Pole Sports
Created and evolving in strict accordance with SportAccord and the International Olympic Committee criteria, Pole Sports is now in its 15th year at the World Pole Sport Championships. With more than 3000 athletes worldwide competing in regionals, nationals and opens throughout each year and expanding exponentially in terms of competitors, countries, continents and fans, this enthralling sport culminates each year at the World Championships where elite athletes from across the globe compete for the Gold Medal and the coveted title of World Pole Sports Champion.
This flagship discipline includes artistic elements but is based heavily on athleticism and technical merit, and judged by an original Code of Points in line with Olympic standards.
Qualification by attending a national or open championships (all IPSF competitions host an Open).
Here is the latest IPSF Pole Sports Code of Points:
Ammendments:
- Correction on Filling out the Form for Compulsory versus Technical Bonus
Here is the latest IPSF Rules & Regulations - Sports Championships:
Please note that this document replaces the rules and regulations section in the following codes:
- IPSF Pole Sports Code of Points 2025 - 2027, published on 7 January 2025
- IPSF Aerial Hoop Sports Code of Points 2024 - 2025
- Aerial Pole Sports Code of Points 2024
This means this document must be used in combination with the codes mentioned above, with this section only replacing the Rules & Regulations component.
And here is the Tracksuit Addendum (this document should be read together with the IPSF Pole Sports Code of Points):
And here are the forms you need to submit:
Compulsory Form:
Technical Bonus Form (Singles Athletes):
Technical Bonus Form (Doubles Athletes):
The IPSF has a system of submission of new elements and combinations whereby athletes:
- Send a video of your your move or combination to new-moves@ipsfsports.org
- Make sure you clearly name the move or combination.
- Wait 14 working days for a response or a request for further information.
- If the move or combination has been approved, the move name will be logged by the IPSF. It could be that the name you have chosen is not technical term that fits with the IPSF coding. In such a case the IPSF Technical Committee will decided on a name that works with the coded names. Your chosen name will become the AKA directly after name of the move or combination.
- The move will be advertised in case of an appeal.
- If there is no appeal the move or combination will then be considered for inclusion into the IPSF Code of Points by the technical team.
- If the move or combination is successfully place in the code it will be filmed, named, AKA, point allocated and place on the IPSF YouTube account for reference purposes.
- All moves must be submitted before 31st July to be considered for inclusion to the following years updated code.
- Moves already in the code can not be renamed or claimed.
- The technical teams decision is final and entry to the code is based on the IPSF criteria.
- In the case of a successful appeal the IPSF reserve the right to change the name or AKA of a move in order to reflect the appeal outcome.
- The IPSF reserves the right to periodically review the above criteria and up date the criteria for submission.
If you have any question please contact new-moves@ipsfsports.org
Introduction
Anyone (including volunteers), with control of a facility (e.g. studio, school), or an event (e.g. regional, national or world championships), has a duty to see that premises, equipment and activities are safe for all participants and all those involved (officials, spectators etc.) A great first step for all clubs/organisers of athletic activities is to review the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance on Health & Safety for Sport and Leisure activities.
The guidance is designed to act as a one-stop-shop for Pole and Aerial Sports clubs/school and bodies and includes checklists and advice to help those running sports clubs/schools to comply with health and safety law.
Safety in Pole and Aerial Sports
Safety should be an integral part of all pole and aerial disciplines at all levels, from recreational classes through to the highest level of competition.
In terms of legal requirements, there are two main considerations for clubs/schools and event/activity providers:
- “Duty of Care” is a common law duty that applies to all individuals and organisations. This law requires that all coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators have a “duty of care” for those over whom they have a responsibility.
- Health and safety legislations, such as Acts of Parliament and regulations set specific duties for employers, are applied in order to limit the risks to anyone coming into contact with their organisation. The main Act to be aware of is the Health and Safety at Work Act Clubs/organisers with no employees (volunteers only). Most health and safety law and regulation applies to employers only, and as such, it is not legally binding on clubs without employees.
That said, the IPSF recommends that volunteer club and event providers without employees achieve the same standards of health and safety as that required of employers. This demonstrates to volunteers and participants that they are valued and will enable clubs/schools to satisfy their duty of care requirements.
It is key to remember, the Health and Safety at Work Act only lays down statutory duties; a common law (i.e. non statutory) duty of care towards others applies to all those who visit, work, or are affected by your club’s activities.
Clubs/organisers with paid employees
Clubs/organisers with paid employees fall within the main scope of the Health and Safety at Work Act and are required to ensure safe systems of work and a safe working environment for their staff and others using the premises where the work takes place. Therefore, if a club/organiser employs any staff then the requirements of the Act apply to activities in and around their place of work.
