2023 National Senior Games Questions

An Age Specific Schedule will be available on our ‘Competition Schedule’ webpage when registration opens Fall of 2022. Specific competition details (start times, sport brackets, draws, pools) will be posted online after registration closes in the Spring of 2023.

ARCHERY Compound Fingers, Compound Release, Barebow Compound Recurve, Barebow Recurve
BADMINTON Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
BASKETBALL Three on Three Half Court
BOWLING Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Non-Ambulatory Singles, Non-Ambulatory Doubles, Non-Ambulatory Mixed Doubles, Team Bowling
CORNHOLE Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Non-Ambulatory Singles, Non-Ambulatory Doubles, Non-Ambulatory Mixed Doubles
CYCLING 5K, 10K (Time Trials), 20K, 40K (Road Races), Recumbent 5K, 10K (Time Trials)
GOLF 54-Hole Scratch Play
PICKLEBALL Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
POWER WALK 1500M, 5K
RACE WALK 1500, 5K
RACQUETBALL Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
ROAD RACE 5K, 10K
SHUFFLEBOARD Singles, Open Doubles, Non-Ambulatory Singles, Non-Ambulatory Open Doubles
SOCCER Team Soccer (Eight vs Eight)
SOFTBALL Team Softball
SWIMMING Backstroke: 50, 100, 200-Yard
Breaststroke: 50, 100, 200-Yard
Butterfly: 50, 100, 200-Yard
Freestyle: 50, 100, 200, 500-Yard
Individual Medley: 100, 200, 400-Yard (four strokes)
Mixed Relays (2 men & 2 women): 200-Yard Freestyle, 200-Yard Medley
TABLE TENNIS Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
TENNIS Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles
TRACK & FIELD 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 Meter, 4 x 100 Relay
Discus, Hammer Throw, High Jump, Javelin, Long Jump,
Pole Vault, Shot Put, Triple Jump
TRIATHLON Swimming: 400M Freestyle
Cycling: 20K
Road Race: 5K
Triathlon-Relay
VOLLEYBALL Team Volleyball

Athletes are encouraged to make reservations with our official Housing Partner. Housing information is available on our ‘Hotels and Lodging webpage.’

There is no longer a rule limiting the number of out-of-state athletes on rosters.

Roster changes should be made by the Final Registration Deadline.

Confirmations are immediately sent to the athlete’s email address listed on their account after completing online registration. If you do not receive your confirmation immediately after online registration please check your spam folder, if it is still not there please contact the NSGA at registration@nsga.com.

If you register via the mail or paper registration, an email confirmation will be sent to the email address on your account after the paper registration has been entered into the NSGA Registration software.

The National Senior Games age/skill division will be determined by the lower aged player as of December 31, 2023 and the higher skilled player.

Please visit this link for a list of sport specific FAQs. Click Here

Registration is expected to open in Fall of 2022 and accessible from our ‘Registration’ webpage.

Once registration opens in Fall of 2022 you can download a paper registration packet accessible from our ‘Registration’ webpage or email your request to by emailing registration@NSGA.com. Please note that paper registrations incur additional administrative fees.

Registration dates, details and deadlines can be found on our ‘Registration’ webpage once information is finalized.

Qualification Questions

The next National Senior Games will be in Pittsburgh, PA, July 7-18, 2023. The 2023 Softball Tournament will be held in Columbus, OH, May 3-8, 2023.

**Click Here for Qualifying Information

To qualify for the National Senior Games, an athlete must be 50 years of age in a qualifying year and meet the qualification standards for the sport at an NSGA sanctioned State Qualifying Games. You may qualify through the state you live in, or any state which allows out-of-state competitors; however, you should contact these states directly for qualifying information.

A complete list of sanctioned State Organizations with contact information and web link (if provided) is available by CLICKING HERE.

Qualifying standards differ depending on the sport/event; please CLICK HERE to view the current NSGA Rulebook.

In most sports, the top 4 finishers in each age group qualify for Nationals, as well as those who meet the Minimum Performance Standards (in applicable sports). The exceptions are Tennis (only the top 3 finishers for each age group qualify), Golf (you must meet the Minimum Performance Standards or finish 1st) and Triathlon (all finishers qualify). For team sports (basketball, softball, volleyball) the top 3 teams in each age group, per division qualify. Cornhole, Power Walk, 8v8 Soccer and Recumbent Cycling Time Trials and Triathlon Relay will be “OPEN” sports for the  2023 National Senior Games and qualification is not necessary to participate in “OPEN” sports.

No matter what place an athlete finishes, they may also qualify in the sports which have Minimum Performance Standards (MPS), by meeting or exceeding the MPS for the age-division they are competing in at the State Level. (Ex. An athlete is 54 in 2020 and competes in the 50-54 age division at their State Games, but will move up to the 55-59 age division at Nationals. At the State Games the athlete must meet the MPS for the 50-54 age division to qualify for Nationals).

No. Qualification is not automatic based on medaling at the previous National Senior Games.  You must qualify for each National Senior Games by meeting the qualifying criteria as specified in the NSGA Rulebook.

At the State Games you will qualify in the correct age group for your current age at the time of the State Games (some states use different dates within the year to determine their age groups, so if you have a question please check with the state). When you register for Nationals, our registration system will automatically put you in the correct age bracket for the age you will be on December 31st of the National Senior Games year.

For a complete list of dates and contact info for State Games, CLICK HERE.  You will need to contact the state(s) you are interested in to find out which sports/events are offered.

You have two options – through ‘Limited Events’ or through another State Games:

  1. ‘Limited Events’ –  The events 20K or 40K Cycling, Hammer Throw, Pole Vault, Road Race, Triathlon and the following Non-Ambulatory Sports – Bowling, and Shuffleboard are considered “limited” events. Please refer to Rule “D” in the National Senior Games Rulebook on how to qualify using limited events. Click Here for instructions and the Limited Events form.
  2. If your event is not a ‘limited event’, the only other way to qualify is to go to another state’s Games. You may participate in any State Qualifying Games which allows out-of-state competitors. Contact info, games dates, and whether a state is open or closed to out-of-state athletes is posted on the ‘State Games’ page of the website. We suggest you call the state you are thinking about competing in to confirm their qualifying procedures for out-of-state athletes as the rules vary from state to state.

Miscellaneous Questions

NSGA receives numerous requests to include new sports and events at the biennial National Senior Games.  The period to consider new sports for the National Games in 2023 has passed. The next consideration for new sports will be for the 2025 National Senior Games.  New sports and events are first researched and considered by the National Games Committee and then presented to the NSGA Board of Directors for approval.  Suggestions for new sports and events can be emailed to nsga@nsga.com.

Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cornhole, Cycling, Golf, Pickleball, Power Walk, Race Walk, Racquetball, Road Race, Shuffleboard, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, Triathlon, Beach Volleyball and Volleyball.

When event organizers confirm the brand/type of ball, info will be posted under Misc Information on the Sports webpage for the respective competition.

Please proceed to the NSGA Merchandise Store where you can purchase NSGA and National Games merchandise.

Athletes are encouraged to make reservations with our official Housing Partner. Housing information is available on our ‘Hotels and Lodging webpage.’

Yes, you may recognize sponsors on uniforms and team equipment. You may not display sponsor banners at any event-related function.