The PFAA created this guidance to support event organizers in scoring their events/competitions. This method ensures consistency across different competitions that can have a differing number of athletes. Any competition, event, or company that wishes to use this content is welcome to do so.

There are two main methods of scoring, either using an even distribution or an uneven distribution.

  • Even Distribution Scoring Tables: The difference in points between first and second place finish is the same (or as close to the same as possible) as the difference in points between last and second-to-last place finish in each workout. These Scoring Tables reward athletes that are consistent in their finishing places throughout a competition more than athletes who are not as consistent but have some event wins or top-three placings in tests.

    Uneven Distribution Scoring Tables: The difference in points between first and second place finishes is LARGER than the difference in points between last and second-to-last place finishes. These Scoring Tables reward athletes that may not be as consistent but have high placing individual test finishes in a competition, more than an athlete that is just consistent across all tests.

  • Scoring Table recommendations stem from combined years of elite athlete experience. The actual creation of the tables was done as follows.

    Uneven Distribution Scoring Tables: All scoring tables were created using the CrossFit Games Uneven Distribution scoring tables as their sole inspiration and have mirrored its intention as closely as possible as the size of the field changes. For example:

    The 40 to 31 athletes field is an exact copy of the scoring table used at the 2018 CrossFit Games for Individuals.

    The 20 to 11 athletes field is an exact copy of the scoring table used at the 2018 CrossFit Games for Masters.

    80 to 71 athletes field has halved the points distribution from the 40 to 31 athletes table used at the 2018 CrossFit Games for Individuals.

    The 10 or Less athletes field is influenced by the 20 to 11 athletes field table from the 2018 CrossFit Games for Masters and used the points allocated to the placings from 1st, 3rd, 5th, and so on from that table.

    Here is a link to the Uneven Distribution Scoring Tables used by the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 CrossFit Games for Individuals field of 40 athletes

    Here is a link to the Uneven Distribution Scoring Tables used by the 2018 CrossFit Games for the Masters field of 20 athletes

    Even Distribution Scoring Tables:

    These tables are very straightforward. 100 competing athletes receive 1 point per increase in rank, while 50 competing athletes receive 2 points per increase in rank.  We used CrossFit Inc’s Even Distribution Scoring Tables from prior competitions to distribute the points for other field sizes such as competitions with 75 athletes because we did not want an increase in finish placing to be represented by a fraction of a point.

    Here are links to Even Distribution Scoring Tables used by the CrossFit Games:

    2019 CrossFit Games

    2021 CrossFit Games

    2022 CrossFit Games

How to Use Scoring Tables: The Simple Method

  1. Determine the number of athletes competing at your competition.

  2. If you have more than 100 athletes at your competition, we recommend using the scoring system that the CrossFit Open uses: 1st place = 1 point; 2nd place = 2 points, and so on. At the end of the competition, the athlete with the fewest total points is the winner. We have not created a spreadsheet for this self-explanatory Scoring Table.

  3. If you have 100 athletes or fewer, use the Even Distribution Scoring Table. Find the tab that corresponds to the number of athletes competing and use that Scoring Table. The athlete with the most points at the end of the competition wins.

  4. If the number of athletes decreases (due to injury or otherwise) after the event has started, we recommend you retain the same Scoring Table with which you started the competition.

  5. If athletes tie in a test (exact same reps on an AMRAP, exact same weight lifted in a 1 rep max, exact same finish time) they should receive the same number of points.. 

    1. For example, if they tie for the winning score they both receive 100 points and the next best score receives points for a third-place finish. This is standard practice at the CrossFit Games and other fitness competitions.


The Longer Method

  1. Determine the number of athletes competing at your competition.

  2. If you have more than 100 athletes at your competition we recommend using the scoring system that the CrossFit Open uses: 1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points and so on. At the end of the competition, the athlete with the fewest total points is the winner. We have not created a spreadsheet for this self-explanatory Scoring Table.

  3. If you have 30 or fewer athletes at your competition, use the Even Distribution Scoring Tables.

  4. If you have 81 or more athletes at your competition, use the Even Distribution Scoring Tables.

  5. The PFAA recommends competitions never cut athletes and maintain the full field entire competition. However, if you are cutting athletes partway through your competition, we recommend using the Even Distribution Scoring Tables. If you are making cuts like those made at the 2019 CrossFit Games, we recommend you update your Scoring Table in the same manner done at that competition.

    1. For example, if you start with 100 athletes, use the Even Distribution Scoring Table for 100 athletes. If you cut to 50 athletes, shift to the Even Distribution Scoring Table for 50 athletes for that test onwards, and so on.

  6. If your competition does not fit the criteria listed in points 2), 3), & 4), then you can choose between the Even Distribution Scoring Tables and Uneven Distribution Scoring Tables. 

  7. Once you have determined which type of Scoring Tables you want to use, in that document find the tab that corresponds to the number of athletes you have competing and use that Scoring Table. The athlete with the most points at the end of the competition wins.

  8. If the number of athletes decreases (due to injury or otherwise) after the start of the event,, we recommend you retain the exact Scoring Table with which you started the competition.

  9. If athletes tie in a test (exact same reps on an AMRAP, exact same weight lifted in a 1 rep max, exact same finish time) they should receive the same number of points. 

    1. For example, if they tie for the winning score they both receive 100 points and the next best score receives points for a third-place finish. This is standard practice at the CrossFit Games and other fitness competitions.