Regulations

Version History

Summary

These regulations govern the 2027 SCL Championships.

SCL Championships

• Summary — this event determines the US champions for the Elementary, Middle School, and High School divisions.
• Location — Westgate Las Vegas: 3000 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Dates — Sat 5/15/27 to Sun 5/16/27

These regulations may be amended by SCL. SCL reserves the right to amend regulations and adjudicate incidents as they should arise even if they are not explicitly stated here.

[1] Schools

Definition of a School

A school is an organization in which a team in any championship division may be formed. A school must be registered with SCL, and SCL will have discretion in determining which students may be considered as part of the school. In general:

• Public schools are defined by the local school board
• Private schools are defined by their 501(c)(3) status and school accreditation
• The grades for Elementary, Middle School, and High School should match the organizational structure and marketing materials of the school

Note: while most schools define Middle School as Grades 6 to 8, some organizations define Middle School as Grades 5 to 8. Students registered for each division should be consistent with the organizational structure and marketing materials of the school. High School consists of Grades 9 to 12.

SCL reserves the right to make a final determination if a school is eligible for registration and if it will accept the students’ participation on the team.

Middle School

A middle school consists of students from Grades 5 to Grade 8. If an organization registers a grade to be part of the Middle School Division, then its students must compete in the Middle School Division.

Age — students must not turn 15 before January 1 of the competition year. For example, students competing in the Middle School Division of the 2027 US National SCL Championships must be born on or after January 1, 2012.

Eligible Years — students may compete a maximum of 4 years in the Middle School Division.

Elementary School

An elementary school can consist of students from Grades K to Grade 6. Students in Grade 7 are not allowed to compete in the Elementary School division.

Age — students must not turn 13 before January 1 of the competition year. For example, students competing in the Elementary Division of the 2027 US National SCL Championships must be born on or after January 1, 2014.

Eligible Years — students may compete a maximum of 6 years in the Elementary School Division.

High School

A high school consists of students from Grades 9 to 12.

Age — students must not turn 19 before January 1 of the competition year. Students competing in the High School Division of the 2027 US National SCL Championships must be born on or after January 1, 2008.

Eligible Years — students may compete a maximum of 4 years in the High School Division.

Students

Students must be actively enrolled in the grade at the school for the team they are competing in.

[2] Teams

A championship team consists of exactly 3 students from a school. Students must be enrolled in the grade that corresponds with their division. A school may register multiple teams.

SCL requires the following information to register a team:

School Registration Information

• School Name
• School Address
• School Website
• Team Representative Information — Email and phone, the adult who will be responsible for the team

Student Information

• Student Name
• Birth Month and Year
• Grade
• Optional — SCL ID if the student has an SCL account profile

Team Name

Schools may have more than one team. If a school has more than one team, then the teams will be identified with letters, unless the team submits its own nickname at registration.

[3] Events and Scoring

Round Types

There are two types of rounds:

• Seed Rounds — the first attempt(s) for an event, used to determine seeding for subsequent rounds. Competitors will not receive the same scrambles. For events with more than one seed-round attempt (see Event Details), the competitor’s or team’s best attempt is used for seeding.
• Final Rounds — Final rounds are used to determine final rankings in an event. The ranking in the final round supersedes the ranking in the seed round. Competitors will receive the same scrambles.

At the SCL Championships specifically, certain team events are run across both days of competition, once per day, with the better of the two attempts counting toward seeding into finals. See Event Details for the current schedule.

Meet Scoring

Elementary, Middle School, and High School entries are ranked separately within their divisions. Individuals, pairs, and teams earn Meet Points directly from their placement within the division. The Meet Points earned by all entries from a championship team are added to that team’s overall total.

Each event type uses a Meet Points scale that balances the number of entries a team may field while rewarding depth. An Individual Event sweep of the top three places earns 12 + 10 + 8 = 30 points, a Pair Event sweep of the top two places earns 16 + 12 = 28 points, and a Team Event win earns 20 points.

In the event of a tie, tied entries will share the rank and the Meet Points assigned to the places they occupy.

• Example: Foo and Bar tie for first and Baz was behind them both. Baz would place 3rd in this event.

The number of Meet Points awarded per event is as follows:

Events

List of Events

Individual Events

Individual events are events where students participate as individuals with no interaction with teammates. Each team’s three students are entered and ranked within their division. Each student earns the Meet Points assigned to their placement, and all three results count toward the team’s overall total.

• If two or more competitors are judged as having tied for the same rank, points for the ranks involved shall be divided equally between these competitors.

