Updated Dec. 23, 2009
Link to: NENSA Rankings
NENSA Points and Rules Explained
2009-2010 Season
Index:
| Subject Notes and NENSA, FIS, and USSA Compared JOQ Points, J2Q Points, and Substitutions NENSA Elite Team-Updated 3/27/08 | Page |
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NENSA Points
The NENSA Points system is a ranking system that uses the same calculations as FIS Points. NENSA Points allow New England skiers to compare themselves with skiers regionally, nationally, and internationally. A skier’s best 3 races in a 12-month period are used to determine NENSA Points. See www.fis-ski.com and www.ussa.org for further research.
Important Terms:
Penalty (or Base):
• Take the USSA, FIS, or NENSA points of the top 5 skiers in the race. If USSA points are available and fairly represent a skier’s ability, the will be used, if not, the athlete’s best FIS points (sprint or distance) will be used. If neither FIS nor USSA points are representative of a skier’s ability, NENSA points will be used.
• Any competitors in the top 5 without FIS,USSA, or NENSA points representative of his or her ability will receive 160 points for the purpose of the calculation. •For NENSA Points, the F-factor is: Individual starts = 800, Mass/Wave Starts: 1000, Sprints, 1200.
Distance Race Points: For Mass Start, Wave Start and Individual Start races. (Tx/To 1) x F, where Tx=time of competitor being scored; To=time of winner, and F=F-factor.
Sprint Race Points: Race points for each non-qualified athlete are determined using the distance race points formula above. The Penalty for sprints is determined by the Top-5 overall after the heats, NOT the Top-5 qualifiers. For all qualified athletes in the Premier heats, the following formula is used:
• P = R x (Ra-1) / (Q-1)
Where, P=points, R=Range, Ra=final rank of competitor being score, Q = number of qualified athletes.
• Range = (Tsq/Tf)-1), where Tsq=Time of slowest qualifier and Tf=Time of fastest qualifier.
Race Points Formula for all Races (sprint and distance): Race Points + Penalty = NENSA Points
Who calculates NENSA Points? NENSA Executive Director Pat Cote (pat@nensa.net) is in charge of all NENSA scoring. The NENSA database automatically updates the NENSA points page after each events results are officially posted in the database at www.nensa.net/results. Janice Sibilia works with Pat to verify the calculations. TopPage 3
Some notes on using NENSA Points:The FIS Points system awards points on a linear scale where six points is equivalent to one percent behind. Lower points are most desirable. The system is zero-based; the top ranked skier in the world carries zero FIS Points. The top junior skiers in the world carry around 30 FIS Points. A skier with 80 FIS Points is approximately 10% slower than the world's best in an individual start distance race. A skier with 160 FIS Points is approximately 20% slower than the world's best.
Differences Between NENSA and FIS Scoring Systems:
1) NENSA does not keep separate ranking lists for sprints and distance. Instead, points from all races are used. (USSA also keeps only one list which is why we first look to the USSA points list, not the FIS list, for Penalty calculation.)
2) NENSA uses 1000 as the F-factor when determining points from a mass-start race. FIS uses 1200. Why? In FIS mass start races, athletes tend to stay bunched together until the last 0.5K where there is a mad dash to the finish line. In NENSA races, there tends to be less grouping so a lower F-factor is appropriate. Like FIS, we use and F-factor of 800 for individual starts.
3) NENSA uses 1200 as the F-factor for sprint races, which is the same as USSA and FIS.ß
4) NENSA uses an athlete’s 3 best races over a 12-month period. FIS and USSA use an athlete’s best 5 races.
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JOQ Points
JOQ points are used to determine qualification of J1 and Older Juniors for the New England Junior Olympic Team. JOQ points are simply NENSA Points from Eastern Cup races specified as NENSA Junior Olympic Qualifiers.
