This is cut and pasted from the NSSA Rule Book found at www.nssa.org
Make sure you are familiar with the rule book.
PARTICIPATION RULES FOR NSSA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION
1. NSSA members must surf in the mandatory number of events of
their resident conference event schedule to qualify for any championship (i.e.:
Southwest Open Season ten event schedule-member must surf in at least seven
Open contests to qualify for the Western Championships and the National
Championships). Conference directors set the mandatory number of events for
their respected conference.
2. NSSA members are required to participate in the Regional
Championships in order to qualify for the National Championships (see rule J.
NSSA Regional Championships and qualification # 1-3).
3. NSSA members may qualify for their required participation
events out of their resident conference if needed. These events will count
towards their total number of required qualifying events but conference ratings
points are not combined or integrated with each other.
4. Open and Explorer seasons are separate competitive events and
do not combine or integrate with each other.
5. Mandatory qualifying events for each conference will be
stated on the conference entry forms. It is the competitors’ responsibility to
read entry form information and know the mandatory number of events including
any changes or additions to the requirement. Qualifying events could be
adjusted during the course of the season due to postponed events or matters of
special nature. It is the competitor’s responsibility to obtain any updated
information from their conference director.
6. Special circumstances involving participation requirements
must be submitted to the Executive Director. The Executive Director will rule
on these cases after consultation with the NSSA Conference Director.
7. Out of conference competitor qualification (see rule J. NSSA
Regional Championships 3e.)
NSSA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & QUALIFICATION
1. Annual Regional Championships include the West Coast
Championships, East Coast Championships and Hawaii Championships. East Coast
Championships to be held each spring on the east coast. West Coast
Championships to be held each spring on the west coast. Hawaii Championships to
be held each spring in Hawaii.
2. Participation in the West Coast, East Coast and Hawaii
Championships is by invitation only. West Coast Championships (west coast
members only), Eastern Championships (east coast members only), and Hawaii
Championships (Hawaii members only).
3. Regional Championships Qualification - NSSA Southwest, Gold
Coast, Northwest, Southeast, Southeast/North, Northeast, Hawaii Conferences
& Florida Gulf.
a. Members will be invited to Regional Championships based on
year end ratings and participation.
b. NSSA surfers must surf in the mandatory number of events of
their resident conference event schedule to qualify for any championship.
c. Out of Conference competitor qualification
i. Surfers who reside out of a conference area (minimum 500
miles from nearest conference boundary) may be invited to participate in the
Regional Championships which services that area. Invited competitors must be
current NSSA members. NSSA Executive Director must approve any competitors to
be invited to the Regional Championships from out of conference. Out of
Conference competitors who participate in the Regional Championships will be
awarded an alternate invitation to the National Championships. Alternates will
receive slots in the National Championships if and where space is available.
ii. Out of conference competitors who participate in conference
events must surf the mandatory number of events on the schedule to be
classified as a conference competitor in order to count ratings points towards
the National Ranking. For example: If an outer conference competitor surfed 2
events but the mandatory number for championship qualification is 4 the 2
events will not count towards the National Ranking. The competitor would be
classified as an out of conference competitor and Rule J.3.e. would be in effect.
d. All NSSA members are required to attend the Regional
Championships to receive an invitation to the NSSA National Championships (see
below rule J. National Championships qualification 3 c.)
NSSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS & QUALIFICATION
1. Annual National Championship event held each summer in
California to determine the NSSA National Interscholastic, Open, Explorer and
Airshow Champions.
2. Participation in the National Championships is by invitation
only.
3. NSSA National Championship Qualification - NSSA Southwest,
Gold Coast, Northwest, Southeast, Southeast/North, Northeast, Mid Atlantic and
Hawaii.
a. Regional NSSA Conferences receive allotted Nationals slots
based on membership and participation in the Open and Explorer divisions
within the conference. Conference Directors must submit complete ratings
breakdown after each event to the National Office. Executive Director will
determine the amount of Nationals slots in each division prior to the 2009
Regional Championships for the 2009 National Championships. Slot inquiries
can be directed to your local conference director or the National Office after
the Regional Championships.
b. National Championships invitations and seeding will be
determined by combining the 2008/09 year end ratings with the “6 STAR” Regional
Championships.
c. All qualifying NSSA members must attend the Regional
Championships to receive an invitation to the National Championships (including
conference champions). Non-attendance is excused only for extenuating
circumstances including injury or illness. A doctor’s certificate must be sent
to the NSSA Executive Director. Only the NSSA Executive Director can rule on
non-attendance case by case.
d. All competitors must comply with the academic guidelines as
set forth in rule C. NSSA Academic Rules 3.a-g, in order to participate in the
NSSA National Championships.
e. Out of conference competitors who participate in the Regional
Championships will be invited to the National Championships as alternates and
will receive slots if and where space is available. Out of conference
competitors will be seeded only after all conference alternate
competitors have been seeded if space is available.
f. ALTERNATE
SLOTS – It is the member’s responsibility to know and understand alternate
status and rules which are stated on the National Championship entry
form. Alternates will be seeded after the Nationals entry deadline date
if space is available according to their combined conference and regional
ranking.