Ask IDC Q & A #4
Welcome to this week’s Ask IDC Question & Answer (Q&A)! Thank you for submitting all of your great questions. This week, we received several about U.S. Figure Skating’s new competitive pipeline.
Where can I learn more about U.S. Figure Skating’s new qualifying system?
Starting with the 2019-20 season, U.S. Figure Skating has implemented a new competitive pipeline for singles, pairs and dance, which includes the National Qualifying Series (NQS). More information on the new Qualifying Competitive Pipeline and NQS can be found on U.S. Figure Skating’s website. In addition, IDC has created a page devoted to the NQS, which includes infographics and links to all of the U.S. Figure Skating information.
What events are part of the 2019-20 National Qualifying Series for ice dance?
Below are the events that are part of this year’s NQS.
| Dates | Event | Section |
| June 19-22, 2019 | 2019 Chesapeake Open | Eastern |
| July 11-14, 2019 | 2019 Cannon Texas Open | Midwestern |
| July 17-21, 2019 | 2019 Sun Valley Summer Champs | Pacific Coast |
| July 30-August 2, 2019 | 2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships | Eastern |
| August 7-11, 2019 | 2019 Hershey Open | Eastern |
| August 9-11, 2019 | 2019 Dance-Pairs Chicago | Midwestern |
| August 9-11, 2019 | 2019 Orange County Open Championships | Pacific Coast |
| September 12-15, 2019 | 2019 Challenge Cup | Eastern |
How does a team register for the NQS?
Teams enter the overall NQS by logging onto U.S. Figure Skating’s Event Management System. The deadline to register is May 28, 2019. Once registered, teams can then choose any of the competitions they want to enter and then enter them directly. Teams should register for an event by the entry deadline posted by the competition host. All NQS events are entered through EMS. There is no minimum and maximum number of competitions couples must enter, and no restrictions on location. Only the team’s highest total score counts towards national ranking. For more information, visit the U.S. Figure Skating’s website or IDC’s NQS hub.
Until next time,
Daphne & Team IDC