J2Q Points
J2Q points are used to determine qualification J2 athletes for the New England Junior Olympic Team. J2Q points are calculated with the same formulas as NENSA Points, but compare J2’s only to other J2’s even when the race distances are the same as the older athletes. Also, when determining the penalty for J2Q Points, 220 is used for all athletes not listed on the NENSA Points list. Also, only the season-ending points from the previous season are used for determining the penalty. The Feb. 1 Updated list is not used for J2Q penalty calculation. This allows penalty to remain relatively stable throughout the season. J2Q points DO NOT go on the NENSA Points List.
Substitutions
Since NENSA Points, FIS Points, and USSA points are calculated in almost the same ways, NENSA allows JO athletes to substitute certain races for qualifying for the New England Junior Olympic Team.
Eastern Cup Points
Eastern Cup points are scored at Eastern Cup races, and accumulate over the course of the season. Points are awarded using the old World Cup system which awards points using the scale outlined below. A racer's best seven results of either discipline are counted toward the final standing.| Place=Points | Place=Points | Place=Points | Place=Points |
| 1=25 | 5=11 | 9=7 | 13=3 |
| 2=20 | 6=10 | 10=6 | 14=2 |
| 3=15 | 7=9 | 11=5 | 15=1 |
| 4=12 | 8=8 | 12=4 |
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Race Rules
NENSA runs all of its Eastern Cup and Championship Events following general FIS guidelines.
Seeding
NENSA Eastern Cup Events are seeded.
1) Individual Starts For individual starts, A, B, C, D, E, and F seeding groups are formed. The A-group includes the 15 top-ranked athletes based on best of NENSA/FIS/USSA Points; the B-group includes a second tier of 15 athletes based on best of NENSA/FIS/USSA Points; the C-group contains the 30 next ranked; and the D-group the 30 next ranked. All other pre-registered athletes form an E-group.. The F-group includes all late or day of race registrants. In most races, the B group will start first followed by A, C, D, E, F.
2) Sprints For sprint races, an A-group is created of all racers with below 200 (for men) and 250 (for women). Within the A-group, the highest ranked athlete starts first, followed by the second ranked athlete, etc. The B-group contains all other pre-registered athletes. The b group is randomly sorted. The C-group includes all late or day of race registrants. In most races, the A group will start first, followed by B and C.
3) Mass Start For Mass Start races an A-group is created of all racers with below 350 250 (for men) and 400 300 (for women) - Note changed Jan. 2009 by Jury decision for Rumford TD Banknorth Eastern Cup and future Eastern Cup events. Within the A-group, the highest ranked athlete gets the most preferable start position, followed by the second ranked athlete, etc. The B-group contains all other pre-registered athletes. The C-group includes all late or day of race registrants. The A group gets the most preferable start position, followed by B and C.
Results
Race results are unofficial for 15 minutes following the time of posting. All protests of results must be submitted within these 15 minutes to the Competition Office. Clerical errors, such as name spelling, incorrect NENSA#, etc may be cleared up for one week following the event by contacting NENSA.Protests
All protests must be submitted in writing to the Competition Office at the event during the protest period (start of race to 15 minutes after unofficial results are posted.) Sprint Heats (except for the final) may not be protested. Instead, sprint heats are “refereed” by a 5-member jury.Jury
Each NENSA Eastern Cup and Championship Event is governed by a jury with at least three members. The jury is composed of: Race Director, NENSA Rep, and Technical Delegate (TD.) For sprint races, the jury is expanded to five members with two assistant Technical Delegates added to the jury.Page 6
Sprint Rules
Qualification Round: Racers start every 10,15,20, or 30 seconds depending on course and race director preference. 15 seconds is the preferred interval whenever possible. The running order for sprint qualification should be determined as specified in the section on seeding in the Organizer's Handbook.
Heats: In general, at NENSA Eastern Cup events, there will be two official sets of heats: “Premier” and J2. The Premier Heats feature the top 30 qualifiers. The top two finishers advance to the next round. The exception to this is if we are running a Lucky Loser Format*. The J2 Heats feature the top 12 qualifiers of J2 age or younger*. These J2 heats count for NENSA/JOQ scoring but do not count for NRL points. Often, J1/OJ, U23, and Master Heats will also be offered. These heats are unofficial and do not count for standings, NENSA Points, or JOQ Points.
