ASPD

Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers
Rules for Solo Side and Solo Tenor Drumming Competition

Created: October 22, 2001

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 2
1.1 Objectives 2
1.2 Geographical Areas and Registering 2
1.3 Integrity of the Rules 2

2 COMPETITION RULES 2
2.1 The Competition Committee, Chief Steward, and Chief Scorer 2
2.2 Steward's Responsibilities 2
2.3 Competitor's Responsibilities 3
2.4 Society Representative 3
2.5 Splitting and Event 3
2.6 Order of Play 3
2.7 Accompanying Performers 3
2.8 Communication of the Selected Music 4
2.9 Performing without the Aid of Music 4
2.10 Acceptable Highland Dress 4
2.11 Local Competition Rules 4

3 MEMBERSHIP 4
3.1 General Requirement 4

4 GRADES AND GRADING 4
4.1 Grades 4
4.2 Grading 5

5 MUSIC REQUIREMENTS 5
5.1 Music 5

6 RULES FOR ADJUDICATORS 5
6.1 Authority 5
6.2 Selection of Adjudicators 5
6.3 Number of Adjudicators 6
6.4 Guidance for Adjudication 6
6.5 Determination of Final Result 6
6.6 Determination of Aggregate Winner 6

7 INTERPRETATION OF RULES AND PROTESTS 7
7.1 Interpretation of Rules 7
7.2 Protests and Grievances 7
Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers
Rules for Solo Side and Solo Tenor Drumming Competitions

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Objectives
1.1.1 The objectives of the Alberta Society of Pipers and Drummers (the "Society")
with respect to solo side drumming and solo tenor drumming competitions are as follows:
(a) To devise and administer comprehensive rules governing solo side drumming and
tenor drumming competitions;
(b) To preserve, promote and encourage proficiency in Scottish side drumming and tenor
drumming music; and
(c) To promote and encourage participation of solo side drummers and tenor drummers
at Highland Games and Scottish Cultural events for the benefit of the Competition
Committee and Games attendees.

1.2 Geographical area and Registering
1.2.1 The geographical area where the Society registers solo side drumming and tenor
drumming competitions is the province of Alberta. Registering is a cooperative agreement
between the Society and the organization sponsoring solo side drumming and tenor
drumming competitions (Competition Committee) to ensure that the competitions are run
according to the Society's rules for solo side drumming and tenor drumming competitions,
are fair and respected, and are of benefit to the competitors, the Competition
Committee, and the Society.

1.3 Integrity of the Rules
1.3.1 Solo side drumming and tenor drumming members of the Society and members of the
Society's Approved Adjudicators Panel should not take part in any competition which
would cause the Society's rules to be compromised to the significant detriment of the
Society, the Competition Committee or the competitors. It shall be the responsibility
of the Society's Board of Directors (the "Executive") to inform members and
adjudicators of any such competitions.

2 COMPETITION RULES

2.1 The Competition Committee, Chief Steward and Chief Scorer
2.1.1 The Games Sponsor shall designate a Competition Committee, which shall manage and
run the competition activities on the Games day. The Competition Committee shall
designate a Chief Steward and a Chief Scorer.

2.2 Stewards Responsibilities
2.2.1 A steward shall be assigned to each event. The Steward shall be responsible for
ensuring a regular and orderly stream of competitors to the event's competition area.

2.3 Competitor's Responsibilities
2.3.1 Competitors shall be responsible for reporting to the Steward prior to the event,
for obtaining their position in the order of play for the event, and for being ready
to compete when their position in the order of play arrives.
2.3.2 All side drummers shall provide their own piper(s). All tenor drummers shall
provide their own piper(s) and side drummer.
2.3.3 Competitors shall signal the adjudicator when they are ready to commence their
performance.
2.3.4 Any competitor who interferes with, threatens, or uses abusive language towards
the adjudicators, officials, stewards or members of the Competition Committee shall
cause themselves to be liable for suspension from further competitions for as long
as the Executive deems is necessary in the circumstances.
2.3.5 The same penalty shall apply to situations involving the abuse of private
property at the Games site.
2.3.6 The competitor shall be responsible for the submission of the tune lists, as
requested by the Competition Committee, for their event(s).

2.4 Society Representative
2.4.1 A member of the Executive, or their designate, shall be in attendance as the
Society's representative at all of the registered competitions and shall be available
to the Competition Committee for that day.
2.4.2 The Society Representative shall monitor the competitions for compliance and
fairness, provide answers to questions on the competition rules, and provide advice
(if requested) to the Competition Committee on complaints, disputes and protests
relating to the competition.

