These events have open entries and typically many age or test level divisions, and are sanctioned by, and conducted using the rules of, the national skating federation in the country where they are held.
Coaches are not permitted on the ice with their skaters at competition practices, and instead stand or sit behind the rink boards.
In the second and subsequent phases of the competition, the start orders and warmup groups are determined by current standings, with either a random draw within each group or competitors skating in reverse order of standing, depending on the rules of the particular competition.
The referee is responsible for running the competition, such as signalling the announcer and music booth, timing the warmup periods, and resolving any issues involving accidents or disruptions.
Many competitions conclude with a gala or exhibition where the top finishers from each discipline, and sometimes invited skaters from the host country or club, perform show programs in a non-competitive setting.
The United States Figure Skating Association holds national championships in five skill divisions.
From highest to lowest, these are: Unlike the International Skating Union, which categorizes novice, junior, and senior skaters by age, in the US these are test or skill levels.
Skaters are currently not eligible for byes at any level if they cannot compete in their qualifying competition due to injury or illness.
In the US, synchronized skating has its own competition track with the national championships and qualifying events held separately from those in the other disciplines.
Adult Sectionals are typically held in late February or early March, with Nationals occurring in mid-April.
Sectional championships for singles, pair skating, and ice dancing are generally held in November.
As in the United States, top finishers from the previous year and skaters with conflicting international assignments receive byes to the national championships.
The top junior, novice, and pre-novice skaters from each sectional championship qualify to skate at either the Eastern or Western Challenge competitions.
In November, there are two regional championships—East Japanese and West Japanese—leading to the Japan Figure Skating Championships for senior-level skaters, which are usually held in December.