+ Rules
INTRODUCTION
The NHNCA Rules page is intended to collect all of the rules information related to racing at the middle school and high school levels. It includes rules related to junior racing for U16 and Eastern High School Championships, and Junior National qualification races under New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) guidelines. This includes New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA high school), New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC schools), and NENSA rules. U.S. Ski and Snowboard and FIS rules also apply to NENSA sanctioned races, and also are included.
For most high school skiers, the NHIAA and NEPSAC rules are applicable. For those competing at higher levels, such as regional championships, NENSA, U.S. Ski and Snowboard and FIS rules also apply. In addition, technique rules (for classic ski racing) that apply to high school and other racing are also applicable and are included here.
The rules that govern this sport are not intended to be punitive but rather to be educational and to ensure fair and safe racing for all participants. Many rules are not enforced with rigor at all races and it is understood, and should be conveyed to skiers that good sportsmanship is the hallmark of this sport. Coaching to this standard will help ensure that competitions are fair and safe for all involved, and will improve the quality of sport.
COACHES
All NHNCA coaches must be credentialed by the school, club or group of unaffiliated skiers that they represent. This should include training on appropriate behaviors in sport, annual certification in Safe Sport or equivalent, and wherever possible, licensure or certification through U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Adherence to these credentials helps ensure a safe environment of all.
GENDER
The NHNCA follows the NENSA Policy on Transgender Athlete Participation
RULING BODIES
The following list of rules is generally presented in order of increasing level of skiing. In most cases there is overlap between items on this list:
NHIAA - NH specific high school rules
NEPSAC - New England prep school rules
NHNCA - NH Nordic Coaches Association rules
Technique rules for classic skiing (TBA)
NENSA (fee for membership; member number accumulates race results used for New England seeding and New England JN selection)
U.S. Ski & Snowboard (fee for membership; member number accumulates race results used for national seeding)
FIS (fee for membership; member number accumulates race results used for international seeding)