Rulebook

​The goal of the Recreational Ninja League is to get beginner to intermediate athletes ready for the National Ninja League. The Rec. competitions are intended to be more accessible lower-priced versions of their NNL predecessors. 

The Recreational League will follow the same strict standards and guidelines the National Ninja League has set for competitions. Throughout the Rec. season athletes will accumulate points per obstacle completed. At the end of the Rec, season the Top Male and Female per age division will earn the title of Regional Obstacle King/Queen and be award a trophy. The top 3 athletes per age division(excluding any athletes that qualified for finals the previous season) will also be awarded a spot at NNL finals.
Dates
March-June
Price Range
$30-$60

Event Handling

Courses
  1. All Courses must be exactly 10 obstacles
    1. Subjectively: 9 of these obstacles should be easier than an NNL course. This decision is subjective and therefore left to the facility to determine what they define as “easier”.
    2. Subjectively: 1 obstacle should be a similar difficulty to an obstacle competitors would face at a National Ninja League competition.
      1. This obstacle can be placed anywhere within the course.
  2. Courses may not be practiced prior to the competition.
  3. Adjustments to the course for female athletes may be made at the gym owner's/event coordinator's discretion.
    1. However, they can only be made in the following scenarios:
      1. Trampoline height or distance can be adjusted.
      2. Time limits can be modified for females.
    2. If adjustments are made for females, they must be made for all females in that particular competition.
  4. Athletes will be allotted a time to finish the course.
    1. Athletes will be allowed to continue within the limit allowed regardless of how many fails they have.
      1. If an athlete fails they will move on to the next obstacle.
      2. Athletes will not be allowed a retry on the obstacle they failed.
      3. Athletes may choose to skip an obstacle if they feel they are ill-equipped to attempt it.
    2. The time limit will be set by the facility.
      1. The athlete will be done when the time runs out regardless of what obstacle they are on.
  5. Rec competitions are single stage events.
    1. There may not be other competitive events relating to ninja the same weekend as the rec comp.
Obstacles
  1. All obstacles must have a visibly marked start and finish platform.
    1. Athletes must have adequate stopping distance for Landing Platforms that are a close proximity to walls or barriers.
    2. Once an athlete has hit the landing platform, the path they take to the next obstacle cannot disqualify them.
      1. If the path to the next obstacle presents a potential safety hazard. The proper path may be dedicated to them.
        1. Example: The path safest path for a competitor to get down off the warped wall may be dictated to the athlete.
  2. Hanging obstacles may be linked as long as the start and finish points are determined by hand placement on the next obstacle in the line.
  3. Once an athlete has started an obstacle the only additional rules determining how the obstacle is completed can be determining the use of hands, feet, or both on the obstacle.
Incident Handling
  1. Injury stops
    1. In the event, an athlete gets injured while the athlete was running a course and they need to step off the course their run will be over.
    2. The athlete will not be given the opportunity to rerun or to get back on the course after they step off from their initial run.
    3. Course induced injuries must be reported to the Regional Manager by the event coordinator.
  2. Obstacle breaks or course malfunctions
    1. Any obstacle breaks, or malfunctions could result in potential fines paid to the NNL up to $100.
    2. In the event, an obstacle malfunctions or breaks the athlete will be allowed a rerun from the start of the course.
      1. Examples of Malfunctions:
        1. Course not being reset
        2. Spectators in the way of an athlete
        3. Obstacle breaking or not functioning properly
        4. Timer malfunctions
    3. The rerun will take place later in the run order to assure fair rest.
      1. The athlete will determine when they are adequately rested within a reasonable amount of time.
        1. Gyms will be able to determine if an athlete’s request is unreasonable.
    4. In the event the athlete does not make it as far on their second run the better of the two runs will be used for their ranking.
    5. Any obstacle breaks, or malfunctions resulting in a rerun must be reported via the

Result Tracking
  1. All Athlete data must be tracked via the Rec Season 1 google sheet.
    1. Athletes will be awarded 1 point per obstacle completed
      1. If an athlete completes all 10 obstacles they will be awarded 5 bonus points.
        1. There will be no record of time tracked.
      2. Data will be tracked via NNL Rep.
  1. Updated season totals for Number of Obstacles Completed will be listed on www.nationalninja.com
Facility Staff
  1. Facility staff including owners, anyone on their payroll, or anyone involved in the running of the event may not compete at the facility's competition.
  2. Staff of the hosting facility should refrain from excessive cheering for any athletes running the course.
    1. This includes giving course advice to any athletes on the course.
    2. If the facility has a specified coach for their “ninja team” the coach is allowed to coach their athletes as long as they are not involved in any running of the event or knowledge of course prior to the event.
  3. Monitoring Warm up area.
    1. If there is a warm up area for youth competitors there needs to be a staff member monitoring it.
  4. No one should be on  any equipment or obstacle within the course while athletes are running.

Competitors

Age Groups
  1. These are the age ranges allowed at NNL competitions.
    1. Kids: Ages 6-8
    2. Mature Kids: Ages 9-10
    3. Preteens: Ages 11-12
    4. Teens: Ages 13-14
    5. Young Adults: Ages 15-17
    6. Masters: Age 40 & up
    7. Pros: 18+
      1. The athlete’s age on February 15, 2020​ will decide what age category they fall into.
      2. Facilities are not required to host all age groups.
        1. Facilities may choose what age groups they wish to host.
        2. However, they may not make exceptions to age ranges. All the ages must stay consistent.
  2. There are no restrictions on athletes eligible to compete.
    1. NNL Vets may compete in the Rec. league.
      1. However, NNL finalists from the season prior will not take away the 3 qualifying spots from rec athletes.
      2. NNL finalists from earlier seasons that did not qualify for the most recent season finals are eligible for the qualifying spots.
Points
  1. Points will be region specific
    1. If an athlete gains points at a gym. The points will only be totaled toward the region the gym is located in.
    2. Points from another region cannot carry over to a different region then the region the points were earned in.
  2. Athletes will get points based on the number of obstacles completed.
    1. Obstacle points carry throughout the Rec. season.
    2. Athletes will be awarded 5 bonus points for completing all 10 obstacles in a course.
    3. Time will not play any factor in the tracking of results at Rec. comps.
Prizes
  1. All NNL Rec. comps will award the same medals to all athletes.
    1. The league will supply all medals at no extra costs to the facility.
    2. There will not be an award ceremony at the competition.
    3. No additional prizes can be given outside of the league’s medals
Ninja Rec Champions
  1. At the end of the season 6 Rec. athletes (top 3 male, and top 3 female within each age group) with the most points in their regions will secure a spot in NNL Finals for the following season.
    1. If any the top athletes were NNL Qualifiers from the previous year, they may not earn a qualifying spot through the Rec. League.
    2. The spots will go to the top 3 athletes that have not qualified for finals the previous year.
    3. If there is a tie the board of directors will decide the best method for breaking the tie.
  2. The first place male & first place female will be awarded the title ‘Regional Obstacle King & Queen’
    1. The prize will be awarded with a medal/trophy at NNL Finals the following season.
    2. All athletes are eligible for this prize.
    3. If there is a tie the board of directors will decide the best method for breaking the tie. ​