rounds. The following three levels of tie-breaking rules (highest score for a single round - highest score between the teams in reverse order - fastest time in the last common round) have been simplified, and only the fastest time in the last common round counts from here on:

3.2.2.1.2 For determination of the final placings: i. One tie break round, if possible (for the first three placings only). The tie break round will be the next drawn round of the competition. ii. The fastest time (measured to hundredths of a second) to the last common scoring formation in the last completed round after the jumpoff.

This is not the final version yet, and the confusing wording "after the jumpoff" may still be removed from the new rule. The new tie-breaker is supposed to provide the final word when the competition is over, and no more jump planes get in the air - whether the last round was a jumpoff or the last round of a shorter competition.

The difference to the previous tie-breaker is the goal to have the better team at the end of the competition win. The highest score of the meet could be scored in Round 1 and might be several days old, and the same counts for the highscore in reverse order. The faster completion of the last common scoring point in working time is a more realistic way to determine the winner at the end of the competition.

The new rule definition would have brought a different winner at the World Cup 2013. The Golden Knights completed the Chinese T of Block 22 a little earlier than the French Girls in the jumpoff round. But that's history, and new jumpoffs and tie-breakers will hopefully come again this year...