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October 25 2026

How to Navigate Our Website and Competition Directory: Everything You Need to Know

A Backstage Guide to Understanding Our Website’s Competition Directory

Preparing for a performance, match, or showcase is an incredibly exciting journey, but finding the right competition can feel overwhelming when you are scrolling through dozens of listings with different rules, formats, and requirements. Whether you are an athlete looking to step onto the stage for the first time or a coach preparing a group entry, our competition directory is designed to make that process effortless, putting all the key event information you need right at your fingertips. To help you get the most out of our website, here is a quick breakdown of the terms and some of the filters you will encounter across our competition listings.

1. Format (How Competitors Compete)

The Format tells you how the competition takes place:

Live: An in-person event. You’ll travel to the venue, experience the stage, and perform directly in front of an audience and judging panel.
Virtual: An online (often streamed) performance. For virtual events, you will submit a recorded video of your routine by a specific deadline to be evaluated by the judges. Some competitions will compile all of the submissions and then stream the entire competition on a future date.

2. Apparatuses

Every discipline relies on specific equipment. This field highlights the exact apparatuses supported by the competition (such as pole, aerial silk, lyra, straps, invented apparatus, etc.. learn more about apparatuses here). Double-check this tag to ensure your specific discipline is included before diving deeper into the rules.

3. Performer Count

Competitions cater to different team dynamics. The Performer Count specifies how many people are allowed on stage for a single act. Common categories include:

Solo: A single performer.
Doubles: A duo performance.
Trios: A three-person routine.
Groups: Small to large teams performing together.

4. Registration Type

When you’re ready to enter, this field lets you know exactly what the path to the stage looks like:

Open Entry: The doors are open! Anyone meeting the basic category criteria can enter by registering and paying the entrance fee directly on a first-come, first-served basis.
Video Entry (Audition): Competitive spots are limited or require qualification. For these events, you must submit a preliminary audition video to try out before being officially accepted into the lineup.

5. Anti-Doping Requirements

For professional-level competitions, fairness and safety are paramount. Some events require athletes (and sometimes their coaches) to hold an anti-doping license from accredited organizations like WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) or WHEA (World Heavy Events Association).

Want a deeper look into what this means for you? Read our dedicated blog post about understanding anti-doping here.

6. Website & Country

Website: A direct link to the event’s official home page where you can check rules, register, purchase tickets, and view specific event schedules.
Country: Where the competition is physically held. Keep a close eye on this, as some events are geographically restricted and only open to residents of that specific country.

7. Next Competition Date

Timing is everything! This tells you exactly when the next event is scheduled so you can plan your training block accordingly. If a historic event is no longer running or on hold, we’ll label it as Inactive so you always have the most up-to-date data.

8. Blog with Competitor, Training, Coaching & Judging Insights

We don’t just want to tell you when the events are—we want to help you be successful at them! Our blog is packed with insider knowledge to give you a competitive edge. Here, you’ll find:

Competitor Insights: First-hand experiences and tips from athletes who have previously graced these stages.
Training & Preparation Advice: Tailored workout regimens, staging preparation, and equipment-specific tips to make sure your routines are seamless.
Coaching & Judging Perspectives: Understand what is happening behind the scoring table. Learn exactly what judges look for, how scoring criteria are applied, and coaching strategies to elevate your score sheet.

Ready to Find Your Next Event?

Now that you know how to read the blueprint, it’s time to find your spot in the spotlight. Head over to our directory, filter by your format and apparatus, and start planning your next great performance!

October 24 2026

Know Your Governing Bodies: Meet the Organizations Shaping the Future of Pole and Aerial

compmaster Uncategorized 0

Meet the Federations Helping Shape the future of our sport.

Our sport doesn’t have just one rulebook. It has more than we can count, each one created by and unique to the competition that wrote it. With hundreds of pole and aerial competitions around the world, there are just as many sets of rules. But five organizations are stepping up to lead our sport into its next chapter, and, one day, hopefully, to the Olympics. So who are these organizations and what do they actually do?

Important Note: There is no single official governing body for pole and aerial yet. Several independent organizations are working to set standards for the sport, and each has its own rules, vision and structure.

The 5, most commonly known as their acronyms (APSWL, IAAA, IAAO, IPSF and POSA) are:

These organizations or “governing bodies” have created their own competitive eco-systems with National federations and competitions in multiple countries that all share the same rules, regulations and judging standards. Behind the scenes, they employ technical teams to do the detailed work, like defining which skills are allowed and training judges to score them consistently. These teams are typically made of up coaches, current and retired athletes and studio owners.

