Rules

World Final - Live Battles!

The top 16 men and Top 8 women join the competition live from their homes. The most complete Football Freestyler is chosen as the world champion.
The whole event will be live streamed and recorded on 14th November 2020 from 20:00 CET.

Rules For Knockout Stage

1.1. General
  • Participants can use their own ball (see point 1.3.)
  • Hands are NOT allowed (see point 1.4.)
  • Judges will be picking the winner based on criteria (see point 1.6.1.)
  • Foreign objects cannot be integrated into the battles (E.g. bottles, rope etc.) and must not be displayed in the shot.
  • Participants must be constantly visible on the camera during their performance.
  • Dropped ball after trick attempt = mistake
  • Any action after the time limit will not be included as part of the performance.
  • No outside interference in holding the ball to body (E.g. glue, tape, laces etc.)
  • Whilst one participant is performing, the opponent must not perform any moves or steal attention from other’s show.
  • Changing equipment (shoes, ball) is not allowed during battles.

1.2. Event structure
  • Final battle brackets schedule is based on ranking from stage 4.
  • Classic battle event structure follows with small and big final at the end.
  • Whoever is ranked lower in the battle will start first round, this applies for the whole event.
Spider

1.3. Footballs
  • Every freestyler is allowed to use his/her own football.
  • It is strictly prohibited to use more than one ball in battle.
  • Each athlete is obliged to have 2 Red Bull Street Style stickers on the ball during the performance (stickers are provided).
  • Surface of the ball and tricks performed with it are taken into consideration by the judges.
  • No modification to the ball is allowed.

1.4. Usage of hands
  • It is forbidden to touch the ball with hands in battle. No exceptions.
  • Every use of hand is considered as a mistake
  • ‘Hand’ in this context is defined as “from shoulder to the tip of the fingers”

1.5. Timing
  • Each battle lasts 3 minutes
  • Athletes take turns every 30 seconds which means both athletes will have the possibility to perform 3 times during every battle.
  • The time will start running when the 1st athlete of the battle touches the ball.
  • Athlete is informed by host (or sound system) that his/her round is ending at least 5 seconds in advance.
  • Participants must not leave the call at any time during the battle.
  • If players have technical difficulties, their battle is moved to the last spot of the round (round = Top 16, Quarter-final, Semi-final)
  • If an athlete is in the last battle of the round and have technical difficulties, he has 2 minutes to re-connect measured from the moment of lost connection. If connection of both athletes is lot before start of the battle, and the 2 min. re-connection times is over, the higher ranked athlete advance to the next round (only applies for round of 16 and quarterfinals).
  • As soon as the battle starts, there is no possibility to start over. If connection fails during the battle, judges will proceed with judging with what they can see.

1.6. Judges
  • Panel of 5 judges chooses winner of each battle in real time.
  • Head judge is responsible for the whole panel regarding timing and proper briefing.
  • After every battle judges are given at least 40 seconds to decide about result of battle. If judge is not ready he needs to give clear signal to the host not to ask for his decision on the battle yet.
  • When the decision is made, each judge should give the sign that they are ready for the host to proceed.
  • As soon as the host requires, judges show their decision.
  • Judges should all have a short explanation detailing why they made the decision they did at the time they announce the winner of a battle. In case they are asked, they must be able to justify their decision.
  • Judges decisions are final and cannot be changed.
  • Judges are strictly not allowed to talk at any time between start of battle and announcement of result of the same battle.
  • Judge is not allowed to use the so called “blank vote” or “X” in case he is not sure with result.

1.6.1. Judging criteria

Judge is picking the winner based on the criterion he is representing.

  • Difficulty – Technical difficulty of tricks and combinations
    • Dynamics – strength and speed of movements
    • Difficult moves – how difficult in general it is to reach the perfection of the trick
    • Combinations – ability to create difficult connection between tricks
  • Originality – Performing with individual style, creativity and variety
    • Variety within battle – ability to not repeat tricks within the battle
    • Variety in general – ability to not repeat tricks in competition
    • Original move – unusual tricks or signature moves
  • Execution – Clean and controlled demonstration of each trick
    • Cleanness – clean execution of tricks
    • Control – general control of the ball on stage
    • Flow – ability to move the ball around body with no hesitation
  • Performance – Ability to bring entertaining factor into the game
    • Response – reaction to opponents’ round
    • Attitude – creating battle vibe and adding the value to performance
    • Style – the way trick are performed
  • Overall – Complicity of a Football Freestyler
    • All-round ability – complete freestyler should control all aspects
    • Element of surprise - surprising move which is unexpected due to circumstances
    • Mistakes – dropping the ball or creating mistake