Nonqualifying Competitions

NONQUALIFYING COMPETITIONS

Skaters interested in competing outside of the U.S. Figure Skating qualifying structure can find a variety of opportunities across the country. Nonqualifying events do not qualify skaters to the U.S. or World Championships, but provide the opportunity to engage with other skaters, hone your skills and deepen your experience in the world of competitive figure skating.

FIND A COMPETITION

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SHOWCASE

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

Brooke Tufts Skating at 2025 National Solo Dance Final

National Solo Dance Series

Launched in 2011, the Solo Dance Competition Series is open to individual skaters across the Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast sections. It provides ice dancers at the standard levels with opportunities to compete locally and qualify for the National Solo Dance Final.

The program’s goal is to create a fun, nationwide pathway for solo dancers—expanding competitive opportunities, reducing travel costs, and increasing the visibility of ice dancing at local competitions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SOLO DANCE SERIES