What governing bodies usually do

Write the rules and scoring system (the code of points)
Set safety standards and eligibility, like age, level and attire
Organize or sanction competitions and championships
Train and certify judges, and sometimes coaches
Rank athletes and recognize results
Represent the sport to the public, sponsors and, for some sports, the Olympics and their in-country olympic councils.

The hope is that their work will grow into a unified set of standards, so every future studio, competition and athlete has a clear path to follow – and that leads to the Olympics like other recognized sports. Think USA Gymnastics: one recognized structure, with consistent rules, scoring and judging.

IPSF and POSA are among the most established names in our sport. Fun fact: they share a history, having originally been a single organization before becoming two.

At this time, it is unclear which organization (one of these five or maybe a newcomer all together?) will emerge as the primary governing body and authority for our sport. The hope is that, one day, our community will unify around a single universal standard that brings more consistency and clarity to athletes and coaches, while helping drive our sport forward to gain that Olympic recognition.

So why is it important to know these organizations? As an athlete competing under their system (or a coach prepping athletes) you need to understand their individual rules and judging system – even more so if you’re an athlete that competes at a variety of competitions not governed by the same organization.

While they all share some of the same basic principles and categorizations of ages and levels, there is a lot of nuance within them as you’ll notice in their Code of Points. These differences impact the way you build your performances (what tricks you can do in each level, trick valuation, deductions, etc), the documentation you must submit (ex: difficulty sheets versus compulsory forms and technical bonus forms), and the way that you are judged – including the make up of your jury at competition. As an athlete and coach, it is your responsibility to know and understand the code of points and rules for the competition you are entering. And as a new athlete it is important that you study these organizations and their rules before you decide to compete at one of their events.

Have questions about governing bodies, code or points or anything else competition related? Let us know!

September 22 2026

Competitions Drawing the Line on AI

compmaster Uncategorized

As the AI revolution reaches into nearly every corner of life, some competitions are taking a stand against AI on the competition stage and it feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a welcome contrast to an environment already saturated with heavily-filtered, AI-generated event graphics that make anyone who uses them look like a copy-paste job.

Competitions like Pole Theatre USA @poletheatreusa and Pole Art UK @poleartuk are taking a firm stand against AI by updating their rules to officially ban the use of AI artists and AI created songs at competition.

Why draw such a line on the competition stage? AI-generated content is built on the reprocessing of existing work and to many, that reprocessing amounts to plagiarism. While the cheap ‘DIY shortcut’ AI offers many may feel like a more affordable “win” to some individuals and businesses, it actually undercuts the working professionals and creatives who would otherwise be producing that work themselves.

When it comes to creative works, AI removes the personal touch and authenticity of creation.

The competitions saying NO to AI on their stages are doing so with the goal of protecting and preserving the human nature, integrity and authenticity of artistry and creativity.

We are curious to see what other competitions follow suit. What are your thoughts, do you support this stance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

September 16 2026

Safety Must-Haves to Look for Before Entering a Pole or Aerial Competition

compmaster Athlete and Parent Tips

Athlete safety should always be the number one priority at any competition, especially when athletes are taking on significant physical risk. Pole and aerial competitions ask you to invert, climb, drop, and catch yourself several feet off the ground, often at high speed and in front of a crowd. That kind of dynamic athleticism deserves the same level of safety planning that any high-risk sport requires.

Before you sign up for a competition, or sign your athlete up, it’s worth doing a little homework. Here are five non-negotiable safety must-haves that athletes, coaches, and parents should confirm a competition has in place before entering.

1. An AED On-Site

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. It’s a portable device that can detect and correct certain life-threatening heart rhythms in a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, including young, fit athletes, and the chances of survival drop significantly with every minute that passes without defibrillation.

Before competing, ask the event organizer whether there’s an AED on-site, where it’s located, and whether staff are trained to use it. It should be somewhere visible and easily accessible near the competition floor, not locked away in an office or storage closet.

2. Medical Staff On-Site (EMT)

Pole and aerial routines carry real risk of falls, dislocations, and other acute injuries, which means a trained medical professional should be present and ready to respond immediately. An EMT (emergency medical technician) is the baseline standard, and larger or higher-level competitions may bring in a certified athletic trainer or a physician as well.