In the Sprint Heats the starting positions are chosen according the following: Quarterfinals: Highest ranked qualifiers get first lane choice Semifinals: Winners of quarterfinal get first choice, with highest ranked qualifier choosing first. Finals: Winners of semifinal get first choice, with highest ranked qualifier choosing first.Heats
*50% of participants, or 30 athletes, whichever is the lesser amount, may advance to official heats in sprint competition. (Maximum of 12 for the J2 heats). This is a correction to what was previously printed. To determine the maximum number to advance to official heats divide the total number by 2 and round up to the nearest even number.
For example, if 20 people register for a J2 sprint race, only 10 of those may advance to official J2 heats. If 22 people register, 12 may advance (22 divided by 2 = 11 then round up to the nearest even number, 12.
__ If race organizers choose to have more athletes compete in heats, they must be isolated from the official heats; they may not be mixed with official heats.
__ The heats do not need to be timed.
__ Qualifiers should be assigned to the heats so that the fastest qualifier races the slowest qualifier, the second fastest qualifier races the second slowest qualifier, etc. The following chart (where numbers represent the finish placing of qualifiers) may be used to construct heats for a 30 racer scenario:
Heat 1 | Heat 2 | Heat 3 | Heat 4 | Heat 5 |
1 10 11 20 21 30 | 4 7 14 17 24 27 | 5 6 15 16 25 26 | 2 9 12 19 22 29 | 3 8 13 18 23 28 |
__ A consolation final may be provided for semifinalists who do not advance.
*Lucky Loser Format:
How the Luck Loser Untimed Heat Format works:
30 skiers advance from the qualifying round. (No difference here than in the past). The quarter finals are set up into 5 heats of 6 skiers each. The top 2 in each heat automatically move into the semi finals, same as before. In addition to these top 2 skiers, skiers placing third in each of these heats will have also the possibility to advance by way of their initial times from the qualifying round. Out of the skiers who place 3rd in each of these 5 heats, the two with the fastest qualifying times will move on to the semi's. From the semi's, the 2 fastest 3rd place skiers (again based on their qualifying times) will advance to the final heats.
For the J2 heats ( those J2's who do not advance in the top 30 Official heats, will have their own A & B semi's and Finals), it will work the same way allowing 6 skiers to race in each heat.
From the 6 person heats, the top 3 advance to the A-final and the bottom 3 to the B-final to determine the final rankings. J2 heats do not count for USSA NRL points, but do count for the final ranking and points used for New England J2Q Points.
Results
Results
__ Sprint results are determined as follows (all examples are based upon a 30 racer field with five heats of six racers in the first round, followed by 2 heats of 5 racers in the second round, and 2 heats of 4 racers in the B-final and A-final):
o Order of finish in the A-final.
o If a consolation final is provided, then places 5-8 will be determined by order of finish in the B-final.
o Then:
___ 9th Place: the faster qualifier of the two last place semifinal skiers.
___ 10th Place: the slower qualifier of the two last place semifinalists.
___ 11th - 15th Place: ranked based on qualifying, the five 3rd place quarterfinal finishers
___ 16th - 20th Place: ranked based on qualifying, the five 4th place quarterfinal finishers
___ 21st - 25th place: ranked based on qualifying, the five 5th place quarterfinal finishers
___ 26th - 30th place: ranked based on qualifying, the five 6th place quarterfinal finishers
__ Qualification times must be listed for each athlete, including racers who move on to the heats.
__ Organizers should provide sprint results as follows.
The competitor must ski the entire course in each heat in order to be ranked, otherwise he will be ranked as the last of all qualifiers. If a competitor does not start a heat, he will be disqualified from the competition and not scored. If a competitor does not start or finish a heat due to force majeure (verified by a protest) he is ranked last in this heat. If an obstruction causes an athlete not to advance to the next round, that athlete will be allowed to proceed into the next round. Obstructions can be sanctioned by competition suspension (ranking the athlete in last place of the relevant heat accompanied by a written reprimand) or disqualification from the competition.
