Formation Skydiving
On a freefall jump, teams perform a specific sequence of formations—either “randoms” (a single formation) or “blocks” (two formations with a required move in between)—drawn from a designated dive pool. An in-air videographer records the jump for review by a judging panel. Each round has a separate draw.
​
​​Official rules: Skydiver's Competition Manual Chapter 9
Belly Formation Skydiving Events
4-Way:
A team of four and their videographer exit the plane from 10,500 feet above ground level (AGL) and have 35 seconds from their exit to complete as many of the scoring formations for that round as possible. A full meet consists of 10 rounds. There are four competitive classes: beginner, intermediate, advanced and open.
​
8-Way:
A team of eight skydivers and one videographer exit the plane from 13,000 feet AGL. They have 50 seconds from their exit to complete as many of the scoring formations for that round as possible. Each round has a separate draw of formations. There are 10rounds in 8-way formation skydiving. There are three competitive classes: intermediate, advanced and open.
​
10-Way:
A team of 10 skydivers and one videographer exit the plane from 11,000 feet AGL. The team must line up behind a line that runs on the floor from the front edge of the door to the opposite wall at the rear edge of the door, and no members of the team except the videographer (who records an image of the line prior to exit) may cross any body part over the line until they are beginning their exit. .. Once the team members cross the line, their working time of 40 seconds begins. During this time, they must complete the required formation as quickly as possible and hold the formation for a minimum of five seconds. Each team receives a score (in seconds) for the completed formation. There are six rounds in 10-way formation skydiving.
​
16-Way:
A team of 16 skydivers and one videographer exit the plane from 13,000 feet AGL. They have 50 seconds from their exit to complete as many of the scoring formations for that round as possible. Each round has a separate draw of formations. There are six rounds in 16-way formation skydiving. There are three competitive classes: intermediate, advanced and open.
​
Vertical & Mixed Formation Skydiving Events
Mixed Formation Skydiving (MFS):
A team of two and their videographer exit the plane from 13,000 feet above ground level (AGL). They have 35 seconds from their exit to complete as many of the scoring formations for that round as possible. Each round has a separate draw of formations. The formations in MFS include non-belly-to-earth body orientations. There are 10 rounds in mixed formation skydiving and two classes: advanced and open.
​
Vertical Formation Skydiving (VFS):
A team of four skydivers and one videographer exit the plane from 13,000 feet AGL. They have 35 seconds from their exit to complete as many of the scoring formations for that round as possible. Each round has a separate draw of formations. The formations in VFS include head-up or head-down orientations. The advanced and open classes of VFS have 10 rounds; the intermediate class has six rounds.
​
​​