One-Answer WCA Competition and Regulations Question Thread

[TipsterTrickster]

I would allow those competitors to use two cubes for their attempts. Both cubes are scrambled the same way, and are presented to the competitor in the same arbitrary orientation.
One cube would have textured stickers/tiles and is used for memorisation. The other cube would be legal for blindfolded solving. The competitor would still have to use the blindfold in the same was a seeing competitor would. During the memorisation phase, I would allow the judge to assist the competitor in getting both cubes in the same orientation before the blindfolded phase. During the blindfolded phase, the textured cube would be re-covered with a cube cover.
The end of the attempt is the same.

That is so cool, I would love to see that!

 

[One Wheel]

I would allow those competitors to use two cubes for their attempts. Both cubes are scrambled the same way, and are presented to the competitor in the same arbitrary orientation.
One cube would have textured stickers/tiles and is used for memorisation. The other cube would be legal for blindfolded solving. The competitor would still have to use the blindfold in the same was a seeing competitor would. During the memorisation phase, I would allow the judge to assist the competitor in getting both cubes in the same orientation before the blindfolded phase. During the blindfolded phase, the textured cube would be re-covered with a cube cover.
The end of the attempt is the same.

This should really probably be spelled out in the rules. Preferably as an event for both blind and sighted competitors, blindfolds must be on from before the cube cover comes off until the end of the attempt.

 

[AlphaSheep]

This should really probably be spelled out in the rules. Preferably as an event for both blind and sighted competitors, blindfolds must be on from before the cube cover comes off until the end of the attempt.

This situation is pretty rare so it would be better to deal with the specific case once it comes up. There are so many different disabilities and it's impractical to cater for all of them in the regulations. The regulation that is there says this:

• 2s) Competitors with disabilities that may prevent them from abiding by one or more WCA Regulations may request special accommodations from the WCA Delegate. Competitors requesting such accommodations should contact the organization team and WCA Delegate at least two weeks before the competition.

What @Ranzha suggests is probably a good way of dealing with this case as long as he's contacted 2 weeks in advance, and discusses the plan with the board first.

 

[One Wheel]

This situation is pretty rare so it would be better to deal with the specific case once it comes up. There are so many different disabilities and it's impractical to cater for all of them in the regulations. The regulation that is there says this:

• 2s) Competitors with disabilities that may prevent them from abiding by one or more WCA Regulations may request special accommodations from the WCA Delegate. Competitors requesting such accommodations should contact the organization team and WCA Delegate at least two weeks before the competition.

What @Ranzha suggests is probably a good way of dealing with this case as long as he's contacted 2 weeks in advance, and discusses the plan with the board first.

That's reasonable. I'd still love to see it as a new event.

 

[joshsailscga]

That's reasonable. I'd still love to see it as a new event.

I mean, it would literally be 3BLD but with a slower transition. And the certainty that if either cube was misscrambled, your attempt will end in DNF. It's similar to the mirrorblocks argument- fun idea, perfectly fine to do unofficial stuff with it, but it doesn't really add anything new as an official event.

 

[One Wheel]

I mean, it would literally be 3BLD but with a slower transition. And the certainty that if either cube was misscrambled, your attempt will end in DNF. It's similar to the mirrorblocks argument- fun idea, perfectly fine to do unofficial stuff with it, but it doesn't really add anything new as an official event.

If either cube is mis-scrambled you should obviously get another try, but if both cubes had colors and only one had textures there would be no reason for a mis-scramble.

It is similar to 3BLD, but I'm inclined to think that memorizing via touch rather than sight is a fairly meaningful distinction.

 

[MiaSponseller]

Are you allowed to switch cubes you’re using during anmoffical average? Let’s say that I used a Gan air for my first two solves, but after that I want to use a valk to finish my average, is that allowed?

 

[AlphaSheep]

Are you allowed to switch cubes you’re using during anmoffical average? Let’s say that I used a Gan air for my first two solves, but after that I want to use a valk to finish my average, is that allowed?

Yes, as long as the delegate at the competition checks the new cube and allows it.

 

[Ranzha]

This should really probably be spelled out in the rules. Preferably as an event for both blind and sighted competitors, blindfolds must be on from before the cube cover comes off until the end of the attempt.

What? Why would a competitor be blindfolded for the whole attempt? I don't follow.

What @Ranzha suggests is probably a good way of dealing with this case as long as he's contacted 2 weeks in advance, and discusses the plan with the board first.

I don't think this sort of accommodation requires Board approval, but asking other delegates and the Board for suggestions is definitely the way to go. I recall at Berkeley Summer 2017, we had a competitor who had broken his arm but competed anyway. Jeremy Fleischman helped him start/stop the timer due to his limited mobility.

