HEAD TO HEAD

Every matchup builds confidence, character, and grit.

The World Ninja League Head to Head circuit challenges athletes to rise above their limits, master their mindset, and bring their absolute best to every run. Qualify through performance, and earn your spot among the fastest ninjas in the league.

Two male ninja athletes compete in a head to head race at the World Ninja League World Championships. Both athletes are traversing across pegs suspended above the ground.

QUALIFY

How to Qualify for Head to Head Regionals

Any journey to the World Ninja League Head to Head Regionals starts by facing off at standard Head to Head qualifying competitions. These competitions give athletes the chance to earn points and continue on a path toward Regionals. 

  • Compete within regular age/gender division to earn points.
  • Head to Head qualifying competitions and Season Points are separate from Tier 1 and Tier 2 events.
    • Season Points are earned by placement: 1st place = 10 points, 2nd= 9 points, 3rd = 8, down to 1 point for 10th place
  • Athletes with the top 32 point totals in each age/gender division within a region’s standings at the end of the regular season qualify for that region’s Head to Head Regionals.
  • Regionals are the only pathway to qualifying for Head to Head worlds.
Head to Head Schedule
Head to Head Standings

COMPETE

What to expect at Head to Head Regionals

Get ready for fast-paced races where two athletes go head to head on identical lanes, pushing speed, strategy, and precision to the limit.

Run Order/Seeding

  • Based on the average of each athlete’s Head-to-Head Power Score and Tier 1 Power Score (new athletes start at 1500).
  • After five or more Head-to-Head events, only the Head-to-Head score is used.

  • If Power Scores are tied, seeding is randomized.


Head to Head Utilizes Double-Elimination Brackets:

  • Each race is called a match. Win your match by going the furthest the fastest to stay in the main bracket.
  • Lose once and move to the comeback bracket for another shot. Two losses mean elimination.
  • The winner of the Head to Head competition will be the last athlete standing after losing two matches or fewer.
  • If only one athlete registers in a division, they’ll still compete solo for qualification points and standings.


The Courses:

  • Courses are identical. Same product from the same manufacturer, same distances, same rigging.
  • Obstacle lanes must be linear, unless a course is pre-approved to ensure equal distance and fairness.
Two teen female ninja athletes compete in a head to head ninja competition. Both athletes are at the same point in the course and racing to get ahead.

SCORING

How Head to Head Regionals are Scored

Every match counts. It’s about reaching the furthest point, the fastest, while maintaining control and consistency. Athletes are ranked based on how far they advance in the bracket.
  • Those who make it to later rounds will place higher than those eliminated earlier.

If multiple athletes are eliminated in the same round, rankings are determined by each athlete’s best individual course performance throughout the competition.
  • Example: Two athletes are eliminated in Round 3.
    • Athlete A’s best run: 3 obstacles in 30 seconds.
    • Athlete B’s best run: 4 obstacles in 40 seconds.
    • Athlete B ranks higher for completing more obstacles, even with a longer time.
Head to Head Schedule

ROAD TO WORLDS

How competing in Head to Head Regionals leads to Worlds

This is it! The World Ninja League Head to Head Championships: The ultimate battleground where the strongest and fastest ninja athletes from each region come together to compete. Sure to be packed with edge-of-your-seat action, you don’t want to miss it!

Head to Head Worlds spots are awarded to athletes based on the final placements at Regionals.

How Worlds Spots are Allocated to Each Region:

  • Each age/gender division has a total of 32 spots at Worlds across all regions.
  • Spots are distributed by region size:
    • 32 x ( Total Number of Athletes from Region who competed in a Division /
      Total Number of Athletes across all Regions who competed in a Division)
      • Number of spots always rounds up in the event that the calculation results in a decimal.
    • Example: If Northeast Elite males had 250 athletes compete in the season and there are 1,000 total Elite Males who competed across all regions, Northeast Region Elite Males get 8 spots.     (32 x (250 ÷ 1000) = 32 x .25 = 8)

Looking for this season’s Head to Head Regional Competition location and registration information?

Seasonal Head to Head Regionals Information

World Ninja League

Welcome to the Premier Obstacle League. Our team is dedicated to growing the sport of ninja. We are proud to work together with our community to develop this exciting new sport. Subscribe to our email list to stay up to date on as our sport continues to grow!

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