Which Competition is Right for You?

Competitions

Pole Sport
Pole Art
Classique
Aerial Hoop Sport
Aerial Hoop Art
Aerial Silks Sport
Aerial Silks Art

(no junior categories in Classique)

Divisions

Amateur
Competitive
Para-athlete

Doubles and Groups

Doubles Junior A
Doubles Junior B
Doubles Junior Mix (10-17 yrs)
Doubles Senior (over 18 yrs)
Group Mix (3-6 athletes over 15 yrs)*

* For Pole and Aerial Art Only

COMPETITIONS

Pole Sport

Pole Sport is for athletes who can excel all around. Tricks, artistry, and execution are all judged in this competition. Athletes declare a set of moves from the Code of Points and then are judged based on their execution of those moves in addition to floor work, acro moves, and choreography. Do you have what it takes and are willing to work hard to show it? Pole Sport is for you.

Judging Systems is based on the POSA POLE SPORT CODE OF POINTS.

No props, no shoes. Lyrics are allowed. Costumes must meet the dress code standards set forth in the POSA Pole Sport Code of Points.

Athletes can advance to The POSA World Pole Championships and CSIT World Games.

Pole Art

Do you have a story to tell or a message to portray? Pole Art may be the place for you. Focus is based on the artistry of the routine while still executing beautiful pole movements. Leave your impact by competing in Pole Art.

Judging Systems is based on the POSA POLE ART RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Lyrics are allowed. Props and shoes (but not platforms) are allowed. More lenient costume dress code.

Athletes can advance to The POSA World Pole Art Championships.

Classique

Do you love to showcase the sensual side of pole, with a focus on fluidity, graceful strength, and flexibility? This is not a venue for raw sexuality, but rather the seductive beauty of movement and dance on and around the pole. Compete in Classique.

Judging Systems is based on USPSF POLE CLASSIQUE RULES & REGULATIONS.

The minimum age to enter is 18 years old. Lyrics are allowed. Props and shoes (including platforms) are allowed. No thongs or pasties.

Aerial Sport for Hoop and Silk

Do you love to fly and can't wait to show off your aerial skills? Ready to have a clear judging system for your routine? Athletes declare a set of moves from the Code of Points and then are judged based on their execution of those moves in addition to floor work, acro moves, and choreography. Compete in Aerial Hoops or Aerial Silk.

Judging Systems is based on POSA AERIAL HOOP AND SILKS CODE OF POINTS.

Athletes can advance to The POSA World Aerial Championships.

Aerial Art for Hoop and Silk

Do you have a story to tell or a message to portray? Aerial Art may be the place for you. Focus is based on the artistry of the routine while still executing beautiful hoop or silk movement. Leave your impact by competing in Aerial Art.

Judging Systems is based on the USPSF AERIAL ART RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Lyrics are allowed. Props and shoes (but not platforms) are allowed. More lenient costume dress code.

Athletes can advance to The POSA World Aerial Championships.

WHICH LEVEL ARE YOU?

Picking the right division level helps you to score your best

Amateur

Are competing at the level of moves valued between 0.1 to 0.5 in the Code of Points.

Competitive

Are competing at the level of moves valued at 0.6 and higher in the Code of Points.

Para-Athlete

For athletes with physical or visual impairments. Athletes must prove their disability by medical certificate or invalidity card.

Rules and Regulations for Competitions

You can check out all the following on our Documents page.
All competitors should refer to the following documents.

POSA Rules & Regulations
USPSF Rules & Regulations
USPSF Athlete Contract

Competition-specific documents are listed further below.

Pole Sport

POSA Pole Sport Code of Points
POSA Difficulty Sheet
How to Fill out a Difficulty Sheet
POSA Doubles Lifts Sheet (if doing doubles)

Aerial Sport for Hoop and Silks

POSA Aerial Hoop & Silks Code of Points
POSA Difficulty Sheet
How to Fill out a Difficulty Sheet
POSA Doubles Lifts Sheet (if doing doubles)

Pole Art and Aerial Art

POSA Pole Art Rules & Regulations
USPSF Concept Form (optional)

Classique

USPSF Classique Rules & Regulations
USPSF Concept Form (optional)

WHY SHOULD YOU COMPETE?

Competition is a great chance to progress, have new experiences, and possibly even advance.

