Any member of U.S. Figure Skating can enter a nonqualifying competition. Nonqualifying competitions can be hosted as standalone events or part of a series or state games. Figure skating clubs host competitions for the levels and disciplines of their choice. Some competitions are part of a series that lead to a national final, such as Excel and solo dance, but they are independent of the qualifying structure and don’t lead to any qualifying competitions.
Local Competitions
U.S. Figure Skating clubs host their own nonqualifying competitions as a way of engaging local skaters and encouraging them to hone their skills in a competitive setting. These events are sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating.
National Nonqualifying Events
State Games of America
State Games are Olympic-style games conducted in various locations across the United States. The competitions are open to any eligible skater, whether they are affiliated with an organization, and the only requirement is that the skater be a resident of the respective state in which they are competing.
Skaters who place first through third in their state competition are eligible to participate in the State Games of America event, held every other year.
National Showcase
National Showcase is a competition that brings many of the top showcase competitors together to skate in the categories such as comedic, lyrical pop and emotional. Many who have observed National Showcase have remarked on the uniqueness and variety of the programs. The top four skaters within a Showcase event qualify for National Showcase. This includes nonqualifying competitions with showcase events or all-showcase competitions.
National Theatre On Ice
Theatre On Ice teams in the United States can compete at the National Theatre On Ice competition every year.
Learn more about Theatre On Ice
Excel Series
The purpose of the Excel Series is to offer young athletes an exciting and competitive environment that motivates them to focus on strengthening their program components and advancing their technical skills each season. Additionally, this program serves as an opportunity for grassroots skaters and coaches to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of the International Judging System (IJS) through a phased approach which allows them to become proficient and confident with the IJS.
Learn more about the Excel Series
National Solo Dance Series
The Solo Dance Competition Series was launched in January 2011 and is open to individual skaters within the Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast sections. The Solo Dance Competition Series provides an avenue for ice dancers at the standard levels to compete at and qualify for the National Solo Dance Final.
The goal of this program is to create a fun, nationwide competitive program for solo dancers that will allow them to expand their competitive opportunities, have the chance to qualify for a national event, keep travel costs down and increase the visibility of ice dancing at local competitions.
Learn more about the National Solo Dance Series
National Synchronized Skating Series
The National Synchronized Skating Series is an opportunity for teams at the nonqualifying levels to compete against one another in a national competition series.
Learn more about the National Synchronized Skating Series
Adult Competition Series
The U.S. Figure Skating Adult Competition Series is open to adult skaters in the adult 1 through adult bronze levels. The mission of this program is to provide a meaningful series of events to encourage grassroots adult skaters to enjoy a fun and competitive environment within the adult skating community.
Athletes receive points based on their placement and number of competitors in each event, and these points determine the final series winners in each section. Sectional series awards are presented at the nonqualifying event held in conjunction with each adult sectional championships.
Participants compete in events at a minimum of two Compete USA and/or nonqualifying competitions, one being the nonqualifying event held in conjunction with a skater’s adult sectional championships.
Lean more about Adult Competitions and the Adult Competition Series
National Qualifying Series
The National Qualifying Series (NQS) is a series of nonqualifying competitions where skaters advance through the U.S. Figure Skating Qualifying Structure based on their score as it falls within sectional and national rankings.
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