Youth Theatresports Festival Rules

Format of the festival 

  • Each team will be invited to compete in one heat. If your team is unable to make your scheduled heat, we will attempt to find another suitable date, but we cannot guarantee this. 

  • The top two teams from each heat will be invited to take part in a semi-final. 

  • The top 1 - 2 teams from each semi-final will progress to the next round. The number of teams progressing will be the same for each semi-final. 

  • Quarter finals may be held subsequent to the semi-finals, if numbers are sufficient. 

  • The top 6 teams from each division will be invited to perform in the Grand Final.  

  • ‘Wild Cards’ can be selected by the Festival Director to progress to the next round. These teams are chosen on perceived ability and are at the discretion of the Festival Director. 

  • Composite shows may be held in which Junior and Senior teams will compete on the same night. The structure of a composite show will be determined by the Festival Director, but teams will only compete against other teams in their division. The top team from each division of a composite show will progress to the next round. 

Show format

  • Teams must arrive no later than 15 minutes after the notified call time for the performance. It is important that teams are present for safety briefings and a run-down of how the show is going to run. If you arrive after this time, it is at the discretion of the MC whether your team takes part.

  • All team members are required to participate in the pre-show group warm up and briefing. 

  • Teams will be invited to do a 30 second team introduction at the start of the show. 

  • The show will consist of 4 rounds. Each team will perform one game or scene in each round. The time each team has to perform their scene is as follows:  

Round one: 1 minute (Short-game list) 

Round two: 2 minutes (Short game list) 

Round three: 3 minutes (Long games list or Open Scene for Senior teams) 

Round four: 4 minutes (Long games list) 

  • Teams must choose a game to play from the short game list for Rounds one and two. For Round three, Senior teams will be asked to perform an ‘Open scene’. Junior teams will be asked to choose from the long game list. For Round four, both junior and senior teams will be asked to choose a game from the long-games list. 

  • For ‘Open scenes’, teams will perform a scene solely based on an offer from the MC (for example, the team might be given a location or word as an inspiration). There are no rules or handles which the team must follow, except for the time restriction. 

  • Teams must choose from the Festival Games List, unless permission is sought from the MC ahead of the show to perform a new or different game. 

  • Each game can only be played twice per show. Any variations of a game are considered to be repeats of the game itself (for example, emotional replay and genre replay are considered to be the same game - replay).  

  • There will be no time out before games. Scenes will begin as soon as the offer for the scene is provided. 

  • Teams can end their scenes early if they choose and they will not be penalised for doing so, if it is for the betterment of the scene. 

  • The MC or Festival Director may vary the show structure as required, in order to ensure a fair, fun and safe competition for students. 


Sidecoaching and the role of the MC and judges

  • Students are required to listen and follow any instructions given by the MC. 

  • The MC will give a 10 second warning before the end of 1 and 2 minute games, and a 30 second warning before the end of 3 and 4 minute games.

  • The MC and judges may provide sidecoaching to teams during their performance. Sidecoaching will be simple instructions to encourage better play, safety and address inappropriate material. For example, ‘project’ or ‘speak up’ might be sidecoached to teams who are too quiet. 

  • The MC may also decide to call a scene down early if they decide this is in the best interests of the team. For example, the MC may end a scene if the scene has reached a natural conclusion or the team is struggling or appears uncomfortable.

  • Teams that repeatedly fail to listen to and follow the MC’s instructions regarding safety or inappropriate material will receive a verbal warning from the MC or judges. If a team continues to fail to follow MC instructions on these matters,  they may be removed from the competition. 


Safety

  • Students are to show respect to other students. Students need to make sure that physical contact is appropriate, safe and consensual.

  • All members of a team are required to attend the pre-show warm up and briefing and to listen to safety instructions. 

  • Teams are not to perform stage combat, slaps, strikes, kicks or grappling whether pretend or otherwise. Slow motion stage combat is allowed. 

  • Students are not to push or pull other students with force. 

  • Students are not to jump on each other’s backs or shoulders without the other student giving clear permission and it being otherwise safe to do so (For example, the student might put their hands on the other student’s shoulders and wait for the other student to nod or say “Jump on!” before jumping onto their back). 

  • Students can stand on stage risers. Students are not to stand on chairs, stools or tables. 

  • If a team ignores sidecoaching from the MC with respect to safety then the MC may choose to call down the scene. The scene will still be scored by the judges. 

  • Teams must wear footwear (no socks without shoes) and appropriate clothing at all times. Clothes must allow the team to perform safely. 


Inappropriate material 

  • Students are expected to avoid swearing, obscene or offensive language and behaviour. Scenes need to be appropriate for the school setting with families and younger children present. 

  • What is considered inappropriate language and behaviour is within the sole discretion of the MC and judges. 

  • Teams which use inappropriate language or behaviour in a scene will be given sidecoaching by the MC. For example, the MC may direct the team to make a new choice, which means to replace their last action or line of dialogue with a new action or line of dialogue. The MC might also warn a team about swearing or inappropriate content in their scenes and instruct them to stop using certain language. 

  • If a team ignores sidecoaching from the MC with respect to appropriateness of material then the MC may choose to call down the scene. The scene will still be scored by the judges. 


Judging 

  • Each scene will be judged by the judges between 1 - 10. Each score from a judge will be added to the scores of the other judges for a total score. 

  • Judging will be on the basis of the Judging Criteria.

  • There will be no tie-breaker games. In the event of a tie-break, where both teams are unable to progress, the judges will decide on the team which they believe has performed better overall in the competition. 

  • All judges’ decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into. 


General 

  • All participants in the festival including parents, teachers, coaches and students are expected to be respectful towards each other and festival staff and volunteers. No disrespectful language or behaviour will be tolerated. 

  • The Festival Director reserves the right to remove a team from the competition if a school does not follow the above rules. No refunds will be provided. 

  • The Festival Director reserves the right to make changes to the competition rules at any time in order to ensure the competition remains safe, fair, educational and enjoyable for participants. Schools will be notified of these changes as soon as practicable.