Ask whether medical staff will be on-site for the full duration of the event, not just available on call. Someone trained in things like spinal stabilization, fracture care, and wound management can assess and treat an injury within seconds rather than minutes, which can make a real difference in outcomes for anything serious.

3. An Emergency Action Plan

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written procedure for handling emergencies, built specifically around the layout and logistics of the event’s location. A strong EAP outlines:

Which personnel are responsible for what during an injury or emergency
Communication procedures, including who calls for help and how
The exact location of medical equipment, including the AED and first aid supplies
Emergency escape routes for the venue

Don’t be afraid to ask the organizer if an EAP exists and whether staff and volunteers have actually reviewed and rehearsed it. A plan that only exists on paper isn’t much use in the middle of a real emergency.

4. Documented Incident Reporting

Ask whether the competition has a process for documenting injuries, near-misses, and equipment issues, rather than just handling them quietly in the moment. A simple incident report should capture what happened, who was involved, how it was treated, and any follow-up needed.

Documented incident reporting protects you as an athlete by creating a paper trail if further medical care is needed later, and it’s a good sign that an event takes safety seriously long after the day is over, not just while the competition is happening.

5. A Competitor Safety Meeting

Before competition begins, athletes should be gathered for a brief safety meeting covering where to find the AED, medical staff, and exits, and exactly what to do if an injury or emergency happens during their routine or someone else’s. This is also the moment to confirm who’s in charge on-site, how to flag a concern before it becomes a bigger problem, and what the process looks like if an athlete needs to stop a routine mid-performance.

If a competition doesn’t hold a safety meeting, ask where this information is posted or how it’s communicated. Safety resources only work if athletes actually know they exist and how to use them.

The Bottom Line

An AED, on-site medical staff, a rehearsed emergency action plan, documented incident reporting, and a competitor safety meeting are the baseline every pole or aerial competition should have, not optional extras. Before you or your athlete steps on stage, it’s worth confirming all five are in place. As pole and aerial competitions continue to grow and professionalize, asking these questions isn’t being difficult. It’s advocating for the safety you and your fellow competitors deserve.

Remembering Ty Knutson Xpole US President

September 16 2026

Remembering Ty Knutson: The Man Who Brought X-Pole to America

compmaster Industry News

The pole community is mourning another loss this year. Ty Knutson, founder and President of X-Pole USA, has passed at the end of March 2026. X-Pole issued a heartfelt tribute honoring his more than two decades of work building the brand’s presence in America and helping shape pole fitness into the respected discipline it is today.

For anyone who has ever trained on an X-Pole in a home studio, a fitness gym, or a professional stage in the United States, Ty’s fingerprints are on that experience, even if his name wasn’t the one on the box.

Tribute to Ty Knutson – President of X-POLE USA

Shared from: x-pole.co.uk

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the recent passing of Ty Knutson, President of X-POLE USA.

In a journey that started over 20 years ago, when pole fitness was still misunderstood and often dismissed, one person had the courage to see what others did not. That person was Ty Knutson, the founder and President of X-POLE USA – a visionary who helped transform pole dancing from a hidden art form into a movement of strength, creativity, and empowerment.

When X-POLE first launched, pole dancing was far from mainstream. It existed on the fringes, battling social stigma. Ty looked beyond the judgment and saw the athleticism, precision, and artistry of pole. Alongside X-POLE founder and creator Clive Coote, he helped develop a product line that made pole dance exercise safe, accessible, and professional – with X-POLE USA delivering that innovation into homes, specialty studios, gyms and onto performance stages across America.

Under his direction, X-POLE USA didn’t just sell equipment – it built a community. It opened doors for instructors, performers, and fitness enthusiasts to express themselves confidently and proudly in a discipline that celebrates strength, grace and individuality.

Ty’s passion and vision were instrumental in bringing Hollywood stars into our community and elevating the visibility of pole and aerial exercise. His partnership with the Arnold Sports Festival further solidified pole and aerial arts as legitimate sports and fitness disciplines, allowing them to reach global audiences. His early support for events such as Pole Expo and Pole Convention nurtured a vibrant community, fostering connections and collaborations among enthusiasts and professionals alike.

His commitment to the safe training of both instructors and students led to the launch of the XPERT training program, now the largest of its kind, which has trained countless instructors worldwide, setting a new standard in education and skill development.

Today, pole stands as a respected dance form, art, fitness, and sport across the globe. Every spin, climb, and inversion in a studio owes something to the foundation Ty helped lay – a foundation built on resilience, respect, and an unshakable belief in the potential of this sport.

