Brief History: Several IMC Committee members have composed rule-sets for IMC in the past, but none of these have been brought before the Committee for formal acceptance. Instead, the IMC was guided by rules initially laid down by the founders Guttorm Bakke and Earle Murphy, with ad-hoc additions passed by the IMC Committee through the years. These rules and guidelines have never been collected and recorded in one place, though some recent rules appear in the minutes of various meetings. The rules below came about as follows: In 2004-05, Kari Kolppo (FIN) prepared a very extensive and complete rule set which he distributed for preview by e-mail. This rule set was formally proposed in the annual meeting of the IMC Committee on Feb 26, 2005, where the rules were discussed and modified, paragraph by paragraph. Kari integrated the modifications and Don West edited the document further for English usage. The resulting document was posted on the Masters web page late in May 2005 and members were asked for comments and criticisms. These were collected over the summer. Several members asked IMC Committee Chairman Klaus Günther for further formal consideration of the rules, and he agreed. In November 2005, the Chairman wrote "the IMC board met in September in Kranj for a program discussion of the upcoming IMC games in Kranj and used the situation to hold a meeting internally for the IMC. The subject was the IMC rules. The IMC board again worked through the rules for seven hours word for word and paragraph by paragraph according to the believes of the IMC. We would like to give all IMC members the opportunity to look at the rules critically and analyze them and have possible changes presented early and without hurry by their country representatives at the next IMC captain’s meeting." The resulting new document is posted below, and Klaus again invites Committee members to submit suggestions for changes to the rules. Please submit suggested modifications to Klaus and Don at the addresses given here: Klaus -- 092130686-0001@t-online.de ; Don -- donbarbwest@msn.com

Table of Contents 1 - GENERAL RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS (IMC)       AND INTERNATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMITTEE (IMC-C) 1.1 ORGANIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS (IMC) 1.2 ELIGIBILITY 1.3 CONTROL 1.4 PARTICIPANT SAFETY AND INSURANCE POLICY 1.5 OFFICIAL IMC AND IMC COMPETITION LANGUAGES 2 - IMC RULES 2.1 RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE       2.1.1 Right of exclusion       2.1.2 Age groups       2.1.3 Competition sequence for the age groups 2.2 ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICIALS FOR THE IMC COMPETITION       2.2.1 International Masters Championships Committee (IMC-C)            2.2.1.1 The board of the IMC-C       2.2.2 The Chief of competition       2.2.3 The Jury       2.2.4 Draw 2.3 EQUIPMENT 2.4 COMPLAINT OR PROTEST TO THE JURY 2.5 AWARDS CEREMONY 2.6 COMPETITION RULES FOR SKI JUMPING       2.6.1 Size of the Ski jumping hills       2.6.2 Participation in Ski jumping       2.6.3 Ski jumping competition 2.7 COMPETITION RULES FOR NORDIC COMBINED       2.7.1 Ski jumping            2.7.1.1 Size of the Ski jumping hills       2.7.2 Cross Country Skiing            2.7.2.1 Skiing distances for Nordic Combined 2.8 TEAM COMPETITION IN SKI JUMPING       2.8.1 Composition of the team       2.8.2 Mixed teams       2.8.3 Order of start 3 - TWO SAMPLE SCHEDULES FOR IMC GAMES

 

1 - General Rules for International Masters Championships (IMC)       and International Masters Championships Committee (IMC-C) 1.1 Organization of International Masters Championships (IMC) International Masters Championships (IMC) is organized annually. The site and host organizer for the IMC is chosen at least one year in advance during the International Masters Championships Committee (IMC-C) meeting held during the IMC games. 1.2 Eligibility Participation in the IMC is open to all properly licensed competitors entered by their National IMC Associations. Participants in IMC are members of their national team and represent their country. Organizers and IMC-C can also invite non-members to the IMC. This is a rule especially applied to nations not yet having IMC associations. 1.3 Control Every legal sanction imposed and published in respect of a competitor, official or trainer will be discussed and decided by the IMC-C. 1.4 Participant safety and insurance policy Organizer, international or national IMC Associations are not required to provide any insurance for the participants, but all officials of the IMC competition should have liability insurance. National IMC Associations should ensure that all athletes representing them in IMC events are adequately insured 1.5 Official IMC languages English and German are official IMC languages. All official documents have to be in English. 