National Rankings

When athletes compete in a competition, they compete for and may win a National Championship title; however, athletes never know where they stand against the performances of other teams in their divisions that competed at different competitions across the nation. The Open Championship Series introduced National Rankings in the 2019-2020 Season to help athletes better understand where their team ranks against other teams across the country and throughout the season.

Starting on Thursday. December 11, 2025, the Open Championship Series will start releasing National Rankings Top Ten Videos Thursday at 7:30PM Central Time throughout the 2025-2026 season to see where elite, international, prep, competitive rec, and dance teams rank against all other teams in their division who have also competed at Open Qualifiers!

The Open Championship Series National Rankings is a weighted process. Why? At most competitions, the same judging panel judges a division. This offers consistency on the scoresheet. However, because no two judging panels are the same, scores can range up or down by hundredths of a point. Therefore, it wouldn’t be prudent to compare the scores from Competition A versus Competition B, as the same judging panel did not evaluate those scores. The Open Championship Series developed weighted rankings to ensure that teams are fairly ranked across competitions with varying ranges nationwide.

Open Championship Series National Rankings are based on a team’s:

• Performance Score – the team’s performance score awarded by the judges
• Average Score – the team’s average score based upon all other scores at their competition
• Placement of the Team within their Division – bonus points based on their placement within their division
• Depth of Division – points awarded based on how many teams were in their division
• Total Points of the Entire Season – the more you compete at qualifiers, the more your weighted scores add up!

Let’s break this down a little bit more! Imagine five teams compete in a specific division. Teams A, B, and C competed in the same competition in Texas. Team D competed at a competition in Ohio. And Team E competed at a competition in Georgia.

Team A won the competition in Texas. Team B came in Second. And Team C came in third. Team D placed first and competed in their division at the competition in Ohio. Team E also competed in their division at the competition in Georgia and placed first.

After the events are complete, the event producers transmit scores to the Open Championship Series to begin the National Ranking Process! Learn about each step below!

Step 1 – The Open Championship Series Receives Scores 

Teams A, B, C, D, and E received the following scores from their events. Remember that Team D and Team E received their scores at separate events.

• Team A: 97.8
• Team B: 96.5
• Team C: 95.2
• Team D: 93.6
• Team E: 92.7

After the Open Championship Series receives these scores, it begins the ranking process.

Step 2 – The Open Championship Series Finds the Average Score of All Scores From Each Event 

Average Score from Teams A, B, and C’s Competition:

• Team A: 97.8
• Team B: 96.5
• Team C: 95.2 ← Average Score
• Team from another division: 94.3
• Team from another division: 92.9

Average Score from Team D’s Competition:

• Team from another division: 97.7
• Team from another division: 97.6
• Team from another division: 95.2 ← Average Score
• Team D: 93.6
• Team from another division: 93.1

Average Score from Team E’s Competition:

• Team from another division: 96.9
• Team from another division: 96.7
• Team from another division: 95.2 ← Average
• Team from another division: 94.6
• Team E: 92.7

Once the Open Championship Series determines the average score, that average score team receives 500 points. Every 0.1 points scored above the median score will receive 1 additional point. Every 0.1 point scored below the median score will lose 1 point. In this scenario, Teams A-E would receive the following points:

• Team A: 97.8 – 526 PTS (score 2.6 points above median = 26 additional pts)
• Team B: 96.5 – 513 PTS (score 1.3 points above median = 13 additional pts)
• Team C: 95.2 – 500 PTS
• Team D: 93.6 – 484 PTS (score 1.6 points below median = minus 16 pts)
• Team E: 92.7 – 475 PTS (score 2.5 points below median = minus 25 pts)

Step 3 – Teams are then Awarded Bonus Points

Once a team’s median score is determined, teams are awarded bonus points based on their placement at their subject competition. Bonus points are awarded in the following manner:

• First Place = 6 additional points
• Second Place = 4 additional points
• Third Place = 2 additional points
• Any Other placement is not awarded any bonus points

Based on our scenario with Teams A, B, C, D, and E, Team A won the competition in Texas. Team B came in Second. And Team C came in third. Team D placed first and competed in their division at the competition in Ohio. Team E also competed in their division at the competition in Georgia and placed first.

• Team A: 97.8 = 532 PTS (additional 6 pts – 1st place)
• Team B: 96.5 = 517 PTS (additional 4 pts – 2nd place)
• Team C: 95.2 = 502 PTS (additional 2 pts – 3rd place)
• Team D: 93.6 = 490 PTS (additional 6 pts – 1st place)
• Team E: 92.7 = 481 PTS (additional 6 pts – 1st place)

Step 4 – Teams are then Awarded Points Based on the Depth of Division. One Point is Awarded for Each Additional Competitor in a Division. The Deeper the Division, the More Points.

• Teams A, B, C were in the same division – each team will receive 2 points for having 2 competitors
• Teams D & E were each in their division without competitors so they do not receive bonus points in this category
  • Team A: 97.8 = 535 PTS (additional 2 points for competing against 2 teams)
  • Team B: 96.5 = 519 PTS (additional 2 points for competing against 2 teams)
  • Team C: 95.2 = 504 PTS (additional 2 points for competing against 2 teams)
  • Team D: 93.6 = 490 PTS (did not receive additional points – no competition)
  • Team E: 92.7 = 481 PTS (did not receive additional points – no competition)

Step 5 – Each Team is Then Ranked Based on Total Points for the Entire Season Based on Division Type, Division, & Level Per Event

As teams compete at qualifiers throughout the season, total points awarded from each competition are added together. The more Open Championship Qualifiers you attend, the more you move up in the ranks!

Note: If Team A competes in Senior Level 3 at Event 1 and then competes as a Senior Coed Level 3 at Event 2 the total points for each event WILL NOT be totaled since they competed in different divisions.

Step 6 – Watch National Rankings Every Week!

Starting on December 18, 2025, the Open Championship Series will release a Top Ten Video of National Rankings on our website and social media. Join us every Thursday at 7:30PM Central Time throughout the season to see your team ranks against all other teams who have competed at Open Qualifiers in your division! You can watch Nationals Rankings HERE!

At the Final National Rankings on March 19, 2026, teams that place first in their division will receive the following incredible prizes:

• Elite (omits Tiny) and International teams that place first in their division at Final Rankings on March 19, 2026, will receive a PAID BID to the All-Star World Championship, April 16-19, 2026, in Orlando, Florida!
• Prep and Competitive Rec teams that place first in their divisions at Final Rankings on March 19, 2026, will receive a PAID BID to Prep and Rec Grand Nationals, April 25-26, 2026, at Universal Orlando Resort!

Elite Tiny and Dance teams that place FIRST in their divisions at Final National Rankings on March 19, 2026, will receive a FAST TRACK BID (valued at $199 registration) towards a 2026 Open Championship location of their choice!