One-Answer WCA Competition and Regulations Question Thread

[1973486]

Kind of a dumb question, but I can't see it covered in the WCA regs anywhere... During feet solving, is there a rule that says what the competitor may have in their hands? Specifically, is the competitor allowed to have another cube in their hands, and if so, are they allowed to carry out moves on it?

D1) Standard speed solving procedures are followed, as described in Article A (Speed Solving)

A5b) While inspecting or solving the puzzle, the competitor must not receive assistance from anyone or any object other than the surface (also see Regulation 2i). Penalty: disqualification of the attempt (DNF).

I don't know if holding a cube is assistance, but I think doing turns on it is

 

[aybuck37]

Kind of a dumb question, but I can't see it covered in the WCA regs anywhere... During feet solving, is there a rule that says what the competitor may have in their hands? Specifically, is the competitor allowed to have another cube in their hands, and if so, are they allowed to carry out moves on it?

That would be so helpful! Some algs I only know by muscle memory

 

[guysensei1]

That would be so helpful! Some algs I only know by muscle memory

Too bad. Just practice feet more

 

[Loiloiloi]

I think @Confucius was asking what the highest times at a competition are, and to answer that question it's not abnormal to see people taking a minute or longer, so your friend would not be looked down upon at all.

 

[CornerCutter]

I think @Confucius was asking what the highest times at a competition are, and to answer that question it's not abnormal to see people taking a minute or longer, so your friend would not be looked down upon at all.

When I went to a comp, a few people were over one or 2 minutes.

 

[Tomx]

A couple of questions on scrambling,

1. For single speed solve, should every competitor get the same scramble?
2. For average of 5, should every competitor get same scrambles? E.g. everyone gets 5 different scrambles and all the people get the same 5.

Thanks!

Tom

 

[FastCubeMaster]

A couple of questions on scrambling,

1. For single speed solve, should every competitor get the same scramble?
2. For average of 5, should every competitor get same scrambles? E.g. everyone gets 5 different scrambles and all the people get the same 5.

Thanks!

Tom

Umm, those questions sound like the same, but I'll just answer everything it relates to.

A single in a speedsolve just means one of the 5 of the average, you'll never only do a 'single'. Also, yes, every competitor in that heat (or anything similar) in that round will get the same scramble, and obviously for one of the other 4 solves in the average, a new scramble will be given and applied to everyone's cubes

 

[Tomx]

Thank you for the quick reply! It's more clear to me now on the scramble. But I have a couple of more questions now

Why do you say "you'll never only do a single"?
Does that mean you just pick the best score from the average 5 as the single score?
BTW, I remember the best and the worst from average 5 should be discarded.

Thanks again!

Tom

Umm, those questions sound like the same, but I'll just answer everything it relates to.

A single in a speedsolve just means one of the 5 of the average, you'll never only do a 'single'. Also, yes, every competitor in that heat (or anything similar) in that round will get the same scramble, and obviously for one of the other 4 solves in the average, a new scramble will be given and applied to everyone's cubes

 

[bubbagrub]

I have a couple of questions that might be more about etiquette than regulations, but this feels like the best place for them:

1. When judging, if the competitor puts the cube down and puts their hands on the timer at just about 8 seconds, should the judge say '8', or assume the competitor is getting on with it? I ask because I've noticed lots of judges don't say anything and in fact stop the stopwatch when the competitor puts their hands on the timer. Saying '8' could be distracting, but I've also seen competitors put their hands on the timer and then sit there looking at the cube for a few seconds before starting.
2. For longer solves, while solving, is it better to have a judge who stares at the cube, or to have one who looks around the room? The latter seems more distracting to me, and seems to defeat the purpose of being a judge, but seems very common when the competitor is slow at megaminx, 5x5, etc.

 

[1973486]

Thank you for the quick reply! It's more clear to me now on the scramble. But I have a couple of more questions now

Why do you say "you'll never only do a single"?