2 - IMC rules 2.1 Right to participate Right to participate is achieved for both sexes at age of 30 (see Eligibility). Division deadline between age groups is January 1. The athlete must reach the entry age before the World Championship year! 2.1.1 Right of exclusion The jury has the right to exclude an athlete from participation, if his life and limb is endangered. 2.1.2 Age groups Participants compete in following age groups: 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94 ... (as needed). Age groups will never be combined. There will be separate competitive classes for men and women. Due to the will of the woman, they can start in the men class. This will be decided every year by the IMC-Board, shortly after registration deadline.   2.1.3 Competition sequence for the age groups Competition starts from the oldest age group and continues in sequence towards the youngest age group. 2.2 Organizations and Officials for the IMC competition 2.2.1 International Masters Championships Committee (IMC-C)  The IMC-C will meet annually during  IMC games. In these meetings the agenda always includes: select organizers for future IMC games. discuss the IMC  rules for the following games. 2.2.1.1 The board of the IMC-C The board of the IMC-C  consists of the president, the vice president, the coordinator for Nordic Combined and the coordinator for communication and cultural activities.. It is elected for two years by the IMC-C on the captains meeting. In the year of election it should be always announced in the first IMC-C meeting, that the candidates for president must present their choice of board members on the last meeting, because the president is elected always together with the board members in one election.  2.2.2 The Chief of competition The Chief of competition is responsible for the preparation of all technical and administrative aspects of the competition. He directs on assignment of the Jury the technical aspects during all trainings and competitions. 2.2.3 Jury The organizer has to constitute a Jury of 3 members. The Jury must ensure that the entire competition, including the official training sessions, is organized and carried out in accordance with rules and honouring the spirit of IMC games and without endangering the health of the athletes. 2.2.4 Draw Competitors' starting order for each event and each discipline is decided by a random draw. 2.3 Equipment Equipment (skis, poles, boots, helmet, jump-suit, gloves, goggles) must follow generally accepted ski jumping and cross country standards. The rule applied in limiting ski tip length should always follow the FIS rule limiting the percent of the total ski length permitted in front of the boot. The total length of the ski can deviate up to 5 cm longer than the FIS rules. On K-60 hills and smaller the total Ski length is unlimited. 2.4 Complaint or Protest to the Jury A protest during the competition may be made verbally to any Jury member no later than 5 minutes, or in writing (English or German) to competition secretary no later than 60 minutes after the competition. The Jury must consider protests if they are made within the time limit.  2.5 Awards ceremony The time of the Prize Ceremony is decided by the organizer. If two or more competitors receive the same points, or in NC finish with the same time, they shall be given the same placing and will be awarded the same prizes, titles or diplomas. The allocation of titles or prizes by drawing or by another competition is not allowed. 2.6 Competition rules for Ski jumping 2.6.1 Size of the Ski jumping hills Ordinarily IMC ski jumping is organized on three different sized ski jumping hills: K40 (± 10 m), K60 (± 10 m) and K90 (± 10 m), with the intention to have good spacing between hill sizes. Other size hills could be considered but require approval from IMC-C. 2.6.2 Participation in Ski jumping An athlete can participate at the most to two individual ski jumping competitions. In addition to these the athlete could also take part in Ski jumping for Nordic combined and in Team jumping competitions. 2.6.3 Ski jumping competition Ski jumping competition is composed of  (trial) round and two judged competition rounds. The Jury determines the starting gate.If there are too many competitors, the competition could be divided into two sessions based on age groups, and if necessary the competition could take place during two days. Each age group MUST, however, compete as one entity during the same session! 2.7 Competition rules for Nordic combined 2.7.1 Ski jumping in Nordic Combined Ski jumping for IMC Nordic combined is arranged during the special Ski jumping competition on K40 (±10 m) and K60 (±10 m) Ski jumps. 