Who runs a breaking competition?
A · Advanced · Judging and penalties · 4 of 4The Chair supervises the competition and is the only one who can confirm a disqualification. The head judge looks after the judges and the timing and does not vote in the main phases. The judges vote. The MC runs the battle on the floor, and the DJ plays the music.
How it works
- The Chair: "responsible for the supervision of every WDSF Breaking Competition", with authority to sanction athletes, crews, judges and others for misconduct.
- The head judge: "responsible for all Judge-related tasks". The head judge "officiates in a non-voting capacity", except when the panel is split for the early phases.
- Timekeeping: the head judge watches the 10 seconds at the start of a battle and the length of each set, and tells the MC when to call a breaker to finish.
- The judges: licensed for the judging system in use, and from different countries. They vote each round independently.
- What a judge may not do: justify votes, discuss a performance with a competitor or spectator, or be swayed by the audience or the MC.
- The MC: calls the breakers to their sides and announces each round and the result. The MC stays neutral.
- The DJ: chooses and plays the tracks and must not try to influence the battle.
- The IT team: runs the judging system and the random draws.
- Results: only the Chair, the head judge and the IT team see them until they are handed to the MC.
The glossary has the Chair, the head judge, the judges' panel and the DJ.
Tricky cases
Does the head judge vote in the final?
No. The head judge is non-voting except in pre-selection and pre-qualifier stages where the panel is split.
Can the Chair overrule the judges' vote on a round?
It depends on a point the sections read do not state. The Chair can sanction and can order a round repeated after a technical problem. Nothing read gives the Chair a vote on who won.
Can two judges on a panel be from the same country?
No, at the higher events. The minimum panels are set as a number of judges from the same number of different countries.
Can a breaker complain about a judge?
Yes. The code of conduct for officials has sections on complaints about judges. They were not read for this page.
Why the rule exists
Breaking events were traditionally run by a host and a DJ, with judges pointing at the winner. The federation's version keeps those roles and adds a supervisor above them, so that there is someone to rule on disputes who has not voted.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World and continental championships, World Series, Olympic qualifiers | At least 9 judges from 9 countries | BRRM 3.2.3 |
| International Series | At least 7 from 7 countries | BRRM 3.2.3 |
| Challenge Series | At least 5 from 5 countries | BRRM 3.2.3 |
| Split panels | Two teams of five, with the head judge joining one | BRRM 5.1.1 |
From the rule book
World DanceSport Federation, Breaking Rules and Regulations Manual, version 4 (January 2023), sections 3.2 to 3.2.6 and 5.1.1, and Appendix I. Checked 14 October 2026. This version has been superseded; check the current manual. Official document: WDSF Breaking Rules and Regulations Manual (PDF).