3.4 DIFFICULTY ELEMENTS (see Appendix 4)

The Difficulty Elements are classified into the following 3 “groups” in consideration of the physical ability required for each skill.  Elements having similar techniques in each group are classified into “families”.

• The difficulty level is ranked from 0.1 to 1.0 point.
• Competitors may select the difficulty elements within their routine.  In Senior International categories, only skills with a value of 0.3 to 1.0 will be recognized as difficulty elements (for Junior and Age Group, refer to Appendix 1).

All Categories	Minimum of 5 Families must be performed. Maximum of 2 Base Named Elements from each Family. If the element does not meet the “minimum requirements”, then it is counted but no value is given. Maximum of 2 times in Wenson position (any phase of the skill which include Wenson shape will count as Wenson position). Maximum of 3 elements landing to PU and/or to split position in Group B (for IM; no split landing). Elements cannot be repeated (Difficulty / Acrobatic).
IM / IW	Must perform 9 difficulty elements. Maximum of 3 elements can be combined in 1 set. Maximum of 3 sets of combinations.
IM	Compulsory to perform at least 1 element from Family IV (Group B). Not allowed to perform Family VIII (Group C). No elements landing in split position (Group B).
MP / TR / GR	Must perform 8 difficulty elements. Maximum of 2 elements can be combined in 1 set. Maximum of 2 sets of combinations. Must perform the same element at the same time. TR / GR: May not perform element overlapping (3 or more competitors in a column from the Judges’ Panel view)