2.7.1.1 Size of the ski jumping hills K40: Age groups 60 and older K60: Age groups below 60 (ages 30-59) 2.7.2 Cross Country Skiing in Nordic Combined Technique for Cross Country Skiing is free. 2.7.2.1 Skiing Distances for Nordic combined Skiing distance for Nordic Combined is determined according to the age group as follows: Age groups 30-49: 10 km Age groups 50-59: 5 km Age groups 60+: 3 km 2.8 Team Competition in ski jumping Team competition in Ski jumping is organized on Ski jumping hill K60 ± 10 m . Individual competitions cannot occur simultaneously with a team competition. Team competitions cannot be scored during individual competitions. For a team competition, each team is made up of six competitors, representing the first six age groups: 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 (see 2.8.1). Results are calculated as collective points from the six jumpers of the team. The start order of the competing teams is decided at the previous team captains meeting. 2.8.1 Composition of the team in Team Competition While the members of a team "represent" the six age groups 30-59, an athlete belonging to the older age group, or an athlete over 60 years old, can also participate as a representative in a younger age group. (Therefore, we can say that a team will consist of members of ages (respectively): 30 or more, 35 or more, 40 or more, 45 or more, 50 or more, 55 or more.) For each team, the list of its jumpers and their age groups shall be submitted to the Competition Committee the day before the competition. 2.8.2 Mixed teams in Team competition A country without its own national team can take part in the Team Competition by forming a mixed team with representatives from another country. 2.8.3 Order of start in Team Competition Competition starts with all representatives of the oldest age group and proceeds with younger age groups. In each age group, competitors jump in the order of the team seeding. Mixed Teams start in the beginning of the team competition, followed by second national teams and national teams without placement in the previous IMC games. The start order for these groups is made by draw. The start order for first national teams is based on reverse order of the Team standings from the previous IMC games. The competitors must compete in same group and in same order in trial round and in both competition jumps. If the conditions so demand, the length of the inrun can be changed after each group, or a round of only one specific group can be cancelled and restarted. 3 - Two sample schedules for IMC games Traditional Schedule (Three days of Competition) Sunday/Monday Arrival of the teams / competitors Free training for ski jumping and cross country skiing Tuesday Free training for ski jumping and cross country skiing Wednesday Free training for ski jumping and cross country skiing   Evening Opening ceremony Thursday Morning First session of K60 competition   Afterwards Second session of K60 competition Friday Morning Noon Team competition K 40 competition   Afternoon Buffers or cross country skiing   Evening Team captains meeting, followed by IMC-C meeting Saturday Morning  competition K90   Afternoon Cross country skiing  or buffers for the K-90   Evening Festive conclusion banquet Sunday Departure day   New Longer Schedule (Four days of Competition) Sunday Arrival of the teams / competitors Monday Arrival of the teams / competitors Free training for ski jumping and cross country skiing, scheduled if necessary into sessions having suitable number of countries and athletes. Tuesday Free training for ski jumping and cross country skiing, scheduled if necessary into sessions having suitable number of countries and athletes.   Evening Opening ceremony Wednesday Morning Buffers or beginning with the first competition of K-60   Afterwards First session of K60 competition   Evening Open training, K90 with speed measurement. Thursday Morning Second session of K60  competition or Team-competition   Afterwards Open training, K90 with speed and distance measurement Friday Morning Team competition or K-40   Afternoon K40  competition or cross country skiing for NC   Evening Team captains meeting, followed by IMC-C meeting Saturday Morning Competition K90   Afternoon Cross country skiing for  Nordic combined or buffers for K-90   Evening Festive conclusion banquet Prize ceremony Tribute to the oldest participant of the IMC games Tribute to the sportiest athlete, age considered Sunday Departure day   The proposition for the schedule is made by the organizer. The final decision is up to the board. Note: Considerable effort should be given to provide the athlete a comfortable time during the IMC games. Competitions should not pile up for any of the athletes, and the arrangements should also facilitate friendly IMC feelings between the various organized IMC events! “Games should remind us that ski jumpers at any age are playful and young at heart - fun to be with.” IMC hompage;            http://www.skijumpeast.com/masters/imcintro.htm