Bracket:
Protests
Due to the timeline pressure or running successive heats it is not possible to allow for protests during heats and semifinals. Protests will only be accepted after the finals (as it is in normal competitions).
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NENSA Elite Team
The NENSA Elite Team exists as a program to support and facilitate the appropriate development of top athletes toward the goal of international excellence. In addition to recognition for accomplishments, this program seeks to provide incentives for athletes to seek high levels of competition, and to encourage athletes to think in terms of long-range development. In order to gain access to the Elite Team an athlete must achieve a certain level of success at national level competition.
The Elite Team is nominated once a year in Mid April, as soon as the USSA final Ranking list is updated.
Criteria for Elite Team Selection
A pool of athletes will be identified based on results in national level competition, comprising individuals who meet the following criteria:Juniors
1 top 5 (overall, J1&OJ) result at Jr Nationals or Jr World Trials. Top 10 ranking among returning juniors on year-end USSA National Ranking List. 1 top 15 result at NCAA Nationals. Note that J2's are not named to the Elite Team.U23
1 top 5 U23 result at US Nationals. 1 top 15 result at NCAA Nationals.Seniors
1 top 8 result at US Nationals. 2 top 15 results at US Nationals. Top 15 ranking on year-end USSA National Ranking List. In addition, any skier with Elite Team status from the previous year is eligible for discretionary addition to the Elite Team.
Team SelectionThe Elite Team will be named, up to six junior boys and six junior girls, five U23 men and five U23 women, and five senior men and five senior women, based upon the following criteria: • ADC discretion (only for returning Elite Team members) • Year-end NENSA ranking.
NENSA Elite Team Requirements
In order to accept a position on the Elite Team an athlete must agree that he/she will: • Represent the Eastern Region in any national level competition. • Belong to a NENSA club/be a NENSA member.NENSA Elite Team Support:
• Invitation and roster preference for NENSA training and testing programs, and invitation to USST camps in the region. • Free entry at any Eastern Cup event. Consultation (in cooperation with personal coach) in evaluation of goals and markers in a multi-year planning process designed and used by the USST (discretionary additions to the Elite Team will be based upon the successful attainment of markers established in this process). USSA Eastern Development Director Janice Sibilia and NENSA’s Athletic Development Committee (ADC) oversee this program.Page 8
NENSA Development Team
A Development Team is nominated based upon regional results. The top 5 ranking skiers on the season-ending NENSA Points List (NOT the JOQ Ranking List), excluding those who are named to the Elite Team, in the J1, OJ, U23, and SR age groups who are also ranked in the top half of all competitors overall qualify for the Development Team. All J2s who make the New England JO Team are nominated. College athletes who place in the top 15 on the EISA Ranking List will be also be nominated. In addition, up to 10 males and 10 females may be nominated at the discretion of the Athlete Development Committee.
The Development Team is nominated once a year no later than the 2nd week in April.
NENSA Development Team Requirements In order to accept a position on the Development Team an athlete must agree to represent New England in any national level competition, and must belong to a NENSA club.
NENSA Development Team Support 1) Invitation to NENSA training and testing programs. 2) All J1, OJ, and U23 athletes named will be invited to the summer Elite Team camp. USSA Eastern Development Director Janice Sibilia and NENSA’s Athletic Development Committee (ADC) oversee this program.
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2010 New England Team Junior Olympic Selection Criteria
Summary of Changes for 2010:
In 2009: Criteria was reworded for clarity, but did not change the composition of the New England Junior Olympic (NE JO) Team or the ways in which the team will be selected.
