2022 CrossFit Games Rulebook — Updates and Additions
A couple of months before the 2022 CrossFit Open kicks off on Feb. 24, 2022, the official 2022 CrossFit Games rulebook has been released. There are several notable changes in the rulebook in 2022 versus 2021, including the release times for Open workouts and how athletes may submit their times each week.
Like 2021, the 2022 CrossFit Open will span three weeks, with each workout released on the CrossFit Games website at 12:00 p.m. PST — five hours earlier than the prior year. Workouts will be released at noon PST each Thursday, and the conclusion of the Open will be “on a Monday at 5:00 p.m.” PST. Check out further updates to the 2022 CrossFit Games rulebook below.
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2022 CrossFit Games Rulebook
Eligible athletes can register for the 2022 CrossFit Open on Jan. 13, 2022, by creating a CrossFit account and paying the $20 entry fee. Below are the new additions and updates to the Games rulebook for the 2022 season:
Open Events — Score Submission and Validation
All score or video submissions for each Open workout must be submitted by the following Monday at 5:00 p.m. PST after its release date each Thursday.
An improvement for unaffiliated athletes is in the cards in 2022. Athletes who do not belong to a particular affiliate will be allowed to submit their corresponding workout scores if they performed them in “direct, in-person observation of a judge who has completed the most recent version of CrossFit’s Judges Course.” This is likely a significant upgrade for athletes who train at home or prefer not to record video. Video submissions of workouts performed in CrossFit affiliates will, of course, still be valid. The scoring validation deadline for each Open workout is on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. PST following each workout’s release.
CrossFit Games Leaderboard — Submitted Scores
Scores will be posted to the leaderboard as soon as they are submitted — scores are subject to change following review. Videos for each athletes’ workout will be available via a link next to their score on the leaderboard. If a registered athlete is unable to complete a workout or submit a score, they will receive zero points but maintain a spot on the leaderboard.
Scaled, Foundations, and Equipment-Free Events
Athletes will be allowed to perform the scaled, foundations, or equipment-free version of any Open workout but will be scored against only athletes who performed that version of that workout. Additionally, athletes who rank highest in a scaled workout will still rank below the lowest-ranked athlete who performed the workout “as prescribed.” Here is how the leaderboard will rank athletes by choice of workout option:
- As Prescribed
- Scaled
- Foundations
- Equipment-Free
- Foundations
- Scaled
There will be specific leaderboards for each of the above versions of events. For an athlete to remain on a specific leaderboard, they must only perform that leaderboard’s version of a workout. For example, an athlete who wishes to remain only on the scaled leaderboard must only perform scaled workouts.
Affiliate Cup Teams In The Open & Games
CrossFit affiliates in good standing can register a team for the Affiliate Cup competition. Each team’s members are required to be registered as part of that team before the conclusion of the first event of the Open. Once athletes are registered for their team, they are locked in for the entire 2022 season and cannot change teams. As was the case in 2021, team members must live within 100 miles of the affiliate they represent. Athletes who have not yet fulfilled this requirement but intend to move to do so have until Jan. 13, 2022, to establish documented proof. The rulebook lists “lease, driver’s license, utility bill” as examples. While team members are not allowed to change once the 2022 season begins, affiliates can have multiple teams represent them as long as all other prerequisites are met.
For the Games, Teams are required to use their affiliate as their team name and are prohibited from using sponsors. Should a Team decline a Games invitation, their spot will be “backfilled to the next eligible team from the team’s respective Semifinal.” The same is true for Age-Group and Adaptive athletes. Spots will not be backfilled if a team or athlete does not formally decline their invitation.
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Age Group Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Games
There will be an Age-Group Quarterfinal. It will consist of the top 10 percent (or a minimum of 200 athletes) of age-group athletes worldwide in each age division. Quarterfinal workouts will be released on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. PST.
Age-group athletes will complete a series of events over the course of one weekend, Thursday, April 21, through Sunday, April 24.
Videos will be required for submitted workout scores. Submissions without corresponding video will be considered invalid.
The top 30 men and top 30 women in each age division will advance to the Age-Group Semifinals, which will also be held virtually. The overall leaderboard will be finalized one week following the conclusion of the Semifinals, and the top 10 men and 10 women from each age division will advance to the 2022 CrossFit Games.
Adaptive Division Semifinals and Games
At the conclusion of the Open, where Adaptive athletes will compete in their respective Adaptive divisions, the top 20 men and women worldwide in each adaptive division will qualify to compete in a virtual Semifinal. Semifinals for the adaptive athletes will begin on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. PST and conclude on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
The Vision, Short Stature, Seated With Hip Function, Seated Without Hip Function, and Intellectual divisions will crown their 2022 champion at the conclusion of the Semifinals. The top five men and top five women from the Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, and Neuromuscular divisions will advance to the Games.
Athletes Qualifying for Semifinals In Multiple Divisions & Seeding
If an athlete qualifies for Semifinals in multiple divisions (e.g., Age Group and Open), they must choose one division’s Semifinal to compete in.
For the North American and European Semifinals in both Individual and Teams divisions, athlete seeding will occur before invitations are sent. Seeding will be determined by Quarterfinals ranking and geographical location.
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Equipment
The 2022 Games rulebook includes a hefty section on equipment and attire legality. Athletes who intend to compete in the Open should read the equipment section of the rulebook closely to ensure they adhere to requirements. Below is some of the standout information:
- Shoes (i.e., sports footwear) are required for all events.
- Attire that may interfere with a judge’s ability to determine if proper movement standards are met is prohibited.
- Attire that may alter the range of motion necessary for a movement is prohibited.
- Fitness gear used for comfort is allowed, such as “chalk, weight belts, non-tacky gloves, gymnastics wraps, hand tape, neoprene joint sleeves.” However, gear that “confers [an] advantage” is not (e.g. “knee or elbow wraps, gymnastics “hook and loop” grips, and tacky non-chalk substances used to enhance grip.”)
- Pull-up bars — athletes may tape the bar or wear hand protection (e.g., gloves), but not both.
There are more specific details regarding individual pieces of equipment such as lifting belt width, allowable specifications for shoes, sleeves, wraps, hand protection, lubricants, swimwear, and electronic devices in the equipment section on page 33 of the rulebook athletes and coaches may review.
2022 CrossFit Games Season Schedule
Below is the full schedule for the 2022 CrossFit Games season:
2022 CrossFit Open
- Workout 22.1 — Feb. 24-28, 2022
- Workout 22.2 — March 3-7, 2022
- Workout 22.3 — March 10-14, 2022
CrossFit Games Director Dave Castro teased two new elements that will be included in the 2022 Open, the details of which have not yet been revealed.
2022 Quarterfinals
- Individuals — March 24-27, 2022
- Teams — April 7-10, 2022
- Age Groups — April 21-24, 2022
The 2022 Occupational Games will take place May 20-22, 2022.
2022 Semifinals
- Week One
- Individuals & Teams — May 20-22, 2022
- Age Group One (14-15, 16-17, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49) — May 26-29, 2022
- Week Two
- Individuals & Teams — May 27-29, 2022
- Age Group Two (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+) — June 2-5, 2022
- Week Three
- Individuals & Teams — June 3-5, 2022
- Week Four
- Individuals & Teams — June 10-12, 2022
- Last-Chance Qualifier — June 29-July 1, 2022
2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games
The 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games are slated to occur August 4-7, 2022, in Madison, WI.
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