Rule Book Changes

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October 10th, 2022

Show Presentation Rule UPDATED:

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Only ONE BACKDROP piece may be on stage (8x10), enhancing the presentation. This will be measured backstage. If more than the required limit a 2-point penalty will be charged. ANY OTHER ITEMS (PROPS) ON STAGE (LIMIT 2) MUST BE USED DURING THE SHOW PRESENTATION or the contestant will be penalized as too many props (2-point penalty).

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Only one person is allowed backstage (coach/ parent) and you must stay off stage unless helping in set up. You MAY NOT be a human prop/ helper unless you are an accompanist such as a piano player, guitarist, etc.

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Items such as a piano, stairs to dance on, drum sets, etc. are not considered props or background since they are used. Judges must agree upon penalties for props that are too heavy or if there are too many props. 

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*NOTE: When entering a contest - When entering events for a DMA contest, if a contestant for example is at an Intermediate level in fancy by trophy count regardless of organization and wants to enter title you must enter Intermediate Title. A contestant cannot enter Beginner Title, Beginner Solo, and Intermediate Fancy. 

 

August 30th, 2021

Rule Change: Effective immediately.

 

You will compete at Nationals the age you are on JULY 1 of the current year instead of July 15.

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Rule Change: September 1st, 2021

Interview Suit will now be called BUSINESS ATTIRE.  You may choose an outfit appropriate for an interview. IT MUST BE ONE SOLID COLOR AND MAY NOT HAVE ANY "BLING" (rhinestones, beading, etc.). It may be a dress, pantsuit, or suit of your choosing. You may choose shoes appropriate for your chosen outfit. You may wear your hair in any style that you feel is becoming to you and your outfit. We are trying to let the outfit express the personality of the contestant. Modeling format and the onstage questions will remain the same. We will however have collective judging following the last contestant.  EFFECTIVE SEPT. 1, 2021.

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May 30th, 2020

Rule Change:  Effective July 1, 2020

 

Page 1  Memberships:

As of July 1, 2020 ALL memberships will be due on September 1st of each twirling year. 

**NOTE: Memberships that HAVE been PAID will need to be renewed by September 1st, 2021 all others will need to be paid between July 1st and no later than September 1st, 2020.

  

 

Rule amendment for 2020-21 Page 5

Rule 7 Age divisions and eligibility

E.  Due to COVID-19, anyone who turns 24 in 2020-2021 will still be able to enter Fall Classic, Mini Nationals and Nationals  2020-2021

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DMA All Star Champion Titles:

 

 

These titles will be as follows:

All Star Classic Champion/Elite

All Star Mini National Champion/Elite

All Star National Champion/Elite

 

Age divisions: Juv (0-10) Jr (11-14) Sr (15-23) Elite Juv (10-12 ) Jr (13-15) Sr (16-23) You may be female or male

 

 

The requirements to enter the title events are as follows:

1 Baton solo routine 2:20-2:30

2 Baton routine 1:00-2:00

3 Batons or more 1:00-2:00

However, you may just enter any of the events and not do the title.

 

Each event is given an equal amount of conversion points (6 point spread between places)

All 3 event converted scores will be added to determine the winner.

In the event of a tie, solo will break the tie.

 

Winner will receive:

Scholarship, crown, banner (silky banner for Mini’s and Nationals), plaque and flowers.

 

Local level-only awards are offered

Regional and State may only offer flowers, banner and plaque

 

Awards will be as follows:

Solo 1st-5th neck medallion

2 Baton 1st -5th neck medallions

3 batons or more 1st-5th neck medallions

Title 1st-5th plaque

 

The Title events will only be offered at all local, Regional, State, Fall Classic, Mini Nationals and Nationals.

 

You may continue to enter this event regardless of the number of times you may win it. Once you win an All Star title 2 times at either Mini Nationals or Nationals or combination of the 2, you must compete at the All Star Elite level.

 

 

 

August 2018 - Photo and Video Review:

 

When at any DMA contest you are to ONLY take photos and videos of YOUR Child when they are on the contest floor. Groups are allowed ONE person to video their group(s) when they are on the floor.  If you take other photos such as photos in the hallways or in the areas where contestants are preparing, please be courteous to ask permission (especially if image is of teammates, friends, other contestants, etc.)  – and if your plan is to post on any social media outlet, please ask if it okay for you to post before you do so. This ruling is to protect all contestants and to provide a safe environment for them.
 
Also, when a contest such as Fall Classic, Mini Nationals, and Nationals have a provided photographer they are there to capture up close and wonderful action shots when contestants are on the floor. Many times, they travel long distances to attend these contests and are working for you and your business. In the last few years, we have been lucky to have such great and professional photographers at these contests. And we hope you agree that there have been some beautiful and wonderful images caught at these contests. Please support them.
 
