There are some Rule Changes coming up in 2014 - here's a heads up on them so you can prepare as needed:

The rulebook highlights changes using a gray box indicating that SOMETHING has changed and is worthy of taking note – even if it it is a matter of cleaning up the wording to make it clearer to understand.
- Adding 46 & Over Novice, Intermediate & Expert for the mens 20” classes. That means 41-45 becomes a class, with 46 & Over being the oldest class of the day.
- Adding 56 & Over Women Cruisers which means 51-55 is now a class with 56 & Over being the oldest class of the day.
- Adjusting race class groupings so the older Experts to check 2 years within Expert to find a legal class and the 46 & Over Experts will skip over the 46 & Over Intermediate class when moving backwards to find a legal class. The intent is to keep Experts racing Experts and out of the Intermediate classes.
- Adjusting race class groupings to protect 31 & Over Women (20” class) from having younger 21-25 or 26-30 Women moving into their class. Those leftover 21-25 or 26-30 Women will check back to 17-20 to find a legal class before violating that “protection”.
- Changing the wording on parents going through staging to read that parents of riders 9 years of age and older must exit the staging area upon exiting the chutes.
- Reducing the number of national or title wins for Novices to advance to Intermediate to 3 (previously it was 5). It will remain 5 for Intermediates.
- Rewording the rule regarding Novices and clipless pedals to explain that it is REGARDLESS of the class they end up racing that day. In addition, it explains that ANY type of pedal that binds their foot to the pedal (toe straps, magnets, duct tape, etc) is prohibited.  Novices are simply not allowed to be bound to their pedals.  <Note that this does NOT apply to Cruiser or Open racing.>
- Changing the State/Provincial Championship Series in that single point races will no longer be required. Instead, riders will be receive 1 “bonus state point” for every 2 single point races on or before July 15th, 2014 to max out at 4 bonus points. This should allow more brand-new riders to get into the State/Provincial Series the first year they start. And, the 8 single pointers by July 15th is essentially the same as in 2013 in terms of the timeframe and wanting to “max out” your state points heading into the Finals.
- Finally, beginning in 2014, every clinic at a USA BMX or BMX Canada sanctioned track must have a Certified Coach on hand. Anyone interested in becoming a Certified Coach can ask us at THE Track and also click the COACHING link on the USA BMX website for more information.

Gold Cup Series - For 2014, Redline has chosen to focus on National Series sponsorship, so the Series returns to it’s former name of the Gold Cup Series. The Gold Cup Series count a rider’s best two (2) scores from a Gold Cup Race, as well as the score from Saturday & Sunday of the Gold Cup Finals. This creates incentives for riders to participate in more than one Gold Cup event, as they can better their score heading into the Finals. REMEMBER - ANY rider can participate at the Gold Cup Finals – even if they missed the Gold Cup Races. Another big change is that a rider may race the Gold Cup Final in ANY region. And, even if they didn’t race a Gold Cup Qualifier, they can still earn a plate by participating in the Mixed Open or Open class at the Finals (Open scores are ONLY from the Saturday & Sunday races at the Finals).