U.S. Figure Skating Qualifying Structure
U.S. Figure Skating's competition structure encompasses the following events covering all disciplines offered within this structure:
- Singles, pairs and dance
- Nine (9) regional championships (juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior and senior singles skaters)
- New England Regional Championships
- North Atlantic Regional Championships
- South Atlantic Regional Championships
- Upper Great Lakes Regional Championships
- Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships
- Southwestern Regional Championships
- Northwest Pacific Regional Championships
- Central Pacific Regional Championships
- Southwest Pacific Regional Championships
- Three (3) sectional championships (juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior and senior in all disciplines)
- Eastern Sectional Championships
- Midwestern Sectional Championships
- Pacific Coast Sectional Championships
- U.S. Championships (national championship for all levels and disciplines of skaters)
In general, skaters qualify for the U.S. Championships in one of six ways:
- Placing in the top four at the current season's sectional championships
- Placing in the top five in a senior event at the previous year's U.S. Championships
- Winning a medal at the most recent Olympic Winter Games
- Winning a medal at the previous year's World Championships
- Advancing to the current season's Grand Prix Final or Junior Grand Final
- Earning an "international bye" based on proximity of an international assignment in the current season to the sectional championships