The 2023 CrossFit season is fast approaching, with the 2023 CrossFit Open scheduled to kick off on Feb. 16, 2023, not Feb 13, 2023, as previously announced. While the 2023 CrossFit Games will return to Madison, WI, on the week of July 31 through Aug. 6, 2023, CrossFit HQ issued a press release on Oct. 11, 2022, revealing new changes that will be implemented in 2023.
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Changes to the 2023 CrossFit Season
Here’s a breakdown of those changes. You can read CrossFit’s full press release in detail here.
New Competition Map
Per the press release, “athletes will compete in regions based on their country of citizenship, starting with the CrossFit Open through the Semifinals.” Individuals and Teams in North America will be split into two regions — East and West — to “eliminate the need for seeding” during the Semifinals.
Furthermore, this change allows athletes to know region the path they must take to advance to the 2023 CrossFit Games after registering.
The seven regions that CrossFit will recognize in 2023 are:
- North America West
- North America East
- South America
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Oceania
Standardized Programming
Unlike 2022, where each Semifinal contest featured only two standardized workouts, 2023 will feature standardized programming for every Semifinal competition. That isn’t just limited to the Semifinals, however. All programming for every stage of the season will be standardized.
Quarterfinals
Similar to 2022, the top 10 percent of Individual and Age Group athletes at the conclusion of the 2023 Open advance to the Quarterfinals. Likewise, for the top 25 percent of Teams. Unlike 2022, where there were three submission windows for the Quarterfinals, 2023 will only have two. Qualified athletes will be allowed to compete in the Quarterfinal of their choosing.
- Individuals — March 16-19
- Teams — March 29-31
- Age Group — March 31-April 2
Semifinals
For the Semifinals, CrossFit will operate two in North America, one in Europe, and will use separate organizers for the remaining continents. A total of seven Semifinals are to be scheduled, each receiving a “guaranteed number of CrossFit Games qualifying spots.”
- Individual and Teams — May 18-June 4 (three weeks)
- Age Group — April 28-30
Per the press release:
- The top 60 Individual female athletes, the top 60 Individual male athletes, and the top 40 Teams will advance and compete at the North American East, North American West, and European Semifinals.
- The top 30 Individual female athletes, male athletes, and the top 20 Teams will be invited to compete at each of the Semifinals in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.
- The top 40 Individual female athletes, male athletes, and top 38 Teams, as well as the top 10 athletes in each Age Group, will advance to the 2023 CrossFit Games.
The 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games is scheduled to be a six-day competition.
Removal of the Last-Chance Qualifier
The Last-Chance Qualifier to determine the final entrants to the CrossFit Games is no more. As of 2023, outstanding slots for the Games will be “allocated from the Semifinals according to a ranking system based on the strength of the field.”
The press release did not provide the metrics for determining a field’s strength.
Team Eligibility
Those who wish to compete in Team competition in 2023 will still need to compete in the Open as Individuals. Upon advancing through the Open, Teams will select their six members (four competing and two alternates), and that selection will be locked for the duration of the season.
The corresponding selected Teams will compete in the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Games, should they advance that far.
Additionally, while the information was not shared, new eligibility requirements to compete in the Adaptive Divisions are forthcoming. Adaptive athletes will be allowed to scale Open workouts based on ability.
Featured image: @crossfitgames on Instagram