UK CUBE ASSOCIATION

Parents' Guide: What Happens at a Competition? What Can I Expect at My First Competition?

What Happens at a Competition? What Can I Expect at My First Competition?

You do not need to read all of this answer! It is provided as a detailed description for those that find it helpful to know more details ahead of attending. But there is a Competing and Judging tutorial at the start of each day where all the information is covered.

We encourage parents to attend the tutorial to understand more and to learn how to help out.

Plus, there will be lots of people willing to help you at every competition. If you do get to the end of this answer you will be very well prepared for your first competition!

Overall, you will find a warm welcome, and lots of other Speedcubing families.
Competitions are held in large rooms/halls.

Venues are set up with:

  • Competition area. Which is made up of: the tables at which the competitors solve; a scramble1 table where cubes are mixed up; and a waiting area for competitors.
  • Staff table: Where the volunteer team runs the competition.
  • Check-in desk: Where all competitors let the team know that they have arrived and where competitors receive their competitor card2.
  • Seating area: Where competitors and spectators can sit to watch the competition or wait to compete.
When you arrive, find the check-in desk. At the desk you’ll need to show formal identification of the person that will be competing i.e.: the cuber. Formal identification includes birth certificates, passports and driving licenses (see What Do I Need to Bring to My First Competition?) and pick up your competitor card.

The competitor card (also sometimes called a “group card”) looks roughly like:

Competitor Card Example
Once you’ve done that then you find the seating area and wait. There is no fixed seating in the seating area, so just find a space. Within minutes of arriving, you may find that your young person is chatting to another competitor or sat on a table with other competitors practicing cubing (talking optional.)

Competitors stay in the seating area until their event3 and group4 is called up.

When their event and group is called up, they take their cube to the scramble table and place it in the cube cover5 that contains the scorecard6 with their name on it.

Scorecards look roughly like this:

At some larger competitions there are multiple groups competing at the same time. So group 1 and 2 maybe called up together. In these competitions there will be different ‘stages’ i.e. competing areas. This normally is just a side of a room. Group 1 maybe on the left hand stage (on the left hand side of the room) and Group 2 on the right hand stage (on the right hand side of the room). If you are unsure where to go ask a Delegate7 and they’ll be able to show you to where the cube cover with your scorecard in is.

Once the cube is placed in the box with the scorecard then:
  1. the competitor goes to the competitor waiting area until their name is called
  2. they are then taken to a judge and table and their cube8 will be obscured by a cube cover
  3. they let the judge9 know when they are ready
  4. the judge removes the cube cover and starts a stopwatch
The competitor has up to 15 seconds to look at (inspect) the cube. Within that time they put the cube down, put their hands on the timer10 and lift them up and start to solve as quickly as they can. Putting their hands back down on the timer once they have completed.

If there are any problems during a solve then the judge will put their hand up and call over a Delegate who will decide what to do.

Competitors, scramblers and judges are asked to sign the competition sheet using their ID number (which can be found on the competitor card).

There are cut-off times11 and overall time limits12 for each event but this doesn’t stop anyone from taking part. If you don’t make the cut-off or go over the time-limits then it changes the number of attempts13 to solve that you get to do and your official result. The time-limit for the 3x3 is normally around 10 minutes so most people who have practiced can solve within this time.

Each competitor gets up to five solves, in each round.

Spectators are encouraged to watch, but please don’t go into the competition area (stay at least 1.5m away from judging tables) and please don’t use flash photography.

There is a tutorial at the start of each day of the competition so if you still want to know more, or ask questions then do go and listen to the tutorial!

Glossary:
1 Mixing up the cube. In competitions there are ‘official’ scrambles that must be used.
2 A piece of paper you are given when you arrive at the competition and register. It contains your ID number and tells you which groups you are in for competing, scrambling, and judging. Sometimes called a “group card.”
3 Different types of puzzle that are part of the schedule for that competition.
4 Each event is split into a number of groups of competitors to help manage the event. If there are 180 competitors then there may be 12 different groups for the 3x3. The competitor card tells you which group you are competing in.
5 The “box” that goes over a cube to hide it from view before a competitor starts.
6 A sheet for recording times of official solves. Competitors submit their puzzles by placing their cube with the record sheet for that event.
7 Volunteers who are formally recognised by the World Cube Association. They make sure that competitions are run according to the mission, spirit and regulations of the WCA.
8 Shorthand for any of the twisty-puzzles regardless of the shape.
9 The person responsible for watching a solve to confirm that it was valid and the initial person to record the times on the competitor record sheet.
10 The equipment used to time the solve. Starts and stops with both hands touching the timer pads.
11 For most events a competitor has five attempts to solve the cube. However, you only get to do all five solves if you meet the cut-off time in one of the first two solves. The cut-off time is the agreed maximum time for that event for a competitor to be able to do all five solves. For the 3x3 this is normally 3 minutes. It is different from the time-limit.
12 The time limit is the maximum time you have to solve the cube. Beyond that time the time will be recorded as DNF (did not finish). For the 3x3 this is often ten minutes. The time limit is different to the cut-off time.
13 Each effort to solve a cube in competition is known as an attempt. The number of attempts completed in one round by a competitor can range depending on the event and the competition, particularly in relation to the cut-off.

Kirsty Grainger, 2023-2024