View source for CHAMPION PROGRAMS

==Introduction==
There are three titles that can be earned by competitors in the ATA: State/Provincial Champion, District Champion, and World Champion.
==Tournament Year==
The tournament year ends and begins at World Championships; one tournament year ends with the Tournament of Champions, and another begins with the Class "AAA"  World Championship tournament usually on Saturday and Sunday. <span style="background:yellow">The 2016-2017 Tournament Season will end on Sunday, April 16th, 2017.  The final day for ATA Licensees to host a sanctioned Class “C” event will be April 16th, 2017.  (Class “C” events held after April 16th will count towards the following season’s standings). </span>

==Competitve Events==
There are eight (8) competitive events that are awarded points in an ATA tournament.  These are traditional forms, traditional weapons, traditional free sparrings/one-steps, combat weapons, creative forms, creative weapons, xtreme forms and xtreme weapons.
==Proper Division Placement==
It is crucial to understand into which division a student should be placed.  The proper division is based on '''competition age''' and '''rank'''.
===Competition Age===
See [[COMPETITION DIVISIONS AND RING ASSIGNMENTS#Competition Age | Competition Age]].
===Rank Information===
The criteria that are important for a color belt and black belt students differ. It is important to check rank information provided in State and World Championship programs to understand the best placement for the competitor.<br>
Some general notes:
*1BR competitors are not allowed to compete in a black belt division.
*2BR competitors must compete as the 2nd-degree black belts.
==Notes about Points==
<span style="background:yellow">For this tournament year, participants at class B tournaments will be awarded FULL points regardless of how many competitors are in their ring. This system will also be used for Class AA (national) and Class AAA (World) events. Class A events will use the same point system for rings that are not full as has been previously used. We understand that by doing this, some competitors are not going to want to have their rings “combined” with other rings. The RTTL should continue to combine rings as we have previously done, Based on the guidelines set forth by the International Chairman of Tournaments. The RTTL’s decision in how a ring is combined or split is final and should not be affected by competitors, spectators or Instructors at the tournament. If, after all of the combining division steps have been completed, and there is still a division with less than five competitors then the full points will be awarded for Class B, national and world events.</span>