Managing Safety
Those involved in running Pole and Aerial Sports activities and events need to ensure that they manage the potential risks that they face and help others to develop a knowledge and awareness of basic safety requirements. The planning and implementation of any activities in any situation should take full account of the safety requirements to ensure the organisers and participants safety.
It is hoped that this section will provide those involved in Pole and Aerial Sports with advice and information, which will allow them to analyse and adjust their current practices. It is impossible to cover every aspect or situation that will require professional judgement to be exercised. No one is expected to be perfect only that they should act in a manner that is “reasonable” in the light of commonly accepted and approved good practice within Pole and Aerial Sports.
We understand how difficult it is to get the winning routine and advice. Now we can offer you your own virtual coach in the most innovative training package ever created for competition! Have every aspect of your routine judged and analysed by one of our IPSF experts to give a full comprehensive breakdown of every section. Learn how to improve your scores with tips and techniques included for you to get the most out of the Code of Points and build that winning routine!
The IPSF Virtual Coach Service for your Personal Analysis Feedback includes the following full breakdown for:
- Compulsory elements and bonuses with precise guidance in accordance to the minimum requirements as how to improve your scores and get the maximum number of bonus points from the elements you have chosen.
- Technical Bonus tricks, spins and overall bonuses. Learn how to make the most of the tricks you have chosen and where you could add in some extras for a higher score. Find out also how to raise your overall bonus scores by improving certain aspects of your routine.
- Technical Deductions with a precise detailed analysis of every moment in your programme that may receive a deduction plus an overall guidance as to how you can improve your routine to raise your score.
- Artistic and Choreography bonuses and deductions. Understanding what will get you maximum points and how to guarantee certain scores will raise your overall score in this section with details as to how to avoid deductions too.
Your Personal Analysis Feedback will also include the following:
- Tips and guidance for your costume
- Review of your chosen music and how to use it to your advantage
- Full score sheet analysis for each section
- Recommendations for any areas of concern
You will need to upload the following in your application form with your payment:
- Fully completed compulsory score sheet
- Fully completed technical bonus score sheet
- Video of your routine in accordance to the criteria required
Results:
Within 14 working days, you will receive your Personal Analysis Feedback from your IPSF Virtual Coach.
Cost:
€90 for a Complete Personal Analysis Feedback
€30 for Personal Analysis Feedback on individual sections (Compulsory, Technical Bonus, Technical Deductions, and/or Art & Choreography)
VIDEO CRITERIA
- The routine for the video preliminaries in the Seniors/Doubles/Masters and Junior categories in all divisions (amateur, professional, elite) must be a minimum of three minutes and fifty seconds (3.50) to a maximum of four minutes (4.00) in duration. For the Novice category in all divisions the routine must be a minimum of three minutes and twenty seconds (3.20) to a maximum of three minutes and thirty seconds (3:30) in duration.
- Choreography, costume, music, hair and makeup used in video must correspond to rules stated in the IPSF National Rules and Regulations.
- The video must be filmed with no cuts and with good lighting; videos filmed in dark rooms or with flashing lights will not be guaranteed.
- No distracting sounds such as conversation in the background are accepted.
- No other persons besides the applicant are to be visible; please make sure whoever is filming is out of sight in a mirror.
- The video must be filmed upright and from an angle in front of the two poles. Videos turned sideways, upside down or from an angle may not be able to be analysed fully.
- The video must be clearly labelled with the athlete’s full name, division and category.
- The apparatus must be set up according to the apparatus norms and rules & regulations.
- A correctly filled in compulsory form with the chosen elements and a correctly filled in technical bonus score form, is to be submitted with the link to the video, dependent on the analysis option chosen.
- For updates and current criteria see the current IPSF Code of Points per discipline.
Terms and conditions
By accepting the terms and conditions, it is acknowledged that any results from the personal analysis cannot be used as an exact prediction of the scores that may be awarded if the routine is used in competition or an exact comparison to scores that may have been awarded if the routine was used in a previous competition. The analysis will give a precise indicator of the scores that can be expected in accordance to the current Code of Points if the routine is performed in the exact way it is presented on the video. The purpose of the analysis is to learn how to improve the scores by correcting anything that is highlighted.
The personal analysis is viewed as being a confidential document intended only for the athlete. The analysis is done independently of any judges, head judge or competition organisers of any IPSF competition the routine will be used for. The virtual coach will not discuss or inform any persons other than the athlete who has requested the service about any information determined in the analysis.
The service will take fourteen (14) working days to complete from the date of acknowledgement and will be sent via email to the email address listed on the original application form.
There are no refunds or transfers of any monies paid for the service when the score sheets and video have been upload.
Video filming criteria must be adhered to as a representation of what is accepted in an IPSF competition. Any video received that does not adhere to this cannot be guaranteed a precise analysis, as IPSF rules and regulations will be included within the feedback.