Ty’s journey with X-POLE is more than a business success story; it is a story of cultural transformation. His legacy is written not only in the development of poles but in the empowerment of the countless people who found confidence, health, and community through pole and aerial fitness.

Thank you, Ty, for 20 years of leadership and for proving that courage and vision can turn even the most misunderstood art form into a worldwide celebration of movement and strength.

Ty’s legacy will continue to inspire and influence the pole and aerial world. His passion, vision, and commitment to excellence will be deeply missed but will live on in the hearts of all those he touched.

As we remember Ty, we honour his contributions to the amazing community he helped build.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ty’s family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

For further information or to share your memories of Ty, please contact us.

We kindly ask that people respect the privacy of Ty’s family during their time of grief.

Rest in peace, Ty. Thank you for seeing what so many others couldn’t, and for building the foundation that let an entire community grow into what it is today.

September 16 2026

Remembering Jamilla Deville: A Pole Dance Legend

compmaster Industry News

The pole community lost one of its true pioneers in August. Jamilla Deville, one of the most celebrated names in the global pole industry, has passed away. Tributes have poured in from studios, instructors, and fellow performers around the world, all echoing the same sentiment: pole dancing would not look the way it does today without her.

For anyone who has ever taken a pole class, watched a competition, or scrolled through pole content online, Jamilla’s influence is everywhere, even if her name isn’t always attached to it. This is a look back at her career and the legacy she leaves behind.

From the Stage to a Global Movement

Jamilla’s pole career spanned more than two decades and reached across the globe. She came to pole with an already rich performance background, having trained in dance, acrobatics, trapeze, corde lisse, and silks. That foundation shaped the artistry and control she became known for on the pole. During her time dancing at a gentleman’s club in Sydney, she discovered pole and linked up with a fellow dancer to transition into teaching at Sydney’s first pole dance studio. She claimed the original title of Miss Pole Dance Australia in 2005, a milestone that launched her into the international spotlight. Later, she opened The Jamilla Deville pole studio in 2006.

Building the OG Pole Dancer’s Bible

Perhaps Jamilla’s most lasting contribution to the sport was The Art of Pole, an instructional DVD series she created, produced, and starred in between 2007 and 2013. It became so influential that the pole community started calling it “the pole dancer’s bible,” and it remains one of the top selling pole instructional series ever released. For a generation of dancers who didn’t have a local studio or coach, those DVDs were often the closest thing they had to formal training.

Her impact on teaching didn’t stop there. She served as head judge and helped develop scoring criteria for the Australian Pole Dance Championships, and she was voted IPDFA International Instructor of the Year in both 2010 and 2011, along with Pole Dance International Magazine’s Instructor of the Year in 2011. A former Australian National Champion and multiple award winner of International Instructor awards, Jamilla went on to work with the MTV Awards, Gravity First Mexico, and Pole Expo, and she currently judged the USPSF National Championships.

The Moves That Carry Her Name

Few dancers get a trick named after them. Jamilla has several. She’s credited as the inventor of the Jade split, and her name lives on in moves like The Jamilla (also called the Apprentice), tricks that are still taught and performed by dancers who may not even realize where they originated. That’s the mark of a true pioneer: her fingerprints are on the vocabulary of the sport itself.

She later relocated to Las Vegas, where she continued performing and teaching at Shine Fitness, most recently as a featured acro pole artist and instructor, leading workshops for dancers at every level right up through the past year. In 2024, she moved to Nashville and joined the Shiners Nashville family.

More Than an Instructor

In interviews over the years, Jamilla spoke openly about the parts of pole dancing that don’t always make it into a highlight reel: the discipline, the setbacks, the taboos the art form still carries, and the deeper connection to confidence and self expression that drew so many people to it in the first place. She was candid about her own path through strength training, nutrition, and even her experience overcoming an eating disorder, using her platform to talk honestly about the athlete behind the artistry.

She was sponsored by X-Pole and Mighty Grip throughout part of her career and remained a fixture in the community as a judge for multiple competitions, presenter, and mentor to newer generations of dancers long after her own competitive days.

A Legacy That Isn’t Going Anywhere

It’s rare for one person to help build both the artistic and the institutional side of a sport, but Jamilla Deville did both. She helped define what pole dancing could look like as a performance art, and she helped build the organizations and standards that gave the sport structure. Every dancer who has ever thrown a Jade split, trained from an instructional DVD, or competed under standardized judging criteria has felt her influence, whether they know her name or not.