Pair Events

Each team enters two pairs, and all three students on the team must participate across those entries. A student may participate in both pairs. For example, with students A, B, and C, one entry may have A calling while B solves, and the other may have A calling while C solves. Entrants (pairs) will be ranked within their division according to performance, and Meet Points will be awarded to the corresponding teams. The top eight pairs in each division score points for their team; if both pairs place in the top eight, both pairs’ results score.

• If two or more pairs are judged as having tied for a place, points for the places involved shall be divided equally between these competitors.

Team Events

Team Events are events where students participate as a team, solving simultaneously rather than in sequence. All three students compete in the team’s single entry. The team’s final result is based on its ranking within its division.

• If two or more teams are judged as having tied for a place, points for the places involved shall be divided equally between these competitors.

[4] Puzzles

SCL will provide the puzzles for all events at the SCL Championships. Puzzles for each year will be made available for purchase through our partner SpeedCubeShop. Competitors will not be able to use their own puzzles at the Championships.

Puzzle Models for 2027

[5] Solving

Starting the Solve

Puzzles will be covered by a cloth. The competitor should remove the cloth after they start the timer.

The Puzzle Area

A neutral boundary zone separates the timer from the puzzle area. The puzzles begin in the puzzle area, and a competitor may not begin manipulating the puzzle until the timer has started. Once solved, a puzzle must be returned to the puzzle area and not left in the neutral boundary zone. All puzzles must be returned to the puzzle area with nothing in the neutral boundary zone when the timer is stopped.

Timer Start and Stop

Starting the Timer

• Confirming that the timer is reset. If the timer is not reset, the competitor should inform the judge, and the judge will reset the timer.
• Place both hands on the timer.
• Wait for the ‘ready’ light.
• Begin the solve.

Stopping the Timer

• Place both hands on the timer.

For the 3x3 Pair BLD Solve, the blindfolded teammate starts and stops the timer. The sighted teammate may not touch the puzzle or the timer at any point during the solve, and may only communicate with verbal cues.

For team events, one member of the team will be designated as the captain, and the captain will start and stop the timer. All other team members must have their hands placed down flat on the table outside of the puzzle area and outside of the neutral boundary zone before the timer is started and before the timer is stopped.

Puzzle Completion

A puzzle is solved and complete when it is returned to its solved state (e.g. all sides with matching colors) and is within the puzzle area.

If there is a misalignment of turns, the judge will determine whether or not the puzzle is solved.

A puzzle is considered unsolved if:

• 1 or more faces is more than a half turn from being solved
• 1 or more pieces are not securely attached to the puzzle

If any puzzles are unsolved when the timer is stopped, then the attempt will be disqualified.

[6] Event Details

All events will be recorded to the resolution of a millisecond (one-thousandth of a second or 0.001 seconds).

Events Summary

Championship Schedule (2027)

The 2x2, Pyraminx, and Mixed Puzzle Team Solve, and the 3x3 Team Solve, are each attempted once on Day 1 (seed round) and once on Day 2 (seed round) prior to finals; the better of a team’s two attempts is used for seeding. The 3x3 Individual Solve and 3x3 Pair BLD Solve are each attempted once, in the Day 1 or Day 2 seed round respectively. The top 8 teams in each division advance to finals, held Day 2 afternoon, followed by awards. Exact start times are published separately ahead of the event.

[7] Awards

Elementary, Middle School, and High School each have separate finals and final rankings. Awards will be presented for first, second, and third place within each division for every official SCL Championship event. Placements will be determined by that division’s final-round results when an event includes a final round.

For individual events, each placing competitor will receive an award. For pair events, each member of a placing pair will receive an award. For team events, each placing team will receive an award.

The three teams with the highest overall Meet Point totals within each division will also receive awards for first, second, and third place in that division’s SCL Championship standings.

In the event of a tie, all competitors, pairs, teams, or schools sharing a rank will receive the award associated with that placement. The next available placement will follow the official rankings.

[8] Unofficial Events

At the SCL Championships, SCL may offer a block of unofficial events (for example, on Saturday evening). Results from unofficial events are recorded but do not count toward a team’s official Meet Score. Unofficial events may include relays, puzzles outside the standard event list (e.g. Clock), novelty formats (e.g. solving with oven mitts), and trial events under consideration for future seasons. Participation is optional.

A Note on Rulings

SCL organizers reserve the right to make final rulings on any situation that comes up during competition, including things not explicitly covered in these regulations. Our goal is always a fair and well-run event for everyone competing.