UK CROSS TRAINING 

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UKXTA General Cross training competition  rules

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Membership Rules and Regulations 

These rules are currently under discussion with the County representatives. If you have any views on any of these please contact them or us. We are aiming to have universal rules so that any member can expect similar judging at each event and therefore can train in the full knowledge of what is wanted. We are also looking to have rules that make it easy to judge such that only one judge is needed per piece of equipment for both counting and judging. This will enable smaller events to be run strictly and to the same rules as larger events without having to find a large number of judges.

 Bike

The competitor themselves must not enter starting sequences on the Bike. Either  their coach or a course official, depending on the course organiser, will input the correct sequence – race mode – for the piece of equipment. Only when the judge says the distance has been completed can the athlete progress. Organisers must state the make and model of the Bike being used at least 2 months prior to the event to give athletes a chance to train on them.

Lat pull downs in front of the face

To count the arms need to be fully extended at the top of the pull down and the bar must be pulled down below the level of the chin to the front of the body. Excessive leaning back will not be allowed. The judge will count out the full legal number of repetitions. You can stop and rest at any time and continue later on. But all reps must be done before continuing. The make of the machine needs to be made aware to the competitors at least 2 months in advance of the event.

 Lat pull downs to behind the neck

These are currently not acceptable as part of the cross training competitions due to the high degree of injuries they have caused. It is however recommended that you train your shoulder muscles with these exercises for all round shoulder strength. (under discussion)

 Box Step Ups 

The step up box height  must be between 13" and 14" high. The exact height in inches or centimeters  must be given to the Athletes at least 2 months before the event. If a particular model of step box is being used its width and height, make and model must be described in order for the athlete to be able to find one to practice on. To count as a step up both feet must be fully on top of the flat part of the box with no part of the heel hanging over the edge.  The athlete must stand near to vertical, not bent over at the hips, on the top of the box with hips above the ankles and not excessively leaning back. Weights must be placed on top of the box prior to going on to the next exercise. 

 Sit-ups

To count the hands must hold the ear lobes between thumb and forefinger and both the elbows and the back must touch the ground at the end of the downward phase of the sit up. There is no need for the back of the head to touch the ground. The elbows must touch the knees at the top of the sit up and they must touch the ground at the end of the sit up to be counted as complete and correct. The feet must be held flat to the ground by the person selected to be your coach or a course official. An option for feet to be placed under a secure foot hold can also set for this exercise but again the course organiser must make this clear before the event if sit ups are to be done this way. The judge will count the number of legal sit-ups. The athlete can stop and rest and continue later on but all sit ups need to be done before being able to continue.

 Row

The athlete’s coach or course official will input the correct start procedure and arrange any settings on the seat and footrest that the athlete wants. As soon as the athlete is seated and both their feet are touching the foot rests the athlete can start to row. The athlete will not be able to leave the seat until the correct distance is rowed but they are allowed to take their feet out of the straps and foot rests.

 Bench Press

The arms must be straight and fully extended at the top of the bench press and the bar must actually touch the chest at the end of the downward phase of the bench press. The back must not arch in the middle when lifting the bar up and your bottom must always be in contact with the bench. Your coach can spot you on this exercise and the judge will count the number of legal repetitions. The athlete can stop and rest and continue later on but you will not be allowed on to the next exercise until all are done. If the organiser wishes to determine where the athletes can place their hand on the bar they can do so by marking the bar with tape which will represent the maximum distance apart hands can be held. If this is to be done, there must be a women's maximum mark that is a different colour from the men's. Again if these marks are to be applied in a competition the organiser must clearly indicate at least 2 months in advance of the event the exact distance in centimeters between the marks so that athletes have time to train with these rules in mind.

 Treadmill

The athlete’s coach or course official, depending on how the organiser is running the event,  is responsible for the correct inputting procedure. The athlete must not touch the treadmill with their hands except for the increase/decrease speed arrows. They must remain on the treadmill until the distance is complete. They can stop to walk on the way. If the athlete falls off the treadmill during the race they will be allowed back on but will have to complete the whole distance again. 

 Shoulder press

The shoulder press must be on a slightly inclined bench such that the bar can be lowered down in front of the face. It will not be acceptable if the bench is so vertical that the bar is lowered in a way that produces excessive neck twisting by the athlete in order to avoid facial contact with the bar. The arms must be fully extended at the top of the press and the bar must be lowered to below the nose on the downward phase. The back must be kept against the upright bench at all times. You will have to pick up the bar from the ground yourself and rest it on your lap if you need a rest at any time. If the organiser wishes to determine where the athletes can place their hand on the bar they can do so by marking the bar with tape which will represent the maximum distance apart hands can be held. If this is to be done, there must be a women's maximum mark that is a different colour from the men's. Again if these marks are to be applied in a competition the organiser must clearly indicate at least 2 months in advance of the event the exact distance in centimeters between the marks so that athletes have time to train with these rules in mind.

