COMPETITION FOR EVERY ABILITY LEVEL

 In the New England Ninja Association, we do things a bit differently with our Young Adult/ Adult/ Masters portion of the league. We call it
The Tiered League. Instead of one competition qualifying a few top competitors, we work through four different levels that start with basic beginner level obstacles with very forgiving qualifying metrics and work our way up to the most intense and elite level of competition. This way everyone has a goal and a level to work towards through every season. We also go off the beaten path with our age groupings. This season our age breakdowns are 15-24, 25-39, and 40+. We hope this evens the competitive field as well as allows us to offer more prizes/ sponsorships at seasons end.  

In the 2022-2023 season we eliminated cycles for the athletes. Which means as soon as you move on from a tier, you do not have to do that tier again in the current season but if you want to continue to attend tiers you have progress through for points for your team, have at it! Earn those points! Make your way through the all the tiers to the championship and towards the prize of NENA Sponsored Athlete!

Age and Gender Divisions 

In the NENA 15+ Tiered League, we offer the age divisions to promote competitive balance among similar aged peers while still taking into account skill and ability level. We are divided into three (3) age groupings

15-24 yrs old
25-39 yrs old
​40+ yrs old 

We are also excited to be the first ninja league ever to add additional gender divisions in hopes to more inclusive in out 2022-2023 season. We are divided into three (3) gender categories: 

Male
Female
​All Gender

For more information on the new All Gender Division, please follow the link here

Tier 1

• Standard Format
• Basic Skill Challenges
• Best of 3 Runs​

Tier 1 is where it all begins. Tier 1 is meant to challenge athletes new to the sport and introduce them to ninja obstacle competition. This low pressure atmosphere features many opportunities to succeed and gain experience. With three chances to complete eight obstacle in a row at each qualifier, one mistake doesn't cost you. Once you clear the course, you can declare your team (typically the gym you train at) and you gain 1 point. You can do as many Tier 1s as you would like to keep getting practice and point for your team.

Tier 2

• 2 Stage Format
• Basic and Moderate Skill Challenges
• 2 Runs Guaranteed​

In Tier 2, the competition heats up with more challenging obstacles and "fall and done" being introduced. All competitors have the opportunity to practice the obstacles before runs begin. Stage 1 is yet another opportunity to get a feel for the obstacles, as you will get a point for each obstacle you complete with a change to try every obstacle in the course. This will seed you for the second round (least points to most points/ furthest fastest) as all competitors participate in Stage 2. Your second run is "fall and done" where once you fail an obstacle your completed obstacles and time are marked for a standings. The top 50% of Stage Two (2) competitors (50% of males/ 50% of females) will qualify for Tier Three. You gain 3 point for your team for qualifying for Tier 3. Once you qualify for Tier 3, you can no longer gain points through Tier 2 for your team. 

Tier 3

• 3 Stage Format
• Moderate to Advanced Skill Challenges
• No Guarantees​

Tier 3 is designed to separate the field from the highly skilled to the true competitor. With 3 Stages, each consisting of 10 grueling obstacles, it is not simply a test of technique, but endurance, conditioning, and mental fortitude. Gain a top 5 spot and not only do you qualify for the Tier 4 Championship but you gain 5 points for your team. 

Tier 4

• 4 Stage Format
• Advanced Skill Challenges
• No Guarantees
• 1 Opportunity to Compete

Tier 4 is reserved for the top finishers of the previous Tier, it consists of 4 different competition formats designed to challenge every aspect of an athletes abilities. Athletes score points in each format, and the winner will be crowned NENA Champion.