=="Class C" Tournaments==
Class C tournaments are to be “inner-school” events. There are two ways for a tournament to qualify as "inner-school".
#Competitors are limited to only members of schools or clubs owned by the same owner.  The owner is defined as a person included on the license of the school or club on record with the School Operations Department of the ATA International Headquarters.
#Any school or club may combine with any other school or club or multiple clubs/schools as long as the combined testing average is 70 or less. The average testing number will be determined by the testing department by taking the total number of Black Belts and Color Belts who test during the previous year’s tournament season and dividing the total number by 6, or the actual number of tests sent in (whichever number is less), to create the average number tested. School Licensees, who fail to turn in tests promptly, may hamper their ability to combine with other clubs or schools for this process.<br>
If ineligible members of other schools or clubs compete in these events, the results may become null and void and any possible points earned may not be awarded.<br>
'''Important Sanctions Information for ATA Licensee:'''
*The Class C event must be sanctioned with the Tournament Department of the ATA International Headquarters at least 30 days in advance of the event. 
*Only one Class C tournament may be hosted by an ATA Licensee during any 30 day period. 
*These events must not conflict with other regional (in the ATA Licensee’s region), national, or international events and will not be officially sanctioned if the dates do conflict.<br>
The points awarded in all divisions (except Special Abilities) at a Class C tournament for the purpose of State, or World Top Ten standings are as follows:<br>
'''For all divisions of 5 competitors or more'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|1st place
|3 points
|- 
|2nd place
|2 points
|-
|3rd place
|1 point
|-
|}
'''If the division has fewer than 5 competitors:'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|Place
|4 competitors
|3 competitors
|2 competitors
|1 competitor
|-
|1st 
|2 pts
|1 pt
|0 pt
|0 pt
|- 
|2nd
|1 pt
|0 pt
|0 pt
|
|-
|3rd
|0 pt
|0 pt
|
|
|-
|}
<br>
There will be NO points awarded for divisions with fewer than three competitors. The creation of divisions is solely in the hands of the school/club owner. They are not bound by any of the same rules governing the other classes of tournaments. '''Color belts and black belts may be combined to achieve a full division.'''
To prevent abuse of the system (this limit applies only to Class C tournaments), there is a four event limit per tournament year that an owner can host and that a student can earn points in towards World or State Champion Top Ten standings. These four Class C tournaments will count in addition to the current number of events allowed towards either “Championship” group. To provide another safeguard against a competitor winning a title with only Class C tournament points, a limit of 50% of a competitor’s point total can come from Class C events.<br>
'''Example''': The most points a competitor can earn from Class C tournaments are 12 (4 tournaments times 3 points for first place). To be able to apply all 12 points to their total, they would need to have at least 12 points come from higher class level tournaments.<br>
'''Note''':
*As a point to remember, if a competitor places at Class C tournaments first, their points will not be reflected in the standings until they place at a higher class level tournament and meet the 50% rule.
*The ATA Licensee has '''seven business days''' from the completion of the tournament to submit the results to headquarters. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of points for the students who participated.
*Class C tournaments '''held in April must be received at Headquarters by April 19th to be counted towards the current tournament year.'''  There will be not exception to this rule.<br>
'''Awarded Points for Special Abilities''': For Special Abilities divisions at Class C events, the competitors may earn 1 point per competitor up to a maximum of 3 points provided that all competitors in the division are Special Ability competitors. All other rules concerning Class C events apply to Special Ability divisions. In Class C events, Cognitive and Physical categories of competitors in special ability divisions should be combined.
==“Class B” Tournaments==
Regional events that have been approved by the ATA Licensee’s region and sanctioned by the Tournament Department of the ATA International Headquarters are considered “Class B” tournaments.
<br>
The points awarded for a “Class B” tournament are as follows: 
<br>
'''For all divisions'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|1st place
|5 points
|- 
|2nd place
|3 points
|-
|3rd place
|1 point
|-
|}
==“Class A” Tournaments==
“Class A” tournaments are regional events that have been approved by the ATA Licensee’s region and sanctioned by the Tournament Department of the ATA International Headquarters. For a tournament to be eligible for the “Class A” ranking, the history of the previous events hosted by the same ATA Licensee is reviewed.
<br>
“Class A” events are expected to be larger and offer the potential for a higher level competition, therefore, the points awarded are increased. from that of a “Class B” events. The points awarded for a “Class A” tournament are as follows:
<br>
'''For all divisions of 5 competitors or more'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|1st place
|8 points
|- 
|2nd place
|5 points
|-
|3rd place
|2 point
|-
|}
'''If the division has fewer than 5 competitors:'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|Place
|4 competitors
|3 competitors
|2 competitors
|1 competitor
|-
|1st 
|6 pts
|3 pts
|2 pts
|1 pt
|- 
|2nd
|5 pts
|2 pts
|1 pt
|
|-
|3rd
|2 pt
|1 pt
|
|
|-
|}
==“Class AA” Tournaments==
“Class AA” tournaments are the three National events. The number of these events may change in the future as may the locations. Due to the size of these events, the potential for more competitors and thus a higher level of competition in each division, the points awarded are of greater value than a Regional Tournament.
<br>
The points awarded for a “Class AA” tournament are as follows:
<br>
'''For all divisions'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|1st place
|15 points
|- 
|2nd place
|10 points
|-
|3rd place
|8 point
|-
|}

==“Class AAA” Tournaments==
There is only one “Class AAA” tournament each year. This is hosted by the Grand Master of Songahm Taekwondo and the ATA International Headquarters. It is typically called the Songahm Taekwondo World Championships and usually has competitors from all over the world from the ATA, STF, and WTTU. Due to the size of these events, the potential for more competitors and thus a higher level of competition in each division, the points awarded are of greater value than all other Sanctioned Tournaments.
<br>
The points awarded for a “Class AAA” tournament are as follows:
<br>
'''For all divisions'''
{| class="wikitable border="1"
|-
|1st place
|20 points
|- 
|2nd place
|15 points
|-
|3rd place
|10 points
|-
|}

