These rules are accurate as of the 2024/25 ski season. Make sure you check the actual rules on each sport federation’s site, this is authoritative.
FIS ICR:
https://assets.fis-ski.com/f/252177/x/0d90db4706/icr-crosscountry-2024_clean.pdf
313.5 Grouping
313.5.1 If grouping is used to determine the starting order, the Team Captain must
distribute his/her competitors evenly within the groups. This must be done
latest 2 hours before the draw. If a nation enters more competitors than
there are groups, the extra competitors must be distributed among the
groups, one per group, at the option of the Team Captain. This rule also
holds for teams with fewer competitors than groups.
Example:
Teams: Groups:
I II III IV
Team A 8 entries 2 2 2 2
Team B 6 entries 1 2 1 2
Team C 3 entries 1 - 1 1
313.5.2 With 20 competitors or less, use groups I and II; with 21 - 40 competitors,
use groups I, II and III; with more than 40 competitors, use all four groups.
314 Starting Order
314.1 Principles
314.1.1 The start list can be created with a draw, using a point system, a cup standing, a stage event overall standing, a qualification system or other methods.
If start order is being decided by the team captains, the easiest and simplest way to assign bibs to racers will be to assign bib numbers in excel and import that to zone4.
Nordiq Canada
6.0 Seeding for the Competitions 6.1 Interval Start Races The Distance CPL will be used when seeding all categories. Within each category skiers will be grouped based on the number of total skiers in the combined category. In the case of common distance days at the Trials, U20 and Open categories may be combined depending on track and weather conditions as determined by the Jury or pre agreed upon by Nordiq Canada and the OC. Start positions will then be randomly assigned within each group based on the CPL. The Jury will decide the starting order of each group considering snow and track conditions. The current CPL lists will be available on the Nordiq Canada website two (2) days prior to the first Team Captain’s meeting for verification. Changes to the verified seeding lists will only be considered by the Jury in exceptional circumstances. Nordiq Canada’s Sport Development Director may make recommendations on special seeding requests to the Jury based upon a written submission from the athlete’s Division to the SDD at least one week in advance of the start of the races. However, such requests must indicate an extraordinary reason for consideration for improved seeding. If a request is successful, a senior or U20 will start with the assigned points as per the decision of the Jury. 6.2 Mass Start Race For the Open men and Open women categories, seeding and bib assignment will be by Distance CPL based on a skier’s current CPL standing. The top CPL skier gets position one (1) in the start grid. Mass start competitions will use a chevron start grid. 6.3 Individual Sprint Competitions There will be one category for this event: Open (U20+U23+Senior) All athletes must register in their date of birth age categories There will be two rounds of heats and finals OPEN (1-30) – The Top 30 athletes from the qualifier irrespective of age category U20 ONLY (31-60) comprised of the next best U20s who did not qualify for the Top 30 If a U20 makes Top 30 in the 21ssign2121r they will be placed in the OPEN category for heats and finals If a senior or U23 does not 21ssign21 in the the top 30 Open, theyd o not carry on to the heats and finals. Elimination heats should be timed, advancement will follow FIS protocols as outlined in Nordiq Canada Nov. 28 Nordiq Canada Selection Trials 2023-2024 | 22 325.4.2.7. The 1rst and 2nd place skiers in each heat will advance in addition to the next two fastest competitors from the quarterfinal heats who are ranked 3rd or 4th. Advancement to the ‘A’ final will follow the same protocol. Refer to Appendix for how to gap 22ssign. Sprint heats (Open Category) must be run in accordance with the FIS protocol. Sprint competitions with no B Final (as per appendix). Must have consistent time between each round of heats. Time between heats is dependent on the distance of the course. The OC should strive for 1.5-2 hours rest for the top qualifying athletes between the end of the qualifying round and the first Senior quarterfinal heat.
Interval Start
The NC Tech package says “grouping based on the number of total skiers” without further specifying. The actual rule that should be followed for nordiq canada interval start races is
- 20 or fewer racers with points, one group
- 21-40 racers with points, two equal-sized groups
- 41 or more racers with points, three equal sized groups
- followed by a group for racers with a licence but no points, then a group for racers with no nordiq canada licence. each group should be randomized within the group
this is what the “nordiq canada interval start” seed function does.
Mass Start
Simple ordered draw of racers by points. randomize order of racers with no points.
