FXN Nationals brings together the top teams and individual competitors from four FXR Regional Championships. To ensure fair competition, all athletes and teams must follow the qualification, participation, and roster regulations outlined below.
1. NATIONALS QUALIFICATION FORMAT
Each FXR Regional Championship awards:
- 2 Automatic Team Qualifications: The top two eligible teams advance to FXN Nationals.
- 7 Individual Qualifications: The top seven eligible finishers not belonging to an automatically qualified team advance individually.
- 2 At-Large Team Qualifications: Two additional teams will be selected following the completion of all four regional championships.
Qualification Spots
- Automatic Team Qualifiers: 8 teams
- At-Large Team Qualifiers: 2 teams
- Individual Qualifiers: 28 athletes
- Total: 10 teams + 28 individuals
Athletes qualifying with a team do not occupy individual qualification spots.
2. REGIONAL PARTICIPATION LIMITS
Rule 2.1 — One Regional Per Athlete
Every athlete is permitted to compete in ONE FXR Regional Championship.
Once an athlete competes in a regional, they are ineligible to participate in any additional regional, regardless of their performance, team affiliation, or qualification outcome.
The sole exception is described in Rule 2.2.
Rule 2.2 — Individual Qualifier Exception
An athlete who successfully earns an individual qualification to FXN Nationals may choose to surrender that qualification to compete with an unqualified team at a different regional.
To exercise this exception, the athlete must:
- Have officially qualified for Nationals as an individual.
- Voluntarily forfeit their individual Nationals berth before competing again.
- Join a team that has not already qualified for Nationals.
- Compete at a different regional specifically to pursue team qualification.
Rule 2.3 — Permanent Forfeiture
An athlete who uses the individual qualifier exception permanently forfeits their original Nationals berth.
If the new team fails to qualify, including through at-large selection, the athlete cannot reclaim their individual spot or return to their original regional result for qualification.
Rule 2.4 — No Second Chances for Non-Qualifiers
Athletes who compete at a regional and fail to qualify individually or through a team cannot enter another regional.
Changing teams, withdrawing from a roster, or registering under a different name does not reset regional eligibility.
Rule 2.5 — Maximum Two Regional Appearances
No athlete may compete in more than two regional championships under any circumstances. A second appearance is permitted exclusively through the individual qualifier exception.
3. INDIVIDUAL QUALIFICATION & TRANSFERS
Rule 3.1 — Individual Berths Are Nontransferable
Individual qualification belongs to the athlete who earned it. It cannot be transferred to another athlete, team, or account.
Rule 3.2 — No Joining Already Qualified Teams
An athlete who qualifies individually cannot join a team that has already qualified for FXN Nationals.
This applies regardless of whether the team qualified at the same regional, another regional, or through an at-large selection.
Rule 3.3 — Transfers to Unqualified Teams
Individually qualified athletes may transfer to an unqualified team participating in a different regional, provided they surrender their individual berth before competing.
Rule 3.4 — Vacated Individual Spots
When an individual qualification is forfeited, the vacant position will be awarded to the next highest eligible finisher from the athlete's original regional.
4. TEAM QUALIFICATION & ROSTER ELIGIBILITY
Rule 4.1 — Automatic Team Qualification
The top two eligible teams from each regional receive automatic bids to FXN Nationals.
Rule 4.2 — Eligible Nationals Team Members
A qualified team may use any athlete who meets at least one of the following conditions:
- The athlete was registered and competed under the team's name during its qualifying FXR Regional Championship.
- The athlete has previously competed under the team's name in another organized race or competition.
Athletes do not have to compete at the team's qualifying regional to be eligible for its Nationals roster, provided they have a legitimate, verifiable history with that team.
All athletes must still meet the individual eligibility and regional participation requirements outlined in this document.
Rule 4.3 — Previous Team Representation
An athlete who previously competed for a team in another race is considered an eligible returning team member.
This includes athletes who missed the qualifying regional but have competed for the program in an earlier event.
Previous participation must be verifiable through official results, registration records, or other evidence accepted by FXN officials.
Rule 4.4 — No Recruiting New Athletes for FXN
Qualified teams cannot add athletes with no previous competitive history under their team name solely to strengthen their Nationals roster.
A newly signed athlete who has never competed for the program is not eligible simply because they joined after the team qualified.
Rule 4.5 — Individual Qualification Restrictions Still Apply
Previously competing for a team does not override individual qualification restrictions.
If an athlete has already qualified individually for Nationals, they cannot join an already qualified team, even if they represented that team in an earlier race.