I mean, it would literally be 3BLD but with a slower transition. And the certainty that if either cube was misscrambled, your attempt will end in DNF. It's similar to the mirrorblocks argument- fun idea, perfectly fine to do unofficial stuff with it, but it doesn't really add anything new as an official event.

Misscrambling needs to be punishable. I know that people try their best, but without 100% accuracy in scrambling, attempts requiring multiple cubes to be in the same state only compounds the misscrambling issue.

 

[One Wheel]

What? Why would a competitor be blindfolded for the whole attempt? I don't follow.

It's a different event. One cube with stickers that are distinguishable by both sight and touch is memorized by touch, while another cube with identical scramble and orientation and stickers that are only discernable by sight is solved blindfolded. It's essentially your solution for allowing blind competitors to compete in blindfolded events, but allowing sighted competitors to compete in the same way. It would also remove any issue of trying to determine of trying to determine if a competitor is sufficiently blind to qualify for special treatment.

 

[Ranzha]

It's a different event. One cube with stickers that are distinguishable by both sight and touch is memorized by touch, while another cube with identical scramble and orientation and stickers that are only discernable by sight is solved blindfolded. It's essentially your solution for allowing blind competitors to compete in blindfolded events, but allowing sighted competitors to compete in the same way. It would also remove any issue of trying to determine of trying to determine if a competitor is sufficiently blind to qualify for special treatment.

This idea is cool, but it's just a slower and logistically worse version of 3BLD.

 

[guysensei1]

During OH, am I allowed to hold the wrist of my solving hand with my non-solving hand?

 

[Mike Hughey]

During OH, am I allowed to hold the wrist of my solving hand with my non-solving hand?

I would imagine this would be allowed, but it would be important that your non-solving hand never touch the cube, so you would have to do this in a fashion such that the judge could see clearly to verify that your non-solving hand never touches the cube. If that was not clear, I would think it very reasonable for a delegate to disallow it on that basis.

 

[Thom S.]

This idea is cool, but it's just a slower and logistically worse version of 3BLD.

Well, yes, but it's most probably fun and it would add sonething unique to the WCA(which the Kilominx doesn't) plus it's a new puzzle

 

[joshsailscga]

Well, yes, but it's most probably fun and it would add sonething unique to the WCA(which the Kilominx doesn't) plus it's a new puzzle

...but it's not a new puzzle. It's a 3x3 with weird stickers.

 

[Thom S.]

...but it's not a new puzzle. It's a 3x3 with weird stickers.

To be fair, the same principle applies to OH

 

[joshsailscga]

To be fair, the same principle applies to OH

I would say that it's different. The analogy I can come up with is that OH is similar to 3BLD (solving 3x3 with an added restriction), while arguing for this new event is like trying to get 4x4 OH added- sure, it's a "new" thing, but doesn't add any new concept to the WCA. Just my thought.
Not to mention there would need to be majority interest in the puzzle. If Kilominx and Redi Cube couldn't make it, you reaally are not going to get a big following with this.

 

[One Wheel]

Would these puzzles be competition legal, or do they violate regulation 3d2 (note the darker midge on one and wing on the other)? The other sides are fine, it's just the red sides.

 

[CarterK]

View attachment 8746

Would these puzzles be competition legal, or do they violate regulation 3d2 (note the darker midge on one and wing on the other)? The other sides are fine, it's just the red sides.

Technica They aren't legal, but some delegates may allow it.

 

[Dancing Jules]

It's a different event. One cube with stickers that are distinguishable by both sight and touch is memorized by touch, while another cube with identical scramble and orientation and stickers that are only discernable by sight is solved blindfolded. It's essentially your solution for allowing blind competitors to compete in blindfolded events, but allowing sighted competitors to compete in the same way. It would also remove any issue of trying to determine of trying to determine if a competitor is sufficiently blind to qualify for special treatment.

Making it a separate event is the exact opposite of helpful. We want to give disabled people the chance to compete in WCA events - I think we should aim to make each event as accessible as possible to everyone. Creating a separate event without giving blind people the possibility to compete in the regular BLD event doesn't bring us further.

I do agree however, that blind competitors competing in a BLD event (or any event for that matter) should wear a blindfold from the beginning. The reason is exactly what you said: Making sure the competitor does not have both visual and tactile input. "Legally blind" includes people that can see shapes and colors to some degree. A person with visual impairment would have to choose between competing on a tactile or visual basis.

This stops no sighted person from doing unofficial solves that way, of course. Whether a sighted person should be able to compete in an official event on a tactile basis (wearing a blind fold during the complete attempt and using a tactile cube) is a complicated question. I think it should be answered with Regulation A1c. If they believe they are faster that way, let them. But most people won't, so it won't be much of an issue (just like most people don't do 3x3 with a blindfold, because most people are faster at 3x3 with their eyes open).