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The Official Rules Of The Alberta Scottish Athletics Association

The Athletes

  • As we have not the time, space or resources to provide a true Amateur "C", or novice class, a kilt shall be required at all official competitions.
     

  • Any competition day will contain up to 4 classes: Master (40 years+), Womens, Amateur and Open. Total number of athletes on the field as well as start times for each class and number of contested events will vary due to field considerations such a space limitations, potentials for multiple trigs and available equipment. The minimum events will be as follows: A stone, A weight for distance, A hammer, the Weight Over Bar and The Caber.
     

  • All athletes are requested to pre-register officially by email to heavyevents@heavyevents.ab.ca for each competition. This allows for accurate field count and organization of the day.
     

  • All athletes are required to volunteer to assist in 2 (two) games in the year. Those participating in the morning will assist the afternoon events and those in the afternoon will assist the morning events. If it is not possible to make an assigned day, a substitute must be found. Failure to volunteer or to find a replacement, will result in the inability to participate in the next scheduled highland games.

    This will be organized as such that 'Calgary' athletes will assist 'Calgary' games, etc, for ease of travel and all those concerned.
     

  • Travel money will be available based on available budget and at each game's AD discretion. Available structures may simply be for distance travelled, transport of equipment, prize structure based on performance or simply on meals and other considerations to make the athletes lives easier.
     

  • Highland heavy athletics is a tested sport and as such performance enhancing anabolics are forbidden. Larger games are potentially subject to day of testing, at the Games Committee's discretion and the Alberta Scottish Athletic Association assumes no responsibility or liability for the outcomes of any such testing. Following IOC protocol, a 2 year ban is in effect based off the results of any positive result.

The Events

  • Scoring - Games will be scored in ascending order. Meaning that a first place is worth a single point, second is worth two, etc. Using this method, lowest total at the end of the day wins.
     

  • Fouls and Misses - In the case of an athlete fouling all his or her attempts, they will receive the maximum number of points for that event, regardless of how many others have similarly failed.
     

  • Ties - Ties in distance events shall result in placings being split evenly. If two athletes threw the same distance to achieve second place, they would each receive 2.5 points. ((2+3)/2 = 2.5) The next athlete will receive the points for 4th place.

    In the event of a tie during a height event, the athlete with the minimum number of attempts at that height shall win. If the number of attempts is the same, the next lowest height attempts shall be compared. If all attempts are identical, the points shall be split as above.

    If, during the caber, two or more athletes receive the same best attempt, previous attempts will be compared to determine placing. If the tie still exists, points shall be split as above.

    A tie for overall points shall be decided by the athlete with the greatest number of first place finishes. If the tie remains, the higher caber score will serve as tie breaker.
     

  • Weight Over Bar (Weight for Height) - All weight over bar attempts must be made in the standing position and with one hand. Both feet must remain still, save for at the time of release. NO SPINNING WOB WILL BE ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
     

  • Hammer Handles - In any category, two hammers shall be available at the beginning of the event. If one handle should break, the next hammer shall be used immediately and all attempts will still be considered valid. If both handles are broken, the event shall stop and the furthest throw, regardless of the implement, shall be taken as final.

    If not all athletes received their throws, the event shall not count toward final standings.
     

  • Throwing Area - The throwing area shall be 7'6" by 4'6" for the stone putting events and 9' by 4'6" for the weights for distance. The athlete may start with one foot out and end with one foot out of the area, but one foot must be fully in at all times. Stepping on a line while one foot is out shall count as a foul throw.

    Neither foot may, at any time, pass behind the back line, or forward of the front line and only the front face of the actual trig may be contacted. The trig itself must be 4'6" in length and have a height of 5.5-6".
     

  • The Caber - The caber shall be of such a size and weight that only the most skilled of the athletes are capable of turning it properly. A qualification caber may be required during amateur competition, if it is determined that some of the athletes may lack the experience to attempt the competition caber. Only two(2) attempts will be allowed on any qualification caber.

    Only a successful flip of the caber can result in an athlete taking part in a 'Challenge' caber competition.

The Marks

  • In Order to reach Open Class status in Alberta and regularly participate in the Open Class (some B participation will occur in the Open class to serve as further experience to the top B throwers from previous competitions), 4 out of 6 of the following marks must be met and maintained as of the over the course of the season:
     

  • Event                                   Mark

  • Open Stone                         37'

  • 28# Distance                       54'

  • 16# Hammer                       94'

  • 56# Weight over Bar          12'

  • 56# Distance                       27'

  • 22# Hammer                      72'

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  • These marks must be met as an average over two consecutive games. To an athlete granted his A status, he must show continued adherence to these marks, with some consideration given to personal situations (injury, insufficient time to train due to external influences, poor competition). As well, anyone requesting a status change will also have to have shown some involvement in the association.

The Classes

  • As the interest in the Heavy Events has expanded in the last few years to younger throwers, more classes have been added to allow them to participate safely. Below you'll find the standards used in Alberta for weights thrown by athletes in each class:

  • Class                           Braemar    Open Stone    HWFD    LWFD    Heavy Hammer    Light Hammer    WOB

  • Open                                22#+          16#+             56#        28#                22#                     16#                 56#

  • Amateur                           22#+          16#+             56#        28#                22#                     16#                 56#

  • Masters                            22#+           16#+            42#        28#                22#                     16#                 42#

  • Men's LW                        22#+           16#+            42#         28#               22#                      16#                42#

  • Women                            12#+            8#+             28#        14#                16#                      12#                28#

  • Women's LW                   12#+            8#+             21#        14#                16#                      12#                21#

  • Men's Junior (17-19)       N/A             16#+           42#         8#                 N/A                      16#                42#

  • Men's Youth (13-16)       12#+            8#+             28#         14#               16#                       12#                28#

  • Women's Junior (17-19)  N/A             8#+             21#         14#               N/A                      12#                 21#

  • Women's Youth (13-16)   N/A             8#+             N/A        14#               N/A                       9#                 14#


  • All weights listed above are available in competitions run by the Alberta Scottish Athletic Association. Cabers will be sized appropriately for the skill level of the competitors to provide the safest competition possible.

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