Rest in peace, Jamilla. Thank you for two and a half decades of artistry, mentorship, and pushing an entire sport forward.

Please note that this post in no way encapsulates the breadth and impact of Jamilla and her career; there is so much more to her, her story, and her influence on the industry.

Sources

Jamilla Deville, official bio. jamilladeville.mykajabi.com/about
I Am Pole: Jamilla Deville, Pole Pressure. polepressure.com/iam/jamilladeville
Chatting Fit podcast, episode 36: Elite Pole Dancing & Animal Based Nutrition with Jamilla Deville. music.amazon.co.uk
TalkSex with Gabriela Rosa, episode 24: Dance as a Tool for Sexual Empowerment with Jamilla Deville. gabrielarosa.libsyn.com
Two Exclusive Workshops with Jamilla Deville at Pole Fitness Studio, Pole Fitness Studio, Las Vegas. polefitnessstudio.com
Jamilla in Philly, StudioVeena.com forum post. studioveena.com
Learn How to Pole Dance DVD, background on The Art of Pole series. godsballroom.com
Pole Dance Community, tribute on Jamilla Deville’s passing. poledancecommunity.com
Pole Passion, tribute post on Facebook. facebook.com/pole.passion1

September 16 2026

Breaking Down Invented and Specialty Apparatus Categories at Aerial Competitions

compmaster Competitor Resources, Rules and Guidelines

As you explore aerial competitions, you may come across categories like Specialty or Invented Apparatus and wonder exactly what they are. These are what we like to call “catchall” categories. They group a variety of apparatuses together under one broader category, governed by rules general enough to apply across all of them while still being fairly and consistently judged.

If you’re looking to compete on an apparatus other than pole, lyra, silks, or hammock, keep reading. This applies to you. Below, we break down everything you need to know about this catchall category, including its pros and cons.

Why Aerial Competitions Have Specialty and Invented Apparatus Categories

Every competition builds its rules, requirements, scoresheets, and judging criteria around a set of standard categories. This varies from competition to competition, but most often we see pole, silks, hammock, and lyra as the headlining categories. These are also the apparatuses most commonly taught at studios and covered in teacher training programs, so it makes sense that they’d be the first represented at competition. Their rules and definitions are written specifically around the tricks, movement demands, and creative potential unique to each apparatus.

But if you’ve been in the aerial world for a while, or spent any time scrolling aerial arts on social media, you know there’s a whole world of other incredible apparatus disciplines out there. Think flying pole, cube, aerial moon, tippy lyra, aerial triangle, stacked lyras, trapeze, rope, cloud swing, aerial net hammock, lollipop lyra, chains, and spiral.

The challenge with these apparatuses is that they’re often too varied or niche to justify their own dedicated competition category, and it can even be difficult to find specific classes or coaches for them. As a result, specialty apparatuses tend to draw very limited participation at competitions, often in the low single digits, sometimes just one athlete.

How to Compete on an Apparatus Without Its Own Category

So how do you compete on an apparatus that doesn’t have a dedicated category? You look for a competition that offers a Specialty or Invented Apparatus category.

Competitions add these categories to give athletes in less common disciplines a chance to compete. They’re often experimental in nature, meant to gauge interest and start building rules specific to that apparatus. With enough interest and participation over time, a specialty or invented apparatus can eventually grow into its own dedicated category.

Pros of Competing in a Specialty or Invented Apparatus Category

The opportunity to perform your preferred apparatus on a competition stage
A chance to do, and watch, apparatuses that otherwise likely wouldn’t make it into competition at all
Can open the door for an apparatus to eventually earn its own dedicated category
Helps competitions develop and refine judging criteria specific to that apparatus
A great way to gauge interest as a discipline grows
A great way to build awareness and interest in these apparatuses

Cons of Competing in a Specialty or Invented Apparatus Category

All apparatuses get lumped together, which can skew judging due to generalized rules and a lack of comparable competitors
Low participation means that whether you place or not, you’re not competing against a deep, competitive field, making it harder to gauge your standing
Comparing different apparatuses against one another can skew scoring and results, since apparatuses differ so much in movement, capability, and handling

The Bottom Line

Specialty and Invented Apparatus categories exist to give athletes on niche or emerging apparatuses a place to compete, and to help those disciplines grow toward becoming standalone categories. They come with real trade offs in judging consistency and competitive depth, but for many athletes, the chance to perform on their apparatus of choice makes it well worth entering.

