U.S.T.A. Oregon Baton Council

General Contest Information

(including "How to fill out the entry form")

USTA MEMBERSHIP: All contestants (including those participating in events for evaluation only) must be members of USTA. The Twirler's membership number MUST accompany entries. Click here to join the USTA. Notice that for families with twirling siblings, the second twirler can join USTA with a "family membership," which is considerably less expensive.

USTA 'Membership for a Day': If you are not a USTA member, this can be used in all Oregon contests. This cannot be used for National Championships. If you plan to enter several baton contests, it may be cheaper for you to join USTA!

AGES: When filling out entry forms, give the age the twirler will be on Dec. 31st of the year of the contest. That means if the twirler has not had a birthday yet this year, she/he enters in an older category than the actual age on the date of the contest.

FOUNDATION EVENTS are presentation, military march, and basic march, which are recognized by USTA. The Oregon Baton Council has also added Trick Meet, Pre-2-baton, Parade March, Juggling/3-Baton Trick Meet, and Apparatus Twirling to encourage beginning twirlers to expand their skills.

CONTEST ADMISSION & PROGRAMS: No admission will be charged at Oregon contests. However, each contest sponsor will charge a fee for their program. There will be a $3.50 charge for the Oregon State Championship program unless a larger fee is necessary.

SURCHARGE: Expenses for the average contest are $2000 or more! These expenses include judge's fees, travel expense for judges, facility fees, custodial fees, awards, decorations, USTA sanction fees, etc. Therefore, each contest will charge a surcharge per entry form.

PROCESSING FEE: Contest directors spend a large amount of time processing entries with numerous mistakes. To help offset the many hours spent correcting these mistakes, there is a refundable processing fee. If your entry form is filled out correctly and completely, you will get a refund!

SOME COMMON MISTAKES ARE:
  • No current U.S.T.A. membership number included
  • Adult forgetting to sign the entry form
  • Not adding surcharge and processing fee (must add both)
  • Incorrect addition
  • Unreadable handwriting
  • Entering the incorrect level or event and phoning later to make changes, except in the case where a twirler just recently moved up a level after winning in a different contest. If a contest entry deadline is before you win and move up to a new level, you can still enter at your previous level.
  • Phoning later to add or delete an event. Depending on how complete the program already is when you call, the contest director may or may not accept any changes.

If everything is correct you may collect your refund on the day of the contest.

STATE CHAMPIONS: At the State Championship contest, the winners from each level will advance to the finals for each division.

LIABILITY: Neither schools or contest directors are responsible for lost or stolen articles or injuries.

AWARDS: Each contest director may decide what awards (trophies, ribbons, medallions, certificates) are given at each contest. Contest directors strive to make their events special for all twirlers. while working within a limited budget. A winner may get a trophy at one contest and a rosette for the winning the same event at the next contest. That's up to the contest director. The "Footlights" contest is unique in that it is a "recycled trophy" contest, with all awards dontated by past Oregon champions. Please encourage your twirler to appreciate these special awards for their historical value.

Click here to return to the Oregon Baton Council Home Page

 

Web page created by: Debbie Anholt, Parents' Chair
Email: click on the link, remove the (at) and replace it with @ mailto:anholt (at) lclark.edu
Last Updated: January 2011