Link to: NENSA Rankings

NENSA Points and Rules Explained

2011-2012 Season

Index:

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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, they 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. The definition of "fairly represent" is a gap of 50 points or more.

• 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. • Eliminate the best and worst points. Divide the remaining three values by 3.75. Sum the best 3 of these points then divide by 3.75 (revised December 2008).  This is the calculated race penalty. NENSA Points List: The NENSA Points list is updated two times per year. Feb 1, and “End of Season” and include all results from the past year (12 months). For Penalty calculations, the current points list is used. This list can be found at www.nensa.net

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 = F x 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. Top

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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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JNQ Points

JNQ points are used to determine qualification of J1 and Older Juniors for the New England Junior National Team. JNQ points are simply NENSA Points from Eastern Cup races specified as NENSA Junior National Qualifiers.

J2Q Points

J2Q points are used to determine qualification J2 athletes for the New England Junior National 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. 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.  Note that J2Q points are used in Eastern Cup calculations only; not in designated 'out of region' races.

Substitutions

Since NENSA Points, FIS Points, and USSA points are calculated in almost the same ways, NENSA allows JN athletes to substitute certain races for qualifying for the New England Junior National 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.

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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.  For J2-only races, there are three groups, A, B & C.  The A and B groups are 8 skiers each with the remaining athletes in the C group. 

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.

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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/JNQ 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 JNQ 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:

__ 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 generally 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 Selection

The 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.

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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 JNQ 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 JN 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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NOTE FOR 2012: Criteria have been reorganized for clarity, and reflect one major change for 2012: athletes are no longer required to score NENSA points in Eastern
 Cup races to be on the final NENSA JNQ Ranking List.  Each athlete must have scored NENSA, USSA, or FIS points in the minimum number (3 for J2s, 4 for J1/OJs) of any combination of designated races (Eastern Cups, US National Championships, and the specfied Out-of-Region races listed at the end of this document) to appear on the final NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists.

NENSA’s Competition Program Director is responsible for applying these selection criteria, subject to oversight by the NENSA Athlete Development Committee (ADC).



Introduction:

The USSA Junior Nationals (JNs) are the official national championships for juniors sanctioned by the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).  The New England Junior National (NEJN) Team is selected and named following the awards ceremony at the last New England Eastern Cup race.

Skiers may only compete in the JNs as part of their district or divisional team.  To be eligible for the NEJN Team, a skier must be a NENSA member and have a permanent or temporary address in New England.  Prior to JNs, each skier must be a competition member of USSA.



The quota for the NEJN Team is 21 males and 21 females (USSA Junior Nationals rule 74.1).  Within this quota, a maximum of 12 skiers may be entered per age/sex class (83.5).  Quota athletes are selected according to: a) discretionary selection by the NENSA ADC; and b) performance in the New England Eastern Cup race series, specified Out-of-Region races, and/or US National Championships (Selection Criteria B below).

Athletes qualifying through Junior World Championship Trials, Biathlon or Nordic Combined Junior World Championship Team membership, J1 Scandinavian Cup Team membership, and NCAA Regional Qualifying lists (Selection Criteria A below) are not counted against the quota of 21 males and 21 females (74.2).

Athletes will be selected for the NEJN Team only within their own age groups, and will race only within their own age groups in individual races at JNs.



Selection Criteria:

A. Above-Quota Qualification Through National and Collegiate Results


Per USSA Junior National rules, the following athletes automatically qualify for the NEJN team above the quota of 21 males and 21 females (rule 74.2) and above the age/sex maximum of 12 (83.5.1):



• ·      Skiers ranked in the first 20 men or the first 20 women on the final ranking list at the Junior World Championships team trials (70.1.2)
• ·      Skiers who qualify for and attend the J1 Scandinavian Cup with the US Ski Team (70.1.3)
• ·      The top-5 US juniors on the final NCAA East, NCAA West, or NCAA Central ranking lists (70.1.4)
• ·      Members of the World Junior Championship Team in Biathlon or Nordic Combined (70.1.5)

B. Qualification Within the New England Quota

New England’s 21 male and 21 female quota athletes are selected according to placing on the final NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists, which are determined by points scored in the New England Eastern Cup race series, specified Out-of-Region races, and/or US National Championships.



Within each sex, athletes will be selected for the 21 quota positions as follows:

1.   Up to 3 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 15th.

2.   6 J2 athletes will be selected by: a) discretion (as described In 1) above); b) rank on the final NENSA J2 JNQ Ranking List.  If a J2 skier declines her/his position on the team, the next skier on the J2 JNQ Ranking List will be selected.  J3s will not be selected to the team.

3.   15 J1/OJ athletes, including a minimum of 6 J1s and a minimum of 3 OJs, will be selected by: a) discretion (as described in 1) above); b) rank on the final NENSA J1/OJ JNQ 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.

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Determination of J2 and J1/OJ JNQ Ranking Lists

J2 athletes are ranked on the final J2 JNQ Ranking List by the average of their best 3 points in Eastern Cup, specified Out-of-Region, and US National Championships races.



