Latest Revision: February 2023

Age divisions for IBTF disciplines are different than CBTF age divisions, and an athlete's competing age is also determined differently.

The IBTF competition program is divided into a two-year cycle:

• In Year 1, the disciplines are: Solo, 2Baton, 3Baton, X-Strut, Artistic Twirl, Duet, Artistic Pair, Artistic Team, Twirl Team, Artistic Group, and Twirling Corps
• In Year 2, the disciplines are: Freestyle Solo, Freestyle Pair, Freestyle Team, Rhythmic Twirl

NOTE: IBTF also offers Majorette disciplines. At this time, CBTF does not participate in these disciplines.

IBTF AGE DIVISIONS – WORLD BATON TWIRLING CHAMPIONSHIP and NATIONS CUP (WBTC/NC)

In Year 1 of the IBTF Cycle, the IBTF runs the World Baton Twirling Championship and Nations Cup competitions.

The competing age for the IBTF World Championship and Nations Cup competitions is based on their age on December 31 of the calendar year of the competition. For example, for a competition held in August 2023, the athlete will compete based on the age they will be on December 31 2023.

Athletes competing at the World Championship and Nations Cup Qualifier and those representing Canada at the IBTF World Championship and Nations Cup must comply with the following age divisions for IBTF Individual events:

• Women Youth: 12-14 years
• Women Junior: 15-17 years
• Women Senior: 18-21 years
• Women Adult: 22 years and older
• Men Junior: 12-17 years
• Men Senior: 18 years and older

For Artistic Pair and Duet, the age division is determined by the age division of the oldest athlete in the Pair/Duet. For example, if a Youth and an Adult athlete formed an Artistic Pair, they would compete in the Adult age divison.

For the group events (Freestyle Team, Twirl Team, Artistic Group, and Twirling Corps), there are no age divisions.

In all disciplines, athletes must be at least 12 years of age.

WBTF AGE DIVISIONS – WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP (WFSC)

In Year 2 of the IBTF Cycle, the IBTF runs a World Freestyle Championship competition.

At this time, the age division rules have not been published by the IBTF. CBTF expects that the same age definitions will continue to be in effect. For example, for a competition held in August 2024, the athlete will compete based on the age they will be on December 31 2024.

WBTC/NC QUALIFIER – MINIMUM AGE

Athletes in Individual, duet/pair, and all group events at the CBTF WBTC/NC Qualifier must be twelve (12) years old or older in the year of the WBTC/NC competition they are qualifying for as per IBTF minimum age requirements.

WFSC QUALIFIER – MINIMUM AGE

Athletes in Individual, pair, and all group events at the CBTF WFSC Qualifier must be twelve (12) years old or older in the year of the WFSC competition they are qualifying for as per the anticipated IBTF minimum age requirements.

Athletes 7 years old and over shall be permitted to compete in the Canadian WFSC Qualifier. However, qualifying athletes will only be able to compete at the WFSC if they are 12 years old in the year of the competition as per the anticipated IBTF minimum age requirements.

Should an athlete/pair who does not meet the IBTF minimum age requirements finish in one of the qualifying positions, they are not eligible to compete at the WFSC. All athletes/pairs move up in ranking to fill the vacancy.

Should an athlete who who does not meet the IBTF minimum age requirements be a member of a qualifying Freestyle Team at the WFSC, the alternate (providing she/he meets the IBTF minimum age requirement)) shall take that athlete’s spot on the Team.