September 12 2026

Pole & Aerial Competition Types Explained: Social, Semi-Pro & Professional

compmaster Competitions & Events, Competitor Resources

Before signing up for a competition, it’s important to understand the nuances between competition types. These differences impact everything from participation requirements to rules and expectations, ultimately shaping your overall experience. Broadly speaking, competitions fall into three categories: Social, Semi-Professional, and Professional. Each type serves a different purpose and audience, from newcomers looking to build confidence in a low-pressure environment to seasoned competitors aiming to showcase elite-level skill. Understanding where you fit can help you choose the right path, set realistic expectations, and get the most out of your competition experience.

Social Competitions

Social competitions aren’t any less competitive, but their rules tend to be less stringent, opening the door to more inclusive and expansive movement styles like exotic, comedy, entertainment, sensual, classique and twerk. These events often offer multiple opportunities to compete each year and carry a stronger sense of camaraderie, with local studio “families” showing up in numbers to support one another. Social comps also tend to offer more level options and performance types, giving competitors greater flexibility in how they choose to compete.

Themes and music tend to be less restrictive as well, often allowing profanity and religious topics (unless the event is specifically youth or family friendly). Prop restrictions also tend to be more relaxed compared to other competition types.

Judging at social competitions often relies on volunteers from the local community, such as instructors, studio owners, performers and often even higher-level competitors. Experience and apparatus diversity typically play a role in judge selection, though formal testing and training for judges is often limited or nonexistent.

Social competitions also allow the use of stage names, may feature divisions that mix sexes, and often come with more affordable entry fees. Overall, social competitions dominate the competition landscape, offering the widest range of local and regional opportunities for competitors at every stage of their journey. Additionally, athletes that compete at semi-professional and professional competitions often use social competitions as opportunities to practice and test out new performance ideas and themes.

Examples of Social Competitions include: Pole Sport Organization and Aerialympics.

Semi-Professional Competitions

Semi-professional competitions represent the middle ground between social and professional levels. These events may require travel and typically feature more rules, regulations, and requirements than social competitions, though they stop short of the strict standards seen at the professional level. Unlike social competitions, which often run frequently throughout the year, semi-pro events typically offer only annual competitive opportunities.

Stage names may or may not be allowed, and divisions may or may not mix sexes, depending on the event. Anti-doping requirements are not part of this competition type, and there is no formal sanctioning body overseeing these events.

Judging at the semi-professional level is often paid or volunteer-based, with judges bringing a high level of performance and competitive experience, even without formal certification or testing requirements. Despite this more relaxed structure, semi-professional competitions often attract many of the same high-level athletes seen competing at the professional level, making them a respected stepping stone between local competition and the professional stage.

Examples of Semi-Professional Competitions include: US Pole Champions and Pole Theatre

Professional Competitions

Think future Olympics. Professional competitions are built for serious competitors, those who have already made pole/aerial their career or are working toward it. These events come with significantly more rules and regulations – typically packaged in a code of points, and typically separate athletes into just two levels: amateur and professional. Divisions do not mix sexes.

Professional competitions require anti-doping contracts and licenses, and feed directly into World Championships. Competitors must use their legal government name rather than a stage name, and events operate under a recognized sanctioning body. Judges undergo formal training, testing, and yearly recertification, ensuring consistency and fairness across events. Strict costume and conduct standards apply, and coaches and spotters are often permitted on and back stage with proper coaching passes. Coaches are also subject to anti-doping requirements and yearly/seasonal bans, reflecting the same level of accountability expected of the athletes themselves.

Examples of Professional Competitions include competitions operation under the sanctioning bodies of: POSA and IPSF

September 11 2026

Official Statement: Exotic Generation Festival Will Not Be Held in Israel

compmaster Industry News

Today Exotic Generation, the parent brand behind the Exotic Generation franchise network, released an official statement confirming that the festival will not be held in Israel and that “the franchise is not valid”.

The announcement, shared directly on the brand’s official Instagram page, was brief and to the point: the Israel festival is not happening. No further details have been provided at this time.

We will update this post as more information becomes available from Exotic Generation.

September 9 2026

PSO Annual Survey

compmaster Industry News

ole Sport Organization has released their annual survey, inviting the community to share their experiences at recent competitions. Whether your experience was great, disappointing, or somewhere in between, your voice matters. This feedback directly helps organizers identify what’s working, address problem areas, and plan thoughtfully for future seasons. The survey closes September 15, 2026. Share your voice and experience now.