Sprint Qualifier
Simple ordered draw of racers by points. randomize order of racers with no points.
USSA
38 Method of Determining Start Orders
38.1 General Procedures
38.1.1 Time and place for the drawing of the start order of each race is decided by the
Competition Committee well in advance of the competitions and agreement with
the Technical Delegate, not earlier than 72 hours, and not later than 12 hours before
the starting time of the competition.
38.1.2. The Competition Jury may assign competitors a position within a group based on
past performance in cross country competitions or current performance in Biathlon
or Nordic Combined, as needed, to ensure the best possibility of a fair competition.
38.1.3 Junior-aged competitors will be grouped among the older age classes.
38.1.4 The Seeded Group for a Tour event may be made up of a fixed number of
competitors, not to exceed 20, based on the Overall Tour Standings.
38.1.5 Entrants with non-scoring membership status will be grouped separately from
those with Competitor membership and be given the least favorable start position.
38.2 Interval Start Grouping
38.2.1 Competitors will be assigned into the following groups based on a Seed List that is
composed of their lowest Distance points from either the current FIS Points List or
National Ranking List:
• The 20 lowest-ranked competitors will be assigned to the Seeded Group.
• The 21st to 40th ranked competitors will be assigned to Group B.
• The 41st to 60th ranked competitors will be assigned to Group C.
• All remaining ranked competitors will be assigned to Group R.
• All unranked competitors will be assigned to Group Z.
38.2.3 If there are fewer than 80 ranked competitors entered, the jury may eliminate
37
Group C and then B, as needed to balance the size of the groups.
38.3 Interval Start Running Order
38.3.1 The jury will determine the start order of the groups such that the advantage is
given to the Seeded Group, then to Group B, and so on.
38.3.2 The order within the Seeded Group, and Groups B, C, and Z will be determined by
random draw.
38.3.3 Group R will start in rank order from lowest to highest seed points.
38.3.4 Members of the Seeded Group must start at 30 second intervals. If the start interval
for a competition is less than 30 seconds, then the competitors from a lower ranked
group (normally Group C) will start every second position between members of the
Seeded Group.
38.4 Individual Sprint Qualification Grouping
38.4.1 Competitors will be assigned into the following groups based on a Seed List that
is composed of their lowest Sprint points from either the current FIS Points List or
National Ranking List:
• The 20 lowest-ranked competitors will be assigned to the Seeded Group.
• All remaining ranked competitors will be assigned to Group R.
• All unranked competitors will be assigned to Group Z.
38.5 Sprint Qualification Start Order
38.5.1 The Seeded Group will start first, followed by Group R, then Group Z.
38.5.2 The start order within the Seeded Group and Group Z will be randomized.
38.5.3 Group R will start in rank order from lowest to highest Seed points.
38.6 Mass Start Grouping
38.6.1 Competitors will be assigned into the following groups based on a Seed List that is
composed of their lowest Distance Points from either the current FIS Points List or
National Ranking List:
• Ranked competitors will be assigned to Group R.
• Unranked competitors will be assigned to Group Z.
38.7 Mass Start Position
38.7.1 The best-ranked competitor in Group R will be assigned the first starting position
followed by the rest of the group in rank order.
38.7.2 Competitors in Group Z will be assigned the next available start positions based on
a random draw.
38.8 Relay Start Position
38.8.1 The sum of the current FIS Distance Points of the members of the relay team will
determine the start position. The team with the lowest point total will be assigned
the first start position followed by the team with the next lowest, and so on.
38.8.2 Teams with unranked members will be assigned the next available start position by
a random draw
In practice, the Zone4 implementation of this is:
Mass Start Races:
Simple ordered draw of racers by points. randomize order of racers with no points.
Interval Start Races
- the 20 best-ranked racers are sorted into “group A” and randomized
- the next 20 best-ranked racers are sorted into “group b” and randomized
- the next 20 best-ranked racers are sorted into “group c” and randomized
- any remaining racers who have points are sorted into “group r” and NOT randomized
- any unranked racers are sorted into “group z” and randomized.
Sprint Qualifiers
- the 20 best-ranked racers are sorted into “Group A” and randomized
- any remaining racers who have points are sorted into “Group R” and NOT randomized
- any racers who have no points are sorted into “Group Z” and randomized