Rule 4.6 — Roster Substitutions
Teams may substitute athletes who satisfy Rule 4.2.
A substitute must have competed for the team at its qualifying regional or previously represented the team in another verified situation.
Rule 4.7 — No Switching Qualified Teams
An athlete who qualifies for Nationals as part of a team cannot leave that team to represent another team at Nationals.
Rule 4.8 — One Regional Per Team
Each team may compete in only one FXR Regional Championship. Teams cannot enter multiple regional championships to increase their qualification opportunities.
5. AT-LARGE TEAM QUALIFICATION
Two additional team berths will be awarded following the conclusion of all four regional championships.
Rule 5.1 — Eligibility
Only teams that competed in an official regional and did not secure an automatic qualification are eligible for at-large consideration.
Rule 5.2 — Selection Criteria
At-large selections will consider:
- Overall team performance and finishing position.
- Team scoring and depth.
- Strength of regional competition.
- Performance relative to other non-qualifying teams.
Rule 5.3 — At-Large Roster Eligibility
At-large teams follow the same roster rules as automatic qualifiers.
They may use athletes from their roster or athletes who previously competed under their team name in another verified competition.
Rule 5.4 — Final Selection Authority
FXN officials retain final authority over at-large selections.
6. ELIGIBILITY & RULE ENFORCEMENT
Rule 6.1 — Registration Verification
All Nationals athletes must be verified through qualifying regional records or previous competition records establishing eligibility with their Nationals team.
Rule 6.2 — No Circumventing Regional Limits
Using alternate accounts, changing usernames, switching teams, or creating replacement teams to bypass regional participation limits is prohibited.
Rule 6.3 — Unauthorized Transfers
Any athlete who participates in a second regional without qualifying under Rule 2.2 will be considered ineligible.
Rule 6.4 — False Roster History
Teams may not falsify race results, create fictitious competition records, or misrepresent an athlete's previous team affiliation to establish Nationals eligibility.
Rule 6.5 — Disqualification Penalties
Violations may result in:
- Individual disqualification.
- Forfeiture of a Nationals qualification.
- Team disqualification.
- Reassignment of a qualification berth.
Rule 6.6 — FXN Final Authority
FXN officials reserve the right to review registrations, roster changes, qualification disputes, and suspected violations. All eligibility decisions made by FXN officials are final.
7. QUALIFICATION SCENARIOS
Scenario A — Athlete Fails to Qualify
An athlete competes at FXR North but does not qualify individually or through their team. They want to compete again at FXR East.
RULING: NOT ALLOWED.
Every athlete receives one regional opportunity unless they have earned an individual qualification and voluntarily surrendered it to pursue team qualification elsewhere.
Scenario B — Individual Qualifier Changes Teams
An athlete qualifies individually at FXR North and decides to join an unqualified team racing at FXR East.
RULING: ALLOWED WITH FORFEITURE.
The athlete must permanently surrender their individual berth before participating at FXR East.
Scenario C — Athlete's Second Team Fails to Qualify
An athlete forfeits their individual FXR North berth to race with a team at FXR South. The team fails to earn either an automatic or at-large bid.
RULING: ATHLETE IS ELIMINATED.
Their original individual qualification cannot be restored, and they are ineligible for additional regional appearances. They could still earn an individual spot at the new regional.
Scenario D — Individual Qualifier Joins a Qualified Team
An athlete qualifies individually at FXR West. A team that already qualified at FXR South offers them a roster position.
RULING: NOT ALLOWED.
Individually qualified athletes cannot join already qualified teams, even if they previously represented that team.
Scenario E — Team Attempts a Second Regional
A team finishes third at FXR North and wants to race FXR East for another chance at an automatic team qualification.
RULING: NOT ALLOWED.
Each team receives one regional opportunity. It may still be considered for an at-large bid.
Scenario F — Returning Athlete Missed Regionals
A team qualifies at FXR North. One of its established athletes missed the regional but previously competed under the team's name in an earlier race.
RULING: ALLOWED.
The athlete may compete for the team at Nationals, provided their previous participation can be verified and they satisfy all other eligibility requirements.
Scenario G — Qualified Team Recruits a New Athlete
A team qualifies at FXR South and signs a new athlete who has never previously raced under the team's name.
RULING: NOT ALLOWED.
The athlete does not meet the previous team representation requirement.
Scenario H — Returning Athlete Raced Another Regional
A team qualifies at FXR North. A former team member competed for another team at FXR South but did not qualify. They now want to return to their original team for Nationals.
RULING: NOT ALLOWED.
An athlete cannot use previous team membership to bypass regional qualification or transfer restrictions.