Each of the eighteen Regional Associations under the OFSAA umbrella host their own qualifying event to select participants for the provincial championships.
The host association is able to send a second set of qualifiers (2 more teams and 5 more individuals per event) to the OFSAA championship.
[2] The host Association and exact location for each championship are determined no later than at the OFSAA Annual Meeting held in April of the school year prior to the event.
[2] As cross country is an off-road event, the competition is normally held on a golf course or in a conservation area or other park.
Ground cover is commonly short grass or dirt but courses may also include sections of sand, gravel and other surfaces.