J1/OJ athletes are ranked on the final J1/OJ JNQ Ranking List by the average of their best 4 points in Eastern Cup, specified Out-of-Region, and US National Championships races.

Scoring of Races

NOTE: While points from each race listed below are automatically scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists, it is each athlete’s responsibility to check the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists and notify NENSA’s Competitive Program Director (Janice Sibilia) of missing/mis-scored points.

NENSA TD Bank Eastern Cup Race Series

The NENSA points scoring system will be used to score Eastern Cup races to the J1/OJ JNQ Ranking List.  NENSA J2 points, derived by scoring J2s separately from other skiers (even when J2s race the same distance as the older skiers), will be used to score Eastern Cup J2 races to the J2 JNQ Ranking List.  NENSA J2 points are used solely for the purposes of the J2 JNQ Ranking List.

US National Championships:

The US Nationals races listed below are scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists using USSA points.  An athlete must be a competition member of USSA to compete at the US National Championships.

To score NENSA JNQ points, athletes must compete in the designated races at US Nationals (usually the distance that OJ skiers are racing).  Points for other races will not be scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists.

Specified Out-of-Region Races:

The Out-of-Region races listed below score to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists as follows:

• ·      USSA points will be used for races taking place in the United States.  An athlete must be a competition member of USSA to acquire USSA points and have them scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists.
• ·      FIS points will be used for races taking place outside the United States.  ONLY for the purposes of the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists, NENSA will calculate the FIS points for skiers in the designated race at specified Out-of-Region JNQ races (an athlete does not have to hold a FIS license to have NENSA-calculated FIS points scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists).

To score NENSA JNQ points, athletes must compete in the designated races at Out-of-Region events (usually the distance that OJ skiers are racing).  Points for other races will not be calculated or scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists.

Races Scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists: 2011/2012

Note: distances and techniques are listed here as scheduled.  If conditions mandate changes to distance/techniqe, the race that is held will be scored.

NENSA TD Bank Eastern Cup Series Races:

• Sat 12.17.11: Craftsbury, VT CL sprint (am) – qualifier only; 1.3k J2, women, men
• Sat 12.17.11: Craftsbury VT  CL prologue (pm) – interval start, seeded by morning results; 3k J2, women, men;
• Sun 12.18.11: Craftsbury VT, FS interval start; 5k J2, 5k women, 10k men;
• Sat 1.14.12: Augusta ME , CL sprint – full heats; 1.4k J2, women, men; Sun 1.15.12: Farmington ME, FS mass start; 5k J2, 10k women, 15k men;
• Sat 2.4.12: Stowe VT , CL interval start; 5k J2, 5k women, 10k men;
• Sun 2.5.12: Stowe VT , FS interval start; 5k J2, 10k women, 10k men;
• Sat 2.18.12: Hanover NH, FS interval start; 5k J2, 5k women, 10k men;
• Sun 2.19.12: Holderness NH , CL interval start; 5k J2, 5k women, 10k men;
  

US National Championships, Black Mountain, Rumford ME:

• Mon 1.2.12: FS sprint; 1.4k women, 1.6k men
• Weds 1.4.12: FS interval start; 10k women, 15k men
• Fri 1.6.12: CL interval start; 5k JR women, 10k JR men NOTE: only the junior race will be scored to the NENSA JNQ Ranking Lists
• Sun 1.8.12: CL sprint; 1.4k women, 1.6k men

Out-of-Region Races:

• Wed 11.23.11 Sprint, West Yellowstone, MT
• Fri 11.25.11[mse1] : FS interval start; 10k women, 15k men; West Yellowstone MT (SuperTour)
• Sat 11.26.11: CL interval start; 5k women, 10k men; West Yellowstone MT (SuperTour)
• Sat 12.3.11: FS prologue (am);; Bozeman MT (SuperTour)
• Sat 12.3.11: FS interval start (pm); 5k women, 10k men; Bozeman MT (SuperTour)
• Sun 12.4.11: CL mass start; 15k women, 20k men (regardless of age); Bozeman MT (SuperTour)
• Sat 12.10.11: CL sprint; Sovereign Lake/Vernon BC, Canada (Haywood NorAm): Scored races are Men’s open class: 1400 meters and Women’s open class: 1200 meters. 
• Sun 12.11.11: CL interval start; 10k women, 15k men; Sovereign Lake/Vernon BC, Canada (Haywood NorAm). Scored races are open men’s class, 15km and open women’s class, 10km.
• Sat 1.21.12: CL interval start; 7.5k women, 7.5k men; NYSEF Harry Eldridge Memorial, Lake Placid NY, NRL  - CANCELLED
• Sat 2.11.12: CL interval start; 10k women, 15k men; Orford QC, Canada (Haywood NorAm)  Details not available yet! Class in which OJ’s are scored is the one that will be used for JNQ scoring
• Sun 2.12.12: FS mass start; 15km Women, 20km men; Orford QC, Canada (Haywood NorAm). Details not available yet! Class in which OJ’s are scored is the one that will be used for JNQ scoring

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