The Games will take place in Des Moines, July 24-August 4, 2025.

Online registration is expected to open in  Fall of 2024.

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, 2025 and the higher skilled player.

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

The next National Senior Games will be in Des Moines, Iowa on July 24-August 4, 2025. The 2027 National Senior Games has not been awarded at this time but should be awarded before The Games in 2025.

**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 a Qualifying State Senior Games that is sanctioned by NSGA. 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 Golf (you must meet the Minimum Performance Standards or finish 1st) and Road Race & Triathlon (all finishers qualify). For team sports (basketball, softball, volleyball) the top 3 teams in each age group, per division qualify.

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 a Qualifying State Senior Games. (Ex. An athlete is 54 in 2024 and competes in the 50-54 age division at a Qualifying State Senior Games, but will move up to the 55-59 age division at the 2025 National Senior Games. At the Qualifying State Senior 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 Qualifying State Senior Games you will compete in the 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 pathway to qualify is thru another Qualifying State Senior Games. You may participate in any Qualifying State Senior 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 details vary from state to state.

Basketball Shooting Skills Competition, Beach Volleyball, Billiards, Cornhole, Cycling Recumbent Time Trials, Disc Golf, Golf Scramble, Non-Ambulatory Pickleball Singles, Power Lifting, Power Walk, 1-Mile Road Race, 8v8 Soccer, Tai Chi and Triathlon Relay are offered as “Open Sports/Events” for the 2025 National Senior Games. Qualification is not required for Open Sports/Events; athletes must be at least 50 years of age by 12/31/2024 to be eligible.

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 2025 has passed. The next consideration for new sports will be for the 2027 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 on the Sports webpage for the respective competition.

Please proceed to the NSGA Official Store where you can purchase NSGA and National Senior 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.