Singles Skating
Singles skaters that strive to compete at the national level, and ultimately be selected for the National Team and represent the U.S. at international competitions follow the “Championship Track” of singles skating that includes the following level progression:
Preliminary → Pre-Juvenile → Juvenile → Intermediate → Novice → Junior → Senior
Athletes at all levels start the annual competitive season with the National Qualifying Series (NQS). This is a series of events from August – October where athletes compete in one – three events with their highest total score counting. Top athletes advance to the Eastern, Midwestern or Pacific Coast Sectional Singles Final.
Athletes in juvenile, intermediate or novice compete to advance to the U.S. Development Team Championships and for a spot on the National Development Team, while athletes at the junior or senior level compete for a berth at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, top athletes are selected for the International Selection Pool, which leads to the National Team, as well earn berths at the World Junior Championships, World Championships and Olympic Winter Games.
Athletes on the National Development Team are selected for invitational training camps and may be selected for novice level international competitions.
Athletes in the National Qualifying Series are divided into regions based on the location of their home figure skating club, with the top athletes qualifying for their respective Sectional Singles Final. For advancement in singles skating, the country is divided into the following geographic regions/sections:
← Scroll horizontally for more data →
| Section |
Pacific Coast |
Midwestern |
Eastern |
| Northwest Pacific |
Upper Great Lakes |
New England |
| Central Pacific |
Eastern Great Lakes |
North Atlantic |
| Southwest Pacific |
Southwestern |
South Atlantic |
Advancement Pathway for Singles Athletes in the Championship Track
← Scroll horizontally for more data →
| Level |
NQS |
Sectional Singles Final |
Championship Event |
U.S. Figure Skating Team |
| Preliminary |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
None |
None |
| Pre-Juvenile |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
None |
None |
| Juvenile |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
Top 4 at each Sectional Singles Final (12) |
Same as Championship |
| Intermediate |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
Top 4 at each Sectional Singles Final (12) |
Same as Championship |
| Novice |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
Top 4 at each Sectional Singles Final (12) |
Same as Championship |
| Junior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
Top 4 at each Sectional Singles Final (12) |
May be selected for National Team |
| Senior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per region + next 6 per section (18) |
Top 2 at each Sectional Singles Final + Byes (18) |
May be selected for National Team + World Championships, Olympic Winter Games |
Pairs & Ice Dance
The pipeline for pairs and ice dance athletes to strive towards the national team is similar to singles, but replaces the three sectional finals with one U.S. Pairs or U.S. Ice Dance Final and begins at the juvenile level. Teams in the National Qualifying series are divided into sections based on the location of their home figure skating club: Eastern, Midwestern, or Pacific Coast section.
Advancement Pathway for Pairs and Ice Dance Teams
← Scroll horizontally for more data →
| Level |
NQS |
U.S. Pairs or Ice Dance Final |
U.S. Development Team Championships |
National Development Team |
| Juvenile |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per section + next 12 (24) |
Top 8 pairs
Top 10 ice dance |
Same as Championship |
| Intermediate |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per section + next 12 (24) |
Top 8 pairs
Top 10 ice dance |
Same as Championship |
| Novice |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per section + next 12 (24) |
Top 8 pairs
Top 10 ice dance |
Same as Championship |
| Junior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per section + next 12 (24) |
Top 12 pairs
Top 12 ice dance |
May be selected for National Team |
| Senior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 per section + next 12 (24) |
Byes + next teams up to:
12 pairs & 15 ice dance |
May be selected for National Team + World Championships, Olympic Winter Games |
Synchronized Skating
The pipeline for synchronized skating teams to strive towards the national team is unique to synchronized skating. Teams compete at Sectional Championships and advance to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.
Teams compete in the Sectional Synchronized Skating Championships based on the location of their home figure skating club: Eastern, Midwestern, or Pacific Coast section.
Advancement Pathway for Synchronized Skating Teams
← Scroll horizontally for more data →
| Level |
Sectional Synchronized Championships |
U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships |
National Team |
| Juvenile |
Open Entry |
Top 4 at each Sectional (12) |
None |
| Intermediate |
Open Entry |
Top 4 at each Sectional (12) |
None |
| Novice |
Open Entry |
Top 4 at each Sectional (12) |
None |
| Junior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 at each Sectional (12) + Byes |
May be selected for National team and/or World Junior Championships |
| Senior |
Open Entry |
Top 4 at each Sectional (12) + Byes |
May be selected for National team and/or World Championships |
Note: The synchronized skating qualifying system also includes teams at the collegiate, adult and masters levels that follow the same advancement from the Sectional Championships to U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.
