What does a WNA Event look like?
Each competitor will complete two stages during the qualifier event: a Speed Course and a Tech Course. These stages are designed to test both athletic agility and obstacle technique. A third Endurance Course will be added for finals.
- Speed Course Rules: once a competitor fails an obstacle, their run will be done collecting points, but they may continue on obstacles until their time runs out. The Speed Course placement will also set the run order for the Tech Course, meaning the higher you place on Speed, the later in the run order you will be on Tech.
- Tech Course Rules: competitors will get 3 attempts on every obstacle (2 retries). The time will pause as an obstacle is being reset, and retries will not count against the athlete’s final score. If the competitor fails an obstacle 3 times, their run will be done collecting points, but they may continue on obstacles until their time runs out.
- Final placements will be based on cumulative performance across both stages. i.e. if you placed 1st in course one and 3rd in course two, you would have a total of 4 points
- Tie breakers are determined by who places higher in the tech course
- Finals Qualification:
- The top 5 competitors from each age division (aligned with World Ninja League divisions) will qualify for the Finals, giving a total of 20 ladies per division at finals.
Course Design Guidelines
- Participating gyms may design their own courses for both the Speed and Tech stages.
- Final approval of obstacle designs will rest with Jenn Sanders, the WNA Course Director, to ensure consistency and challenge standards across all events.
Inclusivity & Representation
To promote representation and inspire confidence, each host gym is strongly encouraged to provide at least one female course demonstrator, ensuring all athletes — especially women — can see the obstacles completed by other women.
Affirmed Female Division: this division is designed for our transgender female athletes to be able to participate in WNA events in alignment with their gender identity. Those competitors who identify as female will run the exact same courses as their standard age division, but will have a separate podium, results, and qualifying spots. WNA is built on the belief that every female athlete deserves a place to compete, belong, and be celebrated.
Want to host an all-female competition/a WNA competition but don’t know how or what the next steps might be?
Contact us. We want to build a network of gyms and people looking to empower female athletes all over the United States and the world.
Applications to host a WNA event will be open at the end of the first season.
Rules are subject to change or be altered as we finalize comp format and flush out the details — more details will be to come.