 Press Ups

To count a press up must have straight arms extended at the top of the press up and arms bent equally on both sides of the body so that the chest or shoulder touch a clenched hand of a course official or they touch an object of similar length that is held by an official in right position. For women that will be under the shoulder and for men at the sternum of the chest. Feet can be either side to side with ankles near to touching or one on top of the other. Feet further apart that one inch will not be allowed. The upward phase will be deemed to have been completed when the back of the athlete reaches the arm of a course official and their arms are fully extended. If the organiser wishes to adapt the press ups done by using hand grips for athletes to hold, they can do so only if the athletes are notified of this at least 2 months in advance of the event.

 Chins - (Pull Ups)

To complete a correct pull up the chin must be raised above the bar on the upward phase and the arms must be fully extended at the end of the downward phase. If the bar touches just below the chin that will count. At the end of each pull up the competitor must hang with arms extended until the judge or course official calls out ‘up’. The judge may not delay the hang for more than 1 second. In other words you must hang with arms extended for just under a second before going on the complete the next pull up. To notify the competitor that the upward phase is complete (with chin above the bar) the course official or judge will call out the number of pull ups done. If the pull up on the upward phase is incomplete the judge will call out ‘no’.

 Dips

To complete a correct dip the both arms must be fully extended at the upward phase and the shoulders must be lowered on the downward phase to a point designated by the course officials. This point should be adjustable such that each competitor has to bend at the elbow to a 90 degree right angle bend. 

The upward phase will be deemed to be complete when the course official calls out the number of dips done at the end of that upward phase. The down ward phase will be deemed to be complete when the judge calls out ‘yes’ and when the arm is bent at right angles at the elbow as indicated by an adjustable mark set to the side of the dip bar by the course officials. This mark may be made by the arm and clenched fist of the official where the shoulder needs to come down and touch the fist. The official will hold the mark / fist at such a place as to cause the elbow to be bent at right angles in order for the mark to be reached or touched. Whatever the method of measuring the downward part of the dip, this must be made aware to the athletes at least 2 months prior to the event.

 Squat Thrusts (double)

To do a complete squat thrust competitors must jump across two parallel lines that have been clearly marked on the floor or mat. They must do this with their hands placed on the floor in front of the lines in any place or way that they want. Their feet (toes) must land clearly behind the back line at the full leg extension phase and they must jump to clear the front parallel line. On the forward jump the toes must cross the line but if the heels are raised and hanging over the line the jump will count. If the heel touches the ground and then touches the line the jump will not count. Judges will only call out numbers of complete jumps they have observed. Competitors are allowed to jump to cross the front line with feet further apart if they wish. As long as the line rules and toe positions are adhered to the legs and feet can jump with or without feet together at the competitor’s own preference. For double squat thrusts each jump is counted. Organisers can use a flat board instead of two lines but they need to have made athletes aware of their intentions to do this at least 2 months in advance of the event.

 Squat Thrusts (alternate leg)

 Single leg alternate squat thrust are to be judged in the same way with regards to feet positions but where one leg must jump forward to clear the front line, the other leg must jump to the rear to clear the back line. In this case every second jump will be counted by the judges. Organisers can use a flat board instead of two lines but they need to have made athletes aware of their intentions to do this at least 2 months in advance of the event.

Bench Jumps

There are many variables that can come into bench jumps but in the interests of the standardisation of the sport we are recommending that these are done the following way under the following conditions. The bench should be a height of between a maximum of 16 inches high and a minimum of 14 inches. The width should be no wider than a standard step up box. In every competition the organiser must give the dimensions of the bench at least 2 months in advance of the event. The height, width and length must be given in centimeters. This will allow the competitors time to find a similar bench in which to practice. Hands must be placed on the same bench such that the height of where your place your hands is the same height as the box you are jumping. For a jump to be deemed correct both feet have to land at the same time either side of the bench. Judges will call out every two jumps instead of everyone. In other words for 50 bench jumps, you will need to have jumped over the bench 100 times.

 Upright Row

To complete a correct repetition for an upright row the competitor needs to lift the bar with the weights on up to just below the chin and down to a position where the arms are fully extended with the bar held down by your waist. The competitors will need to keep their back straight at all times and if the judge feels you are lifting the bar in a way that might be dangerous to your health (curving the spine or excessively initially jerking the bar in order to raise the weights) you will be disqualified. Competitor are not allowed to extend their legs (by straightening them as in preparing to jump in the air) in order to help with the raising of the bar. Judges will call out a correct repetition by calling out the numbers of the reps done at the end of each upward phase. The athletes elbows must have been raised above shoulder height at the top of each rep.

 Hip Flexors

To complete a correct hip flexor the thighs must be brought up with knees together to touch a bar on top of the hip flexor station. After this upward phase the competitors legs must then be extended below the hips (not out in front of the body) with the feet finishing vertically beneath the hips of the competitor and the legs fully extended at the knee. The judge will call out the number of completed repetitions at the end of each downward phase when the feet are below the hips and legs are straight. The touching of the bars will be noted at the upward phase. If no touch is observed by the judge the will call out ‘No’.

If organisers fail to give athletes 2 months notice of slight changes to the rules that have been outlined above, they will be invalid and the event may not be sanctioned.

Membership Rules and Regulations

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