Order of Appearance

Attention Athlete of the Year athletes, parents, and coaches: Below is the Order of Appearance for the regional Athlete of the Year competitions.

USTA's Athlete of the Year (AOTY) event is an all-around competition that gives Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced athletes the opportunity to compete in Solo, Strut, and 2-Baton.

The Athlete of the Year competition begins at the regional level. Athletes must compete in the region where they reside. An athlete's level in Solo determines which division (Beg., Int. or Adv.) they enter. At each of USTA's five regional championships, there is one round of competition in Solo, 2-Baton, and Strut. Based on combined scores, the top three athletes in each division (Beg., Int. and Adv.) qualify for the national Athlete of the Year competition, which is held during the U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships.

At the national level, qualifying athletes compete in Solo, 2-Baton, and Strut. In addition, Beg. and Int. athletes complete an essay question (which will be provided in advance), while Adv. athletes compete in a live interview. The Beg., Int. and Adv. Athlete of the Year receives a custom jacket and a trophy or medallion.

More information about the AOTY event is available in USTA Rule Book, which is also available on the USTA Member Portal. To find the USTA Rule Book, click on Menu in the upper left-hand corner, select the Documents tile and then search for USTA Rule Book.