==Point Structure and  Maximum Points==
All champion programs will use the same point structure for awarding points. Points are awarded based on the tournament's classification, the number of participants in the event, and the competitor's placement in the event.  The competitor must be in good standing with the ATA and meet the eligibility requirements for the program. There is a limited number of tournaments results that will count towards the standings.  They are World Championship results, best two Class "AA" results for each event, five best regional results for each event, & 4 qualifying class C results for each event. Point accumulation for individual competitive events are calculated independently.<br>

<span style="background:yellow">The '''maximum point''' total is 102 for State and World Top Ten standings,</span>
*World Championships - max of 20 points
*<span style="background:yellow">Best National event ( You may count 2 out of 3 class "AA" events) - max 30 points </span>
*Best five regional tournaments - max 40 points (Assuming 1st place, full ring @ 5 "A" tournaments)
*Four “Class C” events - max 12 points.<br>
SPECIAL NOTE: “PHANTOM COMPETITORS”''' It has come to the attention of the Tournament Department at the ATA International Headquarters that members of the ATA have been '''“bowing in”''' to a ring in order to allow the ring to get '''“full points”'''. This practice is strictly prohibited. It not only does not follow the letter of the rules but violates the spirit as well. Only competitors who have paid for the event and fully intend to compete in that event to the best of their abilities should be allowed to participate in a ring. Competitors should ALWAYS attempt to compete at their best.  Competing with the intention of losing (i.e. demonstrating only a few moves of a form) violates the spirit of Songahm Taekwondo competition.  <span style="background:yellow"> Rings found to contain phantom competitors will be subject to loss of points and additional penalties for the competitors and judges in that ring.</span>

==Top Ten Standings==
During the tournament season, the ATA Tournament Department will collect the results of all sanctioned tournaments. The eligible students who placed will receive Top Ten points according to their placing. These points are awarded in Traditional Form, Traditional Point Sparring, Traditional Weapons, ATA-Xtreme Form, ATA-Xtreme Weapons, Creative Form, Creative Weapons, and Combat Sparring competitions. These points are totaled at the end of the tournament year, and those ten competitors in each division with the most points will earn a spot on the appropriate Top Ten list. All tournaments will follow all ATA tournament rules including the current guidelines for separating and combining age & rank groups and for distributing awards. Points will be awarded only for placing in those tournaments properly sanctioned by the ATA International Headquarters. Tournaments are identified by different class distinctions. Each class has different criteria that must be met and offers a different point structure.

<span style="background:yellow"> STATE AND TOC POINT CORRECTIONS: Tournament points are normally updated twice a week during the tournament season.  It is the responsibility of the competitor and/or the competitor’s instructor to check his/her points on a regular basis.  Any point corrections or inquiries must be made in writing to mailto:tournaments@ataonline.com within 30 days of the tournament being posting to ATAonline.com. Requests not made via email will no longer be accepted. This “paper trail” is essential in making sure all competitor concerns are fairly and timely addressed.  After 30 days of a tournament being posted, no additional correction requests can be made. It may take longer than 30 days to resolve any requests.  For tournaments held in April, the competitor will have until April 28th to contact in writing the tournament department to request point corrections. '''This rule does apply to wrong age, rank,  & gender errors.''' </span>

<br>HELPFUL TIPS:<br>
 
#Check your points in your personal ATA profile
#Match these points against the current World/State Standings
#If there is a discrepancy, or if you feel that you are missing any points, please email the ATA Tournament Department immediately at tournaments@ataonline.com (please note the deadlines given above for point corrections)

==<span style=background:yellow>White/Orange/Yellow Belt Sparring at  all Events</span>==
Leadership competitors (W/O/Y) who choose to do both traditional sparring and traditional one-steps '''will receive the points from the highest placement they earn'''.<br>

'''Example''':  Competitor A, in a full division at worlds, wins 2nd place in one-steps, but 1st place in traditional sparring.  He/she would receive the first place points instead of the 2nd place points.  The competitor will not receive both sets of points.