Required Elements

• The use of the poms must be justified. This means that without pom use, the visual effects would not be evident or enhanced.
• Poms must be used for at least 80% of the entire performance. The use need not be consecutive and may include one or all members.
• The calculation is made by dividing the Pom Use Time by the Total Performance Time.

Potential Penalties

• A routine with less than 80% pom use will result in a 1-pt penalty for each 10 seconds.

• Exceeding or not meeting time requirements will result in a 1-pt penalty per each 10 seconds. 

• A dropped pom or item is a 1 point deduction for each infraction.

Helpful Hints

Variety of elements can be achieved by the following:

• Level changes incorporating pom use
• Group work incorporating pom use
• Type of arm positions
• Directional changes while using poms (movement L to R, front to back, crossing, etc.)
• Pom "pictures"/Punch-outs/Ripples
• Colors and Size

Difficulty of elements can be achieved by the following:

• Changing the tempo of motions
• Increasing the number of body parts used to complete a motion
• Increasing the number of motions within a precision sequence
• Complexity of the movements within precision sequence
• Increasing the number of performers executing a precision Sequence
• Traveling while executing a precision sequence

Creativity is defined as the following:

• The extent to which basic pom moves, combinations and visual effects are used in unusual ways.
• Consider how "old" pom visuals may be revamped in an interesting "new" way or debut a totally different concept.