FORMATION TEAM ENTRANCES, EXITS, AND TIME RESTRICTIONS

ALL TEAMS
1. Entrance to the dance floor may only be made from one or more of the four corners of the floor.  The red carpeted stairs may not be used.
2. The timing of a team's entrance will begin when the team begins to enter from one or more corners of the dance floor.  If the team walks along the edge of the dance floor the clock will still begin when they commence to enter the space from one or more of the corners of the dance floor.
3. The timing of a team's exit will begin when their music finishes and will end when the last team member steps off of the dance floor. Exits must be to one or more of the four corners of the floor. 4. A team will be penalized for any infractions of the time restriction, beats and bars, or other rules as determined by the Chairman of Judges. Penalties could include dropping one or more placements, dropping from one division to a lower one, or disqualification. YOUTH TEAMS 1. If music is used for the entrance there must be either a "gong" sound or a complete break in the music for a space of at least two seconds that separates the entrance from the routine music proper. The formation team must remain motionless during this break. If musi
4. A team will be penalized for any infractions of the time restriction, beats and bars, or other rules as determined by the Chairman of Judges.  Penalties could include dropping one or more placements, dropping from one division to a lower one, or disqualification.

YOUTH TEAMS
1. If music is used for the entrance there must be either a "gong" sound or a complete break in the music for a space of at least two seconds that separates the entrance from the routine music proper.  The formation team must remain motionless during this break.  If music is used in the entrance, then the gong or space must be completed by the thirty second point from when the team begins their entrance onto the dance floor.  (This means that a team may not walk onto the floor and then have a thirty second piece of music, followed by a gong or a space, as that would exceed the thirty seconds total that are allowed for their entrance.)
2. Music is not allowed during Youth team exits.


APPLICABLE NDCA FORMATION TEAM RULES:

TIME RESTRICTIONS - NDCA rule XII.E.
1. Pre-Teen/Elementary School formation teams shall be limited to two minutes of music for their routine.  Up to an additional fifteen seconds will be allowed for their entrance and then up to another fifteen seconds allowed for their exit.  The timing begins when the first person sets foot onto the dance floor.  The timing ends when the last person on the team steps off the dance floor.
2. Junior/Junior High School formation teams shall be limited to three minutes of music for their routine.  Up to an additional fifteen seconds will be allowed for their entrance and then up to another fifteen seconds allowed for their exit.  The timing begins when the first person sets foot onto the dance floor.  The timing ends when the last person on the team steps off the dance floor.
3. Youth/High School formation teams shall be limited to a maximum of four minutes of music for their routine.  Up to an additional thirty seconds will be allowed for their entrance and then up to another thirty seconds allowed for their exit.  The timing begins when the first person sets foot onto the dance floor.  The timing ends when the last person on the team steps off the dance floor.

ENTRANCES AND EXITS - NDCA rule XII.G.
1. Pre-Teen/Elementary School and Junior/Junior High School formation teams are not allowed to use music for their entrance and exit.  The team must remain motionless for a period of at least two seconds before the start of the music and then again at the end of the dance before they start their exit.
2. Youth/High School formation teams are allowed to use music for their entrance, but not for their exit.  When music is used for the entrance there must be either a "gong" sound or a complete break in the music for a space of at least two seconds that separates the entrance from the routine music proper.  The formation team must remain motionless during this break.