The 2010 Junior Olympics (JO's) will be held March 6th-14th, 2010 at the Nordic Heritage Center Trails in Presque Isle, Maine. Skiers may only compete in JO's as part of their district or divisional team. To be eligible for the NE JO Team, a skier must be a NENSA member and have a permanent or temporary address in New England. Prior to JO’s, each skier must be a competition member of USSA.
Athletes will be selected for the NE JO Team only within their own age groups, and will race only within their own age groups in individual races at JO’s.
NENSA’s Competition Program Director is responsible for applying the selection criteria set forth herein, subject to the oversight of the NENSA Athlete Development Committee (ADC).
Athletes can qualify for the NE JO Team in any of five ways:
- Through performance in the Junior World Championships Trials held at US Senior Nationals races in early January or status on Junior Worlds teams in either biathlon or nordic combined.
- Through performance in regional NCAA qualification races.
- Through performance within NE at the Eastern Cup/JOQ series of races.
- Through performance in specified Out-of-Region races combined with performance in the Eastern Cup/JOQ series of races.
- Through discretionary selection by the NENSA ADC.
The quota for the New England Team to the USSA Junior Olympic National Cross Country Ski Championships is 21 males and 21 females. Within each class, a maximum of 12 skiers may be entered by a single division. The quota and the maximum number per class are established by the US National Junior Cross Country Committee.
A. Automatic Qualification Through National and Collegiate Results
Athletes may qualify above New England’s quota of 21 males and 21 females in the following ways. These athletes will be referred to as “automatics” throughout the following criteria. The rules defining “automatics” are quoted from the USSA Junior Olympic Rules:
* 70.1.2 Skiers ranked in the first 20 men or the first 20 women on the final ranking list at the Junior World Championships team trials are automatically qualified to enter the Junior Olympics but are not counted against their Division's or District's quota specified in rule 074.
* 70.1.3 Skiers who qualify for and attend the J1 Scandinavian Cup with the US Ski Team are automatically qualified to enter the Junior Olympics as a part of the team from their home division, but are not counted against their Division’s or District’s quota specified in rule 074.
* 70.1.4 The top-5 US juniors on the final NCAA East, NCAA West, or NCAA Central ranking lists are automatically qualified to enter the Junior Olympics but are not counted against their Division's or District's quota specified in rule 074.
* 70.1.5 Members of the World Junior Championship Team in Biathlon or Nordic Combined are automatically qualified to enter the Junior Olympics as a part of the team from their home division, but are not counted against their Division's or District's quota specified in rule 074.
B. Qualification Within the New England Quota
Selection of New England’s quota of 21 males and 21 females is based on points scored in the Eastern Cup/JOQ series of races and substitution of specified Out-of-Region races.
Within each sex, and excluding athletes qualified as “automatics,” athletes will be selected for the 21 quota positions according to the following procedures:
- Up to 3 J2, J1, or OJ athletes may be named to the team as discretionary selections by the NENSA ADC. (Although rarely used, the intent of discretion is to enable the very best athletes to represent New England in cases where extenuating circumstances prevent meeting criteria in other ways.) Discretionary selections are made between January 1 and February 15, 2010, and will be included in the age-group minimums detailed below.
- 6 J2 skiers will be selected according to: a) discretion; b) rank on the final NENSA J2 JOQ Ranking List. If a J2 skier declines her/his position on the team, the next skier on the J2 ranking list will be selected. J3’s will not be selected to the team.
- The remainder of the quota of 21 athletes will include a minimum of 6 J1’s and a minimum of 3 OJ’s. J1/OJ skiers will be selected according to: a) discretion; b) rank on the final NENSA J1/OJ JOQ Ranking List. If a J1/OJ skier declines her/his position on the team, the next skier on the J1/OJ ranking list will be selected.
Determination of J2 and J1/OJ JOQ Ranking Lists
Summary of Changes for 2010:
Composition of the J2 and J1/OJ JOQ Ranking Lists have not changed. However, PLEASE NOTE: In 2009 it was established that NENSA will calculate points for specified out-of-region qualifiers, and NENSA Eastern Cup/JOQ races so skiers do not have to hold USSA or FIS licenses to substitute or aquire points from these races.