But no matter what your reason, competition can be a wonderful opportunity.
We hope to see many NEW athletes join the competition this year.

Grow as an Athlete

There are a few things like preparing for a competition to help you grow as an athlete.

Experience the transformation of going from a recreational poler to a true athlete by signing up and competing.

Showcase your Hard Work

Chances are if you're reading this you are pretty passionate about pole. You probably put a lot of time and effort into what you do. Competitions can be a chance to showcase all that hard work to a broader audience.

Be a part of History

When you compete with the USPSF, you're making history. We are recognized by the US Sports Council as the governing body of pole sport. We are on a mission to grow pole sport.

So when you take the stage for a USPSF competition, you're helping to write a page in history books of pole!

Qualify for the POSA World Championships

Pole Sport, Pole Art, Aerial Hoop, and Aerial Silks Athletes in Amateur and Competitive divisions can all advance to the POSA World Championships.

The top three of all age divisions (besides Varsity) will get a spot on TEAM USA and qualify for Worlds.

This is your chance to compete on the world stage with the best of the best while still competing comfortably in the category that is right for you.

Have Fun

This is, after all, for you.

Competition can lead to new friends, new experiences, and ultimately, new joy.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've never competed before. Is this competition right for me?

Yes! We have an Amateur division so even those that are new to the competition can have a chance to grow through the USPSF.

I'm nervous. Does that mean I shouldn't compete?

Competing is so much fun! Some butterflies are okay when you're preparing for competition. But, even though we will be judging your routine, we won't be judging you! We want as many people as possible to have the chance to learn and grow through competition. We want the sport to grow! So if competing is something that makes you a little nervous but also makes you excited, then the USPSF is a great place for you.

What does the length of my routine need to be?

For Pole Sport, Aerial Hoop, and Aerial Silk: All Amateur and Para-athlete Division routines must be between 3:20 to 3:30 minutes long. For Competitive Divisions, the length is 3:20 to 3:30 for Juniors and 3:50 to 4:00 for Seniors and Masters.

For Pole Art, Aerial Art, and Classique: All Amateur Division routines must be between 3:00 and 3:20 minutes long, and all Competitive Division routines must be between 3:30 and 4:00 minutes long.

Are fade-outs okay in the music?

Fade-outs are permitted, but please keep in mind that the Head Judge considers the first tone of music to be the beginning of the routine and the last tone of music to be the end of the routine.

Are lyrics allowed?

Yes, lyrics are allowed for all competitions.

I'm over 40. How should I choose to compete between the Senior or Masters 40+ Categories?

If you're competing in Pole Sport, Aerial Hoop, or Aerial Silks, this will ultimately depend on the range of difficulty elements you declare. Declared elements that do not fall within the Category's allowed range will not be evaluated and assigned a 0 value. You can always perform lower / higher scored elements, but they cannot be declared as difficulty elements.

We will not combine categories based on the number of submissions.

Do I have to do Anti-doping?

Yes. POSA anti-doping rules follow the World Heavy Events Association (WHEA) anti-doping program. You must sign an anti-doping contract with WHEA prior to the competition. The contract puts you under doping monitoring, and you can be tested in competitions and training seasons without pre-notice by WADA officials. The procedure to sign the contract can be found at https://www.posaworld.org/anti-doping/ and more information can be found at https://www.wada-ama.org/en.

Are mesh inserts ok for aerial costumes?

For women's costumes, net fabric is allowed only at the top part of the sternum or on sleeves.

What footwear am I allowed to wear for Classique?

Heels, including platforms, along with other types of dance/sports shoes are allowed. Heels should be securely fastened to the foot and can be no higher than calf height.

Shoes with metal studs or other parts that could damage the poles are not allowed. Thigh-high boots (ie. covers the knee) are not allowed.

For Pole Sport, Aerial Hoop, and Silks, does the Execution Judge only score my declared elements?

The difficulty elements are evaluated by the Difficulty Judge. The Execution Judge will evaluate the technical execution of all movements of the entire routine, not just the difficulty elements.

How do I fill out my Difficulty Sheet?

We have a "How to Fill out a Difficulty Sheet" checklist and example on our Documents page.

For Aerial Hoop and Silks, is there a maximum floorwork time limit?

The choreography on the floor must be a minimum of 30 seconds, but there is no maximum time limit.