Parents' Guide: How Quickly Do You Need to Register for (Enter) a Competition?

How Quickly Do You Need to Register for (Enter) a Competition?

In the UK, competitions can sell-out very quickly. Post-2022, the number of competitions has significantly increased (thank you volunteers) and the UK is now averaging around one competition a week over the year. The most popular, or very small, or near to London competitions may be sold-out within minutes. A small competition in the UK is anything with less than 80-100 places (approximately.)

It is worth setting reminders on your phone or texting a fellow cubing parent close to the registration opening time so that you can be on-line when the registration1 period opens.
You can bookmark the competition on the World Cube Association (WCA)2 website and it will send you an email reminder 24 hours before hand. To bookmark a competition, go to the competition page on the WCA website. Click on the registration link (top left) and then click on the greyed out chevron shape by the name of the competition (see image below.)
In the UK, most competitions open their registration mid-week, normally on a Tuesday and normally at 7pm UK time. But each competition page on the WCA website will show exactly when that competition opens. On the left-hand side of each competition page there is a link that says register. If you click on that link you’ll be able to see one of: when registration opens; if registration is open; if a waiting list is open; if registration is closed.
Glossary:
1 There are two places in which you might need to register. The first on-line for a competition on the WCA website. The second is in-person at a competition to let the volunteer team know that you have arrived and so that you can receive your competitor card3. This second place is now normally called check-in to reduce confusion.
2 The governing body for Speedcubing.
3 A piece of paper you are given when you arrive at the competition and register. It contains your ID number and tells you which groups you are in for competing, scrambling, and judging.

Kirsty Grainger, 2023-2024