However, Athletes WILL still have to hold USSA/FIS licenses prior to competition, in order to get USSA (NRL)/FIS points. Athletes are strongly encouraged to get their USSA and/or FIS licenses as early as possible to ensure they are on the first points lists.These points lists will affect seeding at Nationals and JO's. (wording updated 12/07/09)
Scoring of Races
For the Eastern Cup/JOQ series, the NENSA points scoring system will be used to compile the J1/OJ Ranking List. J2's are scored separately from other skiers for JO qualifying purposes even when they race the same distance as the older skiers. NENSA J2 points will be used for the J2 Ranking List. To determine substitute points for out-of-region races, FIS points will be used for races taking place outside the United States. For races taking place in the United States outside of New England, USSA points will be used. Please note that although NENSA will score the specified out-of-region races for the purpose of the JOQ Ranking Lists regardless of an athlete’s license status with USSA and/or FIS, to obtain USSA and/or FIS points an athlete must be licensed prior to competition. USSA and FIS points will not be awarded retroactively. (See www.NENSA.net and the "Points/Rules" page for details about the NENSA, FIS, USSA, World Cup and JOQ points systems.)
Composition of J2 and J1/OJ JOQ Ranking Lists
J1/OJ athletes are ranked on the final J1/OJ JOQ Ranking List based on the average of their best 4 points in JOQ races, and must include at least 2 of the 8 NENSA Eastern Cup/JOQ Series races. J2 athletes are ranked on the final J2 JOQ Ranking List based on the average of their best 3 points in JOQ races, and must include at least 2 of the 8 NENSA Eastern Cup/JOQ Series races.
Athletes may use up to 2 of the Out-of-Region races specified below in their points averages on the JOQ Ranking Lists. NOTE: It is the responsibility of each athlete to bring points from Out-of-Region races to the attention of Janice Sibilia, NENSA’s Competitive Program Director. Out-of-Region points will not automatically be incorporated into the JOQ Ranking Lists.
Races Eligible for JOQ Ranking Lists (Link to all Eastern Cup/JOQ details)
NENSA Eastern Cup/JOQ Series Races:
• December 19 TD Bank Eastern Cup, Presque Isle, Maine
• December 20 TD Bank Eastern Cup, Presque Isle, Maine
• January 16 TD Bank Eastern Cup, Rumford, Maine.
• January 17 TD Bank Eastern Cup, Rumford, Maine
• February 6 TD Bank Eastern Cup/UVM Carnival, Stowe, Vermont
• February 7 TD Bank Eastern Cup/UVM Carnival, Stowe, Vermont
• February 20 TD Bank Silver Fox Trot Eastern Cup, Hanover, NH
• February 21 TD Bank Cheri Walsh Memorial/ Eastern Cup finals, Plymouth, NH
Specified Out-of-Region JOQ's:
Nov 25/27/28 , 2009: Super Tour, West Yellowstone, MT
Dec 5-6th, Bozeman, MT SuperTours
Dec 12-13th: Vernon, BC
- Dec 19-20th: Canmore, BC
- Jan 2, 3 5th, 2009: Haywood NorAm/Wrld Jr/U23 Trials, Mont Ste-Anne, QC (moved to Val Cartier)
Jan 2 - 8: US Short Distance Nationals, Anchorage, AK.
Jan 23rd: Hary Eldridge Memorial, Lake Placid, NY ( Sat only)
!
Mar. 13, 2010
The New England Ski Museum's Bretton Woods Nordic Marathon presented by CNL Lifestyle Company
Mar. 13, 2010
Carl Johnson Memorial Ski-a-thon
Mar. 13, 2010
Mid Atlantic Bill Koch Festival
Mar. 14, 2010
36th Annnual Mount Washington Cup Citizen Skate Race