2.5 Splitting and Event
2.5.1 If there are more than twenty (20) competitors in an event, that event may be
divided into two or more sections and designated as such, and prizes shall be given
to each section of the event as if it was a separate event.

2.6 Order of Play
2.6.1 All orders of play and the start time for each event shall be posted at the
Competition Registration Area prior to the commencement of the competitions.
2.6.2 Competitors should be ready to play in the posted order.
2.6.3 If given, posted competitor times are always subject to change, at the
discretion of the Steward for the event.

2.7 Accompanying Performers
2.7.1 Side drummers may perform their events accompanied by a minimum of one to a
maximum of three pipers.
2.7.2 Tenor drummers may perform their events accompanied by one side drummer and
a minimum of one to a maximum of three pipers.

2.8 Communication of the Selected Music
2.8.1 Prior to beginning their performance, competitors shall address the adjudicator
and inform him/her of the tune(s) they will perform.
2.8.2 For events where submission of more than one tune/set is required, the adjudicator
shall select the tune/set from the competitor's list submitted with their entry form.
The competitor shall be informed of the selected tune/set at playing time.

2.9 Performing without the Aid of Music
2.9.1 All competitors shall perform their event without the aid of printed music.

2.10 Acceptable Highland Dress
2.10.1 Competitors may be prevented from competing and accepting trophies onstage due
to not wearing acceptable and properly worn highland dress. Kilt (or trewes), shirt,
hose, shoes and accepted Highland headdress are the minimum requirement. For beginners,
dress pants, shirt and shoes (for boys or girls) or skirt, blouse and shoes (for girls)
are acceptable.

2.11 Local Competition Rules
2.11.1 Local competition rules or requirements may take precedence over the above rules
and regulations, but only upon submission to and approval by the Society.

3 MEMBERSHIP

3.1 General Requirement
3.1.1 All competitors residing in the registering area, and desiring to compete in
registered competitions must be firstly, members of the Society, or secondly an
officially recognized piping/pipe band association affiliated with the Society.
3.1.2 All competitors, who are not members of the Society or an officially recognized
piping/pipe band association affiliated with the Society, shall pay to the Games
Committee a fee of $10 per games.

4 GRADES AND GRADING

4.1 Grades
4.1.1 Side Drumming grades shall be classified as Beginner (on practice pad),
Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1 and Professional. Side drummers shall compete
in one grade only. The Competition Committee shall offer competitions in at least
the following Side Drumming grades: Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1 and
Professional.
4.1.2 Tenor Drumming grades shall be classified as Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, and
Professional. Tenor drummers shall compete in one grade only. The Competition
Committee shall offer competitions in at least the following Tenor Drumming grades:
Grade 1.
4.1.3 Grades shall be determined by ability and not by age, sex or affiliation,
with the exception of confined or special events as defined by a Competition Committee.
4.1.4 The Beginner (on Practice Pad) grade is limited to competitors who have not
won a prize in the Beginner grade in the previous season, or who have not competed
on the side drum.
4.1.5 A Professional competitor is one who has competed in a professional competition
at any time, or where cash prizes are offered, notwithstanding Clause 4.2.3.

4.2 Grading
4.2.1 Competitors shall compete in the grade appropriate for their ability, as
determined by the Society. A list of competitors assigned to each grade shall be
published by the Society in October of each year, to remain in effect until the
following October.
4.2.2 Any competitor may choose to compete in a higher grade, but having do so
forfeits his/her right to compete again in his/her previous grade, notwithstanding
clause 4.2.3. Exceptions to this rule may be made where in a competition outside the
Society's registering jurisdiction, a competitor may play in a higher class if there
is no appropriate grade for him/her.
4.2.3 The Society shall have the authority to regrade a competitor at any time.
4.2.4 A competitor, who chooses to appeal his/her grading, shall make the appeal
in writing to the Society.

5 MUSIC REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Music
5.1.1 Any drummer in a particular grade shall be required to play any of the music
listed for the grade as set out in the "2002 Music Requirements for Piping, Drumming
and Pipe Band Competitions".

6 RULES FOR ADJUDICATORS
6.1 Authority
6.1.1 Within its registering jurisdiction, the Society shall have the responsibility
and authority to determine people qualified to adjudicate solo side drumming and
tenor drumming in registered solo side drumming and tenor drumming competitions and
to maintain an Approved Adjudicators List of these qualified people.
6.1.2 The Society shall provide current copies of the Approved Adjudicators List to
the Competition Committee's.

