**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 an NSGA Member Organization. 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 Qualifying State Senior Games 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 or 2nd), Pickleball (finish 1st – 3rd place in each age group, per skill division) and Road Race & Triathlon (all finishers qualify). For team sports (Basketball, Softball, Volleyball) the top 3 teams in each age group, per skill 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 2026 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 2027 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).
You can also participate in our non-qualifying sports. Below are the list of sports in our open category which require no qualification to register.
Basketball Shooting Skills Competition, Beach Volleyball, Billiards, Bocce, Climbing, Cornhole, Cycling Recumbent Time Trials & Recumbent Road Races, Disc Golf, Flag Football, Golf Scramble, Non-Ambulatory Pickleball Singles, Power Lifting, Power Walk, 1-Mile Road Race, Tai Chi and Triathlon Relay are offered as “Open Sports/Events” for the 2027 National Senior Games. Qualification is not required for Open Sports/Events; athletes must be at least 50 years of age by Dec. 31, 2026, to be eligible.