Does that mean you just pick the best score from the average 5 as the single score?

Yes

I have a couple of questions that might be more about etiquette than regulations, but this feels like the best place for them:

1. When judging, if the competitor puts the cube down and puts their hands on the timer at just about 8 seconds, should the judge say '8', or assume the competitor is getting on with it? I ask because I've noticed lots of judges don't say anything and in fact stop the stopwatch when the competitor puts their hands on the timer. Saying '8' could be distracting, but I've also seen competitors put their hands on the timer and then sit there looking at the cube for a few seconds before starting.

I'll keep the stopwatch running until the solve has definitely started but sometimes I won't say 8 if it seems the competitor is about to start.

1. For longer solves, while solving, is it better to have a judge who stares at the cube, or to have one who looks around the room? The latter seems more distracting to me, and seems to defeat the purpose of being a judge, but seems very common when the competitor is slow at megaminx, 5x5, etc.

It would definitely be better for the judge to be looking at the cube but that does get a bit boring on long solves. I'm not really aware of the judge in a solve unless they're loudly cubing.

 

[Tomx]

So let's say the scores are 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15

The single score will be 7.

The average will be (12 + 13 + 14) / 3 = 13 because 7 and 15 are discard.

Is this correct? Thanks a lot!

 

[1973486]

So let's say the scores are 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15

The single score will be 7.

The average will be (12 + 13 + 14) / 3 = 13 because 7 and 15 are discard.

Is this correct? Thanks a lot!

Yes

 

[mark49152]

When judging, if the competitor puts the cube down and puts their hands on the timer at just about 8 seconds, should the judge say '8', or assume the competitor is getting on with it? I ask because I've noticed lots of judges don't say anything and in fact stop the stopwatch when the competitor puts their hands on the timer. Saying '8' could be distracting, but I've also seen competitors put their hands on the timer and then sit there looking at the cube for a few seconds before starting.

I asked the same question a few months ago because I felt bad about "distracting" someone who is just about to start. I would not say 8 but if their hands were still on the timer at 10, I would say 10. Which was unexpected so probably more distracting! These days I just say 8. It can't really be any more distracting than interrupting their inspection.

 

[biscuit]

So let's say the scores are 7, 12, 13, 14, and 15

The single score will be 7.

The average will be (12 + 13 + 14) / 3 = 13 because 7 and 15 are discard.

Is this correct? Thanks a lot!

Other than best of 1 events (such as blind) single doesn't matter to a competition. Single just refers to a single solve, many times your fastest. In an average, you get 5 singles, but many times you'll say "I got a 13 second average, with a 7 second single".

 

[Tomx]

Thank you for all the replies!

I am thinking to host a speed cubing competition for younger kids (most of them are elementary and middle school kids).

This won't be a WCA event so I'd like to try something different, e.g.,

1. Some kids may not be able to do 6 faces, so there will be 2 competition - one is for the very beginners who can only do 1 face and the other one is for the advanced players who can do all 6 faces.

2. To make the event not too lengthy, I am thinking to do average of 3 instead of average 5. And we just average the 3 scores without discarding best and worst.

What do you guys think? Any suggestion is welcome!

Tom

 

[Isaac VM]

Noob question.

What happens if during an official attempt you left your "warming cube" over the same mat you are competing?

Thanks!

 

[Jaysammey777]

Noob question.

What happens if during an official attempt you left your "warming cube" over the same mat you are competing?

Thanks!

If you dont use it for assistance (like looking for a color scheme) then its fine.

 

[Isaac VM]

If you dont use it for assistance (like looking for a color scheme) then its fine.

Thank you for the reply!

 

[mitja]

Question, would Valk 3 or similar stickerless cube with logo printed on white center cap, be viable for blind event?

 

[Goosly]

Question, would Valk 3 or similar stickerless cube with logo printed on white center cap, be viable for blind event?

If you can not feel the difference with another center cap, it's fine.