6.2 Selection of Adjudicators
6.2.1 The adjudicators for sanctioned competitions shall be drawn from:
(a) the Approved Adjudicators List of the Society, or
(b) the Approved Adjudicators Lists of piping/pipe band associations officially
recognized by and affiliated with the Society, or ANAPBA recognized organizations.
6.2.2 Games proposing to use an adjudicator who is not on an Approved Adjudicators
List identified in Clause 6.2.1

6.3 Numbers of Adjudicators
6.3.1 Only one adjudicator is required to adjudicate a solo side drumming or tenor
drumming competition.
6.3.2 Special individual competitions, when practical, should be adjudicated by two
adjudicators, who may sit as a panel.

6.4 Guidance for Adjudication
6.4.1 Side Drumming grades shall be adjudicated under the categories of Execution,
Expression, Quality and Variety, Tone and Tuning, and Tempo.
6.4.2 Tenor Drumming grades shall be adjudicated under the categories of Flourishing,
Execution, Expression, Quality and Variety, Tone and Tuning, and Tempo.
6.4.3 On the adjudication sheets, adjudicators shall provide an accurate assessment
of the competitor's performance and, where appropriate constructive criticism.
Adjudicators may make a comment regarding scores that, in their opinion, are not musically
complimentary to the pipe music. The adjudicators may comment on the appropriateness
of the competitor playing in that grade.
6.4.4 Following commencement, any drummer breaking down during his/her performance
shall be disqualified. Other serious flaws, such as unintended stopping then resuming
or mistakes in the score, shall be left to the discretion of the adjudicator.
6.4.5 Drummer may continue to play through their performance if the piper(s) should
inadvertently stop. However, should the drummer stop to accommodate the piper(s),
he/she shall be disqualified.

6.5 Determination of the Final Result
6.5.1 Adjudicators shall be allotted a reasonable time at the end of each event to
arrive at a decision. The number of placings awarded shall be based on the number of
competitors who begin their performance, as shown in the following table:
Less than 3 competitors One (1) placing
3 competitors Two (2) placings
4 to 10 competitors Three (3) placings
11-to 15 competitors Four (4) placings
16 to 20 competitors Five (5) placings
21 or more competitors Six (6) placings

6.5.2 The adjudicator's decision shall prevail in determining the merits of each
performance, and his/her decision shall be final.
6.5.3 No ties are permitted.

6.6 Determination of the Aggregate Winner
6.6.1 At all competitions, the aggregate award should be determined over a minimum
of two events per grade (all grades).
6.6.2 The points to be awarded for the calculation of aggregates shall be as follows:
Placing Aggregate Points
1st 8
2nd 5
3rd 3
4th 2
5th 1
6th 0.5

6.6.3 Ties in aggregate awards shall be broken in the following order:
(a) Winner of the March, Strathspey and Reel event,
(b) Winner of the 2/4 March event,
(c) Winner of the 6/8 March event.

7 INTERPRETATION OF RULES AND PROTESTS

7.1 Interpretation of Rules
7.1.1 In the event of any misunderstanding or ambiguity in these rules, the Executive
reserves the right to supply it's own interpretation which shall be final and binding.
7.1.2 The Executive shall ensure that written records are maintained on every decision
resulting from a protest or interpretation of the rules to create a list of precedents
that can be available to assist in the future interpretation of the rules.
7.1.3 No Member of the Executive or their designate shall be allowed to rule on a
protest in which his/her student is involved.

7.2 Protests and Grievances
7.2.1 Any protest shall be made in writing accompanied by a $20 deposit and lodged
with the Competition Committee within one hour of the posting of the results, and a
copy to the Society Representative by the end of the day. The deposit will be refunded
should the grievance be upheld.
7.2.2 Where relevant, the complainant shall submit the original adjudication and
adjudicator's result sheet, which will be verified by the adjudicators involved and
the Chief Scorer as authentic.
7.2.3 Should the aggrieved competitor disagree with the findings of the Competition
Committee, he/she shall have the right to appeal to the Association. Pending the
result of the appeal, the findings of the Competition Committee shall be accepted by
all the parties concerned.
7.2.4 The Competition Committee on the day of the competition and before the
distribution of prizes, being satisfied that a competitor has willfully violated,
or is willfully violating any of the rules, shall have the power to de-bar such
competitor from the prize list, suspend the decision of the adjudicators for that
competitor, and award the prizes to the respective competitors next in order of merit.
7.2.5 The Executive shall have the right to act similarly after the competition, if
satisfied that a willful violation of the rules took place.
7.2.6 In the event of a prize being awarded to the wrong competitor because of an
error, it shall be the responsibility of the Competition Committee to re-award such
prizes to the deserving competitor as soon as possible after such discovery is made.

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