*Many times, after these contests there have been images shared on social media from the photographer’s website and their purchase page. These images have copywritten watermarks on them. You may not be aware that this a copyright symbol and could result in legal issues. Ask permission always and please give credit where credit is due (on watermarked images and purchased images).
 
DMA ask that you help with this at future contest and remember these rules and suggestions are to protect you and your twirler.
 
 
Thank you
 
- DMA

 

**Effective Jan.1, 2016 Show Presentations

Show presentations may not use ANY gymnastics equipment or any equipment or apparatus that resembles gymnastics equipment. This includes: monkey bars, swings or any type of playground equipment.The contestant MAY NOT hang, dangle, be suspended from or attached to any equipment.This rule is being instituted for the safety of our contestants.

 

Please Note: RULE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT MANY CONTEST AND BY CONTACTING DMA HEADQUARTERS, DIANE SORVILLO, OR BONNIE KUPP

 

 

***Teachers and Parent information for 2014: DMA will no longer be mailing individual entry forms. For contest dates and info see website.

 

Video Rule 2014:IMPORTANT DMA NOTICE:DMA has waived its rule concerning videos and photography. You may video or take photographs of your child and ONLY your child. It MUST be done from the stands/bleachers. You are NOT permitted to stand behind/or near the judges tables or anywhere on the gym floor. NO flash or lights of any type are allowed. If you are caught taking pictures or videos of someone else's child YOUR child may be disqualified. As always ONLY one (1) person is permitted to video your teams/corps. They MUST be in the video section provided.

 

DMA has set a 2-3 minute limit on speeches for Nationals.  All speeches
for 0-6 through Elite13-15 should not be any longer.  Sr. Queen is 
allowed 5-7 minutes and Majorette Queen 8-10 minutes.  
All Queens 0-6, 7-8, 9-10 and Elite 10-12 MUST have their speech 
recorded.  Ages 11-12, 13-14 and Elite 13-15 may record their speech if 
they wish or memorize their speech.  Sr. Queen and Majorette Queen 
may present speech or a video.  
 

• CRITERIA for INTERVIEW SUIT MODELING

 

• INTERVIEW MODELING FORMAT

• ** NEW Events for DMA!

 

• New TITLE information:  ADULT TITLE (click to learn more)

(Info is for ADULT TITLE ONLY)
SCORE SHEET        2/3 BATON CONTENT
**Adult title: You must be a DMA member and must have competed in at least 1 
local, state or regional contest prior to entering Fall Classic, Mini Nationals or 
Summer Nationals.  This contest must be in the year just prior to the National 
contest you wish to enter.

• SPECIAL NOTE: RULE BOOK CHANGE!

The following rule has been amended as of October 1, 2010
Rule # 24 Responsibilities of National Title Holders (page 15)       
A. Person’s who have won DMA’s National title of Senior Majorette 
Queen or Majorette Queen of America assumes a moral obligation to 
Drum Majorettes of America. She is to act as a representative of the 
organization and its membership. She should refrain from participation in 
activities of any other sanctioned organization during her reign. 
Advanced ages 0-6 through Elite 13-15 are exempt and may compete in 
other activities.
B. No change in this part

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE: RULE BOOK CHANGE!ADDENDUM TO RULE #28 SELECTIONS OFGRAND CHAMPION, INTERMEDIATE HIGH POINT, BEGINNERHIGH POINT OR TITLES Page 17 Effective October 1, 2010

Click here to see information.

 

New score sheets for Pom/Dance lines will be in effect beginning January 1, 2002. New score sheets for DMA Halftime will also be in effect beginning January 1, 2002. Please note: required 16 High Marching Steps has been added to the score sheet. Failure to do so will result in a two (2) point penalty. March steps can be done as 4 at a time, 8 at a time, or 16 steps at one time. (High march steps are considered as if you were performing basic strut.) Judges - DMA Halftime Judges are to mark the march steps on score sheets in the appropriate boxes under march steps. Judges are to place a plus mark (+) if the contestant performs the march step and a check mark if the contestant does not perform the march step. Judges are to leave the box blank if they are unsure if the steps were completed. A TWO (2) POINT PENALTY DEDUCTION WILL BE MADE FOR NOT USING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.

 

Judges Attire Judges are to wear a red, white, or blue blazer when judging Fall Classic, Mini-Nationals, or Summer Nationals.Corps All corps will be judged from above floor level. Show Routines (Talents) The time limit for show rountines (talent) has been changed to 1:30 - 2:30 minutes. This is effective as of January 1, 2002. National Winners Due to the length of the Award Ceremonies, it is necessary to limit the length of speeches given by the outgoing National Title Winners. The time will be limited to 2 to 3 minutes for National Title Winners in any groups 4-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and Elite 10-12 and 13-15. Speeches may be memorized or on a cassette (recorded). Majorette Queen of America and Senior Majorette Queen speeches will be limited to 5 to 7 minutes. AS OF 7-18-2012 THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED!!