Baton Twirling Disciplines
All the National and International Baton Twirling Disciplines are summarised on this page with information on the age divisions and proficiency levels below. Full event rulebooks are available in the downloads section for members with a password.
Struts
The Twirl Ireland National Struts are Basic, Military, Fancy, ‘T’-Strut, Retraced-’L’ and Advanced Fancy and are performed in Ireland only.
The X-Strut is a unique discipline incorporating movement forms and military style marching with restrictive, yet complimentary, baton work rhythmically executed on a prescribed “X” formation to prescribed march music. It is offered nationally and Internationally.
Pair
Duet is the technical partnered programme, Artistic pair balances technical twirling with artistry in a pair event. Both are performed to set music and are offered across national and international divisions.
Artistic Pair is a choreographed and interpretive routine of two athletes using one baton each to demonstrate blended baton, body, and partnering skills in combination with stationary and traveling complex bodywork executed to a standard prescribed musical selection. It is the interpretive performance of two athletes to a standard musical selection encompassing the technical and artistic blending of the baton and the body, prioritising a choreographed work that could stand alone as musically reflective and interdependent on each other
Freestyle pair is a choreographed program and interpretive routine of two athletes similar to the "Pair" of figure skating demonstrating blended baton, body, and partnering skills to music of the athletes’ choosing. The Freestyle Pair discipline is a combination of the freestyle and team concept. A pair should perform as one with the same style and ability level. These standards are in agreement with those of "freestyle" with some additional responsibilities. The most obvious are exchanges. A pair is expected to exhibit variety in the exchange work with respect to pattern, planes, levels, paths, modes, releases, catches, body work, number of batons involved (i.e. one, two) stationary or moving.
Group events
Artistic Group is a choreographed and musically interpretive routine of 12 or more athletes all using one baton each to demonstrate baton, body, and group skills of synchronic twirling and interactive elements blended together with both stationary and travelling complex body movements, along with exchanges executed to music of the group’s choosing. Content restrictions on both baton & body skills are required. The emphasis is on total precision and perfection.
It is an ensemble of baton twirling athletes that prioritises effect and entertainment as the cornerstone for the discipline. It achieves this through the use of effective characterisation, interesting staging, creativity, artistic detailing, and a keen sense of musical interpretation, all interlaced to create an entertaining production value .The program has an emphasis on entertainment and will be accessible and appealing to a vast audience. Many approaches of entertainment are possible and all are potentially successful. Creativity and originality should be the motivation of the Artistic Group.
Solo
The Twirl Ireland National Set Solo is a mandatory event which is run alongside the Grades & Basic Skills Programme. It is only competed in ireland
International Solo is a choreographed program routine using one baton in a non-musically-interpretive exercise demonstrating achieved skills within the modes of aerials, rolls, and contact material in combination with stationary complex bodywork that is executed to a standard and timed piece of music. Internationally it is for level B, A and Elite athletes who are free to construct their solo within content restrictions with a view to international representation. Nationally, C level is permitted to partake within certain requirements.
Artistic Twirl is a choreographed and interpretive solo using one baton to demonstrate blended baton and body skills that is executed to a standard prescribed musical selection. It is the interpretive performance of an individual to a standard musical selection encompassing the technical and artistic blending of the baton and the body, prioritizing a choreographed work that could stand alone as musically reflective.
Freestyle & Rythmic Twirl
Freestyle Solo is a choreographed program and interpretive routine similar to the "freestyle" of figure skating in that the performer integrates blended baton skills in the modes of aerials, rolls, and contact material and body skills technique using the space allotted (performing area) for maximum effect allowing the athlete to display the technical and artistic aspects of baton twirling and body movement in a creative and entertaining performance to music of the athlete’s choosing. For the last time in 2024, it will include the Short Programme which is a choreographed program and interpretive routine of an athlete using one baton demonstrating 8 required elements connected by accessory material to a prescribed musical selection. It is worth 25% (twenty-five per cent) of the total score. From 2026, the New Judging System will be in place internationally and has been introduced in 2023 in Ireland.
Rhythmic Twirl event is the ultimate simultaneous blend of all one baton twirling skills and body/dance disciplines set to music of personal choice, utilizing the full floor. The focus should be on the combination of dance moves with rolls, aerials & contact material. Acrobatics are forbidden and the athlete is disqualified for presenting them.
Athletes cannot do freestyle solo and rhythmic twirl in the same competition.
Multiple Baton
Solo 2-Baton is a choreographed program routine using two batons, and Solo 3-Baton using 3 batons, in a non-musically-interpretive exercise demonstrating the intricacy and interrelationship of all batons within the modes of aerials, rolls, and contact material in combination with stationary complex bodywork that is executed to a standard and timed piece of music.
These events are reserved for the more experienced and developed soloists who are aiming to represent Ireland internationally in the coming years if not already.
team events
Twirl Team (twirling team) is a choreographed program and rhythmically timed routine with athletes all using one baton each to demonstrate blended baton, body, and team skills executed to a standard prescribed musical selection. It is a a group of athletes performing a unified, rhythmic and timing-based programme showcasing the three twirl modes and exchanges to a prescribed standard musical selection
Artistic/Freestyle/Dance Twirl Team. The discipline focus is blending of the 3 twirl modes both stationary and travelling executed musically with logical and interpretive bodywork. Creativity, artistry and innovation will serve as the motivation of the program. Exchanges and multiple baton work integrated and executed interdependently that aligns with the artistic vision of the program. Performance qualities and “mastery of the message” is inherent within the concept of the choreography. Staging, floor coverage, forms and evolution of forms/transitions is the “blueprint” of the programme.
National teams are for 4-8 members
International teams are for 6-8 members
Twirl Ireland National Age Divisions
Athletes enter by their age initially and they are assigned by the contest director to the levels merged or split as per the below.
International Age Divisions
All international competitions operate the same rules for age divisions in baton twirling. Note that not all events offer every age division.
National and International Levels
National and International Baton Twirling Disciplines - at a glance
The below is a quick reference chart, the relevant associated rule book and other documentation should be consulted in conjunction.
