Category Placement Standards

Category placement guidelines and policies are designed to facilitate and promote fair, safe and challenging competition. Student-athletes do not choose their category. Categories are based on grade level, gender and ability. Individual race results and end-of-season overall standings from the previous season are a determining factor for producing the Category Placement Table for returning riders. If you feel that result does not represent your true capabilities, a Category Placement Petition may be submitted, as set out in Chapter 7 of the Rulebook. Petition upgrade options are limited to the following:

  • 9th graders may petition to race Junior Varsity 2, Junior Varsity 1 or Varsity.
  • 10th, 11th, and 12th graders may petition to race Junior Varsity 1 or Varsity.
  • Middle school students (grades 6-8) may not compete in or petition to upgrade into high school categories.

Petitions must be completed by head coaches, not riders or parents.

Category Placement Criteria

Placement criteria, excluding petitions, are as follows:

Category Placement Table 2024

CATEGORY
6th Grade6th graders only.
7th Grade7th graders only.
8th Grade8th graders only.
Freshman9th graders only.
Junior Varsity 210th – 12th graders.
Junior Varsity 110th graders who:
a) Placed in the top 25% in any two Freshman races, including State Championships, in the prior year, or
b) Placed in the top 30% in the Conference Overall Series Freshman standings in the prior year, or10th – 12th graders who:
a) Placed in the top 25% in any two Junior Varsity 2 races, including State Championships, in the prior year, or
b) Placed in the top 30% in the Conference Overall Series Junior Varsity 2 standings in the prior year, or
c) Raced Junior Varsity 1 the prior year but did not qualify to upgrade to Varsity.
Varsity10th – 12th graders who:
a) Placed in the top 25% in any two Junior Varsity 1 races, including State Championships, in the prior year, or
b) Placed in the top 30% in the Conference Overall Series Junior Varsity 1 standings in the prior year, or
c) Raced Varsity the prior year.